They were reduced to training ships by World War I, and both ships were lost with heavy death tolls during the conflict. Benedetto Brin exploded in Brindisi in September 1915, and Regina Margherita struck a mine and sank in December 1916.
During World War I, they were repurposed as training ships, and both vessels met their end with substantial losses. Benedetto Brin exploded in Brindisi in September 1915, while Regina Margherita struck a mine and sank in December 1916.