Andrea Doria and Mediterranean naval rivalry

What ships were the Italian Andrea Doria class intended to counter?

Primarily French designs, although Italy also had to account for Austro-Hungarian construction.

Italian battleships primarily answered French construction while also accounting for Austria-Hungary. Austrian building programs responded to Italy, creating an interdependent Mediterranean competition. Britain had to watch these developments because of its own Mediterranean commitments. Italian construction attracted particular attention because Italy built more ships than Austria-Hungary. This regional competition also affected the wider naval technology race and Britain's quantitative competition with Germany.