The armour figures reinforce the destroyer-like nature of the hull. Turret protection ranged from only 6 to 20 mm, while the conning tower received 50 mm. Those thicknesses may have limited blast and splinter effects, but they offered little protection against direct shell penetration. The class therefore depended on speed and tactical positioning to avoid hits rather than on absorbing them. That defence became uncertain at night or whenever an opponent reached effective gun range.
Notable Point · 19:22-20:13
Minimal armour left speed as the class's main protection
Turret protection of only 6-20 mm and a 50 mm conning tower made the Capitani Romani vulnerable to the gunfire expected in cruiser combat.