Francesco Caracciolo could define the fast battleship

How would completed 28-knot Francesco Caracciolo-class battleships be remembered?

As major Italian fast battleships and possibly the design breakpoint between First World War battle lines and later fast battleships.

The Italian ships belong inside a qualitative naval competition rather than a collection of prestige curiosities. Italy had participated in that design race with Britain, the United States, and Japan since the late nineteenth century. A 28-knot, 15-inch-gun battleship entering service would establish a practical minimum for future fast battleships. Alongside British G3 and N3 projects, the class could become the recognized dividing line between First World War battle fleets and the later fast-battleship era.