Custozza pushes Italy toward a naval answer

Custozza shows that Italy's land campaign had already exposed command, morale, language, and coordination problems before Lissa. Some Italian formations fight effectively, but panic immobilizes others and La Marmora orders a retreat before every opportunity has disappeared. Similar killed-and-wounded totals conceal the greater Italian collapse visible in more than four thousand prisoners and six lost guns. The result makes the navy look like Italy's strongest remaining lever against Austria.