Trading a few knots for a more viable Duca d'Aosta class

The ships had good guns and capable crews, but their armor appears inadequate for escort work. Their likely opponents were also fast, which weakens the case for sacrificing so much protection to reach 36.5 knots. One proposed alternative adds roughly 1,000 to 2,000 tons and accepts a reduction to about 33.5 knots while retaining the machinery. The extra displacement could support useful protection instead of an exceptionally heavy conning tower, producing a cruiser better able to survive its assigned duties. Both ships survived the war, so the design was workable and improved on some earlier Condottieri groups, although it could have been more versatile.