A navy unable to match an opponent's destroyer numbers needs each hull to contribute more to the balance. Only eight Maestrale and Oriani ships were built, leaving little numerical compensation for their individual limitations. Italy's emphasis on offensive light forces resembles the German High Seas Fleet's pre-1914 attempt to offset a superior battle line with torpedo-boat firepower. That approach depended on concentrating the force for a decisive action. Exercises in the 1920s instead pointed toward task-force warfare with many engagements spread across a wide area. Under those conditions, a highly capable ship could improve the effectiveness of the force around it, making individual quality especially important.
Notable Point · 55:50-59:17
Force structure when mass cannot replace quality
Italy's limited destroyer numbers raise a question about whether light forces built for a decisive fleet battle could meet the demands of dispersed task-force warfare.