Why the Giussanos behaved like large destroyers

The Giussano class was the first Condottieri design, though its official category sits uneasily with its intended work. The ships were expected to perform cruiser duties, but their design concentrated on catching and destroying enemy destroyers. Their very thin deck, belt, and turret protection surrendered the survivability normally gained by moving from a destroyer to a cruiser. A rejected British destroyer turret provides a useful comparison: roughly one inch of plating could create dangerous internal splinters without giving the crew meaningful protection.