A focus on Cavagnari and Riccardi can create the impression that all Italian admirals were ineffective. The worst cases were often political admirals elevated to the highest staff roles. Other officers operating at sea showed more ability. Inigo Campioni tried to make a difficult position work and could have achieved more with better equipment. The distinction separates institutional selection at the top from the competence available elsewhere in the service.
Notable Point · 1:55:04-1:56:20
Italy's weak naval chiefs did not make every admiral weak
The poor record of Italy's political naval chiefs should not be projected onto every operational admiral in the Regia Marina.