The Italian design began with an ambition for twelve 15-inch guns and settled on four twin turrets. The smaller battery helped preserve a projected 28-knot speed and kept the ship within existing infrastructure. A twelve-gun fast battleship would have compelled Britain to react, pressuring other navies to follow and quickly eroding the Italian ship's special status. Italy instead sought a flagship that would remain part of the leading naval conversation for years. Status signalling therefore favoured a less extreme design.
Notable Point · 57:22-58:14
Why Italy stepped back from twelve 15-inch guns
Italy reduced the discussed design from twelve to eight 15-inch guns so it could retain speed, use existing infrastructure, and avoid provoking a British response that would quickly eclipse the ship.