Lewin of Greenwich Naval History & Forum

Condottieri Class Light Cruiser RM Armando Diaz pictured at Port Melbourne in 1934...She was torpedoed and sunk by U Class Submarine HMS Upright off the island of Kerkennah in the early hours of February 25th 1941. It took the Italian Cruiser only six minutes to sink after her magazine detonated, with the loss of 484 men.

Bridge details of BARBIANO......... DFO

Giussano Class Light Cruiser RM Alberico Da Barbiano pictured during Axis Convoy escort duty, Ionian Sea in July 1940...She was sunk at the Battle of Cape Bon on December 13th 1941 with the loss of 534 men, including Admiral Antonio Toscano, the commander of Italian Fourth Naval Division, his entire staff and the commanding officer of Alberico Da Barbiano, Captain Giorgio Rodocanacchi, 250 survivors reached the Tunisian coast or were picked up by rescuing vessels.

Two shots of a unit of their last light cruiser class......... DFO

Launch day pictured of Condottieri Class (Duca d'Aostas Sub-Class) Light Cruiser RN Emanuele Filiberto Duca d'Aostas at OTO Shipyards, Livorno on April 22nd 1934...She survived the war, but was ceded as war reparations to the Soviet Navy in 1949. She was renamed Kerch and served in the Black Sea Fleet until the 1960s.

Three views of the ARMANDO DIAZ, essentially a "tinclad" to allow her to make the desired speed, but still carry 8-6". That approach didn't survive well in combat. That might make one wonder about virtually all of today's surface combatants??! DFO

Condottieri Class Light Cruiser RN Raimondo Montecuccoli pictured at Port Melbourne on February 12th 1938.