In the last century, such an anecdote was popular among the military: "Why does the Austrian army exist? So that other armies have someone to beat. And what is the Italian army for? So that the Austrians have someone to beat." The same can be said about the Italian fleet, which bore the big name Supermarine. Although by the beginning of World War II he was considered the fourth in the world, and on the Mediterranean Sea his superiority was overwhelming, the "pasta" managed to lose virtually all the naval battles in which they participated. Of course, in hindsight, Mussolini's beaten admirals tried to justify their shame by blaming the shipbuilders. The Italian heavy cruisers especially got it - after the defeat at Matapan, where the British shot Zara, Paul and Fiume during the exercises, they were declared "fake record holders" and almost "floating coffins."