The Di Giussano class light cruisers were built before World War II for the Italian Regia Marina, to gain predominance in the Mediterranean Sea. They were designed by general Giuseppe Vian and were named after military commanders of the Italian Mediaeval and Renaissance periods. There were 4 ships, all laid down in 1928: * Alberto da Giussano * Alberico da Barbiano * Bartolomeo Colleoni * Giovanni dalle Bande Nere