mm gap was filed with a cement foam called "Cellulite" to keep the water out of the gap and assist in de-capping armor piercing shells. The main armor belt was mounted on of oak timber and steel backing plate, and the entire belt structure was inclined at 11-15º, depending on the section of the hull. A homogeneous armor plate was placed behind the belt, followed behind by another plate sloped 26º in the opposite direction. The main citadel was closed off by forward and aft traverse bulkheads. The hull space above the citadel was an armored casemate with plating. The bow was protected by a belt that extends ahead of the main belt before terminating in a transverse bulkhead. The propeller shafts, aft diesel generator groups, and steering gear were protected by homogeneous armor plating and a separate bulkhead aft of the citadel. The weather deck over the citadel consists of homogeneous armor over plating; the main armor deck varied depending on the space it was protecting. Over the magazines, the main armor deck was homogeneous armor laminated on a deck plating inboard and on 12 mm plating outboard. Over the machinery spaces, the main armor deck was on 12 mm plating inboard and on 12 mm plating outboard. The main armor deck extends to the bow and stern, where it thinned to over plating and over plating respectively. The main battery turrets were protected by cemented armor faces, forward sides and roof, rear sides, rear roof, and rear. The barbettes were above the upper deck and below deck. The 152-mm secondary battery turrets were protected by faces, sides, rear, and roof, while their barbettes were above deck and below deck. Below the third deck, neither the primary nor secondary barbettes were protected by armor. The 90-mm heavy anti-aircraft mounts were protected by shield and barbette plating. The conning tower was in the same style as the others designed by General Pugliese. The uppermost level was protected by on the front and sides and rear, all mounted on plating. The lower two levels had and respectively, all mounted on plating. The roof on 10-mm plating. An internal armored tube protected important electrical cables and pipes for hydraulic systems. Pugliese torpedo defense system All four ships incorporated a unique underwater protection system named after its designer, Umberto Pugliese. A 40 mm thick torpedo bulkhead extended inboard from the base of the