They were larger than the existing Albatros-class corvettes of the Italian Navy, and carried similar anti-submarine equipment to the frigates of the Centauro class.

[1] The armament of the class was subject to numerous changes during the design and construction process, which affected the layout of the ship.

A single autoloading Menon anti-submarine mortar was fitted forward of the bridge and was capable of firing 15 depth charges per minute to a range of about 1,000 metres (3,300 ft).

[1][2] Carlo Margottini and Luigi Rizzo were laid down at the Navalmeccanica shipyard, Castellammare in 1957.

The next ship of the class, Carlo Bergamini was planned to be built by Cantieri Navale de Taranto, but the order was switched to the CRDA shipyards at Trieste, work starting in 1959.