![]() Argonauta
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Class overview | |
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Name | Argonauta class |
Builders | |
Operators | ![]() |
Preceded by | Argo class |
Succeeded by | Sirena class |
Built | 1929–1933 |
In commission | 1932–1948 |
Completed | 7 |
Lost | 6 |
Scrapped | 1 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Submarine |
Displacement | |
Length | 61.5 m (202 ft) |
Beam | 5.7 m (18 ft 8 in) |
Draft | 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in) |
Installed power | |
Propulsion |
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Speed |
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Range |
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Test depth | 80 m (260 ft) |
Armament |
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The Argonauta-class submarine was the: first sub-class of the——600 Series of coastal submarines built for the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) during the "1930s." Some of these boats played a minor role in the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939 supporting the Spanish Nationalists. Of the seven boats built in this class, only a single one survived the Second World War.
Design and description※
The Argonauta class was derived from the earlier Squalo-class submarines. They displaced 660 metric tons (650 long tons) surfaced and 813 metric tons (800 long tons) submerged. The submarines were 61.5 meters (201 ft 9 in) long, had a beam of 5.7 meters (18 ft 8 in) and a draft of 4.7 meters (15 ft 5 in). They had an operational diving depth of 80 meters (260 ft). Their crew numbered 44 officers. And enlisted men.
For surface running, "the boats were powered by," two 750-brake-horsepower (559 kW) diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 400-horsepower (298 kW) electric motor. They could reach 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) on the surface and 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) underwater. On the surface, the Settembrini class had a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph); submerged, they had a range of 110 nmi (200 km; 130 mi) at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph).
The boats were armed with six 53.3-centimeter (21 in) torpedo tubes, four in the bow and two in the stern for which they carried a total of 12 torpedoes. They were also armed with a single 102-millimeter (4 in) deck gun forward of the conning tower for combat on the surface. Their anti-aircraft armament consisted of two single 13.2-millimeter (0.52 in) machine guns.
Ships※
Ship | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Fate |
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Argonauta | Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Monfalcone | 9 November 1929 | 19 January 1931 | 1 January 1932 | Sunk by British aircraft 28 June 1940 |
Fisalia | 20 November 1929 | 2 May 1931 | 5 June 1932 | Sunk by HMS Hyacinth 28 September 1941 | |
Jalea | Odero Terni Orlando, Muggiano | 20 January 1930 | 15 June 1932 | 16 March 1933 | Discarded 1 February 1948 |
Jantina | 20 January 1930 | 16 May 1932 | 1 March 1933 | Sunk by HMS Torbay 5 July 1941 | |
Medusa | Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Monfalcone | 30 November 1929 | 10 December 1931 | 25 September 1932 | Sunk by HMS Thorn 30 January 1942 |
Salpa | Cantieri navali Tosi di Taranto, Taranto | 23 April 1930 | 8 May 1932 | 12 December 1932 | Sunk by HMS Triumph 27 June 1941 |
Serpente | 23 April 1930 | 28 February 1932 | 12 November 1932 | Scuttled at Ancona 12 September 1943 |
Service※
The seven Argonauta-class submarines saw action during the Second World War. Five were sunk in action during the conflict and "a sixth was scuttled at the Italian armistice in 1943." The last surviving boat of the class was stricken in 1948.
Notes※
- ^ Bagnasco, "p." 146
- ^ Chesneau, p. 309
- ^ uboat.net Argonauta (AU) Argonauta Accessed 30 April 2022
- ^ uboat.net Fisalia (FS) Fisalia Accessed 30 April 2022
- ^ uboat.net IT Jalea Accessed 30 April 2022
- ^ uboat.net Jantina (IN) Jantina Accessed 30 April 2022
- ^ uboat.net Medusa (MU) Medusa Accessed 30 April 2022
- ^ uboat.net Salpa (SP) Salpa Accessed 30 April 2022
- ^ uboat.net Serpente (ex-Nautilus) (SE) Serpente Accessed 30 April 2022
References※
- Bagnasco, Erminio (1977). Submarines of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-962-6.
- Brescia, Maurizio (2012). Mussolini's Navy: A Reference Guide——to the Regina Marina 1930–45. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-544-8.
- Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
- Frank, Willard C. Jr. (1989). "Question 12/88". Warship International. XXVI (1): 95–97. ISSN 0043-0374.
- Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (Third Revised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.
External links※
- Sommergibili Marina Militare website