Argonauta-class submarine

Italian Argonauta-class submarine (Argonauta)
Class overview
Name: Argonauta class
Builders:
Operators:  Regia Marina
Completed: 7
General characteristics [1]
Type: Submarine
Displacement: 600 tons
Length: 61.5 m
Speed: 14 knots/8.5 knots (surfaced/submerged)
Test depth: 80m
Complement: 50
Armament:
  • 1 × 102 mm deck gun
  • 2 × machine guns
  • 6 × torpedo tubes (4 forward, 2 aft)

The Italian Argonauta-class submarine was a series of 600 ton submarines built for and operated by the Regia Marina. They saw service in World War II. 7 of the class were constructed in total.

Design and description

The Argonauta class submarines were the first in the series of Type 600 submarines built for the Regia Marina during the inter-war period. Built to a Bernardis design the Argonauta's were smaller than contemporary Italian submarines, but retained significant striking power, and were well-suited for operations in the Mediterranean. The boats were equipped with six 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes, and carried 12 torpedoes; they also had a 102 mm deck gun and two 13.2 mm (0.52 in) machine guns. Their machinery varied according to their builders The CRDA boats had their in-house diesel and electric engines; the OTO boats had Fiat diesels with CRDA electrics, while the Tosi boats had Tosi diesel and Marelli electric engines. All were rated at 1200 bhp, giving a surface speed of 14 knots, and a submerged speed of 8 knots.[1]

Ships

ShipBuilderLaunchedDate of lossFate
ArgonautaCRDA, Monfalcone19 January 193128 June 1940sunk by British aircraft
FisaliaCRDA, Monfalcone2 May 193128 Septembersunk by HMS Hyacinth
JaleaOTO, Muggiano15 June 19321 February 1948discarded
JantinaOTO, Muggiano16 May 19325 July 1941sunk by HMS Torbay
MedusaCRDA, Monfalcone10 December 193130 January 1942sunk by HMS Thorn
SalpaTosi, Taranto8 May 193227 June 1941sunk by HMS Triumph
SerpenteTosi, Taranto28 February 193212 September 1943scuttled at Ancona

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.

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Conway p309

References

  • Robert Gardner, Conway's All the Worlds Fighting Ships 1922–1946 (1980) Conway Publishing : ISBN 0-85177-146-7
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