Acciaio-class submarine
 Italian Acciaio-class submarine (Porfido)
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Acciaio class |
| Builders | |
| Operators |  Regia Marina |
| Preceded by | Template:Sclass- |
| Succeeded by | end of 600 series |
| In commission | 1941–1966 |
| Completed | 13 |
| Lost | 8 |
| General characteristics [1][2] | |
| Type | Submarine |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 60.18 m (197 ft 5 in) |
| Beam | 6.44 m (21 ft 2 in) |
| Draught | 4.78 m (15 ft 8 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | |
| Range | 3,180 nmi (5,890 km) at 10.5 kn (19.4 km/h) surfaced |
| Test depth | 80 m (260 ft) |
| Complement | 45 |
| Armament |
|
The Italian Acciaio-class submarine[1][2] (also sometimes called Platino class[3]) was the fifth subclass of the 600 Series of coastal submarines built by the Regia Marina. They were completed during the early 1940s and saw service in World War II.
Design and description
The Acciaios were a development of the Template:Sclass- and Template:Sclass- designs, with some improvements, such as a lower conning tower to improve stability and reduce the silhouette.[2] Of the 13 vessels in the class, six were built by CRDA at Monfalcone, four by OTO at Muggiano, and three by Cantieri Tosi in Taranto, the three main Italian shipyards for submarines. They were single-hulled with side tanks, and built to a Bernardis design, though the Tosi vessels had more powerful engines (at the expense of the two stern torpedo tubes), giving a surface speed of 14.7 knots (27.2 km/h; 16.9 mph).
The word Acciaio means "steel", and all vessels in this class were named for metals and minerals.
Ships
| Ship | Builder[1] | Launched[1] | Fate[1] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acciaio | OTO | 20.7.41 | torpedoed 13.7.43 by HMS Unruly |
| Alabastro | CRDA | 18.12.41 | bombed 14.9.42 by Allied aircraft |
| Argento | Tosi | 22.2.42 | sunk 3.8.43 by USS Buck |
| Asteria | CRDA | 25.6.41 | sunk 17.2.43 by HMS Easton, HMS Wheatland, |
| Avorio | CRDA | 6.9.41 | sunk 8.2.43 by HMCS Regina |
| Bronzo | Tosi | 28.9.41 | captured 12.7.43 by British destroyers |
| Cobalto | OTO | 20.7.41 | rammed 12.8.42 by HMS Ithuriel |
| Giada | CRDA | c10.7.41 | surrendered at armistice Sept 1943 |
| Granito | CRDA | 7.8.41 | torpedoed 9.11.42 by HMS Saracen |
| Nichelio | OTO | 12.4.42 | surrendered at armistice Sept 43 |
| Platino | OTO | 1.6.41 | surrendered at armistice Sept 43 |
| Porfido | CRDA | 23.8.41 | torpedoed 6.12.42 by HMS Tigris |
| Volframio | Tosi | 9.11.41 | scuttled at armistice sept 43; raised by Germans, sunk in Allied air raid 1944 |
Service
Of the 13 vessels completed 8 were lost in action, serving in the Mediterranean theatre of operations.
See also
References
Notes
Bibliography
- Bagnasco, E :Submarines of World War Two (1977) ISBN 0 85368 331 X
- Conway : Conways All the Worlds Fighting Ships 1922-1946 (1980) ISBN 0 85177 146 7