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 |
|
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
| Ship | Builder | Launched | Date of loss | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argonauta | CRDA, Monfalcone | 19 January 1931 | 28 June 1940 | sunk by British aircraft |
| Fisalia | CRDA, Monfalcone | 2 May 1931 | 28 September | sunk by HMS Hyacinth |
| Jalea | OTO, Muggiano | 15 June 1932 | 1 February 1948 | discarded |
| Jantina | OTO, Muggiano | 16 May 1932 | 5 July 1941 | sunk by HMS Torbay |
| Medusa | CRDA, Monfalcone | 10 December 1931 | 30 January 1942 | sunk by HMS Thorn |
| Salpa | Tosi, Taranto | 8 May 1932 | 27 June 1941 | sunk by HMS Triumph |
| Serpente | Tosi, Taranto | 28 February 1932 | 12 September 1943 | scuttled 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
References
- Robert Gardner, Conway's All the Worlds Fighting Ships 1922–1946 (1980) Conway Publishing : ISBN 0-85177-146-7