Argonauta-class submarine

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.

Not to be confused with Argonaute-class submarine.
Argonauta
Class overview
NameArgonauta class
Builders
Operators Regia Marina
Preceded byArgo class
Succeeded bySirena class
Built1929–1933
In commission1932–1948
Completed7
Lost6
Scrapped1
General characteristics
TypeSubmarine
Displacement
  • 660 t (650 long tons) (surfaced)
  • 1,097 t (1,080 long tons) (submerged)
Length61.5 m (202 ft)
Beam5.7 m (18 ft 8 in)
Draft4.7 m (15 ft 5 in)
Installed power
  • 1,500 bhp (1,100 kW) (diesels)
  • 800 hp (600 kW) (electric motors)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) (surfaced)
  • 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) (submerged)
Range
  • 5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) (surfaced)
  • 110 nmi (200 km; 130 mi) at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) (submerged)
Test depth80 m (260 ft)
Armament

Design and description

The Argonauta class was derived from the earlier Squalo-class submarines.[1] 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).[2] They had an operational diving depth of 80 meters (260 ft).[1] Their crew numbered 44 officers and enlisted men.[2]

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.[1] 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);[2] submerged, they had a range of 110 nmi (200 km; 130 mi) at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph).[1]

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.[2]

Ships

[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

Construction details
Ship Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Fate
Argonauta Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Monfalcone 9 November 192919 January 19311 January 1932Sunk by British aircraft 28 June 1940
Fisalia 20 November 19292 May 19315 June 1932Sunk by HMS Hyacinth 28 September 1941
Jalea Odero Terni Orlando, Muggiano 20 January 193015 June 193216 March 1933Discarded 1 February 1948
Jantina 20 January 193016 May 19321 March 1933Sunk by HMS Torbay 5 July 1941
Medusa Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Monfalcone 30 November 192910 December 193125 September 1932Sunk by HMS Thorn 30 January 1942
Salpa Cantieri navali Tosi di Taranto, Taranto 23 April 19308 May 193212 December 1932Sunk by HMS Triumph 27 June 1941
Serpente 23 April 193028 February 193212 November 1932Scuttled 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
  1. Bagnasco, p. 146
  2. Chesneau, p. 309
  3. uboat.net Argonauta (AU) Argonauta Accessed 30 April 2022
  4. uboat.net Fisalia (FS) Fisalia Accessed 30 April 2022
  5. uboat.net IT Jalea Accessed 30 April 2022
  6. uboat.net Jantina (IN) Jantina Accessed 30 April 2022
  7. uboat.net Medusa (MU) Medusa Accessed 30 April 2022
  8. uboat.net Salpa (SP) Salpa Accessed 30 April 2022
  9. 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.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • 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.
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