Italian submarine Narvalo (1906)

Narvalo was one of five Glauco-class submarines built for the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) during the early 1900s. The boat served in World War I with defensive purposes and was demolished in 1918.[2]

History
Italy
NameNarvalo
NamesakeNarwhal
BuilderRegio Arsenale, Venice
Laid down9 February 1905
Launched21 October 1906
Completed16 May 1907
Decommissioned26 September 1918
FateStricken 26 September 1918
General characteristics
Class and typeGlauco-class submarine
Displacement
  • 160 t (157 long tons) (surfaced)
  • 243 t (239 long tons) (submerged)
Length36.8 m (121 ft)
Beam4.32 m (14 ft 2 in)
Draft2.5 m (8 ft)
Installed power
  • 600 bhp (450 kW) (diesels)
  • 170 bhp (130 kW) (electric motors)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) (surfaced)
  • 6.2 knots (11.5 km/h; 7.1 mph) (submerged)
Range
  • 150 nmi (280 km; 170 mi) at 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) (surfaced)
  • 18 nmi (33 km; 21 mi) at 6 knots (11 km/h; 6.9 mph) (submerged)
Test depth25 m (82 ft)
Complement15
Armament2 × 450 mm (18 in) torpedo tubes (2 bow)
NotesMotto (Latin): Silenter sub undis victoriam parat ("Silently preparing the victory under the waves"[1])

Design

The Glauco class of small submarines, designed by Cesare Laurenti, was the first class of submarines to be built for the Italian Navy, following the 1890 experimental submarine Delfino.[3] They were 36.84 m (120 ft 10 in) long, with a beam of 4.32 m (14 ft 2 in) and a draft of 2.66 m (8 ft 9 in). The submarines of the class displaced 157–161 t (155–158 long tons) on the surface and 240–244 t (236–240 long tons) submerged.[4] Narvalo was powered by two Fiat petrol engines on the surface, rated at 600 bhp (450 kW) and two electric motors rated at 170 hp (130 kW) while submerged, giving a speed of 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) on the surface and 6 kn (11 km/h; 6.9 mph) underwater. Range was 900 nautical miles (1,700 km; 1,000 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) on the surface and 40 nautical miles (74 km; 46 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph).[3]

Narvalo was armed with two 450 mm (17.7 in) torpedo tubes. The submarine's crew was 2 officers and 13 other ranks.[3][4]

Construction and career

Narvalo, named for the Narwhal, was laid down on 9 February 1905 and launched on 21 October 1906 at the Regio Arsenale (Navy shipyard)at Venice. She was completed on 16 May 1907,[4] as a training ship in the Adriatic Sea.[1]

With the start of the First World War for Italy the submarine was stationed at Brindisi and placed within the IV Submarine Squadron, with Lieutenant Ottavio Siccoli as commander.[5] It was used in a defensive function.[1][2]

In 1918 the ship was transferred to Porto Corsini and later, with the end of the war, went into reserve and was demolished.[1]

Throughout the war, the Narvalo had carried out a total of 65 defensive ambush missions a short distance from the coast, for a total of 436 hours of surface navigation and 268 diving.[1][2]

References

  1. "Classe Glauco (1903)" (in Italian). 2008-02-05. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
  2. "Regio Sommergibile NARVALO" (in Italian). Retrieved 2021-02-18.
  3. Gardiner & Gray 1985, p. 275
  4. Fraccaroli 1970, p. 103
  5. Favre 2008, p. 206

Bibliography

  • Favre, Franco (2008). La Marina nella Grande Guerra. Le operazioni aeree, navali, subacquee e terrestri in Adriatico (in Italian). Gaspari Editore. ISBN 978-88-7541-135-0.
  • Fraccaroli, Aldo (1970). Italian Warships of World War II. London: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0105-7.
  • Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
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