Squalo-class submarine

Tricheco before her christening ceremony, 11 September 1920
Class overview
NameSqualo class
BuildersCRDA
Operators Regia Marina
Preceded byBandiera class
Succeeded byGlauco class
Built1928–1930
In commission1930–1943
Completed4
Lost3
Scrapped1
General characteristics
TypeSubmarine
Displacement
  • 920 t (905 long tons) (surfaced)
  • 1,125 t (1,107 long tons) (submerged)
Length69.8 m (229 ft)
Beam7.21 m (23 ft 8 in)
Draft5.19 m (17 ft)
Installed power
  • 3,000 bhp (2,200 kW) (diesels)
  • 1,300 bhp (970 kW) (electric motors)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 15.1 knots (28.0 km/h; 17.4 mph) (surfaced)
  • 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) (submerged)
Range
  • 5,650 nmi (10,460 km; 6,500 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) (surfaced)
  • 100 nmi (190 km; 120 mi) at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) (submerged)
Test depth90 m (300 ft)
Complement53
Armament

The Squalo-class submarines were a group of four submarines built for the Royal Italian Navy (Regia Marina) during the 1930s. They were built at the Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico (CRDA) shipyard at Monfalcone, and designed by Curio Bernardis.[1]

Design and description

The Squalo-class submarines were essentially repeats of the preceding Bandiera class. They shared that design's problems with stability and seakeeping and required the same bulging of the hull to rectify the problems. They displaced 920 metric tons (910 long tons) surfaced and 1,125 metric tons (1,107 long tons) submerged. The submarines were 69.8 meters (229 ft) long, had a beam of 7.21 meters (23 ft 8 in) and a draft of 5.19 meters (17 ft).[2] They had an operational diving depth of 90 meters (300 ft).[3] Their crew numbered 53 officers and enlisted men.[2]

For surface running, the boats were powered by two 1,500-brake-horsepower (1,119 kW) diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 650-brake-horsepower (485 kW) electric motor. They could reach 15.1 knots (28.0 km/h; 17.4 mph) on the surface and 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) underwater. On the surface, the Squalo class had a range of 5,650 nautical miles (10,460 km; 6,500 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph), submerged, they had a range of 100 nmi (190 km; 120 mi) at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph).[3]

The boats were armed with eight internal 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes, four each in the bow and stern. They carried a total of a dozen torpedoes. They were also armed with one 102 mm (4 in) deck gun for combat on the surface. Their anti-aircraft armament consisted of two 13.2 mm (0.52 in) machine guns.[2]

Ships

See also

Italian submarines of World War II

Notes

  1. ^ "Early Bernardis: Squalo class". regiamarina.net. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  2. ^ a b c Chesneau, p. 308
  3. ^ a b Bagnasco, p. 144
  4. ^ a b "Italian Submarine Casualties in World War Two". US Naval Historical Center. 15 January 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2014.

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.
  • Fraccaroli, Aldo (1968). Italian Warships of World War II. Shepperton, UK: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0002-6.
  • Frank, Willard C. Jr. (1989). "Question 12/88". Warship International. XXVI (1): 95–97. ISSN 0043-0374.
  • 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.