Italian submarine Argonauta (1931)

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History
Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg Kingdom of Italy
NameArgonauta
Namesake Argonaut
Builder Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Monfalcone
Laid down1929–1930
Launched19 January 1931
Completed1932
FateSunk by aircraft, 28 June 1940
General characteristics
Class and type Argonauta-class submarine
Displacement
  • 660  t (650 long tons) (surfaced)
  • 813 t (800 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)
Crew44
Armament

Argonauta was the lead ship of her class of seven submarines built for the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) during the early 1930s.

Contents

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]

Construction and career

Argonauta was laid down by Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico at their Monfalcone shipyard in 1929, launched on 19 January 1931 and completed the following year. [2]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Bagnasco, p. 146
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Chesneau, p. 309

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References

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