Italian submarine Medusa (1931)

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History
Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg Kingdom of Italy
NameMedusa
Namesake Medusa
Builder Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Monfalcone
Laid down1929–1930
Launched10 December 1931
Completed1932
FateSunk, 30 January 1942
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)
Armament

Medusa was one of seven Argonauta-class 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

Medusa was laid down by Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico at their Monfalcone shipyard in 1929–1930, launched on 10 December 1931 and completed the following year. [2] Medusa was torpedoed and sunk on 30 January 1942 in the Adriatic near Promontore, Istria by the submarine HMS Thorn.

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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