Squalo-class submarine

	Tricheco before her christening ceremony, 11 September 1920
Class overview
Name	Squalo class
Builders	CRDA
Operators	Regia Marina
Preceded by	Bandieraclass
Succeeded by	Glaucoclass
Built	1928–1930
In commission	1930–1943
Completed	4
Lost	3
Scrapped	1
General characteristics
Type	Submarine
Displacement	920 t (905 long tons) (surfaced); 1,125 t (1,107 long tons) (submerged);
Length	69.8 m (229 ft)
Beam	7.21 m (23 ft 8 in)
Draft	5.19 m (17 ft)
Installed power	3,000 bhp (2,200 kW) (diesels); 1,300 bhp (970 kW) (electric motors);
Propulsion	2 shafts; diesel-electric ; 2 × diesel engines ; 2 × electric motors ;
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 depth	90 m (300 ft)
Complement	53
Armament	8 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes (4 bow, 4 stern); 1 × 102 mm (4 in) deck gun ; 2 × single 13.2 mm (0.52 in) machine guns ;

Last updated October 05, 2022

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 Bandieraclass. 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

Delfino (English: Dolphin), sank after a collision off Taranto, 23 March 1943.
Narvalo (English: Narwhal), sunk by the British destroyers Pakenham and Hursley, and RAF aircraft, in the Mediterranean Sea at 34°08′N16°04′E / 34.133°N 16.067°E / 34.133; 16.067 , 14 January 1943.^[4]
Squalo (English: Shark), withdrawn from service, 9 September 1943.
Tricheco (English: Walrus), sunk by the British submarine Upholder off Brindisi in the Adriatic Sea at 40°45′N17°56′E / 40.750°N 17.933°E / 40.750; 17.933 , 18 March 1942.^[4]

Notes

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

Related Research Articles

The Glauco class was a pair of submarines ordered by the Portuguese government, but were taken over and completed for the Regia Marina during the 1930s. They played a minor role in the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939 supporting the Spanish Nationalists.

Delfino was one of four Squalo-class submarines built for the Regia Marina during the late 1920s. The boat served in World War II and was sunk in 1943 after a collision with another Italian ship.

The Argonauta-class submarine was the first sub-class of the 600 Series of coastal submarines built for the Regia Marina 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.

Glauco was the lead ship of her class of two submarines ordered by the Portuguese government, but taken over and completed for the Regia Marina during the 1930s.

Otraria was one of two Argo-class submarines ordered by the Portuguese government, but taken over and completed for the Regia Marina during the 1930s. She played a minor role in the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939 supporting the Spanish Nationalists.

Argo was the lead ship of her class of two submarines ordered by the Portuguese government, but taken over and completed for the Regia Marina during the 1930s.

Velella was one of a pair of submarines ordered by the Portuguese government, but taken over and completed for the Regia Marina during the 1930s.

Anfitrite was one of a dozen Sirena-class submarines, the second sub-class of the 600 Series of coastal submarines built for the Regia Marina during the early 1930s.

Naiade was one of a dozen Sirena-class submarines, the second sub-class of the 600 Series of coastal submarines built for the Regia Marina during the early 1930s.

Argonauta was the lead ship of her class of seven submarines built for the Regia Marina during the early 1930s.

Fisalia was one of seven Argonauta-class submarines built for the Regia Marina during the early 1930s.

Jalea was one of seven Argonauta-class submarines built for the Regia Marina during the early 1930s. She played a minor role in the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939 supporting the Spanish Nationalists.

Jantina was one of seven Argonauta-class submarines built for the Regia Marina during the early 1930s. She played a minor role in the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939 supporting the Spanish Nationalists, and was later sunk during World War II.

Medusa was one of seven Argonauta-class submarines built for the Regia Marina during the early 1930s.

Salpa was one of seven Argonauta-class submarines built for the Regia Marina during the early 1930s.

Serpente was one of seven Argonauta-class submarines built for the Regia Marina during the early 1930s.

Narvalo was one of four Squalo-class submarines built for the Regia Marina during the late 1920s. The boat served in World War II and was sunk in 1943 by British destroyers and aircraft.

Squalo was the lead ship of her class of four submarines built for the Regia Marina during the late 1920s. The boat served in World War II and was decommissioned in 1948.

Tricheco was one of four Squalo-class submarines built for the Regia Marina during the late 1920s. The boat served in World War II and was sunk in 1942 by the British submarine HMS Upholder.

The Bragadin-class submarines were built for the Regia Marina during the late 1920s. Both boats participated in the Second World War and were discarded in 1948.

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.

External links

Sommergibile "DELFINO" (2°)
Classe Squalo Marina Militare website

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[1] "Early Bernardis: Squalo class". regiamarina.net. Retrieved 24 April 2014.

[c5-2] 1 2 3 Chesneau, p. 308

[b4-3] 1 2 Bagnasco, p. 144

[sublosses-4] 1 2 "Italian Submarine Casualties in World War Two". US Naval Historical Center. 15 January 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2014.

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v t e Squalo-classsubmarines
Delfino Narvalo Squalo Tricheco
Preceded by: Bandieraclass Followed by: Bragadinclass
List of submarines of Italy