The Argonauta-class submarine was the first sub-class of the 600 Series of coastal submarines built for the (Royal Italian Navy) 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.
Design and description The Argonauta class was derived from the earlier s. They displaced surfaced and submerged. The submarines were long, had a beam of and a draft of . They had an operational diving depth of . Their crew numbered 44 officers and enlisted men.Chesneau, p. 309
For surface running, the boats were powered by two diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a electric motor. They could reach on the surface and underwater. On the surface, the Settembrini class had a range of at ; submerged, they had a range of at .Bagnasco, p. 146
The boats were armed with six 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 deck gun forward of the conning tower for combat on the surface. Their anti-aircraft armament consisted of two single machine guns.
Ships
+ Construction detailsuboat.net Argonauta (AU) Argonauta Accessed 30 April 2022uboat.net Fisalia (FS) Fisalia Accessed 30 April 2022uboat.net IT Jalea Accessed 30 April 2022uboat.net Jantina (IN) Jantina Accessed 30 April 2022uboat.net Medusa (MU) Medusa Accessed 30 April 2022uboat.net Salpa (SP) Salpa Accessed 30 April 2022uboat.net Serpente (ex-Nautilus) (SE) Serpente Accessed 30 April 2022 Ship Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Fate Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Monfalcone 9 November 1929 19 January 1931 1 January 1932 Sunk by British aircraft 28 June 1940 20 November 1929 2 May 1931 5 June 1932 Sunk by 28 September 1941 Odero Terni Orlando, Muggiano 20 January 1930 15 June 1932 16 March 1933 Discarded 1 February 1948 20 January 1930 16 May 1932 1 March 1933 Sunk by 5 July 1941 Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Monfalcone 30 November 1929 10 December 1931 25 September 1932 Sunk by 30 January 1942 Cantieri navali Tosi di Taranto, Taranto 23 April 1930 8 May 1932 12 December 1932 Sunk by 27 June 1941 23 April 1930 28 February 1932 12 November 1932 Scuttled at Ancona 12 September 1943
Service The seven Argonauta-class submarines saw action during the Second World War. Five were sunk in action during the conflict and a sixth was scuttled at the Italian armistice in 1943. The last surviving boat of the class was stricken in 1948.
Notes
References
External links Sommergibili Marina Militare website