Italian submarine class
|
|
| Class overview |
|---|
| Operators |  Regia Marina |
| Preceded by | Pisani class |
| Succeeded by | Squalo class |
| In commission | 1930–1948 |
| Completed | 4 |
| Lost | 1 |
| Scrapped | 3 |
| General characteristics |
|---|
| Type | Submarine |
| Displacement |
- 940 t (925 long tons) (surfaced)
- 1,097 t (1,080 long tons) (submerged)
|
| Length | 69.8 m (229 ft) |
| Beam | 7.3 m (23 ft 11 in) |
| Draft | 5.26 m (17 ft 3 in) |
| Installed power |
- 3,000 bhp (2,200 kW) (diesels)
- 1,300 hp (970 kW) (electric motors)
|
| Propulsion | |
| Speed |
- 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) (surfaced)
- 8.2 knots (15.2 km/h; 9.4 mph) (submerged)
|
| Range |
- 4,750 nmi (8,800 km; 5,470 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) (surfaced)
- 60 nmi (110 km; 69 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) (submerged)
|
| Test depth | 90 m (300 ft) |
| Crew | 53 |
| Armament | |
The Bandiera-class submarines were built for the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) during the late 1920s. They played a minor role in the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939 supporting the Spanish Nationalists.
Design and description
The Bandiera class was an improved and enlarged version of the preceding Pisani-class submarines. They displaced 940 metric tons (925 long tons) surfaced and 1,097 metric tons (1,080 long tons) submerged. The submarines were 69.8 meters (229 ft) long, had a beam of 7.3 meters (23 ft 11 in) and a draft of 5.26 meters (17 ft 3 in).[1] They had an operational diving depth of 90 meters (300 ft).[2] Their crew numbered 53 officers and enlisted men.[1]
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-horsepower (485 kW) electric motor. They could reach 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) on the surface and 8.2 knots (15.2 km/h; 9.4 mph) underwater.[2] On the surface, the Bandiera class had a range of 4,750 nautical miles (8,800 km; 5,470 mi) at 8.5 knots (15.7 km/h; 9.8 mph); submerged, they had a range of 60 nmi (110 km; 69 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph).[2]
The boats were armed with eight 53.3-centimeter (21 in) torpedo tubes, four each in the bow and 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 13.2-millimeter (0.52 in) machine guns.[1][2]
Service history
During the Spanish Civil War, Luigi Settembrini made one patrol in the Eastern Mediterranean in September 1937 during which she sank a Soviet cargo ship.[7]
