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 | |
Length | 69.8 m (229 ft) |
Beam | 7.3 m (23 ft 11 in) |
Draft | 5.26 m (17 ft 3 in) |
Installed power | |
Propulsion |
|
Speed |
|
Range |
|
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.
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]
Ship | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fratelli Bandiera | Cantiere Navale Triestino, Trieste | 11 February 1928 | 7 August 1929 | 2 June 1930 | Discarded 1 February 1948 |
Luciano Manara | 1 May 1928 | 5 October 1929 | 29 July 1930 | ||
Ciro Menotti | Odero-Terni-Orlando, Muggiano | 12 May 1928 | 29 December 1929 | 29 July 1930 | |
Santorre Santarosa | 1 May 1928 | 22 October 1929 | 29 July 1930 | Scuttled 20 January 1943 |
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]