History | |
---|---|
Kingdom of Italy | |
Name | Serpente |
Builder | Cantieri navali Tosi di Taranto, Taranto |
Laid down | 1930 |
Launched | 28 February 1932 |
Completed | 1933 |
Renamed | From Nautilus |
Fate | Scuttled, 12 September 1943 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Argonauta-class submarine |
Displacement | |
Length | 61.5 m (202 ft) |
Beam | 5.7 m (18 ft 8 in) |
Draft | 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in) |
Installed power | |
Propulsion |
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Speed |
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Range |
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Test depth | 80 m (260 ft) |
Armament |
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Serpente was one of seven Argonauta-class submarines built for the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) during the early 1930s.
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]
Serpente was laid down by Cantieri navali Tosi di Taranto at their Taranto shipyard in 1930, launched on 28 February 1932 and completed the following year. [2]
Operational Records