Flutto 1943
Vortice 1954
Vortice 1963
| Name | No | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Cernia | Tosi, Taranto | 7.1943 | --- | --- | cancelled 1.1944 | ||
| Dentice | Tosi, Taranto | 8.1943 | --- | --- | cancelled 1.1944 | ||
| Flutto | CRDA, Monfalcone | 12.1941 | 19.11.1942 | 3.1943 | sunk 11.7.1943 | ||
| Gorgo | CRDA, Monfalcone | 5.1941 | 31.1.1942 | 11.1942 | sunk 21.5.1943 | ||
| Grongo | OTO, Muggiano | 4.1942 | 6.5.1943 | --- | scuttled incomplete 9.9.1943 | ||
| Marea | CRDA, Monfalcone | 12.1941 | 10.12.1942 | 5.1943 | to Soviet Union 2.1949 (È-41 [I-41]) | ||
| Murena | OTO, Muggiano | 4.1942 | 11.4.1943 | 8.1943 | scuttled 9.9.1943 | ||
| Nautilo | CRDA, Monfalcone | 1.1942 | 20.3.1943 | 7.1943 | scuttled 10.9.1943 | ||
| Sparide | OTO, Muggiano | 4.1942 | 21.2.1943 | 8.1943 | scuttled 9.9.1943 | ||
| Spigola | Tosi, Taranto | 6.1943 | --- | --- | suspended 11.1943, BU 2.1948 | ||
| Tritone | CRDA, Monfalcone | 5.1941 | 3.1.1942 | 10.1942 | sunk 19.1.1943 | ||
| Vortice, 2.1948- PV1, 1.1952- Vortice | 1953- S502 | CRDA, Monfalcone | 1.1942 | 23.2.1943 | 6.1943 | discarded 8.1967 |
|
Displacement standard, t |
746 - 750 |
|
Displacement normal, t |
930 / 1093 |
|
Length, m |
63.2 |
|
Breadth, m |
6.98 |
|
Draught, m |
4.87 |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
2 Fiat diesels / 2 CRDA electric motors |
|
Power, h. p. |
2400 / 800 |
|
Max speed, kts |
16 / 8 |
|
Fuel, t |
diesel oil 52 (norm.) |
| Endurance, nm(kts) | 5400(8) / 80(4) |
|
Armament |
1 x 1 - 100/47 OTO 1938, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Scotti-Isotta Fraschini 1939, (0 - 2) x 2 - 13.2/76, 6 - 533 TT (4 bow, 2 stern, 12) Grongo, Murena: 1 x 1 - 100/47 OTO 1938, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Scotti-Isotta Fraschini 1939, (0 - 2) x 2 - 13.2/76, 6 - 533 TT (4 bow, 2 stern, 12), 4 SLC human torpedoes |
| Electronic equipment | hydrophone |
|
Complement |
50 |
| Diving depth operational, m | 120 |
Project history: Development of Argo class with larger diving depth. At the expense of using of more powerful diesels speed was raised to 16kts. CT of the moderated size. 8 submarines from a series of 12 were commmissioned, one was scuttled incomplete and three were broken up on slipways. Partially double-hulled, diving time was 30sec.
Gorgo and Murena received with four cylindrical containers for transportation of human torpedoes, placed aside of CT. Unlike similar assignment in 600t submarines, main gun was remained.
Incomplete Cernia, Dentice and Spigola were broken up on slipways. Being in a high degree of readiness incomplete Grongo was scuttled 9.9.1943 at La Spezia, salvaged by Germans, renamed UIT20 but never completed and sunk by American bombers 4.9.1944. She was sunk by British aircraft at Genoa 4.9.1944.
Modernizations: 1951 - 1953, Vortice: - 1 x 1 - 100/47; 905/1068t, 2400/1350hp, 17/8kts, 12000(8)nm, artillery consisted of 1 x 1 - 20/70 Scotti-Isotta Fraschini 1939, 2 x 2 - 13.2/76, + radar, sonar
1950s, Vortice: - 1 x 1 - 20/70, 2 x 2 - 13.2/76
Naval service: Tritone was sunk 19.1.1943 NE of Alger by DCs and gunfire of British destroyer Antelope and Canadian corvette Port Arthur. Gorgo was sunk 21.5.1943 near Oran by American destroyer Nields. Flutto was sunk 11.7.1943 at Eastern coast of Sicily by British MTB640, MTB651 and MTB670.
Three submarines were scuttled by crews in September, 1943: Murena and Sparide at La Spezia and Nautilo at Venice. They were salvaged by Germans and renamed UIT16, UIT15 and UIT19 respectively. They were never commissioned by Kriegsmarine and sunk at Genoa by British aircraft 4.9.1944, 6.9.1944 and 9.1.1944 respectively. Nautilo was later raised and served in the Yugoslavian navy as Sava.
Vortice was remained in the navy list after war being officially classified as battery recharging station till January, 1952, when she was reclassified as submarine, modernized in 1951 - 1953 and commissioned again by Italian Navy.
Flutto 1943
Vortice 1959
© Ivan Gogin, 2009-15