Velella 1915
| Name | No | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Argo | FIAT-San Giorgio, La Spezia | 9/1910 | 14.1.1912 | 9/1912 | discarded 9.1918 | ||
| Fisalia | Orlando, Livorno | 10/1910 | 25.2.1912 | 9/1912 | discarded 9.1918 | ||
| Jalea | FIAT-San Giorgio, La Spezia | 3/1911 | 3.8.1913 | 9/1913 | sunk 17.8.1915 | ||
| Jantina | CNR, Muggiano | 8/1910 | 20.11.1912 | 5/1913 | discarded 9.1918 | ||
| Medusa | FIAT-San Giorgio, La Spezia | 5/1910 | 30.7.1911 | 6/1912 | sunk 10.6.1915 | ||
| Salpa | CNR, Muggiano | 8/1910 | 14.5.1912 | 9/1912 | discarded 9.1918 | ||
| Velella | FIAT-San Giorgio, La Spezia | 6/1910 | 25.5.1911 | 7/1912 | discarded 9.1918 | ||
| Zoea | Orlando, Livorno | 10/1910 | 2.3.1913 | 7/1913 | discarded 9.1918 |
|
Displacement standard, t |
|
|
Displacement normal, t |
248 - 252 / 305 |
|
Length, m |
45.1 |
|
Breadth, m |
4.20 |
|
Draught, m |
2.90 - 3.00 |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
2 FIAT diesels / 2 Savigliano electric motors Velella: 2 MAN diesels / 2 Siemens electric motors |
|
Power, h. p. |
650 / 300 |
|
Max speed, kts |
12 / 8 |
|
Fuel, t |
diesel oil |
| Endurance, nm(kts) | 1200(8) / 50(6) |
|
Armament |
2 - 450 TT (bow, 4) |
|
Complement |
21 |
| Diving depth operational, m | 40 |
Project history: Designed by Fiat-San Giorgio and Eng Lt Cdr Cesare Laurenti, they were the first Italian submarines to have diesel motors. These required long trials and time for adjustment. They were very good boats when submerged, with good manoeuvrability and stability.
Modernizations: None.
Naval service: Jalea sunk in the Gulf of Trieste by an Austrian mine 17.8.1915. Medusa sunk 10.6.1915 off Porto di Piave Vecchia (N Adriatic), torpedoed by the German submarine UB15, disguised as the Austrian U11. Zoea beached on 26 November 1917, by storm, at Rimini; salvaged by tug Ciclope and some torpedo-boats, and towed to Venice on 1 December for repairs. That month Venice N Yd began work to convert Argo into an assault submarine for forcing the Austrian main base of Pola, with the aid of frogmen for breaking the harbour barrages.
Medusa 1912
© Ivan Gogin, 2014