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Argo

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Argo			CRDA, Monfalcone	10.1931	27.11.1936	8.1937	scuttled 11.9.1943
Velella			CRDA, Monfalcone	10.1931	12.12.1936	9.1937	sunk 7.9.1943

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	689
Displacement normal, t	780 / 1000
Length, m	63.2
Breadth, m	6.93
Draught, m	4.46
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 Fiat diesels / 2 CRDA electric motors
Power, h. p.	1500 / 800
Max speed, kts	14 / 8
Fuel, t	diesel oil 60 (norm.)
Endurance, nm(kts)	5300(14) / 100(3)
Armament	1 x 1 - 100/47 OTO 1931, 2 x 2 - 13.2/76, 6 - 533 TT (4 bow, 2 stern, 10)
Electronic equipment	hydrophone
Complement	46
Diving depth operational, m	90

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Ordered by Portugal in 1931, but soon the contract has been terminated, and in 1935 it is redeemed by Italian Government for own Navy. The design was developed by builder as moderated variant of Balilla class. Partially double-hulled.

Successful medium submarines with high endurance and easy manoeuvrability. Rather low speed became an appreciable lack. They served as prototype for wartime built submarines of Flutto class.

Modernizations

None.

Naval service

Velella was sunk 7.9.1943 in a bay of Salerno by British submarine Shakespeare. Argo was scuttled 11.9.1943 at Monfalcone DYd.