NAVYPEDIA

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Flutto 1943

Ships

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 (И-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

Technical data

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

Standard scale images

Graphics

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.