NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Medusa 1912  

Ships

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

Technical data

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

Standard scale images

Graphics

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.