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FIGHTING SHIPS OF THE WORLD
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SUBMARINES
MEDUSA small submarines (1911 - 1914)


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, m40


Standard scale images


<i>Velella </i>1915
Velella 1915


Graphics


<i>Medusa </i>1912  
Medusa 1912  


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.