Archimede class submarine (1933)

Oceanic Submersibles (1932-35): Archimede, Galileo Ferraris, Galileo Galilei, Evangelista Torricelli

WW2 Italian Submarines

Balilla class (1927) | Ettore Fieramosca (1929) | Archimede class (1933) | Glauco class (1935) | Pietro Micca (1935) | Calvi class (1935) | Foca class (1937) | Marcello class (1938) | Brin class (1939) | Liuzzi class (1939) | Marconi class (1940) | Cagni class (1940) | Romolo class (1943)

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Mameli class (1926) | Pisani class (1928) | Bandiera class (1929) | Squalo class (1930) | Bragadin class (1929) | Settembrini class (1930) | Argonauta class (1931) | Sirena class (1933) | Argo class (1936) | Perla class (1936) | Adua class (1936) | Acciaio class (1941) | Flutto class (1942)

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CM class (1943) | CC class (Laid down) | CA class (1942) | CB class (1942)

The Archimede class were a four submarines built for the Regia Marina between 1930 and 1934. They were double hull Cavallini design, enlarged version of the Settembrini class with greater specs overall, notably range. They also had two 100 mm guns to maximize sorties against trade and for that reason, were sent to Betasom, the Bordeaux Base for the Atlantic Campaign. They were relatively successful in operations with their better range, better artillery and more torpedoes than the Type VII U-Boats, but had a short active service (until 1940-41). Archimede and Torricelli fought in the Spanish Civil War under Nationalist flag as Sanjurjo and Mola (General Mola class), remaining active until 1959.

Archimede entering Taranto harbor

The Archimede class was a class of oceanic submarines which entered service in 1934. The class leading boat, Archimede, was however sold in April 1937 to Franco’s forces, renamed General Mola, as was her sister Torricelli, entered service in 1934 and flying the Spanish Nationalist flag as General Sanjurjo. Galilei and the Ferraris were stationed in the Red Sea as the Second World War commenced. Galilei, on 19 June 1940 had a tough fight agaings RN escorts until forced to surface and being captured, towed to port astrophy by the submarine chaser HMS Moonstone. After the fall of Italian East Africa, Ferraris left Massawa on March 3, 1941 to try to reach Bordeaux after a two-month non-stop trip, only to be sunk in Gibraltar on October 25, 1941. The names “Archimede” and “Torricelli” were then assigned to two new oceanic submarines of the Brin class in construction.

Development

These submarines were designed by the Cavallini and of a partially double hulled design, in part enlarged version of the Settembrini-class submarine, themselves based on the Mamel class and enlarged, improved. They had their ballast tanks rearranged for a greater range, more oil fuel and better torpedo capacity for longer sorties. Like most of the later ocean-going submarines of the Italian navy they had two 100 mm (3.9 in) guns to be able to deal with armed merchantmen while surfaced, sparing torpedoes. Two 13.2 mm (0.52 in) anti-aircraft machine guns ensured close defence. They carried also thanks to their redesigned pressure hull more torpedoes than the Settembrini class, from 12 to 16. So overall they constituted a previous set of innovations and advanced over previous designs and from them, the Glauco class (initially for portugal) and the larger Calvi class were designed (1934-35).

Design of the class

Hull and general design

The Archimede class displaced 986 t (970 long tons) surfaced and 1,259 t (1,239 long tons) submerged, versus 953/1,153t for the Settembrini as well as having a longer and beamier hull at 70.5 m (231 ft 4 in) versus 69.11 m (226 ft 9 in), a beam of 6.87 m (22 ft 6 in) versus 6.61 m (21 ft 8 in) abut a reduced draft of 4.12 m (13 ft 6 in) versus 4.45 m (14 ft 7 in). This was in part to have a better beam ratio to improve stability. The hull of course had counter-keels.

The design was classic with a tubular pressure hull tapered on both ends with torpedo tubes, a ballast outer hull forming the deck above, and two blisters. They had the classic wire cutter with cables anchored on a H type strut masts above the CT, which comprised an enclose pilot house dotted with windows and a platform for heavy machine guns aft. Two main periscopes, going into the pressure hull. The diesels exhausts were aft. There were two hatches down to the pressure hull on the fore and aft decks and one on the CT bridge. The forward main gun was elevated as always on a sponson acting as breakwater.

The launch of Galileo Galilei

Powerplant

Tosi diesel S8, photo Turrini src regiamarina.net
Despite being larger than the Settembrini, they were not much more powerful, in fact they shared the same powerplant, diesel-electric: Two Tosi diesel 1,500 bhp for a total 3,000 bhp (2,200 kW) and two 550 hp Marelli electric engines, total 1,100 hp (820 kW) on two shafts however, which was less than the Settembrini’s 1,400 hp (1,000 kW). The reason why extra space was found, was by finding a way to shoehorn smaller and more efficient battery cells in a reduced space and used more compact Marelli electric units versus Ansaldo ones (Galilei had some though), while preserving power and hoping for increased performance cells in the future.

As a result they were slightly slower at 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) -versus 17.5 kts- surfaced and 7.7 knots (14.3 km/h; 8.9 mph) submerged. But the gain in range was considerable, as they carried 100 tons of diesel oil, versus 52 tons normal for the Settembrini. But the latter could “only” reach 9000 nm at 8 knots or 80 m at 4 knots versus 10,500 nm at the same speed surfaced and 105 nm at 3 knots. They could dive to 90 m, like the Settembrini, but had the same crew of 54-55. They also carried the same hydrophones.

Armament

Unlike the Settembrini which were armed with a single 102mm/35 Schneider-Armstrong 1914, the Archimede class had two 100mm/43 OTO 1927 guns, fore and aft. This was consireable improvement bith in ballistic performances and firepower and twice the number of shells. Still, captains would complain that they needed to stay on target for a dangerously long time to be effective against a cargo or even a tanker, which buoyancy made them sometimes proof against torpedo attacks. The other improvement was in torpedoes, as the Archimede class had four tubes in the bow and four in the stern, and sixteen torpedoes total versus twelve. The internal space save enabled this extra four, which means potentially two more ships or more claimed for a sortie.

OTO 100mm/47 modello 1931

Derived from the Škoda 10 cm K1, but with loose liners. A tube, jacket and loose liner with a breech ring that screwed to both the A tube and jacket. Barrel shortened to 4.94 m (16 ft 2 in). Single, hand-worked and unshielded, pedestal-mounts fore and aft of the CT.
Specs:
Shell: 100 millimeters (3.9 in), fixed 13.75 kilograms (30.3 lb) QF 100 x 892R[1]
Breech: Horizontal sliding breech block
Elevation/Traverse: -5° to +45° for 360°
Rate of fire: 8-10 rpm
Muzzle velocity: 880 meters per second (2,900 ft/s)
Max range: 15.2 km (9.4 mi)

AA: 2x Breda Modello 31

The anti-aircraft defence counted on two twin Breda M1931 13.2 mm L/76 heavy machine guns, placed on rea platform of the conning tower. Each mount weighed 695 kg, but ensired an elevation of -10° to 90°. They fired 125 g unitary rounds, with a muzzle velocity of 790 m/s, maximum range of 6,000 meters and effective range of 2,000 meters. Their rate of fire was 500 rounds/min, so 2000 rounds when both twin mounts fired in concert however.

533 mm torpedoes

Model unknown. When completed it had likely Silurificio Whitehead di Fiume common A140/450 (1921). Capable of 29-32 knots, 6,000-4,000 m range settings, 1,140 Kgs, TNT warhead 140 kg, air tank loaded to 170 atmospheres. It was however quite visible due to the compressed air bubble trail, especially in calm waters.
Later in 1933-36 it was probably given more palatable models, all with wet-heaters:
-W 270/533.4 x 7.2 Veloce: 1,700 kg, 7.2 m WH 270 kg, 3,000-4,000 m/50 knots or 12,000 m/30 knots.
-W 270/533.4 x 7.2 “F”: 1,550 kg, 6.500 m, WH 250 kg, speed 3,000 m/43 knots or 10,000 m/28 knots
-W 250/533.4 x 6.5: 1,550 kg, 7.200 m, WH 270 kg, 4,000 m/48 knots or 12,000 m/30 knots.
-Si 270/533.4 x 7.2 “I”: 1,700 kg, 7.2 m, WH 270 kg, speed 3 km/42 kts or 7 km/32 kts, 9,2km/30 knots, 12km/26 kts
-W 250/533.4 x 6.72: 7.2m, WH 270 kg speed 4km/49 kts or 8km/38 kts.
-Si 270/533.4 x 7.2 “M”: 1,7 ton, 7.2 m, WH 270 kg speed 4km/46 kts, 8km/35 kts or 12km/29 kts.

“I sommergibili italiani”, Paolo M. Pollina, colorized profile from g.c. Sergio Mariotti src betasom.it See also a cutaway

Career of the Archimede class

Archimedes was laid down on 1st oct. 1931 , launched 10 December 1933 and completed on 1st August 1934. She served in the Regia Marina for three years and joined with her sisters the XII Submarine Squadron (III Flotilla) in Taranto. This one became the 44th Squadron and finally the 41st, part of the IV Submarine Group. However Archimede was relocated to Tobruk and in 1937, clandestinely took started operations for the Nationalists off Spain as promised by Mussolini. She left Naples for her only mission under command of Lieutenant Commander Sergio Lusena on 1 January and arrived on the coast, heading for Barcelona. She had 12 spottings but never was in good conditions to launch and returned to Naples 15 days later.
It was then decided under pressure from Franco to obtained for the inferior Spanish Nationalist Navy, to cede her and sister ship Torricelli. On 19 April 1937 after a refit at La Spezia, she was renamed named C.3 to confuse traffic, as it was the name of a sunken Spanish Republican submarine by U34 (3 survivors) but her fate was still unknown to the Spanish authorities. This was to hide this acquisition. She reached the island of Cabrera and the Italian crew was repatriated on the destroyer Pigafetta, replaced by a Spanish crew. Under command of Lieutenant Commander Pedro Suanzes she sailed to Pollenza for training and was renamed General Mola. Her first mission started on 13 May 1937 and last for 17 days later sinking the small gunboat Granada (234 tons) off Soller. On 4 April 1937 she sank the steamer Rapido. On 29 June she shelled the tanker Campero (6282 GRT) while surfaced with guns, but had to dive to avoid an air attack. On 26 July she sank the steamer Cabo Palos (6432 GRT). On 11 January 1938 she torpedoed the Dutch steamer Hannah (3697 GRT), off Cape Sant’Antonio.
Later she lost her aft 100 mm guns, removed to be used on land. She was active in WW2 and many years afterwards without known modernization and eventually decommissioned on 24 May 1959, sold for BU and towed in December 1959, but sank in a storm underway.

Galileo Ferraris was laid down on 15 octobre 1931, launched on 15 August 1934 and completed 31 august 1934 at Tosi shipyards in Taranto. She was in the same Gruppo III as her sister and in 1936 was engaged in the Spanish Civil War, one of the most active Italian submarines and most successful: On 2 February 1937, she claimed the Spanish Republican cargo Navarra (1688 GRT) off Tarragona.
On 14 August under command of Lieutenant Commander Sergio Lusena she intercepted in the Aegean sea, badly damaghed by gunfire the motor vessel Ciudad de Cádiz (4602 GRT) leaving Odessa loaded with soviet weapons. She was finished off with a torpedo while hoisting the Spanish flag all along. Four days later she fired at but missed the Aldecoa, and a few hours later sank the steamer Armuru (2762 GRT) with supplies. This was by violating international regulations as she ambushed her in Greek territorial waters.
Between October 1937 and February 1938 she joined the Spanish Legion based in Soller, with the initials L.2 and name General Sanjurjo II painted on her CT, but without achieving results.
As the Second World War, she was back in service with the RM in the Red Sea, based in Massawa, Eritrea with the LXXXI Submarine Squadron.
Her first mission under command of Lieutenant Commander Livio Piomarta started on 10 June 1940. On 12-13th she spotted a destroyer but when ready to attack water poured in from a faulty ventilaton valve. Water rushed in and damaged the batteries, causing gaz emanation and other failures in cascade, while methyl chloride poisoning some men. She was forced to return to base on 14 June for repairs for two months. On 14 August she was sent to intercept and sank the British battleship Royal Sovereign, supposed to pass towards Aden between 15 and 17 August. She was on station bt saw nothing until 23:55, launching two torpedoes at a passing by destroyer in the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb. She missed and survived three hours of depth charging, back to base on August 19.
She made seven more war patrols. From August 25 to September 1, she was between Gebel Tair and Gebel Zucur. On September 5-8, near the Dahlak Islands. October 20-23 and November 24-28 alswehere in the Red Sea and on December 3-8, off Masamaruh, December 23-30 near Port Sudan and January 20-26, 1941 Gebel Tair and Gebel Zucur. Fw spottings, few attacks and no kills.
By early 1941 Italian East Africa was about to fall and she was to be transfered to Betasom, Bordeaux. On 3 March 1941 she left Massawa, crossed the Red Sea, Strait of Perim all submerged, then through the Mozambique Channel, rounded the Cape of Good Hope, emerged in the Atlantic, refueled and supplied on 16 April northwest of Tristan da Cunha by the German ship Nordmark. She then passed west of the Azores and Cape Verde and reached the Gironde estuary and Bordeaux on 9 May 1941, after two months.
From 15 May to 1 October 1941, Ferraris remained in the shipyard for a full overhaul.
On 14 October under Lieutenant Filippo Flores she made her first Atlantic sortie east-northeast of the Azores. On the morning of 25 October while closing on a convoy, surfaced at high speed, she was spotted and attacked by a PBY Catalina, later joined by a second. They dropped depth charges and hit her. The damage prevented her from submerging. Later HMS Lamerton arrived and there was a brief artillery exchange with a signal to surrender, werehas the captain made preparation to scuttle the boat. She sank around midday 400 miles from the Strait of Gibraltar, with two officers, two petty officers and two sailors going down. The rest of the crew was taken POWfor the remainder of the war.

Galileo Galilei was laid down on 15 Oct. 1931 at Tosi in Taranto, launched 19 March 1934 and comissioned on 16 October 1934. She was placed in the same Gruppo III as her sister for three years and in 1937 she started her campaign in Spain under the Italian flag and from September 1937, temporarily assigned the initials L.1 “General Mola II” and affected to the Spanish Legion until February 1938 under TV Mario Ricci, which had no kills but was criticized by the commander of the Italian submarine group CC Francesco Baslini for a lack of agressivness and initiative.
As the Second World War broke ou she was in the LXXXI Submarine Squadron with her sister in Massawa, Red Sea. First mission was under Lieutenant Commander Corrado Nardi. On 12 June 1940 she patorlled south of Aden. On the 16th in the morning, she spotted the Norwegian tanker James Stove, 8,215 GRT, surfed and to intimate the order to abandon ship and launched three torpedoes. She sank while having a serie of very bright explosions which smoke could be seen from Aden, alterting British defenses. HMS Leander was sent to search for her, but she escaped. On the afternoon of June 18, Galilei halted by cannon shot the Yugoslav steamer Drava, allowed to continue due to her neutrality. However this gun shot was heard on board a RN warship nearby, which alerted the command in Aden. At 16.30 Galilei was forced to submerge as aircraft attacked. She emerged to recharge batteries in the dark until caught by surface units, submerge again and depth chargeed. She spent the night on the seabed until her air conditioning system broke down with a methyl chloride leak. On the 19th she surfaced at periscope depth seeing only there the British gunboat HMS Moonstone. Nardi decided to surface and attack but the bow gun aiming system stopped working while Moonstone proved quite fast and agile and adjusted her aim after ten minutes. One hit got the CT, wounding officers and Nardi, and one took the bow gun crew, killing the second officer.

Her stern gun jammed, with two shots in quick succession, killing Nardi and leaving one officer alive, midshipman Mazzucchi, wounded. He in between was on deck and manning the bow gun alone. Moonstone was joined by the destroyer HMS Kandahar, and the submarine surrendered, crew was taken POW and the boat towed to Aden as a war prize for internment. 16 men died, nearly all officers four sailors. She was well studied by the Royal Navy and back to service in 1942 as “X2” and then “P.711”, used for ASW training in eastern waters until decommission and scrapping by January 1946.
Postwar, historians argued about the alleged capture of secret documents, and how it helped the allied effort. See the Italian sources for more.

Evangelista Torricelli was laid down on 15 oct. 1931 at Tosi Yard, Taranto, launch 11 august 1934 and completed, commissioned on 10 dec. 1934. She remained in service for two years in the III Gruppo in Messina and by November 1936 she was one of the first to participate clandestinely in the Spanish civil war. Between 21 and 22 November 1936 under Lieutenant Commander Giuseppe Zarpellon, towards dawn, she spotted the cruisers Miguel de Cervantes and Méndez Núñez at anchor near Cartagena. Ferraris launched two torpedoes against Miguel de Cervantes, one hit her to the starboard side, opening a gash 21 by 14 metres (68 x 46 ft) at the stern. She was in repairs until March 1938. Next daus she made 7 more attack but abordted them due to uncertain nationality of the ships transiting these waters. On January 18, 1937 shelled Barcelona.

Later, like her sister Archimede she was handed over to Nationalist Spain on April 19, 1937 as C.5 (a recently sunken sub) under Lt. Cdr Rafael Fernandez Bobadilla, sailing to Pollenza for training, renamed General Sanjurjo and recommissioned with a Spanish crew. Sanjurjo started her first war patrol on May 13, over 17 days, torpedoing and sinking Ciudad de Barcelona (3946 GRT). On August 30, 1937, she shelled the merchant Ciudad de Reus which escaped in French territorial waters. On January 21, 1938 she torpedoed and sank the British steamer Endymion (which caused an outrage, however she was suspected to carry ammunitions) and she remained in the Spanish Navy in WW2.
On February 7, 1943, while off the coast of Cartagena, rescuing the crew of a crashed German plane, she was attacked the British submarine HMS Torbay, which understandably mistook her for an Italian submarine. Se was badly damage before communicating her identity and after this incident, the Spanish Navy painted her submarines white. She was decommissioned on September 28, 1959 and BU.

Read More/Src

Books

Conway’s all the world’s fighting ships 1921-47 p.304
Giorgio Giorgerini, Uomini sul fondo. Storia del sommergibilismo italiano dalle origini a oggi, Mondadori, 2002

Links

navypedia.org archimede
web.archive.org perso.wanadoo.es/
web.archive.org/ smgferraris.com
regiamarina.net r-smg-ferraris
regiamarina.net/ submarines class type cavallini
it.wikipedia.org/ Classe_Archimede
web.archive.org/ smgferraris.com
wrecksite.eu/
en.wikipedia.org/ Archimede-class_submarine
commons.wikimedia.org/ Archimede-class
u-historia.com/ torricelli.htm