Bandiera class submarine (1929)

Oceanic Submersibles (1930-48): Fratelli Bandiera, Luciano Manara, Ciro Menotti, Santorre Santarosa

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 Bandiera-class submarines were four light oceanic submersibles built for the Regia Marina in 1928-1930 as improved, enlarged version of the Pisani class by Bernardis. Two were built at Cantiere Navale Triestino, Trieste and two at Odero-Terni-Orlando, Muggiano. They played a minor role in the Spanish Civil War with the Nationalists and in the interwar, were assigned to the VI, then VII Submarine Squadron in Taranto, Brindisi, VI in Naples, and took part in the Ethiopian War. Next the XXXII and XXXIV Submarine Squadrons in Messina, and in WW2 with the XXXIII or III Grupsom. They were versed to Training in pola from 1942. Three survived the war until 1948 and Santorre Santarosa was scuttled on 20 January 1943 after being grounded and then attacked by MTBs to avoid capture near Tripoli.

Development

The long linage of Bernardis type submarine, distingished by their single hull design (Laurentis: double hull) started with Pisani in 1925 and branched out to the larger Fieramosca and Bragadin. The design was later applied on a whole serie of “medium” oceanic types, the Bandiera, Squalo, Areonauta, Sirena and wartime Perla, Adua and Platino, which were more coastal models, alongside a larger ttype with the Glauco, Marcello ad Marconi class as well as the cruiser type Cagni class.
Colonel Curio Bernardis (later General) tried to merge previous designs by Laurenti with innovative ideas in order to create boats capable of reaching greater depths based on a superior structural integrity making the pressure hull the main one, rather than internal beams and bracing. The best solution was a more circular hull, enclosed at both ends by a semispherical caps with ballast tanks were positioned at the end and an additional tank for deep operations emptied while using both compressed air and pumps.

The new prow of Ciro Menotti

Bernardis designed a single hull submarine with resistant central double bottoms (instead of a partial double hull) and external counter-hulls.
They had a notable surface speed of 17.5 knots at first but disappointing seakeeping. They had at first the same hull as the Pisani, with a straight deck, and the bow was relatively low on water. But on trials, they plough heavily and rolled excessively. It was necessary to operate major modifications to the bow and conning tower (splashed excessively), adding blisters on the hulls or small saddle tanks which partially solved the problem, but lowering the speed by about two knots. This gave them their final apperance with a raised forward prow section to avoid the deck being constantly washed over even in mild weather. It also contained a special auto-filling tank staying empty when surfaced with extra buoyancy, but filling up in immersion. The class was thus dubbed “nasone” (big nose).

The conning tower, which originally had a rounded, raked bridge nose was rebuilt with a overhanging, rounded upper bridge section with small portholes instead of windows. The deck gun was not mounted on a bandstand but laid on the deck with a sponson like section for the crew to move around.
To improve stability extra blisters were added and the keel reworked. After these modifications they proved more satisfactory albeit loosing performances significantly both in speed and range, unlike what was planned originally. This called for upgrades with the next class designed by Bernardis, the squalo (“shark”). Laid down too soon, they had to be heavily modified while in cosntruction, delaying them. The 2 Glauco, 11 Marcello and 6 Marconi were a more refined and better design overall from the start.

The launch of Luciano Manara. See the flush deck hull and absence of blisters.

Design of the class

Hull and general design

Fratelli Bandiera appearance was modifications.
The Bandiera class were essentially an improved and enlarged version of the Pisani-class. The idea was to bring incremental improvements to what was considered a successful design overall. The Bandiera class displaced 940 metric tons (925 long tons) surfaced, and 1,097 metric tons (1,080 long tons) submerged, more than the Pisani (880 t surfaced, 1,057 t submerged). They were also longer at 69.8 meters (229 ft) long (vs. 68.8m), and much beamier at 7.3 meters (23 ft 11 in) (vs 6.1 meters) for a draft of 5.26 meters (17 ft 3 in) versus 4.93 m on the Pisani class. Ooperational diving depth was the same, at 90 meters (300 ft). Crushing depht was probably double that. The crew was larger as well as previous designs, up to 53 officers and enlisted men versus 44-48 on previous classes.

Powerplant

When surfaced, their two propellers were powered by two 1,500-brake-horsepower (1,119 kW) Tosi diesel engines. When submerged the same shafts were driven by 650-horsepower (485 kW) GCE electric motors. This provided 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) when surfaced like the previous class and 8.2 knots (15.2 km/h; 9.4 mph) when submerged, also no improvement on that factor, albeit the electric power was 150 hp superior.
When surfaced, the Bandiera class could reach up to 4,750 nautical miles (8,800 km; 5,470 mi) at 8.5 knots (15.7 km/h; 9.8 mph). When submerged this was down to 60 nmi (110 km; 69 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph). This was 5,000 nmi/8 knots surfaced, 70 nmi/4 knots submerged for the Pisani, so lower performances if numbers are exact.

Armament

The Bandiera class were better armed than the Pisani class boats. They had two more torpedo tubes aft, for a total of eight 53.3-centimeter (21 in) torpedo tubes, four in the bow, four in the stern, the latter likely not reloadable. In total they carried 12 torpedoes. On deck they had the same Anslado 102-millimeter (4 in) deck gun forward of the conning tower. Their anti-aircraft armament was also the same as before with two 13.2-millimeter (0.52 in) machine guns.

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 they probably had the 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 the following wet-heater models:
-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.

Career of the Bandiera class

Bandiera was completed and commissioned into service, either on August 12th or September 10th, 1930. She was assigned (together with her sistrers) to the VI Medium Submarine Squadron based in Taranto (VII in 1932) then VI again and moved to Naples. On 23 December 1934 while in Monfalcone during maintenance one of her diesel engines exploded, killing second chief mechanic Lorenzo Bettini, injuring 11. By late 1935 she moved to Tobruk and in October in Massawa, taking part in the Abyssinian war.
She was back to Taranto on 24 January 1938, and based in Messina (XXXII, then XXXIV Submarine Squadron). In June 1940 under command of Lt. Maria Renato Pelella, she sailed for Spain and on 19 June sighted an armed transport 20 miles from Cape Palos, launched a torpedo but missed. On 21 October under Pietro Prosperini she spotted two destroyers sailing near Crete but was detected and had to crash dive, being depth charged but emerging unscathed. In November she was posted 90 miles south/southeast of Malta to take part in Operation Coat to intercept convoys from Gibraltar to Alexandria and between Malta and Greece. Meanwhile the FAA raided Taranto and other units attacked an Italian convoy in the Lower Adriatic. She made no spotting and went back home.
She made several sorties in the central Mediterranean area without results.
Between 21 and 22 July 1941, she left Trapani and sailedsouth of Pantelleria with three other submarines to counter Operation Substance (convoy to Malta), both spotting the convoy and Force H, launching a discovery signal, but being too far to attack them.
From the end of July and early August she was again sent between Pantelleria and Malta this tilme for Operation Style, but had no spotting. On 27 August 1941 under Lt. Carlo Forni) she launched two torpedoes on a merchantman off Ras Mustafa, Tunisia, missed, then surfaced and opened fire but she escaped, being faster. Two men (Sergeant Antonio Colucci and Sailor Giovanni Pinasio) were lost ion action as the cargo was also armed.
In September 1941 she was ordered southwest of the Sardinian coast this time to counter Operation Halberd.
On 15 April 1942, an inspection revealed she was too worn out for useful combat service after 22 combat sorties and 17 transfer over 15,976 miles, surface 1899 submerged. She was assigned to the Submarine School of Pola and until 1 September 1943, carried out 140 missions training mssions, going through various defensive patrols in the northern Adriatic.
On 7 September 1943, as part of «Zeta Plan» (landing at Salerno) she was deployed in ambush in the Ionian Sea between Puglia and Calabria. On the armistice, she returned to Taranto, and on 12 September, left with Atropo and Jalea, Riboty to Malta, surrendering in the afternoon. On 13 October she returned to Italy and entered co-belligerence based in Taranto and from November 1944 in Haifa, then Alexandria in Egypt, still for training. She was disarmed in Brindisi in 1945, but only decommissioned on 1 February 1948, BU.

After completion, Manara was assigned to the VI Medium Submarine Squadron in Taranto. She was offered her battle flag on 26 April 1931 by the Bersaglieri Association. In 1934 she moved to Naples. From December 1936 she was sent for clandestine patrols off Spain, making four unsuccessful missions, over 60 days.
On 5 October 1938 she was assigned to the Command School Flotilla and in 1940 was based in Trapani (VIII GrupSom). Her first combat mission was between the islet of Gaudo in Greece and Ras el Tin in Libya under command of Lieutenant Commander Salvatore Todaro. On 20 or 29 June 1940 while returning to base, she was strafed and bombed by a Sunderland near Capo Spartivento Calabro, firing with her Brega HMGs and hitting the Short flying boat.
Between 21 and 22 July 1941 she was sent to patrol between Pantelleria and Malta for operation Substance but made no attack.
From late July to ealry August she patrolled Pantelleria and Malta for Operation Style, no sightings.
After performing 11 patrol missions and 8 transfers for a total of 10,193 miles surfaced and 1381 submerged she was estimated too worn out for more operations and sent on 16 March 1942 to the Submarine School in Pola, taking 203 training missions until 15 July 1943. She was being modernized at Brindisi when the armistice came an by 1944, after this was completed, she started co-belligerence by training Allied escort ships, at Brindisi, Taranto and Palermo and also carried raiders in occupied territory under Lieutenant Gaspare Cavallina. She was decommissioned on 1 February 1948 and BU.

Menotti took part in clandestine patrols during the civila war in Spain. On 31 January 1937 at night she spotted, torpedoed and sank the 1250t steamship Delfin, in shallow waters. She ws latr refloated. On 2 and 3 February 1937 she sheled bridges and facilities at Herradura-Cala Honda. In WW2 she was in Trapani, under command of Lieutenant Carlo Fecia di Cossato, VIII Grupsom. On 21 June 1940 she sailed for her first war patorl between Gaudo (and Ras el Tin and in November was in the Ionian Sea, no sightings. Between June 1940 and January 1942 she carried out 23 war patrols in the Eastern Mediterranean but she was now estimated by the high command to be too old for frontline service and from May 1942, assigned to transporting supplies to Libya, eight missions, for a total of 22,200 miles surfaced and 2,800 submerged in 29 missions but on 7 March 1943 she was reassigned to the Pola Submarine School (53 training mission).
Hr last one was to carry on 3 August 1943 at night, 19 saboteurs from the San Marco Battalion (Lieutenant Di Martino) landed near Benghazi to attack the Anglo-American airfields.
By September 1943 “Zeta Plan” forced her to lay in ambush in the Ionian Sea but with the armistice announced she sailed for Syracuse to surrender to the Allies, but was intercepted by the HMS Unshaken, boarded her, and sent forcibly to Malta, arriving on 12 September at Lazaretto Creek. Returned to Italian control she was moored with other units in Malta and on 13 October left for Italy, entering co-belligerence in the eastern Mediterranean, as training boat, in various Allied anti-submarine exercises. She was disarmed in 1945, but decommissioned on 1 February 1948, BU.

On 21 June 1940 under Lieutenant Commander Guido Coscia she was sent between Ibiza and Majorca but suffered a breakdown and was back to base on 26 June for repairs. Next she was sent south of Crete and at 12:10 on 1 October 1940 she attacked a submarine with a torpedo but missed. On 8 November 1940 she accidentally rammed the trawler Giuseppe e Maria off Augusta, sinking the latter, while being herself seriously damaged. Between 4 and 8 April 1941, she was sent west of Malta to counter Operation Winch. Surfaced in rough seas she lost midshipman Emanuele Peretti. She was assigned to transport supplies to Libya (Lieutenant Giuseppe Simonetti) and on 21 October 1942, while underway from Naples, attacked by a submarine (three torpedoes) which she dodged.
On 15 January 1943 she made her last transport mission and 4 days later ran aground on Kaliuscia (Tripolitania), transferring the cargo onto light boats. The next night, now fully unloaded she was spotted and attacked by British motor torpedo boats: MTB. 260 launched torpedoes and hit Santorre, killing two (second class chief Vito Boccellato and able sailor Gaetano Aprile). She was wrecked ands abandoned. On 20 January 1943 her wreck was mined and blown up to avoid capture by the allies so close to Tripoli.

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
Bagnasco, Erminio (1977). Submarines of World War Two. NIP
Brescia, Maurizio (2012). Mussolini’s Navy: A Reference Guide to the Regina Marina 1930–45.NIP
Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, Conway Maritime Press.
Frank, Willard C. Jr. (1989). “Question 12/88”. Warship International. XXVI (1)
Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two. Annapolis NIP

Links

on .marina.difesa.it/
archive.org xmasgrupsom.com bandiera.html
on uboat.net/
on uboat.net
on uboat.net
on uboat.net
regiamarina.net submarines-class-type-bernardis
on navypedia.org/ships
regiamarina.net/r-smg-bandiera/
it.wikipedia.org/ Classe_Bandiera
trentoincina.it Bandiera
trentoincina.it Santarosa
trentoincina.it Menotti
trentoincina.it Manara