Italian submarine Argonauta (1931)

History
Kingdom of Italy
Name	Argonauta
Namesake	Argonaut
Builder	Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Monfalcone
Laid down	1929–1930
Launched	19 January 1931
Completed	1932
Fate	Sunk by aircraft, 28 June 1940
General characteristics
Class and type	Argonauta-class submarine
Displacement	660 t (650 long tons) (surfaced); 813 t (800 long tons) (submerged);
Length	61.5 m (202 ft)
Beam	5.7 m (18 ft 8 in)
Draft	4.7 m (15 ft 5 in)
Installed power	1,500 kW) (diesels); 800 hp (600 kW) (electric motors);
Propulsion	2 shafts; diesel-electric; 2 × diesel engines; 2 × electric motors;
Speed	14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) (surfaced); 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) (submerged);
Range	5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) (surfaced); 110 nmi (200 km; 130 mi) at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) (submerged);
Test depth	80 m (260 ft)
Crew	44
Armament	1 × single 102 mm (4 in) deck gun; 2 × single 13.2 mm (0.52 in) machine guns; 6 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes (4 bow, 2 stern);

Argonauta was the lead ship of her class of seven submarines built for the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) during the early 1930s.

Design and description

The Argonauta class was derived from the earlier Squalo-class submarines.^[1] They displaced 660 metric tons (650 long tons) surfaced and 813 metric tons (800 long tons) submerged. The submarines were 61.5 meters (201 ft 9 in) long, had a beam of 5.7 meters (18 ft 8 in) and a draft of 4.7 meters (15 ft 5 in).^[2] They had an operational diving depth of 80 meters (260 ft).^[1] Their crew numbered 44 officers and enlisted men.^[2]

For surface running, the boats were powered by two 750-

propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 400-horsepower (298 kW) electric motor. They could reach 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) on the surface and 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) underwater.^[1] On the surface, the Settembrini class had a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph);^[2] submerged, they had a range of 110 nmi (200 km; 130 mi) at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph).^[1]

The boats were armed with six 53.3-centimeter (21 in)

13.2-millimeter (0.52 in) machine guns.^[2]