NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Alabastro 1942

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Acciaio			OTO, Muggiano	11.1940	20.7.1941	1.1942	sunk 13.7.1943
Alabastro			CRDA, Monfalcone	3.1941	18.12.1941	5.1942	sunk 14.9.1942
Argento			Tosi, Taranto	4.1941	22.2.1942	5.1942	sunk 3.8.1943
Asteria			CRDA, Monfalcone	10.1940	25.6.1941	11.1941	sunk 17.2.1943
Avorio			CRDA, Monfalcone	11.1940	6.9.1941	3.1942	sunk 9.2.1943
Bronzo			Tosi, Taranto	12.1940	28.9.1941	1.1942	captured by UK 12.7.1943 (P714)
Cobalto			OTO, Muggiano	11.1940	20.7.1941	1.1942	sunk 12.8.1942
Giada, 2.1948- PV2, 3.1951- Giada	1953- S501		CRDA, Monfalcone	10.1940	10.7.1941	12.1941	discarded 1.1966
Granito			CRDA, Monfalcone	11.1940	7.8.1941	1.1942	sunk 9.11.1942
Nichelio			OTO, Muggiano	7.1941	12.4.1942	7.1942	to Soviet Union 2.1949 (И-42 [I-42])
Platino			OTO, Muggiano	11.1940	1.6.1941	10.1941	discarded 2.1948
Porfido			CRDA, Monfalcone	11.1940	23.8.1941	1.1942	sunk 6.12.1942
Volframio (ex-Stronzio)			Tosi, Taranto	12.1940	9.11.1941	2.1942	scuttled 8.9.1943

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	629 - 643
Displacement normal, t	697 / 850
Length, m	60.2
Breadth, m	6.44
Draught, m	4.78
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 Fiat diesels / 2 CRDA electric motors Argento, Bronzo, Volframio: 2 Tosi diesels / 2 Ansaldo or Marelli electric motors
Power, h. p.	1400 / 800 Argento, Bronzo, Volframio: 1500 / 800
Max speed, kts	14 / 7.7 Argento, Bronzo, Volframio: 14.7 / 7.7
Fuel, t	diesel oil 78
Endurance, nm(kts)	2300(14) / 80(4)
Armament	1 x 1 - 100/47 OTO 1938, 2 x 1 - 13.2/76 or 2 x 2 - 13.2/76 or 1 x 1 - 20/70 Scotti-Isotta Fraschini 1939 or 2 x 1 - 20/70 Scotti-Isotta Fraschini 1939, 6 - 533 TT (4 bow, 2 stern, 10) Argento, Bronzo, Volframio: 1 x 1 - 100/47 OTO 1938, 2 x 1 - 13.2/76 or 2 x 2 - 13.2/76 or 1 x 1 - 20/70 Scotti-Isotta Fraschini 1939 or 2 x 1 - 20/70 Scotti-Isotta Fraschini 1939, 4 - 533 TT (bow, 8)
Electronic equipment	hydrophone
Complement	45
Diving depth operational, m	80

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Last, 5th series of 600t submarines. Repetition of Adua class with CT of moderated size for stability improvement and perceptibility decrease. Also power of diesels was raised. Three ships at the expense of application of even more powerful, than on remaining ships of series, had no stern TTs.

Modernizations

1953, Giada: - 1 x 1 - 100/47; fin was streamlined, artillery consisted from 2 x 2 - 13.2/76, 701/865t, 1350/800hp, 14.7/7.9kts, complement 54, endurance surfaced 3500(8) nm, 40t of diesel oil, + radar, sonar

1950s, Giada: - 2 x 2 - 13.2/76

Naval service

Cobalto was sunk 12.8.1942 N of Bizerte by ramming of British destroyer Ithuriel. Alabastro was sunk 14.9.1942 on approaches to Philippeville (Algeria) by British aircraft. Granito was sunk 9.11.1942 near Cape St. Vito (Sicily) by British submarine Saracen. Porfido was sunk 6.12.1942 near cape Bon by British submarine Tigris. Avorio was sunk 9.2.1943 off Bougie by Canadian corvette Regina. Asteria was scuttled by crew 17.2.1943 NW of Bougie after attack of British escort destroyers Easton and Wheatland. Bronzo surrendered 12.7.1943 near Syracuse after battle against British minesweepers Boston, Cromarty and Poole, renamed P714, later transferred to France and named Narval. Acciaio was sunk 13.7.1943 N of Strait of Messina by British submarine Unruly. Argento was sunk 3.8.1943 S of Pantelleria by American escort destroyer Buck. Volframio was scuttled by crew 8.9.1943 in La Spezia harbour, raised by Germans but never commissioned by them and in 1944 sunk by Allied bombers.

Giada was remained in the navy list after war being officially classified as battery recharging station till March, 1951, when she was reclassified as submarine, modernized in 1951 - 1953 and commissioned again by Italian Navy.