Narvalo was one of five Glauco-class submarines built for the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) during the early 1900s. The boat served in World War I with defensive purposes and was demolished in 1918.[2]
| History | |
|---|---|
 Italy | |
| Name | Narvalo |
| Namesake | Narwhal |
| Builder | Regio Arsenale, Venice |
| Laid down | 9 February 1905 |
| Launched | 21 October 1906 |
| Completed | 16 May 1907 |
| Decommissioned | 26 September 1918[citation needed] |
| Fate | Stricken 26 September 1918 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Glauco-class submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 36.8 m (121 ft) |
| Beam | 4.32 m (14 ft 2 in) |
| Draft | 2.5 m (8 ft) |
| Installed power | |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Test depth | 25 m (82 ft) |
| Complement | 15 |
| Armament | 2 × 450 mm (18 in) torpedo tubes (2 bow) |
| Notes | Motto (Latin): Silenter sub undis victoriam parat ("Silently preparing the victory under the waves"[1][unreliable source?]) |
Design
editThe Glauco class of small submarines, designed by Cesare Laurenti, was the first class of submarines to be built for the Italian Navy, following the 1890 experimental submarine Delfino.[3] They were 36.84 m (120 ft 10 in) long, with a beam of 4.32 m (14 ft 2 in) and a draft of 2.66 m (8 ft 9 in). The submarines of the class displaced 157–161 t (155–158 long tons) on the surface and 240–244 t (236–240 long tons) submerged.[4] Narvalo was powered by two Fiat petrol engines on the surface, rated at 600 bhp (450 kW) and two electric motors rated at 170 hp (130 kW) while submerged, giving a speed of 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) on the surface and 6 kn (11 km/h; 6.9 mph) underwater. Range was 900 nautical miles (1,700 km; 1,000 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) on the surface and 40 nautical miles (74 km; 46 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph).[3]
Narvalo was armed with two 450 mm (17.7 in) torpedo tubes. The submarine's crew was 2 officers and 13 other ranks.[3][4]
Construction and career
editNarvalo, named for the Narwhal[citation needed], was laid down on 9 February 1905 and launched on 21 October 1906 at the Regio Arsenale (Navy shipyard)at Venice. She was completed on 16 May 1907,[4] as a training ship in the Adriatic Sea.[1][unreliable source?]
With the start of the First World War for Italy the submarine was stationed at Brindisi and placed within the IV Submarine Squadron, with Lieutenant Ottavio Siccoli as commander.[5] It was used in a defensive function.[1][unreliable source?][2]
In 1918 the ship was transferred to Porto Corsini and later, with the end of the war, went into reserve and was demolished.[1][unreliable source?]
Throughout the war, the Narvalo had carried out a total of 65 defensive ambush missions a short distance from the coast, for a total of 436 hours of surface navigation and 268 diving.[1][unreliable source?][2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Classe Glauco (1903)" (in Italian). 2008-02-05. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
- ^ a b c "Regio Sommergibile NARVALO" (in Italian). Retrieved 2021-02-18.
- ^ a b c Gardiner & Gray 1985, p. 275
- ^ a b c Fraccaroli 1970, p. 103
- ^ Favre 2008, p. 206
Bibliography
edit- Favre, Franco (2008). La Marina nella Grande Guerra. Le operazioni aeree, navali, subacquee e terrestri in Adriatico (in Italian). Gaspari Editore. ISBN 978-88-7541-135-0.
- Fraccaroli, Aldo (1970). Italian Warships of World War II. London: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0105-7.
- Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
External links
edit- Narvalo (1906) Marina Militare website
