Italian submarine Antonio Sciesa

Antonio Sciesa was one of four Balilla-class submarines built for the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) during the late 1920s. She played a minor role in the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939 supporting the Spanish Nationalists.

History
Italy
Name: Antonio Sciesa
Builder: Odero-Terni-Orlando, Muggiano
Laid down: 20 October 1925
Launched: 12 August 1928
Completed: 12 April 1929
Fate: Scuttled, 12 November 1943
General characteristics (as built)
Class and type: Balilla-class submarine
Displacement:
  • 1,450 t (1,427 long tons) (surfaced)
  • 1,904 t (1,874 long tons) (submerged)
Length: 86.5 m (283 ft 10 in)
Beam: 7.8 m (25 ft 7 in)
Draft: 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in)
Installed power:
  • 4,900 bhp (3,700 kW) (diesels)
  • 2,200 hp (1,600 kW) (electric motors)
Propulsion:
Speed:
  • 17.5 knots (32.4 km/h; 20.1 mph) (surfaced)
  • 8.9 knots (16.5 km/h; 10.2 mph) (submerged)
Range:
  • 12,000 nmi (22,000 km; 14,000 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) (surfaced)
  • 110 nmi (200 km; 130 mi) at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) (submerged)
Test depth: 110 m (350 ft)
Complement: 77
Armament:

Design and description

The Balilla-class submarines were the first cruiser submarines built for the Regia Marina. They displaced 1,450 metric tons (1,427 long tons) surfaced and 1,904 metric tons (1,874 long tons) submerged. The submarines were 86.5 meters (283 ft 10 in) long, had a beam of 7.8 meters (25 ft 7 in) and a draft of 4.7 meters (15 ft 5 in).[1] They had an operational diving depth of 110 meters (360 ft).[2] Their crew numbered 77 officers and enlisted men.[1]

For surface running, the boats were powered by two 2,450-brake-horsepower (1,827 kW) diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 1,100-horsepower (820 kW) electric motor. The submarines were also fitted with an auxiliary diesel cruising engine that gave them a speed of 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) on the surface. They could reach a maximum speed of 17.5 knots (32.4 km/h; 20.1 mph) on the surface and 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) underwater. On the surface, the Balilla class had a range of 12,000 nautical miles (22,000 km; 14,000 mi) at 7 knots; submerged, they had a range of 110 nmi (200 km; 130 mi) at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph).[2]

The boats were armed with six internal 53.3-centimeter (21 in) torpedo tubes, four in the bow and two in the stern, for which they carried a dozen torpedoes. They were also armed with a single 120-millimeter (4.7 in) deck gun, forward of the conning tower, for combat on the surface. Their anti-aircraft armament consisted of two 13.2-millimeter (0.52 in) machine guns.[1]

Construction and career

Antonio Sciesa was laid down by Odero-Terni-Orlando at their Muggiano shipyard on 20 October 1925, launched on 12 August 1928 and completed on 12 April 1929.[3] During the Spanish Civil War she unsuccessfully attacked two ships during a patrol off Alicante on 6–20 August 1937.[4]

References
  1. Chesneau, p. 304
  2. Bagnasco, p. 139
  3. Fraccaroli, p. 107
  4. Frank, p. 96

Bibliography
  • Bagnasco, Erminio (1977). Submarines of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-962-6.
  • Brescia, Maurizio (2012). Mussolini's Navy: A Reference Guide to the Regina Marina 1930–45. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-544-8.
  • Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
  • Frank, Willard C., Jr. (1989). "Question 12/88". Warship International. XXVI (1): 95–97. ISSN 0043-0374.
  • Fraccaroli, Aldo (1968). Italian Warships of World War II. Shepperton, UK: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0002-6.
  • Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (Third Revised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.
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