The Foca-class submarines were improved versions of the preceding Pietro Micca. They displaced 1,326 metric tons (1,305 long tons) surfaced and 1,625 long tons (1,651 t) submerged. The submarines were 82.85 meters (271 ft 10 in) long, had a beam of 7.17 meters (23 ft 6 in) and a draft of 5.2 meters (17 ft 1 in).[1] They had an operational diving depth of 90 meters (300 ft).[2] Their crew numbered 60 officers and enlisted men.[1]
For surface running, the boats were powered by two 1,440-brake-horsepower (1,074 kW) diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 625-horsepower (466 kW) electric motor. They could reach 15.2 knots (28.2 km/h; 17.5 mph) on the surface and 7.4 knots (13.7 km/h; 8.5 mph) underwater. On the surface, the Foca class had a range of 7,800 nautical miles (14,400 km; 9,000 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph), submerged, they had a range of 120 nmi (220 km; 140 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 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 eight torpedoes. They were also armed with one 100-millimeter (3.9 in)deck gun for combat on the surface. The gun was initially mounted in the rear of the conning tower, but this was re-sited on the forward deck later in the war in the surviving boats and the large conning tower was re-built to a smaller design. Their anti-aircraft armament consisted of two pairs of 13.2-millimeter (0.52 in) machine guns.[1] The Focas carried a total of 36 mines that they ejected through chutes in the stern.[2]
Bagnasco, Erminio (1977). Submarines of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN0-87021-962-6.
Brescia, Maurizio (2012). Mussolini's Navy: A Reference Guide to the Regina Marina 1930–45. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN978-1-59114-544-8.
Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-146-7.
Fraccaroli, Aldo (1968). Italian Warships of World War II. Shepperton, UK: Ian Allan. ISBN0-7110-0002-6.
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. ISBN1-59114-119-2.
italian, submarine, foca, 1937, other, ships, with, same, name, italian, submarine, foca, foca, lead, ship, class, three, submarine, minelayers, built, regia, marina, royal, italian, navy, during, late, 1930s, historyitalynamefocabuildercantieri, navali, tosi,. For other ships with the same name see Italian submarine Foca Foca was the lead ship of her class of three submarine minelayers built for the Regia Marina Royal Italian Navy during the late 1930s HistoryItalyNameFocaBuilderCantieri navali Tosi di Taranto TarantoLaid down15 January 1936Launched26 June 1937Commissioned6 November 1937FateSunk 13 October 1940General characteristics as built Class and typeFoca class submarine minelayerDisplacement1 326 t 1 305 long tons surfaced 1 651 t 1 625 long tons submerged Length82 85 m 271 ft 10 in Beam7 17 m 23 ft 6 in Draft5 2 m 17 ft 1 in Installed power2 880 bhp 2 150 kW diesels 1 250 hp 930 kW electric motors Propulsion2 shafts diesel electric 2 diesel engines 2 electric motorsSpeed15 2 knots 28 2 km h 17 5 mph surfaced 7 4 knots 13 7 km h 8 5 mph submerged Range7 800 nmi 14 400 km 9 000 mi at 8 knots 15 km h 9 2 mph surfaced 120 nmi 220 km 140 mi at 8 knots 15 km h 9 2 mph submerged Test depth90 m 300 ft Complement60Armament6 533 mm 21 in torpedo tubes 4 bow 2 stern 1 single 100 mm 3 9 in deck gun 2 twin 13 2 mm 0 52 in machine guns 36 mines Contents 1 Design and description 2 Construction and career 3 References 4 Bibliography 5 External linksDesign and description EditThe Foca class submarines were improved versions of the preceding Pietro Micca They displaced 1 326 metric tons 1 305 long tons surfaced and 1 625 long tons 1 651 t submerged The submarines were 82 85 meters 271 ft 10 in long had a beam of 7 17 meters 23 ft 6 in and a draft of 5 2 meters 17 ft 1 in 1 They had an operational diving depth of 90 meters 300 ft 2 Their crew numbered 60 officers and enlisted men 1 For surface running the boats were powered by two 1 440 brake horsepower 1 074 kW diesel engines each driving one propeller shaft When submerged each propeller was driven by a 625 horsepower 466 kW electric motor They could reach 15 2 knots 28 2 km h 17 5 mph on the surface and 7 4 knots 13 7 km h 8 5 mph underwater On the surface the Foca class had a range of 7 800 nautical miles 14 400 km 9 000 mi at 8 knots 15 km h 9 2 mph submerged they had a range of 120 nmi 220 km 140 mi at 7 knots 13 km h 8 1 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 eight torpedoes They were also armed with one 100 millimeter 3 9 in deck gun for combat on the surface The gun was initially mounted in the rear of the conning tower but this was re sited on the forward deck later in the war in the surviving boats and the large conning tower was re built to a smaller design Their anti aircraft armament consisted of two pairs of 13 2 millimeter 0 52 in machine guns 1 The Focas carried a total of 36 mines that they ejected through chutes in the stern 2 Construction and career EditFoca was laid down by Cantieri navali Tosi di Taranto at their Taranto shipyard on 15 January 1936 launched on 19 June 1937 and completed on 6 November 1937 3 References Edit a b c Chesneau p 305 a b c Bagnasco p 156 Fraccaroli p 113Bibliography EditBagnasco 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 Fraccaroli Aldo 1968 Italian Warships of World War II Shepperton UK Ian Allan ISBN 0 7110 0002 6 Rohwer Jurgen 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 External links EditSommergibili Marina Militare websitePortals nbsp Italy nbsp Engineering nbsp World War II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Italian submarine Foca 1937 amp oldid 1162232851, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
