The Adua-class submarines were essentially repeats of the preceding Perla class. They displaced 680 long tons (690 t) surfaced and 844 long tons (858 t) submerged. The submarines were 60.18 meters (197 ft 5 in) long, had a beam of 6.45 meters (21 ft 2 in) and a draft of 4.7 meters (15 ft 5 in).[1]
For surface running, the boats were powered by two 600-brake-horsepower (447 kW) diesel engines, each driving one 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 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h; 8.6 mph) underwater. On the surface, the Adua class had a range of 3,180 nautical miles (5,890 km; 3,660 mi) at 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph), submerged, they had a range of 74 nmi (137 km; 85 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph).[2]
The boats were armed with six internal 53.3 cm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes, four in the bow and two in the stern. One reload torpedo was carried for each tube, for a total of twelve. They were also armed with one 100 mm (4 in)deck gun for combat on the surface. The light anti-aircraft armament consisted of one or two pairs of 13.2 mm (0.52 in) machine guns.[1]
Construction and careeredit
Uebi Scebeli was built at the Tosi shipyard at Taranto. She was launched on 3 October 1937 and commissioned on 21 December the same year.[1] After delivery, Uebi Scebeli was assigned to 43rd Squadron based at Taranto. In 1938 she was reassigned to Tobruk but returned to Taranto by the end of 1939 and was assigned to the 46th Squadron (IV Submarine Group).
On 10 June 1940, after the declaration of war, Uebi Scebeli was sent out to patrol off Cerigotto but returned to the base five days later on 15 June 1940 without encountering any traffic.
On her second mission Uebi Scebeli was sent out to a defensive patrol in the Gulf of Taranto.
Her third and last mission started on 27 June 1940, when she left Taranto under the command of Capt. Bruno Zani, heading to her assigned area of operation, approximately 35 miles northeast of Derna.
At 6:30 on 29 June 1940, while cruising surfaced on her way to the assigned area of operation, Uebi Scebeli had spotted three British destroyers HMS Dainty, HMS Defender and HMS Ilex, part of a screening "Force C" during the English operation "MA3" (protection for British convoy traffic from Malta and Greece to Egypt).
Uebi Scebeli had to make a quick dive to a periscope depth, and tried to launch an attack, but it was detected by the British destroyers, and was heavily bombarded with depth charges that caused serious damage. Two other destroyers HMS Decoy (H75), and HMAS Voyager (D31) from "Force C" joined in. Due to sustained heavy damage, the crew had to scuttle the submarine at approximately 7:00 in the position 35°29′N20°06′E / 35.483°N 20.100°E / 35.483; 20.100.
The crew managed to throw overboard most of the secret documents, but some of them were retrieved by the British, including a copy of the Sommergibili Italiani SM 19/S code book.[3] All crew members were rescued and captured by the British.
Bagnasco, Erminio (1977). Submarines of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN0-87021-962-6.
Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-146-7.
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.
Giorgerini, Giorgio (2002). Uomini sul fondo. Storia del sommergibilismo italiano dalle origini ad oggi (Second ed.). Mondadori. ISBN8804505370.
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Italian submarine Uebi Scebeli was an Adua class submarine built for the Royal Italian Navy Regia Marina during the 1930s It was named after Shebelle River in Ethiopia Uebi Scebeli sinking after being attacked by British destroyersHistoryKingdom of ItalyNameUebi ScebeliNamesakeShebelle RiverBuilderTosi TarantoLaid down22 January 1937Launched3 October 1937Commissioned21 December 1937FateScuttled by crew 29 June 1940General characteristicsClass and type600 Serie Adua class submarineDisplacement680 long tons 691 t surfaced 844 long tons 858 t submergedLength60 18 m 197 ft 5 in Beam6 45 m 21 ft 2 in Draft4 7 m 15 ft 5 in Installed power1 200 bhp 890 kW diesels 800 hp 600 kW electric motors PropulsionDiesel electric 2 Tosi diesel engines 2 Marelli electric motorsSpeed14 knots 26 km h 16 mph surfaced 7 5 knots 13 9 km h 8 6 mph submergedRange3 180 nmi 5 890 km 3 660 mi at 10 5 knots 19 4 km h 12 1 mph surfaced 74 nmi 137 km 85 mi at 4 knots 7 4 km h 4 6 mph submerged 7 5 nmi 13 9 km 8 6 mi at 7 5 knots 13 9 km h 8 6 mph submergedTest depth80 m 260 ft Complement44 4 officers 40 non officers and sailors Armament6 533 mm 21 in torpedo tubes 4 bow 2 stern 1 100 mm 4 in 47 caliber deck gun 2 x 1 13 2 mm 0 52 in anti aircraft guns Contents 1 Design and description 2 Construction and career 3 Notes 4 ReferencesDesign and description editThe Adua class submarines were essentially repeats of the preceding Perla class They displaced 680 long tons 690 t surfaced and 844 long tons 858 t submerged The submarines were 60 18 meters 197 ft 5 in long had a beam of 6 45 meters 21 ft 2 in and a draft of 4 7 meters 15 ft 5 in 1 For surface running the boats were powered by two 600 brake horsepower 447 kW diesel engines each driving one 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 7 5 knots 13 9 km h 8 6 mph underwater On the surface the Adua class had a range of 3 180 nautical miles 5 890 km 3 660 mi at 10 5 knots 19 4 km h 12 1 mph submerged they had a range of 74 nmi 137 km 85 mi at 4 knots 7 4 km h 4 6 mph 2 The boats were armed with six internal 53 3 cm 21 0 in torpedo tubes four in the bow and two in the stern One reload torpedo was carried for each tube for a total of twelve They were also armed with one 100 mm 4 in deck gun for combat on the surface The light anti aircraft armament consisted of one or two pairs of 13 2 mm 0 52 in machine guns 1 Construction and career editUebi Scebeli was built at the Tosi shipyard at Taranto She was launched on 3 October 1937 and commissioned on 21 December the same year 1 After delivery Uebi Scebeli was assigned to 43rd Squadron based at Taranto In 1938 she was reassigned to Tobruk but returned to Taranto by the end of 1939 and was assigned to the 46th Squadron IV Submarine Group On 10 June 1940 after the declaration of war Uebi Scebeli was sent out to patrol off Cerigotto but returned to the base five days later on 15 June 1940 without encountering any traffic On her second mission Uebi Scebeli was sent out to a defensive patrol in the Gulf of Taranto Her third and last mission started on 27 June 1940 when she left Taranto under the command of Capt Bruno Zani heading to her assigned area of operation approximately 35 miles northeast of Derna At 6 30 on 29 June 1940 while cruising surfaced on her way to the assigned area of operation Uebi Scebeli had spotted three British destroyers HMS Dainty HMS Defender and HMS Ilex part of a screening Force C during the English operation MA3 protection for British convoy traffic from Malta and Greece to Egypt Uebi Scebeli had to make a quick dive to a periscope depth and tried to launch an attack but it was detected by the British destroyers and was heavily bombarded with depth charges that caused serious damage Two other destroyers HMS Decoy H75 and HMAS Voyager D31 from Force C joined in Due to sustained heavy damage the crew had to scuttle the submarine at approximately 7 00 in the position 35 29 N 20 06 E 35 483 N 20 100 E 35 483 20 100 The crew managed to throw overboard most of the secret documents but some of them were retrieved by the British including a copy of the Sommergibili Italiani SM 19 S code book 3 All crew members were rescued and captured by the British Notes edit a b c Chesneau pp 309 10 Bagnasco p 154 Rohwer p 30References editBagnasco Erminio 1977 Submarines of World War Two Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 87021 962 6 Chesneau Roger ed 1980 Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1922 1946 Greenwich UK Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 146 7 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 Giorgerini Giorgio 2002 Uomini sul fondo Storia del sommergibilismo italiano dalle origini ad oggi Second ed Mondadori ISBN 8804505370 Portals nbsp Italy nbsp Engineering Retrieved from https en 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