Italian submarine Flutto

Flutto-class submarine

Company type	Military submarine
Industry	Naval military
Founded	November 19, 1942 (1942-11-19)
Headquarters	Monfalcone , Italy
Products	Submarines

The Italian submarine Flutto served as the lead vessel in the Flutto-class submarine series constructed for the Royal Italian Navy (Regia Marina) throughout World War II. Despite its brief operational period, it failed to record any victories and was ultimately destroyed by British naval forces during the Invasion of Sicily in 1943.

Design and description

Conceived as an advancement over the earlier , the Flutto-class submarines featured enhancements in design and performance. These vessels displaced approximately 930 metric tons (920 long tons) when surfaced and increased to around 1,093 metric tons (1,076 long tons) when submerged. Their overall length measured 63.15 meters (207 ft 2 in), with a beam spanning 6.98 meters (22 ft 11 in), and a draft depth of 4.87 meters (16 ft 0 in).

For propulsion on the surface, the submarines utilized a pair of diesel engines, each producing about 1,200-brake-horsepower (895 kW), connected to individual propeller shafts. Underwater movement was powered by two electric motors rated at approximately 400-horsepower (298 kW) each. This configuration allowed speeds up to 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) when surfaced and a maximum of 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) while submerged. The operational range extended to roughly 5,400 nautical miles (10,000 km; 6,200 mi) cruising at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) on the surface, and about 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at a speed of 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) underwater.

Armament included six internal torpedo tubes measuring 53.3 cm (21.0 in), with four positioned at the bow and two at the stern. Each tube had one reload available, totaling twelve torpedoes carried aboard. Surface combat capabilities were supported by a single deck gun of 's 100 mm/47 caliber and two anti-aircraft guns of 's 20 mm caliber for defense against aerial threats.

Construction and career

The Flutto submarine was constructed by CRDA at their shipyard in Monfalcone, located along the Adriatic Sea, and was launched on 19 November 1942. Following her commissioning and subsequent training, Flutto engaged in combat operations against Allied naval forces within the Mediterranean theater. Despite these engagements, she did not achieve any confirmed victories. In July 1943, while participating in operations against Allied forces during Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, she was lost in combat. On 11 July 1943, during a patrol mission through the Straits of Messina, Flutto was detected and subsequently sunk by three British Motor Torpedo Boats (MTB numbers 640, 651, and 670), resulting in the loss of her entire complement of 49 crew members.

References

• Bagnasco, 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, 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.

External links

• Sommergibili Marina Militare website