Italian submarine Turchese
| Company type | Submarine |
|---|---|
| Industry | Naval military vessel |
| Founded | September 28, 1935 in Monfalcone, Italy |
| Headquarters | Monfalcone , Italy |
| Products | Perla-class submarine |
Italian submarine Turchese was a Perla-class submarine constructed for the Royal Italian Navy (Regia Marina) during the 1930s. The vessel was named after the gemstone Turquoise.
Design and description
The Perla class represented a continuation of the earlier Sirena class series, with mainly incremental enhancements. These updates included a larger conning tower, upgraded engines, and the addition of a radiogoniometer operable from within the submarine. Further refinements involved new air conditioning systems and increased fuel capacity, resulting in a slight rise in displacement and extended operational range compared to previous models.[1] The standard full load displacement typically measured around 695 metric tons (684 long tons) when surfaced and approximately 855 metric tons (841 long tons) submerged, though exact figures varied by individual boat and manufacturer. Dimensions for these submarines were about 197 feet 6 inches (60.20 m) in length, with a beam of 21 feet (6.4 m) and a draft ranging from 15 feet (4.6 m) to 15 feet 5 inches (4.70 m).[2][3]
For surface propulsion, two diesel engines powered separate propeller shafts, delivering between 675–750 hp (503–559 kW) total horsepower.[2] When submerged, each propeller was driven by an electric motor rated at 400 horsepower (300 kW). The maximum speeds attained were 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) on the surface and 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h; 8.6 mph) underwater. In terms of range, these submarines could travel up to 5,200 nautical miles (9,600 km; 6,000 mi) at a cruising speed of 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) on the surface, while submerged endurance was approximately 74 nautical miles (137 km; 85 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph).[2][3]
Armament included six internal torpedo tubes of 53.3 centimetres (21.0 in), with four located forward and two aft. Each tube was supplied with one reload torpedo, totaling twelve torpedoes carried onboard. Surface combat capabilities were provided by a single 100 millimetres (3.9 in) deck gun. For anti-aircraft defense, the vessel was equipped with one or two pairs of 13.2 millimetres (0.52 in) machine guns.[3]
Construction and career
Turchese was constructed by the CRDA shipyard located in Monfalcone. Her keel was laid down on 28 September 1935, she was launched on 19 July 1936, and the vessel was finalized by 21 September 1936.
Upon completion, Turchese was assigned to the 34th Squadron (III Submarine Group) stationed at Messina. Following a short period of training, she undertook an extended endurance cruise in the Dodecanese during autumn 1936. In 1937, she conducted a training campaign spanning the Dodecanese and the Mediterranean Sea, which was followed by another similar exercise in 1938. On October 15, 1938, Turchese was temporarily transferred to the Flotilla Submarine School. Returning to operational status in 1939, she became part of the 72nd Squadron (VII Submarine Group) based at Cagliari, alongside submarines Diaspro, Corallo, and Medusa. She remained with this unit until the conclusion of her service.
At the onset of World War II, Turchese was commanded by Gustavo Miniero. Her inaugural combat patrol occurred off Cap de Creus from June 17 to June 19, 1940, though no enemy vessels were encountered during this mission.
Throughout her wartime duties, Turchese carried out numerous patrols in the Strait of Sicily and along the North African coastline, most of which were uneventful.
On July 7, 1940, Turchese joined five other submarines—including Ascianghi and Axum—to patrol an area south of Sardinia. During her return to Cagliari on July 12, she spotted an enemy vessel apparently engaged in mine-laying activities and fired three torpedoes at it. One torpedo missed entirely, while the remaining two passed beneath the ship’s hull without detonating as it sped away.
On August 1, 1940, Turchese, along with submarines Scirè, Argo, Neghelli, Medusa (subsequently replaced by Luciano Manara), Axum, and Diaspro, formed a blockade north of Cape Bougaroun in response to the departure of British Force H from Gibraltar. This deployment coincided with British operations "Crush" and "Hurry." The Italian submarines maintained their patrol until August 9; however, Force H circumvented their positions by passing northward, evading detection.
Between December 31, 1940, and January 12, 1941, Turchese patrolled the Strait of Otranto alongside Ambra and Filippo Corridoni, tasked with securing maritime traffic between Italy and Albania.
During September 1941’s British operation "Halberd," she operated south-southwest of Ibiza, together with submarines Adua and Dandolo.
On October 17, 1941, Turchese was deployed north of Cap de Fer for patrol duties alongside Serpente, Alagi, and Diaspro.
Subsequently, on November 10, 1941, she joined a patrol east of Gibraltar with submarines Aradam, Squalo, Narvalo, Onice, and Fratelli Bandiera.
In the early hours of October 28, 1942, Turchese, along with submarines Brin, Corallo, Emo, Topazio, and Axum, positioned themselves south of the Balearic Islands aiming to intercept elements of Force H departing from Gibraltar during British Operation "Baritone". Nonetheless, no British vessels were sighted as they altered their course and returned to base.
Following the launch of Operation Torch on November 8, 1942—when over 500 Allied ships escorted by approximately 350 warships landed some 107,000 troops in Algeria and Morocco, opening a second front in North Africa—Turchese, along with numerous Italian and German submarines, was deployed promptly into the southern Mediterranean theater.
On September 7, 1943, in accordance with the Zeta Plan anticipating an Anglo-American landing in southern Italy, several Italian submarines were positioned in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Turchese patrolled between the Gulf of Gaeta and Gulf of Paola.
The next day, following the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile, orders directed Turchese to proceed to Bona, Algeria to surrender to Allied forces. However, at 21:27 on September 11, she sustained severe damage after being attacked by a German aircraft and required towing assistance from a British vessel. She arrived under tow at Bona on September 13.
After undergoing provisional repairs at Bona, she departed on September 27 but soon suffered engine failure forcing her to return; she reached Bona again at dawn on September 28. Subsequently, Turchese moved to Bizerta before arriving in Malta on October 6.
On November 27, 1943, she was towed from Malta by corvette Chimera first to Augusta, Sicily, then onward to Taranto, and finally reached Brindisi.
No longer returning to active service thereafter, Turchese remained disarmed in Brindisi for the remainder of World War II. She was officially removed from naval registers on February 1, 1948, before being dismantled.
Notes
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.
- Giorgerini, Giorgio (2002). Uomini sul fondo. Storia del sommergibilismo italiano dalle origini ad oggi (Second ed.). Mondadori. ISBN 8804505370.
- Pollina, Paolo (1963). I Sommergibili Italiani 1895–1962. Rome, Italy: SMM.
External links
- Regia Marina The Italian Navy during the Second World War
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