Italian Submarines in 1935

[Diarist]

After the Great War Italy had a fleet 47 submarines in various classes; these were mostly obsolescent and she was interested in replacing them. To this end the Italian Royal Navy (Regia Marina) made plans for a fleet of vessels in three Types: Type I ocean going: Type 2 coastal/sea-going; Type 3 mine layers. The Navy also invested time and resources in midget submarines and underwater special forces. At the same time the major powers were negotiating an arms limitation treaty at the 1922 Washington Naval Conference. Whilst there was discussion of banning submarines altogether, and to outlaw their use (a course favoured by Britain) both Italy and France opposed this. However the conference did place restrictions on the number and size of warships of various types that nations could build. The ocean-going submarine was restricted to a 1500 ton surface displacement, while the coastal submarine was limited to 600 tons, though there was no limit placed on the numbers of these vessels that could be built.

Type 1 ocean-going submarines

Mameli class : 4 units, built 1926–28
Settembrini class : 2 units, built 1930–31
Pisani class : 4 units, built 1927–28
Bandiera class : 4 units, built 1929
Squalo class : 4 units, built 1930
Balilla class : 4 units, built 1927–28
Archimede class : 4 units, built 1933–34

Type 2 coastal/sea-going submarines

Argonauta class : 7 units, built 1931–32
Sirena class : 12 units, built 1933

Type 3 minelayer submarines

Bragadin class : 2 units, built 1929–30

Source: Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:World_War_II_submarines_of_Italy