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Italian Submarines
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Since the creation of the first submarines, and not until the introduction
of more revolutionary designs later in WW II and in the post-war period,
submarines were made up of three distinct components: inner hull, outer
hull, and superstructure. The inner hull, also known as the pressure hull, was usually built of various cylindrical sections sealed at both ends by semispherical cups from which protruded the torpedo tubes. A second cylindrical area was positioned amidships and was enclosed in the cunning tower. The outer hull was the seaworthy external shape of the submarine designed for navigational qualities. Within this outer shell there were compartments utilized for the storage of fluids (ballast or oil), external ballast or compensation tanks, and very little unutilized space. In the case of the “600” class, most tanks were enclosed within the primary structure of the boat. |
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The resistant, or pressure hull of the class "600". |
| The superstructure was constructed on top, aft and forward of the hulls and giving the submarine a flat deck, a cruiser-like bow and a round stern. This part was usually completely open to the ocean and seawater drained through wide openings above the outer hull, or smaller cutouts placed along the whole profile. In the case of the “600” class, the utilization of holes versus an continuous opening indicated the origin of the boat since different shipyard used slightly different design. |
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The hull was made of cylindrical beams (reinforcement
rings) positioned about 520 mm (20.47 in) apart
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All the “600” class submarines were of the “Bernardis” type with a
cylindrical pressure hull made of cylindrical beams (reinforcement rings)
positioned about 520 mm (20.47 in) apart and to which were double riveted
multiple steel plates positioned in a brick layer fashion (each plate tended
to overlap the other half of the adjacent plates. In the final series, the “Platino”,
riveting was replaced by welding. Plates were made of nickel steel with a
breaking point of 60 kg/mm2 (853.4 psi), and an enervating point of 42
kg/mm2 (597.4 psi). Plates were 15 mm (0.59 in) thick around amidships and
12 mm (0.47 in) thick toward the extremity. The forward and aft sections
were tapered so that the internal circumference of the supporting beams was
larger in the central compartments than the extreme ones. Each plate was
secured by a double row of rivets, and an extra plate was installed inside
and outside of the riveted area. According to Alessandro Turrini (the
foremost expert in the engineering of Italian submarines) , during testing,
the hull proved to be exceptionally strong and probably built over the
specifications required. In fact, during operational use, more than one boat
dived well below the 80 meters (262 feet) maximum depth. The entire pressure hull was divided into six primary compartments. Starting aft, the first compartment was the aft torpedo room, which also included the electric motors, followed by the diesel engine rooms, the aft battery hold and additional equipment room, the control room, the officer and petty officer quarters and forward battery holds, and finally the forward torpedo room. Above the control room there was a smaller chamber (inside the conning tower). The two periscope sleeves were also considered parts of the pressure hull. |
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The forward superstructures making up the bow.
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A watertight bulkhead capable of withstanding water pressures up to 80
atmospheres (1138 psi) separated each compartment. The outer hull was made
of 7 mm (0.2756 in) steel, and as already mentioned, the space in between
the two hulls was used to stow diesel fuel and ballast water. The upper deck
was surfaced with teak wood slats bolted to the metal frame. The “600” had a
round bow; the first series, the “Argonauta” had a sharp bow which, in all
later series, was replaced by a typical “shark-like” one. . |
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