Italian Submarines
Class "600"

by Cristiano D'Adamo

	Main Page
Design and Construction	Propulsion	Air Systems
Crew Quarters	Blueprints	Radio, Navigation, etc.
Periscope	Controls	Weapons
Technical Specifications	Operational Activity	List of all Boats

Communication, radio
and
Navigational Systems

The radio room was installed between the officer quarters and the control room. The “600” were equipped with a radio localizer apparatus mounted on the cunning tower and controlled from the radio room.

General announcing system

All “600”were equipped with an announcing system. Each compartment could communicate with a central station located in the control room via a speaker microphone system.

R. Smg. Adua in 1941
The cunning tower had already received the necessary modifications to make it less
visible and the boat is displaying a new camouflage.
(Photo courtesy Erminio Bagnasco and Achille Rastelli)

Alarm system

The “600”were equipped with a klaxon operated from the control room. Upon sounding the alarm, all hatches would be secured and the engineers would commence the diving procedures securing the diesel engines’ intake and exhaust valves.

Telephone call system

The “600”were equipped with two buoys situated on deck and attached to a retrieval system. If necessary, the buoys could be released and floated to the surface, giving surface units a telephone connection to the submarine.

Hydrophones

There was a hydrophone system connected to two external transmitters. The system was of domestic production and considered effective.

Gyrocompass

The “600” class was equipped with a gyrocompass of the type Anschutz installed in auxiliary room which had three repeaters installed in various compartments (and also in the wheelhouse). There was also a magnetic compass installed in a water-proof casing on deck with a repeating station in the control room.

The gyrocompass received its directive from a high-speed spinning gyroscope driven by electric motors. Its directive action is based on the mechanical laws governing the dynamics of rotating bodies. When any object is spinning rapidly it tends to keep its axis pointed in the same direction. The gyrocompass consists of a spinning gyroscope, made north seeking by placing a weight below the axis, which is mounted in gimbals so that the movements of the submarine do not effect its position.

The submarine ALAGI in a dry-dock in Messina (Sicily) in 1941.
The picture shows the graceful design of the external hull.
(Photo courtesy Erminio Bagnasco and Achille Rastelli)

A dial mechanically connected to the gyrocompass has the points of the mariner's compass marked on it and indicates the submarine's true course. The gyroscope required some time before becoming operational, thus it had to be started in advance of leaving port.



	© 1996-2007 REGIAMARINA (TM) - Terms and Conditions

Italian Submarines Class "600"