Osvetnik-class submarine

Osvetnik class
black and white photograph of a submarine underway on the surface
Osvetnik, the lead submarine of the class, underway in 1930
Class overview
BuildersAteliers et Chantiers de la Loire, Nantes, France
Operators
Preceded byHrabri-class submarine
Succeeded bySutjeska-class submarine
Built1928–1929
In commission1928–1943
Completed2
Lost2
General characteristics
TypeDiesel-electric submarine
Displacement
  • 630 long tons (640 t) (surfaced)
  • 809 long tons (822 t) (submerged)
Length66.4 m (217 ft 10 in) (oa)
Beam5.4 m (17 ft 9 in)
Draught3.9 m (12 ft 10 in)
Propulsion
  • 2 × shaft MAN diesel engines 1,480 bhp (1,100 kW)
  • 2 × CGE electric motors 1,100 shp (820 kW)
Speed
  • 14.5 knots (26.9 km/h) (diesel)
  • 9.25 knots (17.13 km/h) (electric)
Range
  • 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) (surfaced)
  • 100 nautical miles (190 km; 120 mi) at 4.55 knots (8.43 km/h; 5.24 mph) (submerged)
Test depth60–80 m (200–260 ft)
Complement44–45
Armament

The Osvetnik class consisted of two submarines built for the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes – Yugoslavia from 1929 on – by Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire in Nantes, France. Launched in 1928 and 1929, the boats were named Osvetnik (Avenger) and Smeli (Daring). They were built to a partial double hull Simonot design similar to the French Circé-class submarines. Also known as the Smeli class, they were the second class of submarines to serve in the Royal Yugoslav Navy (KM),[a] and after extensive sea trials and testing they sailed from France to the Adriatic coast of Yugoslavia, arriving in December 1929, where they joined the two larger British-made Hrabri-class submarines to make up the pre-war Yugoslav submarine flotilla. The Osvetnik-class were armed with six 550 mm (22 in) torpedo tubes, one 100 mm (3.9 in) gun, and one 40 mm (1.6 in) anti-aircraft gun, and could dive to 80 metres (260 ft).

Prior to World War II both submarines participated in cruises to Mediterranean ports. Both submarines were captured by Italian forces at the Bay of Kotor during the German-led Axis invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941. After refit, they saw service as experimental and training vessels with the Regia Marina as Francesco Rismondo and Antonio Bajamonti respectively. They were both scuttled in September 1943 following the Italian surrender, Francesco Rismondo by the Germans following her capture, and Antonio Bajamonti by the Italians themselves.
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