Yugoslav submarine Smeli

Smeli
black and white photograph of a submarine underway on the surface
Smeli's sister submarine Osvetnik underway in 1930
History
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
NameSmeli
NamesakeDaring
BuilderAteliers et Chantiers de la Loire, Nantes, France
Launched1 December 1928
In service1928–41
Out of service1941
Italy
NameAntonio Bajamonti
NamesakeAntonio Bajamonti
AcquiredCaptured on 17 April 1941
In service1941–43
Out of service9 September 1943
FateScuttled by the Italians at La Spezia in Liguria
General characteristics
Class and typeOsvetnik-class diesel-electric submarine
Displacement
  • 630 long tons (640 t) (surfaced)
  • 809 long tons (822 t) (submerged)
Length66.5 m (218 ft 2 in)
Beam5.4 m (17 ft 9 in)
Draught3.8 m (12 ft 6 in)
Propulsion2 × shaft MAN diesel engines 1,480 bhp (1,100 kW), 2 × Nancy electric motors 1,000 shp (750 kW)
Speed
  • 14.5 knots (26.9 km/h; 16.7 mph) (surfaced)
  • 9.2 knots (17.0 km/h; 10.6 mph) (submerged)
Range
  • 3,500 nautical miles (6,500 km; 4,000 mi) at 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) (surfaced)
  • 75 nmi (139 km; 86 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) (submerged)
Test depth80 m (260 ft)
Complement43
Armament

Smeli (Daring) was the second of the Osvetnik-class diesel-electric submarines built by Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire, Nantes, France for the navy of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia). She was launched in 1928, and was built to a partial double hull Simonot design similar to the French Circé-class submarines. She was armed with six 550 mm (22-inch) 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 she participated in several cruises to Mediterranean ports. During the German-led Axis invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941, she was captured by Italian forces at the Bay of Kotor. Initially designated N2, her armament was changed and her conning tower modified. Due to her age and shallow diving depth, when she was commissioned into the Regia Marina as Antonio Bajamonti; her service was limited to training and experimentation. She was scuttled at La Spezia in Liguria by the Italians in September 1943 the day after the Italian surrender.