Italian Navy Sauro class, SSK costal submarine   The Sauro class constitutes the actual submarine fleet of the Italian Navy. Built in Italy by FinCantieri shipyards of Monfalcone, they have replaced the submarines of the Toti class, Italian design, and the American Romei class, ex Tang and Tench classes.   Since the mid 1970s an Italian design and built Sauro class were delivered to the Marina Militare Italiana, four batches of two hulls each with every batch having small modifications and improvements.   In order to increase the service life of the Sauro class six of the total eight will undergo through an upgrade process, reworked progressively by FinCantieri starting in 1999, totally renewing their electro-acoustical sensors and their system of command & control. For the two boats of the third batch, improving their noise reduction, bringing it to the level of the fourth batch. Specifications, Nazario Sauro S-518, Sauro class: Single hull design with a central bulkhead for escape purposes, pressure hull constructed of HY-80 steel. Displacement (srf/sub tons): 1,456/1,631            Dimensions (L*B*D feet): 210`0*22`6*18`9 Propulsion: diesel-electric 3*1,120hp FinCantieri GMT 210.16 NM diesels, 3 alternators 2,16MW, 1*3,210hp Malerri electric motor, 2*148 CGA battery cells,1 shaft Speed (srf/sub knots): 11/19 Range (srf/sub n/miles@knots): 11,000@11/250@4 Diving depth (feet): 985 Complement: 7 officers 43 enlisted Missile: none Torpedo: 6*21" (533 mm) bow torpedo tubes, total of 12 torpedoes, swim-out discharge Mines: 2*VSM 600 in lieu of torpedo Armament: none Construction First batch: Nazario Sauro S-518, launched October 9, 1976 Fecia Di Cossato S-519, launched November 16, 1977 Second batch: Leonardo Da Vinci S-520, launched October 20, 1979 Gugliemo Marconi S-521, launched September 20, 1980 Third batch: Salvatore Pelosi S-522, launched December 29, 1986 Giuliano Prini S-523, Launched December 12, 1987 Fourth batch: Primo Longobardo S-524, launched June 20, 1992 Gianeranco Gazzana Priaroggia S-525, launched November 26, 1993 The third and fourth batches are officially considered as Improved Sauro class. All built by FinCantieri/ItalCantieri, Monfalcone, the fourth batch is slightly larger 1,653/1,862 tons and have SSM capabilities Sub-launched anti-Ship Missiles, Mc Donnell Douglas Sub Harpoon-launched through the torpedo tubes.  Back to History Index