Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Regia Marina — Submarine

Italian submarine Gemma

Perla-class submarine

Italian submarine Gemma
Unknown author — betasom.it — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons Plate RIN Gemma

Service

  1. Regia Marina as Gemma8 July 1936 — 8 October 1940403 days of the war
Perla-class submarine Particulars
Name
Gemma
Namesake
Gemstone
Builder
CRDA, Monfalcone
Laid down
7 September 1935
Launched
21 May 1936
Commissioned
8 July 1936
Fate
Sunk, 8 October 1940 (1940)
Status
Wreck

Specifications

Displacement, standard
616 long tons (626 t)
Displacement, surfaced
689 long tons (700 t)
Displacement, submerged
846 long tons (860 t)
Length
60.18 m (197.4 ft)
Beam
6.45 m (21.2 ft)
Draught
4.71 m (15.5 ft)
Speed
14 knots (25.9 km/h, 16.1 mph)
Range
5,200 nmi (9,630 km)
Complement
44
Main gun
100 mm (3.9 in)

Gemma was a Perla-class submarine built for the Regia Marina. The ship was named after Gemstone. CRDA, Monfalcone laid her keel on 7 September 1935. She entered service on 8 July 1936, having been launched on 21 May 1936.

She was one of ten ships of her class. The class followed the Sirena-class submarine and was succeeded by the Adua-class submarine.

The boat displaced 689 long tons surfaced and 846 long tons submerged. She measured 60.2 m (197 ft) long with a beam of 6.5 m (21 ft). Her designed speed was 14 knots, and she carried a complement of 44.

Her main battery was one 100 mm (3.9 in) guns. Her machinery developed 1,500 hp.

She was in commission for 403 days of the Second World War.

She was sunk on 8 October 1940, at 35°30′N 27°18′E. The wreck survives.

Written from the harvested record. Every figure above is sourced; the wording is this site's own.

Armament and machinery

Armament and machinery
Propulsion
  • Diesel-electric
  • 2 × FIAT diesel engines
  • 2 × CRDA electric engines
Power
  • 1500 hp (diesels)
  • 800 hp (electric motors)
Armament
  • 6 × 533 mm torpedo tubes (4 bow, 2 stern)
  • 1 × 100 mm / 47 caliber deck gun
  • 2 x 1 – 13.2 mm anti-aircraft guns

Sister ships

Sources