Submarine Proliferation

Italy Current Capabilities

Capabilities | Import | Export

Italy map

Based at La Spezia and Taranto, the Italian Navy currently operates a submarine flotilla of two diesel-electric Sauro-class, four improved Sauro-class, and one new Type 212A-class units from Taranto. The two unimproved Sauros (S 519 and S 520) are scheduled to be decommissioned in late 2005, while plans call for the improved Sauros to undergo refit.[1,2,3,4]

Italy is gradually replacing the Sauro-class units with new Type 212A vessels with a fuel cell air-independent propulsion system. The Salvatore Todaro, the first Type 212A vessel, was commissioned in January 2005 and entered into service in May 2006.[5] The Scirè, the second boat in this class, is expected to be commissioned in June 2006.[6] Italian Navy plans indicate two additional Type 212A vessels will be built at Fincantieri Shipyard in Muggiano. Italy's Type 212A boats are being built by Fincantieri in cooperation with Germany's HDW. German-Italian cooperation in the construction of new generation submarines is based on a Memorandum of Understanding between the Italian and German defense ministries. The submarines are being manufactured on the basis of German designs. The boats' equipment is similar to that of the German Type 212s, but will use different torpedoes and electro-optic masts, and the vessels have been adapted to operate in the Mediterranean's warmer waters (see Italy: Import Behavior).

The role of Italy's submarine force includes anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare as well as surveillance, intelligence gathering, and task group support. Like other European navies, it is increasingly involved in joint operations.[2] Its primary areas of strategic interest are the Euro-Atlantic region and the Mediterranean Sea, with particular concern for the security of its sea lines of communication in the Adriatic Sea, Northern Africa, the Red Sea and Horn of Africa, and the Black Sea.[3] The Italian Navy is also employed to counter transnational organized crime, such as the illegal trafficking of goods and people, which have increased in the region due to civil unrest in countries bordering the Adriatic.

Type 212A
Displacement, tons:	1,450 surfaced 1,830 submerged
Dimensions, ft (m):	183.4 × 23 × 19.7 (55.9 × 7 × 6)
Main machinery:	hybrid diesel-electric/fuel cell AIP (9)
Speed, knots:	12 surfaced 20 submerged
Range, miles:	8,000 at 8 kt surfaced 420 at 8 kt dived
Complement:	27 (8 officers)
Diving depth, ft (m):	1,300 (400)
Endurance:	30 days
Weapons:	2 torpedoes; six 21 in (533 mm) tubes; 24 mines in lieu of torpedoes

Sources:
"Type 212," Jane's Underwater Warfare Systems online edition, http://juws.janes.com, 19 May 2003.
"Type 212A (SSK)," Jane's Fighting Ships online edition, http://jfs.janes.com, 5 March 2003.
"Type 212A (SSK)," Jane's Fighting Ships online edition, http://jfs.janes.com, 8 August 2003.
"Varo nuovo sommergibile 'Salvatore Todaro'," Italian Navy Web Site, http://www.marina.difesa.it/diario/2003/index.htm.

Improved Sauro (final pair also Longobardo-class)
Displacement, tons:	1,476 (1,653) surfaced 1,662 (1,862) submerged
Dimensions, ft (m):	211.2 (217.8) × 22.3 × 18.4 (64.4 (66.4) × 6.8 × 5.6)
Main machinery:	diesel-electric
Speed, knots:	11 surfaced; 12 snorting; 19 submerged
Range, miles:	11,000 at 11 kt surfaced 250 at 4 kt submerged
Complement:	50 (7 officers)
Diving depth, ft (m):	985 (300)
Endurance:	45 days
Weapons:	12 torpedoes; six 21 in (533 mm) tubes; the latter two units have been extended in length to accommodate SSMs, which have yet to be procured

Improved Sauro (final pair also Longobardo-class) submarine

Sources:
Stephen Saunders, Jane’s Fighting Ships: 2002-2003 (Coulsdon, Jane’s Information Group, 2002), p. 354.
"Galleria Foto," Italian Navy Web Site, http://www.marina.difesa.it/foto/foto03.htm.

S 1300 Sauro
Displacement, tons:	1,456 surfaced 1,631 submerged
Dimensions, ft (m):	210 × 22.5 × 18.9 (63.9 × 6.8 × 5.7)
Main machinery:	Diesel-electric
Speed, knots:	11 surfaced; 12 snorting; 19 submerged
Range, miles:	11,000 at 11 knots surfaced 250 at 4 knots submerged
Complement:	43 (6 officers)
Diving depth, ft (m):	985 (300)
Endurance:	35 days
Weapons:	12 torpedoes; six 21 in (533 mm) tubes

Sources:
"'Sauro' class," Jane's Underwater Warfare Systems online edition, http://juws.janes.com, 13 March 2003.
"La Tecnologia," Italian Navy Web Site, http://www.marina.difesa.it/sommergibili/tecno.htm.
Stephen Saunders, Jane’s Fighting Ships: 2002-2003 (Coulsdon, Jane’s Information Group, 2002), pp. 353.

ACTIVE DUTY SUBMARINES
Name (Number)	Class	Base	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned
Fecia Di Cossato (S 519)	Sauro	Taranto	Fincantieri, Muggiano	November 1975	November 1977	November 1979
Leonardo Da Vinci (S 520)	Sauro	Taranto	Fincantieri, Muggiano	June 1978	October 1979	October 1981
Salvatore Pelosi (S 522)	Improved Sauro class	Taranto	Fincantieri, Muggiano	May 1984	December 1986	July 1988
Giuliano Prini (S 523)	Improved Sauro	Taranto	Fincantieri, Muggiano	May 1985	December 1987	November 1989
Primo Longobardo (S 524)	Longobardo	Taranto	Fincantieri, Muggiano	December 1991	June 1992	May 1994
Gianfranco G. Priaroggia (S 525)	Longobardo	Taranto	Fincantieri, Muggiano	November 1992	June 1993	April 1995
Salvatore Todaro (S 526)	Type 212A	Taranto	Fincantieri, Muggiano	January 2001	November 2003	January 2006
Scirè (S 527)	Type 212A	Taranto	Fincantieri, Muggiano	April 2002	December 2004	June 2006

Sources:
"'Sauro' class," Jane's Underwater Warfare Systems online edition, http://juws.janes.com, 13 March 2003.
"Sommergibili: Origine dei nomi," Italian Navy Web Site, http://www.marina.difesa.it/sommergibili/nomi.htm.
Stephen Saunders, Jane’s Fighting Ships: 2002-2003 (Coulsdon, Jane’s Information Group, 2002), pp. 353-354.
"Type 212," Jane's Underwater Warfare Systems online edition, http://juws.janes.com, 19 May 2003.
"Type 212A (SSK)," Jane's Fighting Ships online edition, http://jfs.janes.com, 5 March 2003.
"Type 212A (SSK)," Jane's Fighting Ships online edition, http://jfs.janes.com, 8 August 2003.

Sources:
[1] Stephen Saunders, Jane’s Fighting Ships: 2002-2003 (Coulsdon, Jane’s Information Group, 2002), pp. 353-354.
[2] Interview with Captain Ermengildo Ugazzi, Commander Submarine Flotilla, "Submarines today: flotilla commanders comment," Naval Forces, 1999, Vol. 20, No. 6, pp. 40-46; in ProQuest Information and Learning Company, http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb.
[3] "Muggiano," Fincantieri Web Site, http://www.fincantieri.it.
[4] "Strategic Document on Defense in the XXI Century," Italian Ministry of Defense, April 17, 2001; in "Italian Defense Ministry Publishes Strategic Document on Defense in XXI Century," FBIS Document EUP20010419000180.
[5] Luca Peruzzi, "Italy takes delivery of first Type 212A submarine," Jane's Navy International, May 1, 2006.
[6] "Type 212A (SSK)--Italy, Submarines," Jane's Fighting Ships, http://jfs.janes.com.

This material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2008 by MIIS.