The Flutto class were a large class of submarines built for the Italian Royal Navy (Regia Marina) during the Second World War. The Fluttos were a development of the 600 Series of medium-sized, or seagoing, submarines. They were built to a partial double-hulled Bernardis design, influenced by war-time experience and construction adapted for mass construction. The Fluttos were good sea-boats with improved internal arrangements, hull strength, anti-aircraft armament and diving times. They are regarded as the best medium-displacement submarines built by Italy up to that time. A total of 48 submarines were ordered, in three series (referred to as "Types"). The name Flutto means “wave”, and the Type I vessels were named for marine terms and sea-creatures. The Type II and Type III vessels all bore names of metals.
== Type I == The first series of 12 vessels were laid down in 1941; six from CRDA, and three each from OTO and Tosi. Of these 10 were commissioned and saw action; two others were unfinished at the Italian armistice in September 1943 and work on them was abandoned. Of the 10 vessels which became operational, three were sunk by the Allies, and four scuttled at the armistice. These were all raised by the Germans and re-fitted, but all four were sunk in Allied air raids during 1944. Three others were surrendered to the Allies and survived the war. Two vessels, Grongo and Murena, fitted with containers for carrying Maiale manned torpedoes, for operations by the Decima MAS special operations force.
== Type II == The second series of 24 were to the same design, though enlarged slightly to resolve trim problems highlighted in the first vessels. These were laid down in 1942, 15 from CRDA, six from OTO and three from Tosi. These constructions were overtaken by Italy's collapse in September 1943, and none had been completed at that time. Most of these hulls fell into German hands, and work was continued on several, but none became operational before Germany's surrender in 1945.
== Type III == The third series were a copy of the Type II design, and were due to be started in 1943, but none had been laid down by the time of Italy's surrender in September of that year. All were subsequently cancelled.
== Ships == Type I
Cernia: Tosi: Work suspended September 1943 at armistice; laid up 1944 Dentice: Tosi: Work suspended September 1943 at armistice; laid up 1944 Flutto: Launched at CRDA 19.11.42; sunk 11.7.43 by British MTBs Gorgo: Launched at CRDA 31.1.42; sunk 21.5.43 by US destroyer Nields Grongo: Launched at OTO 6.5.43; scuttled in September 1943 at armistice. Raised by the Germans as UIT 20; destroyed in air raid in 1944 Marea: Launched at CRDA 10.12.42; surrendered to the Allies in September 1943 Murena: Launched at OTO 11.4.43; scuttled in September 1943 at armistice. Raised by the Germans as UIT 16; destroyed in air raid in 1944 Nautilo: Launched at CRDA 20.3.43; scuttled in September 1943 at armistice. Raised by the Germans as UIT 19; destroyed in air raid in 1944 Sparide: Launched at OTO 21.2.43; scuttled in September 1943 at armistice. Raised by the Germans as UIT 15; destroyed in air raid in 1944 Spigola: Tosi; work suspended in September 1943 at armistice. Broken up in 1948 Tritone: Launched at CRDA 3.1.42; sunk 19.1.43 by destroyer Antelope and corvette Port Arthur Vortice: Launched at CRDA 23.2.43; surrendered to the Allies in September 1943 Type II
Aluminio: OTO; unfinished at armistice in September 1943; broken up by the Germans Antinomio: OTO; unfinished at armistice in September 1943; broken up by the Germans Bario: CRDA: unfinished at armistice September 43, continued by Germans, launched 23.1.44 UIT 7. Scuttled May 45 Cromo: CRDA: unfinished at armistice September 43, broken up by Germans Ferro: CRDA: unfinished at armistice, continued by Germans as UIT 12 destroyed unfinished May 45 Fosforo: OTO: unfinished at armistice September 43, broken up by Germans Litio: CRDA: unfinished at armistice September 43, continued by Germans, launched 19.2.44 as UIT 8. Scuttled May 45 Manganese: OTO; unfinished at armistice in September 1943; broken up by the Germans Piombo: CRDA: Unfinished at armistice September 43, continued by Germans as UIT 13, destroyed unfinished May 45 Potassio: CRDA: Unfinished at armistice September 43, continued by Germans as UIT 10, destroyed unfinished May 45 Rame: CRDA: Unfinished at armistice September 43, continued by Germans as UIT 11, destroyed unfinished May 45 Silicio: OTO; unfinished at armistice in September 1943; broken up by the Germans Sodio: CRDA: unfinished at armistice September 43, continued by Germans, launched 16.3.44 as UIT 9. Scuttled May 45 Zinco: CRDA: Unfinished at armistice September 43, continued by Germans as UIT 14, destroyed unfinished May 45 Zolfo: OTO; unfinished at armistice in September 1943; broken up by the Germans Amianto: Tosi: not laid down before armistice; cancelled Magnesio: Tosi: not laid down before armistice; cancelled Cadmio: CRDA: not laid down before armistice; cancelled Tridio: CRDA: not laid down before armistice; cancelled Mercurio: CRDA: not laid down before armistice; cancelled Oro: CRDA: not laid down before armistice; cancelled Ottone: CRDA: not laid down before armistice; cancelled Ruthenio: CRDA: not laid down before armistice; cancelled Vanadio: CRDA: not laid down before armistice; cancelled Type III
(All vessels: Not laid down before armistice; cancelled) Attinio Azoto Bromo Carbonio Elio Molibdeno Osmio Osigeno Plutonio Radio Selenio Tungsteno
== See also == Italian submarines of World War II
References
Notes
=== Bibliography === Bagnasco, E:Submarines of World War Two (1977) ISBN 0 85368 331 X Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger, eds. (1980). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7. Dodson, Aidan & Cant, Serena (2020). Spoils of War: The Fate of Enemy Fleets after Two World Wars. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-5267-4198-1.
== External links == Sommergibili Marina Militare website Regia Marina The Italian Navy in World War II
