Ettore Fieramosca OG design

[sgeorges4]

after reading the french traduction of Erminio Bagnasco book on the ww2 submarine ,I founded that the submarine was going to carry a plane and some mine but the design got change during the construction:

Ettore Feriamosca - Italian Plane Carrier Submarine - Shipbucket

 

[Airborne2001]

Do you known what type of plane was being considered?

 

[sgeorges4]

not really

 

[archipeppe]

Italian wikipedia page reports about Piaggio P.8 or Macchi M.53.
Here it is the Piaggio P.8 also in folded configuration.

 

[Hood]

Both the Macchi M.53 and Piaggio P.8 were flown and both proved successful, neither was actually tested aboard the Ettore Fieramosca and the hangar was removed.

 

[archipeppe]

Both the Macchi M.53 and Piaggio P.8 were flown and both proved successful, neither was actually tested aboard the Ettore Fieramosca and the hangar was removed.

Correct.

The point is that both hangar and mines were removed from Fieramosca well before it was laid down,
Nevertheless the design was flawed enough that crew called it "Ettore Fieraguasti" (sounds like "Ettore Fierafailure....").

 

[Hood]

The point is that both hangar and mines were removed from Fieramosca well before it was laid down,
Nevertheless the design was flawed enough that crew called it "Ettore Fieraguasti" (sounds like "Ettore Fierafailure....").

Most published sources I have seen say the submarine was completed with the hangar but that it was removed in 1931 when she also received a 120mm/45 gun.

 

[archipeppe]

The point is that both hangar and mines were removed from Fieramosca well before it was laid down,
Nevertheless the design was flawed enough that crew called it "Ettore Fieraguasti" (sounds like "Ettore Fierafailure....").

Most published sources I have seen say the submarine was completed with the hangar but that it was removed in 1931 when she also received a 120mm/45 gun.

Interesting, because I remember that Fieramosca was completed w/o such features. I have to check my bibliography.

 

[Tzoli]

Yes, other sources too states that the hanger was removed in 1931 and the planned aircraft was not carried

 

[Tzoli]

Here she is when launched, clearly that cylindrical object aft should be the Hanger:

At Taranto, 1930:

 

[archipeppe]

Thank you my dear Tzoli such images definitely clarify the question.
Such thing could also explain why the Fieramosca, after modification, would be so prone to failures.

 

[archipeppe]

Here it is the Fieramosca in its final layout

 

[sgeorges4]

great pic ,is it me or the sub doesn't have his gun yet? also the coning tower look weird (although this was a thing for a lot of italian submarine)