Osvetnik-class submarine

Osvetnik class

Osvetnik, the lead submarine of the class, underway in 1930
Class overview
Builders	Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire, Nantes, France
Operators	Royal Yugoslav Navy  Regia Marina
Preceded by	Hrabri-class submarine
Succeeded by	Sutjeska-class submarine
Built	1928–1929
In commission	1928–1943
Completed	2
Lost	2
General characteristics
Type	Diesel-electric submarine
Displacement	630 long tons (640 t) (surfaced) 809 long tons (822 t) (submerged)
Length	66.4 m (217 ft 10 in) (oa)
Beam	5.4 m (17 ft 9 in)
Draught	3.9 m (12 ft 10 in)
Propulsion	2 × shaft MAN diesel engines 1,480 bhp (1,100 kW) 2 × CGE electric motors 1,100 shp (820 kW)
Speed	14.5 knots (26.9 km/h) (diesel) 9.25 knots (17.13 km/h) (electric)
Range	5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) (surfaced) 100 nautical miles (190 km; 120 mi) at 4.55 knots (8.43 km/h; 5.24 mph) (submerged)
Test depth	60–80 m (200–260 ft)
Complement	44–45
Armament	6 × 550 mm (22 in) torpedo tubes (4 × bow, 2 × stern) 12 × torpedoes or 25 × sea mines 1 × 100 mm (3.9 in) L/35 gun 1 × 40 mm (1.6 in) L/67 anti-aircraft gun

The Osvetnik class consisted of two submarines built for the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes – Yugoslavia from 1929 on – by Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire in Nantes, France. Launched in 1928 and 1929, the boats were named Osvetnik (Avenger) and Smeli (Daring). They were built to a partial double hull Simonot design similar to the French Circé-class submarines. Also known as the Smeli class, they were the second class of submarines to serve in the Royal Yugoslav Navy (KM),^[a] and after extensive sea trials and testing they sailed from France to the Adriatic coast of Yugoslavia, arriving in December 1929, where they joined the two larger British-made Hrabri-class submarines to make up the pre-war Yugoslav submarine flotilla. The Osvetnik-class were armed with six 550 mm (22 in) torpedo tubes, one 100 mm (3.9 in) gun, and one 40 mm (1.6 in) anti-aircraft gun, and could dive to 80 metres (260 ft).

Prior to World War II both submarines participated in cruises to Mediterranean ports. Both submarines were captured by Italian forces at the Bay of Kotor during the German-led Axis invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941. After refit, they saw service as experimental and training vessels with the Regia Marina as Francesco Rismondo and Antonio Bajamonti respectively. They were both scuttled in September 1943 following the Italian surrender, Francesco Rismondo by the Germans following her capture, and Antonio Bajamonti by the Italians themselves.
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