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:	1928–29
In commission:	1928–43
Completed:	2
Lost:	2
General characteristics
Type:	Diesel-electric submarine
Displacement:	630 long tons (640 t) (surfaced) 809 long tons (822 t) (submerged)
Length:	66.5 m (218 ft 2 in)
Beam:	5.4 m (17 ft 9 in)
Draught:	3.8 m (12 ft 6 in)
Propulsion:	2 × shaft MAN diesel engines 1,480 bhp (1,100 kW), 2 × Nancy electric motors 1,000 shp (750 kW)
Speed:	14.5 knots (26.9 km/h) (diesel) 9.2 knots (17.0 km/h) (electric)
Range:	3,500 nautical miles (6,500 km; 4,000 mi) at 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) (surfaced) 75 nautical miles (139 km; 86 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) (submerged)
Test depth:	80 m (260 ft)
Complement:	43
Armament:	6 × 550 mm (22 in) torpedo tubes (4 × bow, 2 × stern) 1 × 100 mm (3.9 in) gun 1 × 40 mm (1.6 in) anti-aircraft gun

The Osvetnik-class consisted of two submarines built by Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire, Nantes, France, for the navy of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia). Launched in 1928–29, the vessels were named Osvetnik (Avenger) and Smeli (Daring) in Serbo-Croatian. They were built to a partial double hull Simonot design similar to the French Circé class. The Osvetnik-class was the second class of submarines to serve in the Royal Yugoslav Navy, and joined the two larger British-made Hrabri-class submarines to make up the pre-war Yugoslav submarine force. They 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.