Flutto-class submarine

The Flutto class was a large class of Italian submarines built for the Regia Marina during the Second World War, regarded as the best medium-displacement submarines Italy had built up to that time. They followed the 600 Series and were built to a partly double-hulled design by Curio Bernardis, adapted for mass construction. A total of 48 boats was ordered in three series, called Types: the Type I boats were named for sea creatures and marine terms, the Type II and III boats for metals. The first series of twelve was laid down in 1941, six of them at the Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, which was also the main yard for the later series, and three each at Odero Terni Orlando and Tosi. Many were unfinished at the armistice of September 1943.