Published Resources Details Book Section
- Title
- A Century-Long Dream: Single purpose engine submarines of the Italian Navy, 1892-2003
- In
- Warship 2004
- Imprint
- Conway Maritime Press Ltd., London, 2004, pp. 76-91
- Description
Accession No.1991
- Abstract
For a navy which has commissioned 293 submarines (twenty-two since the end of the Second World War) the trials ceremony held on the 6th of November 2003 for the Marina Militare's new U212A type submarine Salvatore Todaro would seem little more than a routine exercise. However, Todaro is something none of her predecessors were: she is a 'true' submarine. Powered by nine proton-exchange membrane hydrogen/oxygen fuel cells, she has a top speed of 20 knots submerged; she can stay under water for weeks, running at slow speed and her fuel cell engine multiplies by many times her "discretion coefficient" and her subsequent military value. She is the latest step in 111 years of progress and development.