Hi all!

These are my pictures, scaned of the SSB that is on Display on Imperial War Museum in London.
This was the evolution of the SLC Maiale (SLC= siluro a lenta corsa, or slow moving torpedo).
This version is very similar, to say th least, of the British Chariot II.

Mark II Siluro San Bartolomeo SSB (1943)
Number manufactured 9
This Mark II machine was considerable larger than the SLC having been dramatically increased in diameter that allowed the two operators to sit in the hull. With just their heads visible above the cockpit the streamlined effect gave extra speed.

At the end of the war 14 partially completed at the Taliedo and Rovereto factories.

And here are the specs of the Chariot II
Chariot Mark II
Designed by Commander S.M.Terry R.N. 21:10:1942
Principal advantages are:-
Streamlined for more speed and economical propulsion.
Crew sit inside back to back.
A Larger warhead
Better controls

Length 30’6”
Diameter 2’6”
Max height 3’3”
Weight 5,200lbs (with warhead)
Armament 1,000lb explosive charge (weight 1500lbs)
Max speed 4.5 knots @ 655 r.p.m
Range 5-6 hours at full speed
Depth 600’
Operational depth Limited to 30’

Enjoy!

Skipper

PS: If anyone needs bigger pictures, please send me a PM




Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Interesting photos.....
Thanks for taking and posting them.

Good Show, Skipper!
Did you take these shot's? Thanks for putting them up for all of us to enjoy and use for reference...
Gunny

Is that the "chariot" that knocked out the Queen Elizabeth and Valiant in harbor?

Nice pics Skipper.

The attack on the port of Alexandria was carried out using the SLC Maiale. A good book about midget submarines is Underwater Warriors by Paul Kemp.

Hi all!

Yes I took the pictures with my old Canon AE-1 program, before I had my Canon Digital PowerShot S230

Although the digital camera is more practical (and cheap to get the pictures) I still like to use my old analogyc camera.

There are big differences betweeen the SLC Maiale and this Siluro San Bartolomeo - just compare this warlkaroud with the Maiale in my gallery

Also a good read, although is french writen is:
La Decima MAS - Les nageurs de combat italiens de la Grande Guerre a Mussolini
By Enzo et Laurent Berrafato
Histoires & Collections
ISBN: 2-913 903-19-3

and
Caproni and the Sea
By Achille Rastelli
Museo Aeronautico Gianni e Timina Caproni di Taliedo
ISBN:88-87261-05-9

This last book covers all the Cantieri Caproni sea related projects, like the Caproni CA and CB midget submarines and also the SSB (with some interesting photos of a few being built).

Thanks for all your comments

Skipper