ITALIAN SUBMARINE CLASS A (A1)

CA is the name of a class of Italian miniature diesel-electric submarines from the Second World War. Vessels of this type were launched in 1938-1941. In total, only 4 ships of this type were built. The CA-class ship was 10 m long, 1.96 m wide, and had a displacement of only 16.4 tons. The maximum underwater speed was up to 5 knots. The ships of this type could be armed with two 450 mm torpedoes. The CA-class ships were designed and built initially as ultra-light coastal submarines. However, in the course of World War II, they were modified for various types of special missions that required advanced stealth. Their construction by the Caproni company was also kept a great secret. In 1942 and 1943, it was planned that units of this type would be transported across the Atlantic aboard the Leonardo Da Vinci submarine and launch an attack on American ships mooring in New York. Interestingly, the ship was even subjected to appropriate modernization, but in May 1943 it sank, and the imminent signing of the ceasefire by Italy made it impossible to implement this plan. All CA-class ships were scrapped in 1943 and 1944.