The Italian Submarine SCIRE under command of Prince Junio Valerio Borghese, was the best in the Italian assault craft. She was built over 1937-1838 at the O.T.O. Shipyard, and was similar to the 000 Class (ADUA series), although the nine submarines built to those specifications in that shipyard had some differences to those built in the Tosi yards. 17 submarines of the 600 (ADUA) Class were built, some at the shipyards of Cantieri Odero-Temi Orlando del Muggiano

SPECIFICATIONS

Displacement: 697/854 tons
Length: 61 meters
Beam: 6.45 meters
Draft: 4.65 meters
Hull type: simple hull with bulge
Engines (diesel): 1,400hp
Engines (electric) 800 hp
Speed (diesel) 14 knots
Speed (electric) 7.5 knots
Bunkers: 47 tons
Range (diesel) 2,200 miles @ 14 knots
Range (electric) 74 miles @ 4 knots
Tubes 6 tubes (533mm torpedoes) (carried 12 torpedoes)
Deck gun: None
AA guns 2 or 4 13.2mm guns
Crew: 45 men
Depth of dive: 80 meters

SCIRE was attached to the 1st Submarine Group, 15 th Squadron, based at La Spezia at the beginning of the war and carried out various attacks against British shipping. While under command of Lt. Pini, she torpedoed the 1,058-ton French steamer SS CHEIK on 10 July 1940. Lt. Pini saved 10 French sailors

Right after this mission, Pini was replaced and the boat was modified to transport the SLC (Siluro a Lenta Corsa) which was then given the nickname 'Maiale ' which means pig These were the manned torpedoes ridden by the Italian `Charioteers' that gave the British such fits in the Mediterranean, and they did not suffer from lack of courage! The deck gun had to be removed for this outfitting and the deck containers for the SLCs were strengthened and armored

The modifications were completed by the end of September 1940 and on 24 September, she departed for Gibraltar. After a successful transit of Gibraltar, the mission was cancelled by the submarine command, stating that the mission really was not that important any longer. SCIRE came back through the Straits of Gibraltar and on 3 October, docked at La Maddalena, in Sardinia.

Shortly thereafter, SCIRE received orders to launch an attack with her maiales and again, her objective was Gibraltar. This attack was timed to coincide with the darkness of the new moon in October. On 21 October SCIRE departed La Spezia and on 27 October, she tried twice to transit the straits on the surface. She was spotted, and Royal Navy destroyers came after her on the night of the 28th. After 40 hours underwater, SCIRE was able to surface off Point Europe on 30 October. The three maiales left SCIRE and headed for the British harbor at Gibraltar.

This was an unsuccessful mission, as two of the three became entangled in the anti-submarine nets and were destroyed. The third made it though the nets and entered the harbor, her sights set on the battleship HMS BARHAM.

She was less than 100 meters from the ship when her machinery broke down and she too, sank to the bottom of the harbor. Not to be finished so close to their objective, the riders of this maiale began to swim the explosive warhead to the battleship in the hopes of still attaching it below the waterline, which is the way the maiale attack was designed anyhow. They just were not supposed to have to swim so far. They did not succeed as the British sentries spotted the men swimming along with their explosive charge, planning to attach it to the ship.

As soon as the three `maiale' were dispatched, SCIRE returned through the Strait of Gibraltar and was unseen. She arrived at her dock in La Spezia on 3 November 1940.

In spring of 1941, SCIRE comes out of the shipyard after a major modification. Her turret is modified and the camouflage of the boat is done in the same design used by other boats that operated in the Mediterranean at the time. She was ready to return to combat.

As dusk on 15 May 1941, SCIRE slips out of La Spezia and heads west. After an uneventful passage of Gibraltar, SCIRE surfaces on 22 May in the Atlantic. The next night, SCIRE enters the Spanish port of Cadiz -- underwater. She surfaces near the Italian supply ship FULGOR which just 'happened' to be in the same harbor.

Ten commandoes (charioteers) of the Decima MAS Flotilla came from the ship and went aboard SCIRE for the next operation. The following dawn, SCIRE departs Cadiz Harbor and goes along the Bay of Algeria, reaching her pre-arranged point at the mouth of the Guadarranque River near Gibraltar Harbor.

Due to bad weather, the release of the three `maiales' was done on the night of 26 May. In the meantime, SCIRE was informed from Rome that many English warships had left on a mission and so, the Gibraltar harbor would not have so many targets for the 'maiales' to attack. Nevertheless, LCDR Junio Valerio Borghese and the `charioteers' of the Decima MAS Flotilla had decided to go ahead with their mission against the Royal Navy at Gibraltar anyhow.

At 2400 hours the three `maiales' were launched from SCIRE and the submarine begins to depart the area. At 0245 the soundman aboard SURE hears four distant explosions, and LCDR Borghese announces this to the crew. They are convinced that the mission was a success and that some Royal Navy ships had been destroyed Their jubilation was for naught because there was no British ships hit at all. The detonations were the sounds of the British destroying the three `maiales just a footstep from success.

SCIRE made another successful transit through Gibraltar and on 31 May 1941, she docks again at La Spezia.

There will be more on the Italian submarine force in KTB #155 next month. VINCENT - this is great stuff! Many thanks for all you sent - and please keep it coming.