Mini-Submarine “CB” Class

To the date of the entrance in the war of Italy, 10 June 1940, the men of Decima MAS Flottiglia had completed the testings of the Torpedo to Slow Run (SLC), affectionately called ‘pig’. In the months of July and September of 1940 in Le Spezia shipyards was finished the necessary changes to the first three submarines destined to the actions of Decima MAS Flottiglia. The selected vessels were some submarines of the 600 class even if of different series – a ‘PEARL’ Type and subsequently, two Africans Type SCIRÉ and GONDARD (pictured here at right, top).

They were not the most modern submarines of the Regia Marina, but keeping track of particularly the missions they were to perform needing vessels of small tonnage, strong and well tested in earlier war actions (War of Spain).

The submarine IRIDE was the first vessel modified to carry the sub-assault craft SLC’s. This vessel had participated in the War of Spain fighting for the Espagnol Navy of General Franco under the name GONZALES LOPEZ. She was recommissioned into the Italian Navy and assigned to the First Group Submarines, 14a Squadron, based at La Spezia.

With this submarine, the men of Decima MAS Flottiglia performed the first tests at sea to carry the SLC’s. The outbreak of war expedited the preparation of the first mission and that was performed hurriedly in August 1940.

The mission foresaw the attack of ships anchored in Alexandria Harbor to take four SLC’s to the first underwater anti-submarine net protecting the naval base. The submarine commanded by Lt. Francesco Brunetti had to perform the last line of approach to the English base. In fact, the mission also foresaw the use of three support ships between which the torpedoboat CALIPSO.

The submarine departed La Spezia on 12 August 1940 and reaches the meeting point which was pre-arranged with the support ships at dawn of 21 August 1940 in a sheltered place on the Italian Cyrenaica, in the Bomb Gulf. From CALYPSO they unloaded four SLC’s, which were carried there by the torpedoboat, and they put them on the ‘saddles’ mounted on the submarine IRIDE.

To complete the operation, IRIDE is detached from the support ships and is going toward the open sea in the direction of Alexandria. The submarine was preparing to perform some preliminary test operations – diving to 30 meters and silent navigation. But before IRIDE can dive, she is surprised by a British plane and a torpedo hits her in the outer spaces. Broken from the explosion, the submarine sinks quickly in about 20 meters depth. The men on the tower were saved by the support ships.

The Decima men use their underwater gear retrieved from CALIPSO and dive repeatedly and save five more sailors from the sunken submarine and recover the four SLC’s that were in their transport cradles on board CALIPSO.

GONDARD (photo at right, bottom) , the same as SCIRÉ, was attached to the First Group Submarines, 15a Squadron in La Spezia. In June and July 1940, she had completed some missions in the Mediterranean Sea without ever attacking any shipping. Immediately after the sinking of IRIDE, work began in the submarine shipyard at La Spezia on modification of both GONDARD and SCIRÉ.

These modifications were more complex than that done to IRIDE, whose sinking gave a severe lesson to the men of Decima MAS Flottiglia. Seeing the extensive danger in the operation of a transfer in the open sea of the SLC’s from a support ship to the submarine, they decide that the entire operation must be done by a submarine. Consequently GONDARD and SCIRÉ are modified with the removal of the deck gun and the positioning of three water tight containers to carry three SLC’s all the way from La Spezia to the English base to attack.

After about twenty days of round-the-clock work, the submarines are ready to face their new role of ‘approacher’ of the assault craft of the Decima MAS Flottiglia. Barely finished, GONDARD is assigned the mission to carry three SLC’s near to the British base at Alexandria. In comparison to the previous mission of IRIDE, this boat must operate along without the support ships. Lt. Francesco Brunetti, former Skipper and survivor of IRIDE is now the Skipper of GONDARD. On the night of 21 September, GONDARD sails from La Spezia bound for Alexandria.

After two days, GONDARD reaches the harbor of Messina and embarks ten frogmen of the Decima MAS Flottiglia that had been brought to this Sicilian port in an airplane. GONDARD departs on the dawn the day after and is headed for the Egyptian coast.

In the meantime, the air reconnaissance service noticed that the British Fleet had gone out of Alexandria. Deprived on this batch of targets, GONDARD puts in to the Italian held harbor of Tobruk, waiting for the British warships to return to Alexandria.

29 September 1940 their patience is rewarded and they receive the news that the British battle fleet is returning to Alexandria. There is no delay in departing, and GONDARD is underway out of the Italian base at Tobruk, bound for Alexandria. At 2030 hours, in spite of impossible visibility, the British destroyer HMS STUART spots GONDARD and closes for battle. GONDARD dives quickly but the British ‘tin can’ has sounded the alarm and other British ships come quickly supported by a SUNDERLAND flying boat equipped with hydrophone equipment. 14 hours of hunting begins.

On 30 September, GONDARD is hit by depth charges and fatally damaged. The Skipper orders abandon ship. Almost all the sailors got off the boat, and the Skipper ordered her blown up. GONDARD and her three SLC’s disappeared into the sea.

More on the Italian Submarines in KTB #174 next month. Many thanks VINCENT – keep up the great work!