Italian R class submarine
Encyclopedia
The R-class or Romolo-class were a group of submarines built for the Italian Royal Navy
(Regia Marina Italiana) during World War II
. These submarines were designed as blockade running
transport submarines
for transporting high-value cargo from Europe
to Japan
and from Japan to Europe. Axis-occupied Europe
lacked strategic materials such as tungsten and tin and some commodities such as rubber. The cargo capacity was 600 tons. A limited armament was fitted for self defence.
The remaining 10 hulls were scuttled incomplete and scrapped after the war.
Regia Marina
The Regia Marina dates from the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 after Italian unification...
(Regia Marina Italiana) during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. These submarines were designed as blockade running
Blockade runner
A blockade runner is usually a lighter weight ship used for evading a naval blockade of a port or strait, as opposed to confronting the blockaders to break the blockade. Very often blockade running is done in order to transport cargo, for example to bring food or arms to a blockaded city...
transport submarines
Merchant submarine
A merchant submarine is a type of submarine intended for trade, and being without armaments, it is not considered a warship like most other types of submarines...
for transporting high-value cargo from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and from Japan to Europe. Axis-occupied Europe
German–occupied Europe
German–occupied Europe or Nazi Empire refers to the countries of Europe which were occupied by the military forces of Nazi Germany at various times between 1938 and 1945....
lacked strategic materials such as tungsten and tin and some commodities such as rubber. The cargo capacity was 600 tons. A limited armament was fitted for self defence.
Ships
Twelve boats were ordered, but only two were completed, by Tosi:- Remo, named after RemusRemusRemus is the twin brother of the mythical founder of Rome.Remus may also refer to:* Remus , a fictional planet in Star Trek* Remus , a moon of the asteroid 87 Sylvia...
, launched 28 March 1943 — Sunk by British Submarine HMS United 15 July 1943 in the Gulf of TarantoGulf of TarantoThe Gulf of Taranto is a gulf of the Ionian Sea, in southern Italy.The Gulf of Taranto is almost square, 140 km long and wide, and is delimited by the capes Santa Maria di Leuca and Colonna... - Romolo, named after RomulusRomulus- People:* Romulus and Remus, the mythical founders of Rome* Romulus Augustulus, the last Western Roman Emperor* Valerius Romulus , deified son of the Roman emperor Maxentius* Romulus , son of the Western Roman emperor Anthemius...
, launched 21 March 1943 — Sunk by Allied aircraft near Augusta 18 July 1943.
The remaining 10 hulls were scuttled incomplete and scrapped after the war.
See also
- Merchant submarineMerchant submarineA merchant submarine is a type of submarine intended for trade, and being without armaments, it is not considered a warship like most other types of submarines...
- German submarine DeutschlandGerman submarine DeutschlandDeutschland was a blockade-breaking German merchant submarine used during World War I. It was developed with private funds and operated by the North German Lloyd Line...
, an unarmed transport submarine built by Germany in World War I.