Italian submarine Brin
Encyclopedia
Brin was a built for and operated by Italy'sRegia Marina
during World War II.
When Italy declared war in June 1940, Brin was the sole vessel in the 42nd Squadron of the Italian submarine fleet.
At the end of 1940, Brin, captained by Luigi Longanesi-Cattani, became one of several Italian submarines that operated in the Atlantic, based in Bordeaux
(BETASOM
) under German command. In the early hours of 18 December 1940 she was attacked by the British submarine HMS Tuna
with torpedoes and gunfire in the Bay of Biscay
, about 55 nautical miles (101.9 km) east of the Gironde
estuary. Brin was undamaged and escaped.
On 13 June 1941 she made three torpedo attacks on convoy SL75, successfully sinking two ships, the Greek Eirini Kyriakides (3,781 tons) and the British Djurdjura (3,460 tons). She performed five patrols from Bordeaux, sinking over 7,200 tons of allied shipping.
In August 1942 Brin contributed to the axis opposition to the Pedestal
convoy
. During the action she brought down an allied Short Sunderland
flying boat. While in the Mediterranean, she performed 17 patrols.
At the Italian armistice, Brin was part of the Italian Fleet that surrendered to the allies in 1943. She was subsequently used on training operations in the Indian Ocean for the remainder of the war.
Regia Marina
The Regia Marina dates from the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 after Italian unification...
during World War II.
When Italy declared war in June 1940, Brin was the sole vessel in the 42nd Squadron of the Italian submarine fleet.
At the end of 1940, Brin, captained by Luigi Longanesi-Cattani, became one of several Italian submarines that operated in the Atlantic, based in Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
(BETASOM
BETASOM
BETASOM BETASOM BETASOM (an Italian language acronym of Bordeaux Sommergibile. was a submarine base established at Bordeaux by the Italian Regia Marina Italiana during World War II....
) under German command. In the early hours of 18 December 1940 she was attacked by the British submarine HMS Tuna
HMS Tuna (N94)
HMS Tuna was a T-class submarine of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by Scotts, Greenock and launched on the 10 May 1940. She was equipped with German built engines, and spent her service career in World War II in western European waters, in both the North Sea and off the western coast of France...
with torpedoes and gunfire in the Bay of Biscay
Bay of Biscay
The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish...
, about 55 nautical miles (101.9 km) east of the Gironde
Gironde
For the Revolutionary party, see Girondists.Gironde is a common name for the Gironde estuary, where the mouths of the Garonne and Dordogne rivers merge, and for a department in the Aquitaine region situated in southwest France.-History:...
estuary. Brin was undamaged and escaped.
On 13 June 1941 she made three torpedo attacks on convoy SL75, successfully sinking two ships, the Greek Eirini Kyriakides (3,781 tons) and the British Djurdjura (3,460 tons). She performed five patrols from Bordeaux, sinking over 7,200 tons of allied shipping.
In August 1942 Brin contributed to the axis opposition to the Pedestal
Operation Pedestal
Operation Pedestal was a British operation to get desperately needed supplies to the island of Malta in August 1942, during the Second World War. Malta was the base from which surface ships, submarines and aircraft attacked Axis convoys carrying essential supplies to the Italian and German armies...
convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
. During the action she brought down an allied Short Sunderland
Short Sunderland
The Short S.25 Sunderland was a British flying boat patrol bomber developed for the Royal Air Force by Short Brothers. It took its service name from the town and port of Sunderland in northeast England....
flying boat. While in the Mediterranean, she performed 17 patrols.
At the Italian armistice, Brin was part of the Italian Fleet that surrendered to the allies in 1943. She was subsequently used on training operations in the Indian Ocean for the remainder of the war.