Bronzo at her base in Cagliari, Sardinia, in early 1943

Italian Submarine Bronzo

Italian Submarine Bronzo

Bronzo was an Acciaoia-class submarine operated by the Italian Regina Marina. She was launched on 28th September 1941 and commissioned on 2nd January 1942. Bronzo had an active but unsuccessful career, being involved in the attacks on the Pedestal and Operation Harpoon convoys.

She was captured on 12th July 1943 after being engaged by HMS Seaham, HMS Boston, HMS Cromarty, and HMS Poole. Towed into to Syracuse by HMS Seaham, she was as later transferred to Malta and renamed HMS P714.

It was originally intended to transfer her to the Hellenic Navy, but was given to the Free French naval forces instead on 29 January 1944. She was renamed Narval and remained in operation until the end of the war when she was decommissioned. She was finally scrapped in 1948.