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.
Bronzo (on the right) next to Volframio in early 1942Bronzo at her base in Cagliari, Sardinia, in early 1943Bronzo was commanded for most of her life by Tenente di Vascello Cesare BuldriniBuldrini (with binoculars around his neck) and other members of Bronzo’s crew in August 1942.On 12th July 1943, Bronzo surfaced among a group of British minesweepers, who immediately opened fire on her with their 3-inch gunsBronzo being towed towards Syracuse by HMS SeahamThe captured Italian submarine Bronzo sits in the harbor at Syracuse, Sicily The captured Italian submarine Bronzo sits in the harbor at Syracuse, SicilyThe captured Bronzo at Syracuse, with damage to the conning tower clearly visible
The French submarine Narval was an Acciaoia class submarine operated by the Free French Navy during the Second World War.
Originally operated by the Italian Regina Marina as Bronzo, 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.
Bronzo (on the right) next to Volframio in early 1942Bronzo at her base in Cagliari, Sardinia, in early 1943Bronzo was commanded for most of her life by Tenente di Vascello Cesare BuldriniBuldrini (with binoculars around his neck) and other members of Bronzo’s crew in August 1942.On 12th July 1943, Bronzo surfaced among a group of British minesweepers, who immediately opened fire on her with their 3-inch gunsBronzo being towed towards Syracuse by HMS SeahamThe captured Italian submarine Bronzo sits in the harbor at Syracuse, Sicily The captured Italian submarine Bronzo sits in the harbor at Syracuse, SicilyThe captured Bronzo at Syracuse, with damage to the conning tower clearly visible
HMS X1 was designed as a commerce raider for the British Royal Navy. The concept was to engage a convoys escorts with her gun armament, which would then enable her and other submarines to sink the merchant vessels.
X1’s gun armament consisted of four 5.2 inch guns in twin turrets, one fore and the other aft. In addition she carried six 21-inch torpedo tubes, each armed with one reload.
Launched on 16 June 1923, she was commissioned in December 1925. In operation, she suffered continual engine problems, resulting in the majority of her time undergoing repairs. It was found that conditions were cramped because of the large crew needed to operate the guns (58 men) and associated auxiliary equipment.
HMS X1 was laid up in 1930 and scrapped in 1936.
HMS X1HMS X1HMS X1HMS X1HMS X1HMS X1HMS X1 at seaHMS X1 at seaHMS X1 at seaHMS X1 being broken up
