KMS UB was a Grampas-class minelaying submarine of the German Kriegsmarine during the Second World War. Originally built and operated by the British Royal Navy, she was captured on 5 May 1940. HMS Seal was launched on 28 September 1938 and commissioned into the Royal Navy on 28 January 1939.
On 4 May 1940 after laying a minefield in the Skagerrak, Seal was hunted by German trawlers after being spotted by aircraft. Successfully avoiding the trawlers, she ran into an uncharted minefield. Suffering considerable damage she sank to the bottom and waited until nightfall before attempting to surface.
After considerable difficulty, the crew managed to raise her, but she could no longer submerge and damage to her rudder meant she could only steer in reverse. After destroying all confidential papers and equipment Seal made for Sweden and internment. Unfortunately she was spotted by two Arado Ar 196 floatplanes, which were soon joined by a Henkel He 115. With his guns out of action, wounded crew members and unable to dive, Captain Lonsdale surrendered.
Despite the crew’s expectation that the submarine would sink by herself as she was listing and holed, the Germans managed to salvage her. She was repaired at huge cost, renamed UB and used as a training ship and for propaganda purposes. A lack of spares and high maintenance costs saw her paid off, stripped and abandoned in 1943. KMS UB was never used operationally against British forces.
HMS SealHMS SealHMS Seal after being capturedFlags after the surrender of HMS SealKMS UJ 128 towing HMS Seal toward Frederikshavn, Denmark. Note the white surrender flag on Seal’s periscopeGermans examining HMS Seal20mm cannon damage to HMS SealHMS Seal riddled with gunfire at Frederikshavn after she was captured on May 5th 1940HMS Seal after being capturedHMS Seal in Kiel after her captureHMS Seal at the Krupp Shipyard ready to be refurbished as a German U-boat. Note the unidentified German light cruiserHMS Seal undergoing repairs at Frederikshavn, Denmark, May 1940The first German crew to man UB (ex-HMS Seal). The photo was probably taken at the commissioning ceremonyKMS UB (ex-HMS Seal) being taken by its German crew for a trial run. UB was never used as a warships against the British
HMS P714 was an Acciaoia class submarine operated by the British Royal Navy after its capture on 12 July 1943.
Originally operated by the Italian Regina Marina as Bronzo, she was captured 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 P712 was a Perla-class submarine captured by the Royal Navy during World War Two and subsequently operated by them.
Perla was the lead ship of her class of submarines built for the Italian Regina Marina. On June 6, 1942, Perla launched two torpedoes at the British corvette HMS Hyacinth. Both missed and Hyacinth counter attacked with depth charges. Suffering serious damage, Captain Ventura ordered her to surface and be scuttled. Damage to the Kingston Valves caused by the attack meant that she flooded very slowly. This provided time for the British to board and prevent her sinking.
Repaired and commissioned into the British Royal Navy she was renamed HMS P712.
While in British service she was used to evaluate the level of development of Italian submarines.
In 1943, she was transferred to the Hellenic Navy and renamed Matrozos. She served until 1947 when she was sold and scrapped.
Perla in with its original pre-war color schemePerlaPerlaPerla arriving in BordeauxPerlaThe captured Perla, at anchor in Beirut harbour, Syria 17 July 1942An armed sentry guarding Perla 17 July 1942
