Italian Submarine " SCIRE' "

She was one of the 17 “ADUA” class boats, class also known as “the Africans” because the boats were baptized with names of facts, places and events of the just ended Ethiopian War (1935/36).

Smg. SCIRE’ was built by O.T.O. Yards in Muggiano (La Spezia): laid down on January 30, 1937; launched on January 6, 1938; commissioned on April 25, 1938.

Her technical characteristics were:

- displacement: 683 t (surface) - 856 t (dive)
- max. depth : 80 m - safety factor : 3
- dimensions: 60.18 m (length) – 6.45 m (width) - 4.73 (draft)
- engine power: 1400 HP (surface) - 800 HP (dive)
- max. speed: 14 knots (surface) - 7.5 knots (dive)
- endurance: surface: 3,180 ml (at 10.5 kn) - 2,200 ml (at 14 kn) - dive: 74 ml (at 4 kn) - 7.5 ml (at 7.5 kn)
- weaponry: 6 torpedo tubes 533 mm (4 ahead – 2 astern) - 1 gun 100 mm/47 cal. - 2 antiaircraft machineguns 13.2 mm
- crew: 44 hands, including 6 officers

When, on June 10, 1940, Italy enters the WW2, Smg. SCIRE’ is immediately in action. On July 10, off Asinara island (Sardinia), she sinks a French ship, the CHEIK (1,057 t) but, anyway, she picks up the crew.

In the same summer, the boat is rigged to carry assault weapons: three “SLC” (Siluro a Lenta Corsa = Slow Run Torpedo), nicknamed “maiale” (pig).

Under command of Lcdr. Junio Valerio BORGHESE, on Oct. 30, 1940, she raids Gibraltar naval base and discharges the “pigs” very close to the targets but, because of weapons mechanical troubles, the mission fails. Anyway, Lcdr. BORGHESE is awarded with Gold Medal.

On Sept. 19, 1941, the fourth mission on Gibraltar is finally successful: three ships, for a total of about 30,000 t, are sunk.

But the most important and sensational action carried out by Smg. SCIRE’ is undoubtedly the raid into the very protected Alexandria base (Egypt), on Dec. 19, 1941, when two battle ships (HMS VALIANT and HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH) are put out of fight and two other ships are damaged. This is an event that will influence the Mediterranean forces balance, at least for a while, and even up the account with the “Taranto Night” (Nov. 11, 1940). The banner of Smg. SCIRE’ will be awarded with Gold Medal:

After the Alexandria mission, Junio Valerio BORGHESE, promoted Commander, passes in command of the “X^ Flottiglia Mas” (code name of the assault weapons organization). The command of Smg. SCIRE’ is taken by Lcdr. Bruno ZELIK.

On August 10, 1942, while she is trying to force the Haifa harbour, Smg. SCIRE’ is sunk by the British trawler HMS ISLAY.

No survivors.

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