Diana was laid down on 31 May 1939 at the Cantieri Navali del Quarnaro in Fiume, launched on 20 May 1940 and completed on 12 November 1940. The planned main armament consisted of two 90/50 guns, modern anti-aircraft weapons used on the latest Italian battleships but eventually a pair of old 102/35 4-inch guns was fitted in their place. Six 20mm Breda 20/65 mod. 35 guns completed the anti-aircraft defence. During the war Diana was used as fast transport for valuable cargo.[1]
Second World War
The ship left Messina, Italy on 28 June 1942 to bring material and personnel to Tobruk, a city recently reconquered by the Axis forces. In what he described as his "most satisfactory patrol" in the Mediterranean, in June 1942, Sir Hugh Mackenzie, Commander of the British submarine HMSThrasher, reported that on their way back to Alexandria, north of Tobruk, they received a signal about an Axis ship which was due in the area at 12 O'clock on the following day and that it was vitally important to sink it (presumed to be Diana). The ship wasn't sighted the following day, but during the night, they received another signal about the same ship going to be in a certain position at 12 O'clock on the following day, and; that it was vitally important to sink the ship. The ship was carrying petrol for an Axis offensive.
29 June 1942
Gulf of Bomba
On 29 June 1942, about 75nmi (139km; 86mi) north of the Gulf of Bomba, 100nmi (190km; 120mi) north-west of Tobruk, Diana detected the launch of four torpedoes.[1]Thrasher had fired the torpedoes, two of which were avoided with a quick turn but the other two exploded aft causing Diana to sink in less than 15 minutes at 33° 30'N and 23° 30' E.[3][4][5][6] Some of the escort boats, after having failed to sink Thrasher, rescued survivors. Later, between 29 and 30 June, the hospital ship Arno arrived, which took care, albeit in rough seas, of the recovery of the 119 survivors; 336 members of the crew had been killed.[7]
Fraccaroli, Aldo (1968). Italian warships of World War 2. London: Ian Allan. OCLC464456943.
Rohwer, Jürgen (2005) [1972]. Chronology of the War at Sea, 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (3rd rev.ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN1-86176-257-7.
Vettor Pisani was the lead ship of her class of four submarines built for the Regia Marina during the late 1920s. She was named after Vettor Pisani, a Venetian admiral. The submarine played a minor role in the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939 supporting the Spanish Nationalists.
The Glauco class was a pair of submarines ordered by the Portuguese government, but were taken over and completed for the Regia Marina during the 1930s. They played a minor role in the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939 supporting the Spanish Nationalists.
The Foca class were a group of three minelaying submarines built for the Regia Marina during the 1930s. All three sister ships played minor roles during the Second World War. One was lost to unknown causes while trying to lay a minefield off British Palestine in 1940, but the other two survived the war to be discarded in 1947.
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Foca was the lead ship of her class of three submarine minelayers built for the Regia Marina during the late 1930s.
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Zoea was one of three Foca-class submarine minelayers built for the Regia Marina during the late 1930s.
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The Pisani-class submarines were built for the Regia Marina during the late 1920s. They played a minor role in the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939 supporting the Spanish Nationalists.
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Squalo was the lead ship of her class of four submarines built for the Regia Marina during the late 1920s. The boat served in World War II and was decommissioned in 1948.
Tricheco was one of four Squalo-class submarines built for the Regia Marina during the late 1920s. The boat served in World War II and was sunk in 1942 by the British submarine HMS Upholder.
The Bragadin-class submarines were built for the Regia Marina during the late 1920s. Both boats participated in the Second World War and were discarded in 1948.
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