Italian auxiliary cruiser Ramb I
| Company type | Auxiliary cruiser, refrigerated cargo ship |
|---|---|
| Industry | Shipping, military |
| Founded | December 6, 1937 in Genoa, Italy |
| Headquarters | Genoa , Italy |
| Products | Banana transport, naval warfare |
Number of employees | 120 (crew) |
Overview
The vessel Ramb I, originally an Italian refrigerated cargo ship known colloquially as a "banana boat," was repurposed into an auxiliary cruiser during the Second World War. Prior to its military conversion, it served as a merchant ship. During wartime operations, Ramb I was active in the Red Sea region. Following the Allied capture of Massawa, the ship received orders to proceed to Japan. However, it was sunk in the Indian Ocean before reaching its intended port.
Construction and Specifications
Built by Ansaldo in Genoa, Ramb I was laid down on October 29, 1936, and launched on July 22, 1937. The ship was officially commissioned as a merchant vessel on December 6, 1937. It was later reclassified as an auxiliary cruiser on June 9, 1940. Registered in Genoa under Italy’s official number 2176 and bearing the call sign ICHM, Ramb I featured twin nine-cylinder FIAT marine diesel engines powering two propellers.
The vessel measured approximately 383 feet 2 inches in length with a beam of 49 feet 7 inches and a depth of 24 feet 8 inches. It had a gross register tonnage of around 3,667 tons and a nominal horsepower rating of 1,525 nhp. Its maximum speed reached up to 18.5 knots, with a cruising speed near 17 knots. The crew complement numbered about 120 personnel, and the ship could accommodate up to twelve passengers.
Armament and Role
Upon conversion to an auxiliary cruiser, Ramb I was armed with four QF 4.7-inch guns and two to four Breda Model 1931 anti-aircraft machine guns of 13.2 mm caliber. These modifications enabled her to serve as an armed merchant raider within the Red Sea Flotilla under the command of Alfredo Bonezzi.
Fate
Ramb I met its demise on February 27, 1941, when it was sunk by the New Zealand cruiser HMNZS Leander while operating in the Indian Ocean.
Details and construction
In the latter half of the 1930s, the Ministry of the Colonies of the Kingdom of Italy commissioned four vessels specifically designed for transporting bananas from Mogadishu in Italian Somaliland to Naples. These ships needed to possess substantial cargo capacity and sufficient range to complete voyages without stopping en route. The four refrigerated ships were managed by the Regia Azienda Monopolio delle Banane (RAMB), headquartered in Rome. Two were constructed by CRDA at Monfalcone, while the other two, including Ramb I, were built at the Ansaldo shipyards in Sestri Ponente. The construction of Ramb I spanned from October 1936 to December 1937, identified by hull number 308.
Although modest in size, these four RAMB vessels were considered quite advanced for their time. Each could transport around 2,400 tons of freight and accommodate up to 12 passengers. Passenger quarters included a luxury suite featuring a bedroom, living room, and amenities for two individuals, with an additional ten passengers housed in twin cabins. A private deck was dedicated exclusively to passengers, separate from crew areas, complemented by a dining room with panoramic views and two verandas designated for smokers. The passenger spaces were equipped with air conditioning.
Ramb I was capable of achieving a maximum speed of 18.50 knots and typically cruised at 17 knots, displacing 3,667 tons. Its propulsion system comprised two nine-cylinder, two-stroke diesel engines manufactured by FIAT.
Legislation mandated that these vessels be constructed with the potential for conversion into auxiliary cruisers. As such, sufficient deck space was reserved to mount four 120mm naval guns. The armaments and necessary military equipment were stored strategically—two ships’ supplies were kept in Massawa, while those for the other two were held in Naples.
During its peaceful service years, Ramb I transported bananas from Italian Somaliland to ports such as Venice, Naples, and Genoa, returning with various goods destined for Mogadishu.
Operational history
On June 9, 1940, Ramb I was requisitioned by the Regia Marina while in Massawa and incorporated into the Red Sea Flotilla. At Italy’s entry into World War II, only one of the quartet was present in the Mediterranean (Ramb III), with the remaining three—including Ramb I—stationed in the Red Sea and unable to return to Italy. In Massawa, Ramb I underwent an armament upgrade, receiving four 120/40 mm cannons and either two or four 13.2 mm Breda anti-aircraft machine guns.
Throughout military engagements in Eastern Africa, Ramb I saw limited action. Its sole offensive operation consisted of an unsuccessful attack on an enemy merchant vessel in the Red Sea during August 1940. Aside from brief patrols along the coast of Eritrea, its primary role was providing anti-aircraft defense for Massawa against aerial bombardments.
Following the commencement of Operation Compass in North Africa and the defeat suffered by Italian forces at Sidi Barrani between December 9–12, 1940, it became apparent that Italian troops stationed in Libya would be unable to reach Italian East Africa to relieve its isolation. Fuel reserves were diminishing rapidly and projected to run out by June 1941. In anticipation of the colony’s inevitable capture, plans were made to dispatch as many vessels as possible to either Japan or occupied France while scuttling those unable to undertake the journey. Among those sent eastward were colonial ship Eritrea, along with auxiliary cruisers Ramb I and Ramb II.
Around February 20, 1941, Ramb I, Ramb II, and Eritrea departed from Massawa, with both auxiliary cruisers bound for Nagasaki, and Eritrea headed toward Kobe. After leaving Massawa, all three ships navigated past Perim, successfully evading Royal Navy vessels and Royal Air Force aircraft stationed at Aden and Socotra. They then passed through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait into the Gulf of Aden, eventually entering the Indian Ocean.
Sinking
The Royal New Zealand Navy light cruiser HMNZS Leander, having recently escorted convoy US-9 to Bombay, was patrolling the northern Arabian Sea in pursuit of the German cruiser Admiral Scheer and suspected German raiders disguised as merchant ships.[1] Upon learning of the capture of Mogadishu on February 25, 1941, the ship’s captain, Robert Hesketh Bevan, RN, altered course northward around 7:00 while Leander was positioned approximately 28 miles north of the equator and 320 miles west of the Maldive Islands. He anticipated that certain Italian vessels retreating from Italian Somaliland toward the Far East might transit this zone. At 5:10 (Italian time) on February 27, 1941, Ramb I, navigating the northern Arabian Sea, was spotted by Leander. Closing to within six miles, the cruiser signaled Ramb I with a projector to halt engines and present identification documents (the Italian ship was flying a British flag at that moment).[2]
Ramb I responded with deceptive information, prompting Leander to request the secret war code. Unable to provide this, Captain Bonezzi recognized that combat was inevitable. The British ensign was lowered, replaced by the Italian Tricolor, and Ramb I commenced firing at a range of 3,000 yards (2,700 m) against the cruiser. The ensuing engagement lasted about twenty minutes. Leander sustained a single hit but returned fire with five salvos within a minute, inflicting severe damage and causing fires aboard Ramb I. The Italian vessel then struck her colors and ceased firing.[1] Approaching closer, Captain Bonezzi ordered abandonment and scuttling of the ship. Leander took aboard Captain Bonezzi and 112 crew members; one later succumbed to burn injuries.[1] Shortly after, scuttling charges detonated, sinking Ramb I at coordinates 01°00′N 68°30′E / 1.000°N 68.500°E.[2] Survivors were disembarked by Leander at Addu Atoll, and later transferred by the tanker Pearleaf to prisoner-of-war facilities in Colombo, Ceylon.[2]
See also
Notes
Bibliography
- Alton, Dave (2006). "Question 15/03: Italian Warship Losses". Warship International. XLIII (1): 32–33. ISSN 0043-0374.
- Dupuis, Dobrillo (2014). Forzate il blocco. 1940. L'odissea della marina militare italiana. Res Gestae. ISBN 978-8866970606.
- Kelly, Christopher; Laycock, Stuart (2015). Italy Invades. Book Publishers Network. ISBN 978-0-9968825-0-7.
- Miller, Nathan (1995). War at Sea: A Naval History of World War II. New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-511038-2.
- Waters, SD (2008). HMNZS Leander. Lulu.com. ISBN 978-1435758926.
External links
- Ramb I official page on the Marina Militare website
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