Italian submarines helped establish the Axis Monsoon Group connection to Penang and Singapore. Torelli, Barbarigo, Comandante Cappellini, and Giuliani made these long cargo voyages, with Giuliani reaching Singapore in August 1943 after leaving in May. Cappellini could carry 160 tons of mercury, aluminum, specialized steel, weapons, ammunition, bomb sights, and technical plans between Europe and Asia. The Japanese submarine I-30 was lost to a mine off Singapore while carrying radar and hydrophone equipment, Enigma machines, sonar countermeasure charges, and a torpedo data computer. These voyages made practical use of Italy's large ocean-going designs, but the programme matured too late. After the Italian armistice, vessels in Asia were seized or operated under German and Japanese control.
Chapter · 47:39-50:14
Large submarines became Axis cargo links to Asia
Italian boats converted for cargo work carried strategic materials and weapons technology toward Singapore before Italy's 1943 armistice changed their ownership.