Italian submarine Axum

The Italian submarine Axum was an Italian Adua-class submarine serving in the Regia Marina during World War II. She was named after the holy city of Axum, in Ethiopia. She was built in the CRDA shipyard, in Monfalcone. She formed part of the 7th Group - 71st Squadron of the submarine fleet.

Axum was ordered to intercept and block an Allied convoy to Malta, on 12 August 1942, north of Bizerta, Tunisia. The convoy formed part of the allied Operation Pedestal. The Axum succeeded in sinking the Royal Navy light cruiser HMS Cairo (D87), and damaging the cruiser HMS Nigeria (60) and the oil tanker SS Ohio with a single salvo of four torpedoes.

Axum was still in operation on 8 September 1943, when the Allies and Italy signed the armistice. Axum arrived in Malta the day after the armistice, and joined the Allies. On 29 December 1943, during a mission near Morea, she ran aground, and was scuttled.