Italian R-class submarine

The R-class or Romolo-class were a group of submarines built for the Italian Royal Navy (Regia Marina Italiana) during World War II. These submarines were designed as blockade running transport submarines for transporting high-value cargo from Europe to Japan and from Japan to Europe. Axis-occupied Europe lacked strategic materials such as tungsten, tin and some commodities such as rubber. The cargo capacity was 600 tons. A limited armament was fitted for self defense.

Boats
Twelve boats were ordered, but only two were completed, by Tosi:
 * Remo, named after Remus, launched 28 March 1943 — Sunk by British Submarine HMS United 15 July 1943 in the Gulf of Taranto
 * Romolo, named after Romulus, launched 21 March 1943 — Sunk by Allied aircraft near Augusta 18 July 1943.

The remaining 10 hulls were scuttled incomplete and scrapped after the war.