The last battle of the Italian submarine Scirè, in Haifa Bay, Israel, and the struggle for control of the eastern Mediterranean in world war II

The Italian submarine Scirè was sunk on 10 August 1942 in Haifa Bay, British Palestine, now Israel. Previously Scirè divers successfully attacked twenty eight Allied ships, using innovative underwater warfare. Five of the ships were warships, including hms Queen Elizabeth and hms Valiant, sunk at Alexandria. Consequently the strategic balance in the Mediterranean temporarily switched and the Allied lost their naval superiority over Germany and Italy. The possible attack on the oil port of Haifa and the danger to the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean made Britain redouble its efforts to destroy the Scirè. Communication intercepts allowed the British to track and hunt down the Scirè as it approached Haifa. Underwater electric and acoustic warning systems-discovered and recovered recently-are reported and discussed. These probably enabled the British to locate the Scirè and sink it by means of guns and depth charges. Evidence sourced from original British and Italian documents combined with first-hand underwater investigations have helped to create a modern narrative of the demise of the Scirè.