The sea planes

Seaplane S.M 55 X
Engine Asso 750
Instruments

The communications

Communications network
Radio cabin
Manuals
Donath lamp

The ships

Ship Alice

The airplanes in support

Airplane I-AAXZ

The equipment

Clothing
The Belloni bag

From "La Centuria Alata" by Italo Balbo:

"This year the collaboration that we ask the Royal Navy is limited to two submarines and two Drifters, they are already on their way to the American coast, the first submarine bearing the glorious name of the first Gold Medal of the Sardinian Navy, Millelire, who heroically defended La Maddalena against Napoleon's assaults. " Between March and September 1933, Italo Balbo was supported by Italo Balbo: together with the twin Balilla and the cannoner Biglieri and Matteucci, he crossed the Atlantic under the command of corvette captain Franco Zannoni; it served as a beacon and signaled the meteorological conditions of Balbo's planes; this trip was also used to test the oceanic qualities of the "Balilla", judged to be good. Once in Chicago, the submarine was visited by Italo Balbo who then gave a speech addressing the crew.

He secretly took part in the Spanish war, without obtaining any results.

At the entrance of Italy in the Second World War it was obsolete; however he did 11 war missions covering about 5,000 miles.

In December 1940 he tried unsuccessfully to torpedo a submarine sailing in the Otranto Canal, near the island of Fano.

After a few months he was assigned to the Submarine School in Pola, together with the Balilla class leader.

He served under the school until April 15, 1941, the date of his disarmament.

Denominated GR. 248 became pontoon of charge and fuel depot. On 13 September 1942, in towage of the destroyer Saetta, he transported 443 tonnes of diesel oil.

At the end of the war it was found sunk in Palermo.

Recovered and radiated in 1946, it was purchased in 1948 by Pirelli and transformed into a latex depot.

It was dismantled in 1977, forty-nine years after completion.