Italian torpedo boat Lince
The Italian torpedo boat "Lince" was a built for the "Regia Marina" in the late 1930s. During the Second World War, "Lince" was involved in several naval actions before she was sunk in August 1943 by a British submarine. Construction. "Lince" was built in the late inter-war period by CNQ, Fiume, one of the "Alcione" sub-group of the numerous "Spica" class of torpedo boats. She was laid down on 7 December 1936, launched 15 January 1938, and commissioned 1 April 1938. "Lince" was armed with three 100mm guns in single mounts, and four  450mm torpedo tubes; she also had two depth charge throwers and equipment for laying mines. The "Spica" class ships all bore astronomical names; "Lince" was named for the constellation Lynx, after the big cat of that name. Service history. At the entrance of Italy into the Second World War "Lince" was stationed at Rhodes with the VIII Torpedo Boat squadron, together with sister ships , and . There she was involved in escort duties and actions in the war against Greece. In January 1941 "Lince", in company with "Lupo", attacked British convoy AN14, en route to Piraeus. Despite the escort of  three destroyers "Lince "was able to distract them while "Lupo" torpedoed the tanker "Desmoulea", which was disabled for the rest of the war. Italian official sources, however, reported that the ship that assisted "Lupo" in the attack was actually the torpedo boat "Libra". In February, "Lince", again with "Lupo", (and joined later by the destroyers "Sella" and "Crispi") took part in the re-conquest of the island of Kastellorizo, which had been seized by British commandos. In April "Lince", in company with "Libra" and the destroyer "Crispi", encountered Allied convoy GA 15 engaged in evacuating troops from Greece. Despite the  strong escort "Lince" and her companions made a spirited attack, claiming several hits, though the Allied commander later reported no losses. In February 1942 went to the aid of the tanker "Lucania", which had been torpedoed, and, with "Circe", took part in an anti-submarine hunt which resulted in the sinking of the British submarine "Tempest". In August "Lince" was assisting the freighter "Iseo", which had been attacked by the British submarine "Porpoise". "Lince" counter-attacked, resulting in damage to "Porpoise" which was forced to return to base. In November "Lince" was badly damaged in an air attack off Tripoli , suffering the loss of her commander and many of the crew. She was able to dock in Tripoli for repairs, but with the retreat of the Afrika Korps towards the city her master received orders in January 1943 to scuttle the ship to avoid a capture. However her crew endeavoured to bring her home, arriving at Trapani despite Allied attacks at the end of the month. In July "Lince" returned to escort duty, but was lost in August after she ran aground. Fate. On 4 August 1943, en route from Taranto, "Lince" ran aground at Punta Alice, near Ciro Marina , Calabria. Despite efforts to re-float her, "Lince" was discovered on 28 August by the British submarine "Ultor", and hit with two torpedoes. The ship was destroyed, though casualties were light as her crew had been evacuated, leaving only damage control parties.