Italian auxiliary cruiser Ramb I

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History
Kingdom of Italy
Name	Ramb I
Port of registry	Genoa
Builder	Ansaldo, Genoa
Yard number	308
Laid down	October 29, 1936
Launched	July 22, 1937
Commissioned	December 6, 1937 (as a merchant)
Reclassified	Auxiliary cruiser, June 9, 1940
Identification	Italy official number 2176 Call sign ICHM
Fate	Sunk by HMNZS Leander, 27 February 1941
General characteristics
Type	Refrigerated cargo ship (1937–1940) Auxiliary cruiser (1940–1941)
Tonnage	3,667 GRT[1] 2,179 NRT[1]
Length	383 ft 2 in (116.79 m)[1]
Beam	49 ft 7 in (15.11 m)[1]
Depth	24 ft 8 in (7.52 m)[1]
Installed power	1525 nhp[1]
Propulsion	2 × 9-cylinder FIAT marine Diesel engines[1] twin screws
Speed	18.5 knots (34.3 km/h; 21.3 mph) (maximum) 17.0 knots (31.5 km/h; 19.6 mph) (cruising)
Capacity	2,418 GRT[clarification needed] 12 passengers
Complement	120
Armament	4 × 120 mm (4.7 in) guns 2(or 4) × 13.2 mm (0.52 in) anti-aircraft guns
Service record
Part of:	Red Sea Flotilla
Commanders:	Alfredo Bonezzi

The Italian ship Ramb I was a pre-war "banana boat" converted to an auxiliary cruiser in World War II. Ramb I operated as an armed merchant in the Red Sea and was ordered to sail to Japan after the fall of Massawa to the Allies. She was sunk in the Indian Ocean before she could reach her intended destination.^[2][3]