The Italian ship Ramb I was a pre-war "banana boat" converted to an auxiliary cruiser in World War II.

[2][3] In the second half of the 1930s Ministry of the Colonies of the Kingdom of Italy placed an order for four ships to transport bananas from Mogadishu in Italian Somaliland to Naples.

These four refrigerating vessels were put under control of the Regia Azienda Monopolio delle Banane (RAMB) with headquarters in Rome.

The ship had a private deck reserved for passengers (separate from the crew), a dining room with views, and two verandas for the smokers.

According to legislative provision, these ships were constructed with the possibility of transforming them into auxiliary cruisers, so there was enough space left on deck to accommodate four 120mm cannons.

In the two years of peace, Ramb I took bananas from Italian Somaliland to Venice, Naples and Genoa, and carried various goods to Mogadishu on her return journeys.

The cruiser closed to less than 6 miles and signaled Ramb I with a projector to stop the engines and provide their documents (the Italian ship flew the British flag at the time).

The British flag was lowered and the Italian Tricolor was hoisted, and Ramb I opened fire from 3,000 yards (2,700 m) against the enemy cruiser, commencing a fight that lasted twenty minutes.