The Comandante Cappellini and sister submarine Luigi Torelli were the only two ships to fly the flags of all three main Axis powers during World War II.

[4] After Italy's capitulation in 1943, the submarine was captured by the Imperial Japanese Navy and handed over to Germany at Sabang on 10 September 1943.

She remained in the Pacific because of failed attempts to return to the 12th Flotilla base at Bordeaux in occupied France.

At Japan's surrender in August 1945, she was seized by the United States Navy, which scuttled her off Kobe on 16 April 1946.

The "Capellini" and her crew are the main subject of a Japanese two hour TV 2022 special Sensuikan Cappellini-go no Boken [ja] (The adventure of the Submarine Cappellini).