After intensive training and exercises, in August of 1938 Gondar was reassigned to the III Submarine Group based at Leros.

After completing two more missions, one 20 miles east of Cape Antibes from 18 to 25 June 1940, and the other off the Strait of Gibraltar from 5 to 16 August 1940, Gondar was moved into Arsenal at La Spezia to convert her into SLC carrying submarine.

[3][4] On 21 September 1940 Gondar, under command of captain Francesco Brunetti, sailed from La Spezia to raid the naval base of Alexandria, after the first attempt by Iride had failed.

The ongoing depth charge attacks caused serious damage to the submarine and especially to the SLC units which were beginning to flood.

Except for electrician Luigi Longobardi, who was killed by one of the bombs dropped by a Sunderland flying boat, the entire crew was rescued and imprisoned by the British.

[3][4] With sinking of Gondar, the British intelligence noted the three cylinders on the deck of the submarine, and a presence of numerous divers among the crew.

That raised questions about existence of special units in Regia Marina responsible for penetration into enemy ports.