[1] For surface running, the boats were powered by two 600-brake-horsepower (447 kW) diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft.

Later re-assigned to Tobruk as part of the 62 Squadron (VI Submarine group) under command of Piero Riccomini.

After the declaration of war on June 10, 1940, Lafolè along with other submarines from the 62 Squadron was posted to Sollum to protect the harbors of Cyrenaica from a possible British attack.

On October 8, 1940, Lafolè left Taranto for her new area of operation east of Gibraltar along the coast of Morocco.

On October 15, 1940, she arrived in her designated patrol area, southeast of the island of Alboran and north of Cape Three Forks, close to Melilla.

Enemy ships were moving slowly, conducting what looked like a submarine search, and apparently unaware of Lafolè's presence.

Lafolè could no longer maintain the depth, and started continuously surfacing and submerging, yet the crew managed to keep her down for the next seven hours.

Captain Riccomini was posthumously awarded Silver Medal of Military Valor for his bravery and leadership in combating superior enemy forces.