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| History | |
|---|---|
 Italy | |
| Name | Ramb III |
| Builder | Ansaldo, Genoa |
| Launched | 6 March 1938 Banana boat |
| Commissioned | 1940 |
| Reclassified | Convoy escort, 1940 |
| Homeport | Massawa, Eritrea |
| Fate | Seized by Germany, 9 September 1943 |
 Germany | |
| Name | Kiebitz |
| Reclassified | Minelayer |
| Fate | Sunk in Rijeka harbor, November 1944 |
 SFR Yugoslavia | |
| Name | Galeb |
| Acquired | Refloated, post-war |
| Decommissioned | 1992 |
| Reclassified | Training ship and presidential yacht, 1952 |
| Status | Museum ship |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Auxiliary cruiser |
| Displacement | 3,667 long tons (3,726 t) |
| Speed | 18.5 knots (21.3 mph; 34.3 km/h) |
| Armament |
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The Italian auxiliary cruiser Ramb III was built at Genoa by Ansaldo in 1938.
Ramb III was the third of four sister reefer ships all built to the same design. The other ships were the Ramb I, the Ramb II, and the Ramb IV. The four ships were built for the Royal Banana Monopoly Business (Regia Azienda Monopolio Banane). These ships were originally built to be "banana boats", built for transporting refrigerated bananas to Europe from Somaliland and Eritrea in Italian East Africa.
However, in the event of war, the design of Ramb III allowed it to be refitted for commerce raiding. She was 3,667 tons displacement, oil powered and capable of 18½ knots.