The stamp design depicts the capture of Italien submarine Perla off Palestine in 1942 by HMS Hyacinth.
For Corvette Hyacinth see topic: Hyacinth. (Flower class corvette, built in 1940 and transferred to the Greek Navy in 1943 and named as Apostolis).
Perla, Submarine, Italy. She was built by Adriatico Shipyard in Taranto, Italy. Keel laid 31 Aug 1935. Launched 03 May 1936. Completed 08 Jul 1936. Displacement 695/855 tons; 60,18 m x 6,45 m 4,70 m; engines 1400/800 hp. Speed: 14 kts on surface, 7,5 kts dived. Complement: 4 officers and 40 men. Armament: 1-3,9 in., 2-13 mm MG, 6-21 in. Torpedo tubes.
At the beginning of WW-II she was at the Massawa. On 20 Jun 1940 she was forced to run aground on the Somali Coast following enemy chase. Refloated, she left Massawa on 01 Mar 1941, reaching Bordeaux on 20 May. She belonged to a class of ten boats.
Perla was forced to surface and captured by Hyacint on 29 July 1942 off Palestine. The captured Italien submarine Perla was completely reconditioned and given to Greece and became HHMS Matrozas of Greek Navy. She was demolished in 1954.
Source: Watercraft Philately
Greece, 1947, 2000 dr.