back in 43 there was an agreement to lend over some type
VII-C to the Italians, with the germans willing to obtain some large class ( the much larger CALVI class, see pic) to turn them into "merchants".
Cantieri

amzigerwerft-Schichau Danzica
Ordinati : 05-06-1941 (S1 e S2), 25-08-1941 (S3 , S3,S5, S6, S7, S8, S9)
Consegnati alla Regia Marina : 26-06-1943(S1), 04-07-1942 (S2), 18-07-1943 (S3),
14-07-1943 (S4), 31-07-1943 (S5), 04-08-1943 (S6), 14-08-1943(S7), 25-08-1943 (S8), 26-08-1943S(S9).