A working submarine used in films such as U571 and Ghostboat has returned to Malta after spending three weeks under the glow of film cameras in France.

'Scorpion', as the 65 metre-long vessel was named some years ago, underwent works to make it look like a German World War II vessel before heading to La Rochelle submarine pen to feature in upcoming TV series Das Boot.

Its new look will serve it come January, when the series enters into production in Malta. The show will pick up where the 1981 film classic of the same name left off, depicting the lives of German naval officers working on submarines during the war.  

The Cassar Shipyards-owned vessel was built by Bezzina Ship Repair Yard Ltd in 1998. It will be one of two submarines used during filming: the other, which floats but does not having working engines, will be used for scenes filmed inside Rinella Film Studios.