Bronzo (BZ)
Bronzo

Type	Coastal / Sea going
Class	Platino 2 (25)
Laid down	2 Dec 1940	Cantieri Navale Tosi di Taranto, Taranto
Launched	28 Sep 1941
Commissioned	2 Jan 1942
End service
Stricken
Loss date	12 Jul 1943
Loss position	37° 06'N, 15° 24'E
History	Captured on 12th July 1943 in 37°06'N, 15°24.5'E (off Syracuse, Sicily) by the minesweepers HMS Boston, HMS Cromarty, HMS Poole and HMS Seaham. Commissioned by the Royal Navy as HMS P 714. Transferred to France on 29th January 1944 being renamed Narval. Scrapped in France in 1948.
Fate

Commands

Commander	Date from	Date to	Command notes
C.C. Giuseppe Vocaturo	2 Jan 1942	24 Apr 1942
T.V. Cesare Buldrini	24 Apr 1942	Jul 1943
T.V. Antonio Gherardi	8 Jul 1943	12 Jul 1943

Ships hit

	Date	Commander	Ship hit	Type	GRT	Nat.	Loss type
1.	12 Aug 1942	T.V. Cesare Buldrini	Empire Hope?	Tanker	12,688		Sunk?

Patrols and events

	Commander	Date	Time	Port	Arr. date	Arr. time	Arr. port	Miles	Description
		27 Oct 1941	1150	Taranto	27 Oct 1941	1515	Taranto		Trials, escorted by MAS 7/D.
		4 Nov 1941	0805	Taranto	4 Nov 1941	1155	Taranto		Trials, escorted by MAS 3/D.
		13 Dec 1941	0910	Taranto	13 Dec 1941	1445	Taranto		Trials with Brin, escorted by auxiliary Dalmazia.
		15 Dec 1941	0825	Taranto	15 Dec 1941	1325	Taranto		Trials.
	Vocaturo, Giuseppe	18 Jan 1942	0815	Taranto	18 Jan 1942	1140	Taranto	6	Tests.
	Vocaturo, Giuseppe	5 Feb 1942	0810	Taranto	5 Feb 1942	1452	Taranto	15,7	Trials.
	Vocaturo, Giuseppe	12 Feb 1942	1000	Taranto	12 Feb 1942	1910	Taranto	13,1	Trials.
	Vocaturo, Giuseppe	20 Feb 1942	1210	Taranto	20 Feb 1942	1839	Taranto	6,8	Trials.
	Vocaturo, Giuseppe	21 Feb 1942	1404	Taranto	21 Feb 1942	1843	Taranto	4,6	Trials.
	Vocaturo, Giuseppe	24 Feb 1942	0833	Taranto	24 Feb 1942	1351	Taranto	0,7	Trials.
	Vocaturo, Giuseppe	25 Feb 1942	0825	Taranto	25 Feb 1942	1705	Taranto	4,7	Trials.
	Vocaturo, Giuseppe	26 Feb 1942	0800	Taranto	26 Feb 1942	1230	Taranto	4,2	Trials.
	Vocaturo, Giuseppe	5 Mar 1942	1520	Taranto	5 Mar 1942	1630	Taranto	0,5	Trials bubbleless torpedoes.
	Vocaturo, Giuseppe	7 Mar 1942	0840	Taranto	7 Mar 1942	1220	Taranto	1	Trials with trackless torpedoes.
	Vocaturo, Giuseppe	17 Mar 1942	0715	Taranto	17 Mar 1942	1212	Taranto	7	Trials.
	Vocaturo, Giuseppe	18 Apr 1942	1355	Taranto	18 Apr 1942	1547	Taranto	5	Exercises, escorted by the minesweeper R.D.13.
	Vocaturo, Giuseppe	19 Apr 1942	0737	Taranto	19 Apr 1942	1308	Taranto	30	Exercises with Atropo in 40°28'N, 17°00'30'E.
	Vocaturo, Giuseppe	22 Apr 1942	1146	Taranto	22 Apr 1942	1934	Taranto	37	Exercises, escorted by the minesweeper R.D.6.
	Vocaturo, Giuseppe	23 Apr 1942	0823	Taranto	23 Apr 1942	1934	Taranto	42,5	Exercises, escorted by the minesweeper R.D.6.
	Buldrini, Cesare	26 Apr 1942	1322	Taranto	26 Apr 1942	1940	Taranto	35	Exercises, escorted by the minesweeper R.D.6.
	Buldrini, Cesare	27 Apr 1942	0645	Taranto	27 Apr 1942	1305	Taranto	37	Exercises, escorted by the minesweeper R.D.6.
	Buldrini, Cesare	29 Apr 1942	0634	Taranto	29 Apr 1942	1425	Taranto	33	Exercises, escorted by the minesweeper R.D.6.
	Buldrini, Cesare	30 Apr 1942	0834	Taranto	30 Apr 1942	1604	Taranto	29	Exercises with submarine Micca, escorted by torpedo boat Audace.
	Buldrini, Cesare	2 May 1942	0838	Taranto	2 May 1942	1400	Taranto	38	Exercises, escorted by the torpedo boat Aretusa.
	Buldrini, Cesare	3 May 1942	0948	Taranto	3 May 1942	1300	Taranto	37	Exercises, escorted by the torpedo boat Aretusa.
	Buldrini, Cesare	6 May 1942	0845	Taranto	6 May 1942	1815	Taranto	34	Exercises, escorted by the minesweeper R.D.13.
	Buldrini, Cesare	7 May 1942	2037	Taranto	7 May 1942	2342	Taranto	52	Exercises with torpedo boat Sagittario.
	Buldrini, Cesare	12 May 1942	1423	Taranto	12 May 1942	1920	Taranto	37	Exercises.
	Buldrini, Cesare	13 May 1942	1501	Taranto	13 May 1942	1756	Taranto	21	Exercises.
	Buldrini, Cesare	22 May 1942	1031	Taranto	22 May 1942	2301	Taranto	20	Exercises.
	Buldrini, Cesare	23 May 1942	1245	Taranto	23 May 1942	1550	Taranto	21	Exercises, escorted back by the minesweeper R.D.6.
	Buldrini, Cesare	24 May 1942	1229	Taranto	24 May 1942	1426	Taranto	25	Exercises.
	Buldrini, Cesare	2 Jun 1942	1200	Taranto	2 Jun 1942	1627	Taranto	17,2	Exercises.
	Buldrini, Cesare	3 Jun 1942	1634	Taranto	3 Jun 1942	2004	Taranto	25,5	Exercises.
	Buldrini, Cesare	5 Jun 1942	1919	Taranto	9 Jun 1942	1455	Cagliari	649	Passage Taranto-Cagliari. Escorted through the Messina Strait by the torpedo boat Abba. Uneventful.
1	Buldrini, Cesare	12 Jun 1942	1400	Cagliari	29 Jun 1942	0944	Cagliari	1516	During operation HARPOON, patrolled between 37°00' N and 37°20' N, and between 04°00' E and 04°20' E with Acciaio, Emo, Giada, Otaria and Uarsciek. She had barely reached the area, when on 14th June, she was ordered to a new area between 36°40' N and 37°00' N, and between 00°00' E and 00°20' E. On 17th June, she was moved to a new area between 37°20' N and 37°40' N, and between 03°00' E and 03°20' E. During the evening of 18th June, she was ordered again to a new area between 37°50' N and 38°10' N, and between 03°00' E and 03°20' E.
		13 Jun 1942	0730		At 0730 hours, a Sunderland aircraft was sighted and the submarine dived. At 0735 hours, two explosions were heard in the distance.
		13 Jun 1942	1826		At 1826 hours, an aircraft was seen at a distance of 8,000 metres and the submarine dived.
		13 Jun 1942	2110		At 2110 hours, a submarine similar to the 600-ton type was sighted, steering 290-295°. It was believed to be probably Giada. Bronzo went down to 20 meters.
		14 Jun 1942	2205		At 2205 hours, a Sunderland aircraft was sighted and Bronzo dived.
		15 Jun 1942	0555		At 0555 hours, a steamer with a large tug were observed. Since the submarine was on the French traffic route, T.V. Buldrini decided to avoid contact.
		15 Jun 1942	1015		At 1015 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived.
		15 Jun 1942	2342 0049/16 (e)	36° 50'N, 0° 10'E	At 2342 hours, an enemy escort vessel of the KINGFISHER class was sight. It opened fire on the submarine. This was the corvette HMS Coltsfoot in company with HMS Geranium escorting the Fleet tanker Brown Ranger (Operation HARPOON). She reported attacking a submarine. Bronzo turned to attempt a stern shot but as the vessel was approaching at 20 knots, T.V. Buldrini elected to go deep. As the submarine was passing 60 meters, four depth-charges exploded very close and four more when the submarine was at 90 meters. At midnight another four depth-charges were heard and by 0050 hours on the 16th, the submarine had now reached a depth of 117 meters. At 0115 hours, the submarine surfaced with the gun crew ready to fight it out but the enemy vessel was gone.
		16 Jun 1942	2233	36° 30'N, 0° 20'E (0) Italian Grid 7741.	At 2233 hours, a battleship of the QUEEN ELIZABETH class and an aircraft carrier believed to be HMS Eagle. No destroyers were sighted. Bronzo attempted to carry out an attack but could not get into a favourable position. These were probably the battleship HMS Malaya and the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle.
		17 Jun 1942	0900		At 0900 hours, information was received that a cruiser and four destroyers were sighted at 0632 hours, in Italian Grid 8289 (or 350° - Cape Bon - 50 miles) steering 300°, 14 knots. Bronzo attempted to intercept and at 2046 hours, only heard H.E. but sighted nothing.
		21 Jun 1942	2330 2328 (e)	38° 00'N, 3° 10'E	At 2330 hours, a submarine similar to the British TRITON class was sighted steering straight for Bronzo. T.V. Cesare Buldrini had orders not to attack submarines encountered and was not in a favourable position for action. Moreover, Zaffiro was known to be in the adjacent area. Yet Bronzo had been alerted by a signal from MARICOSOM (1215/18) that a British submarine was in the vicinity. The enemy submarine turned away and then three explosions were heard. Buldrini assumed that the enemy submarine had fired three torpedoes at him before turning away although no torpedo tracks were seen. This was HMS P 43 (Lieutenant A.C. Halliday, RN) (later to be named HMS Unison) who sighted the Italian submarine at a distance of 1.6 miles and, at 2328 hours, fired four torpedoes at a range of 1,200 yards and they all missed.
	Buldrini, Cesare	3 Jul 1942	0745	Cagliari	3 Jul 1942	1310	Cagliari	25	Exercises.
	Buldrini, Cesare	10 Jul 1942	0805	Cagliari	10 Jul 1942	1745	Cagliari	67	Exercises.
2	Buldrini, Cesare	16 Jul 1942	0235	Cagliari	20 Jul 1942	1538	Cagliari	598	Patrolled 4 miles east of La Galite. Sighted only French ships.
		16 Jul 1942	1245	37° 32'N, 10° 07'E	At 1245 hours, a derelict mine was sighted but no action was taken.
		20 Jul 1942	0640		At 0640 hours, the submarine Dagabur was encountered and recognition signals were exchanged.
	Buldrini, Cesare	22 Jul 1942	0938	Cagliari	22 Jul 1942	1325	Cagliari	28	Exercises.
	Buldrini, Cesare	31 Jul 1942	1610	Cagliari	1 Aug 1942	1125	La Maddalena	196	Passage Cagliari-La Maddalena.
3	Buldrini, Cesare	11 Aug 1942	0511	La Maddalena	17 Aug 1942	1215	Cagliari	1025	Patrolled in an area between 37°20' and 38°00' N, and between 10°00' E and 10°40' E, against the PEDESTAL convoy.
		12 Aug 1942	1905	37° 37'N, 10° 15'E	At 1905 hours, a convoy was sighted at a distance of 10,000 metres, steering 100° at 12 knots. This was the PEDESTAL convoy. The submarine moved eastward to close, sighting several ships burning. At 1956 hours, a freighter was observed to be hit aft. At 1958 hours, a freighter was hit by a torpedo and was listing. Shortly after, another vessel was hit beyond it. Twelve freighters and warships could be counted. At 2023 hours, another vessel was hit.
		12 Aug 1942	2205	37° 30'N, 10° 10'E	At 2205 hours, two cruisers and a destroyer were sighted at a distance of 5,000 metres, course 090°, 12 knots. Bronzo tried in vain to close to attack.
		12 Aug 1942	2346	37° 34'N, 10° 34'E	At 2302 hours, a 13,000-ton tanker on fire astern and crawling at 3 knots was sighted. At 2346 hours, two torpedoes were fired from bow tubes at a range of 1,200 metres. They missed due to a defect in the gyro angles. At 2348 hours, a third torpedo was fired from a bow tube. It was claimed to have hit. Due to the confusion of the action, it is difficult to determine the target. This was probably Empire Hope (12,688 GRT, built 1941) which had been abandoned or Clan Ferguson (7,347 GRT, built 1938). Clan Ferguson is reported to have been hit by Junkers 88 and blew up at about 2015 hours. Survivors reported that she was hit by an Italian torpedo-bomber at 2103 hours. Twelve of her crew were killed, including two gunners, as well as twenty passengers. Fifty-three survivors were picked up by the Italians. Empire Hope had been damaged by bombers at 2030 hours and abandoned in position 37°35' N, 10°25' E. The destroyer HMS Penn picked up her survivors and sank her by torpedo. She had no casualties.
		13 Aug 1942	1106 Noon (e)	37° 29'N, 10° 25'E (0) Approximately.	At 1106 hours, a lifeboat with survivors from Clan Ferguson was sighted. Buldrini asked them if they had any wounded and required any help. They replied negatively and defiantly claimed that they had reported their position and were waiting to be rescued. Buldrini did not insist and sailed away.
		13 Aug 1942	1347	37° 29'N, 10° 25'E	At 1347 hours, two three-funnel cruisers were sighted at a distance of 20,000 metres, steering 300° passing between Cani Island and the coast. Bronzo tried to close then, at 1410 hours, sighted what appeared to be a damaged aircraft tender and made an enemy report.
		13 Aug 1942	1820	37° 29'N, 10° 25'E (0) Approximately.	At 1820 hours, a Savoia 79 torpedo-bomber was sighted at a distance of 6,000 metres and it appeared to attack the submarine. The aircraft closed to 3,000 meters but then apparently recognised the identity of the submarine and broke off the attack.
		13 Aug 1942	1858	37° 29'N, 10° 25'E (0) Approximately.	At 1858 hours, a Savoia 79 torpedo-bomber was sighted and it appeared to attack the submarine. The aircraft closed to 2,500 meters but then apparently recognised the identity of the submarine and broke off the attack.
		13 Aug 1942	1934 1915 (e)	37° 29'N, 10° 25'E (0) Approximately.	At 1934 hours, the submarine Emo was encountered. They closed to voice range and exchanged information.
		14 Aug 1942	2350		At 2350 hours, a signal from the submarine Otaria was received. It reported an unknown vessel northwest from her. Bronzo altered course to 278.5° to intercept but sighted nothing.
4	Buldrini, Cesare	18 Aug 1942	0100	Cagliari	19 Aug 1942	0101	Cagliari	207	Patrolled in an area between 37°20' and 37°50' N, and between 09°20' E and 10°20' E, against the PEDESTAL convoy.
		18 Aug 1942	0632	(0) South of Cavoli Island (Sardinia).	At 0632 hours, the italian steamer Perseo was sighted steering 345°, from Tunisia to Cagliari. Bronzo was at periscope depth and although only 400 meters away, her hydrophones had not detected anything.
		18 Aug 1942	2029 2031 (e)	(0) 161° - Cape Spartivento (Sardinia) - 20 miles (Bronzo) or 214° - Cavoli Isalnd - 24 miles (P.211)	At 2029 hours, a loud torpedo explosion was heard some 4,000 metres distant. This was HMS P 211 (Commander Ben Bryant, DSC, RN) (later to be named HMS Safari). She had sighted the Italian U-boat and fired six torpedoes at a range of 3,500 yards. Tthe first four equipped with DCR (Duplex Coil Rod) magnetic pistols and the next two with CCR magnetic pistols (compensated coil rod) which would gradually replace the DCR pistols. All missed.
	Buldrini, Cesare	24 Aug 1942	1602	Cagliari	25 Aug 1942	0937	La Maddalena	193	Passage Cagliari-La Maddalena.
	Buldrini, Cesare	14 Sep 1942	0015	La Maddalena	15 Sep 1942	1454	Augusta		Passage La Maddalena-Augusta with submarines Acciaio and Platino.
	Buldrini, Cesare	26 Sep 1942	0830	Augusta	26 Sep 1942	1305	Augusta		Exercises.
	Buldrini, Cesare	5 Oct 1942	0835	Augusta	5 Oct 1942	1200	Augusta	20,4	Exercises.
	Buldrini, Cesare	14 Oct 1942	0700	Augusta	14 Oct 1942	1345	Augusta	79,2	Trials.
	Buldrini, Cesare	5 Nov 1942	1135	Augusta	6 Nov 1942	0920	Trapani	277	Passage Augusta-Trapani.
5	Buldrini, Cesare	7 Nov 1942	0046	Trapani	19 Nov 1942	0957	Cagliari	1648	Sailed for a patrol in an area between 37°18' and 37°41' N, and between 09°54' E and 10°15' E. However, on the night of 8th November, she was ordered to an area off Algiers. She was off Cape Sigli (Bougie) when she was ordered to an area between 38°20' and 38°40' N, and between 06°40' E and 07°00' E. During the evening of 12th November, she was ordered to do a reconnaissance of the Bay of Bougie. She was then posted to an area 60 miles north of Bone and on the 17th within 20 miles of Cape Bougaroni.
		8 Nov 1942	1803		At 1803 hours, a submarine was sighted and Bronzo turned away.
		9 Nov 1942	1838	(0) Gulf of Philippeville.	At 1838 hours, a red light was seen, from what was believed to be a patrol-boat. Bronzo tried to close the vessel but lost contact.
		10 Nov 1942	0135 0020 (e)	(0) Gulf of Philippeville.	At 0135 hours, a submarine believed to be Italian was sighted. Prudently, Bronzo turned away. This was actually HMS P 45 (Lieutenant H.B. Turner, RN) (later to be named HMS Unrivalled). She had sighted an Italian submarine steering 240° and had dived to attack, but lost contact.
		13 Nov 1942	0700	36° 46'N, 5° 11'E	At 0700 hours, a destroyer of the WITCH class was sighted at a distance of 4,500-5,000 metres, proceeding at 10 knots. Bronzo could not close the range.
		13 Nov 1942	1658	36° 46'N, 5° 11'E (0) Approximately.	At 1658 hours, five aircraft were seen at a distance of 12,000 metres and the submarine dived.
		15 Nov 1942	1900		At 1900 hours, a submarine was sighted making smoke. Bronzo turned away.
6	Buldrini, Cesare	2 Dec 1942	1834	Cagliari	11 Dec 1942	1320	Cagliari	961	Sailed for patrol between 37°00' N and 37°20' N, and between 05°20' E and 05°40' E (Grid 6288). During the evening of 10Th November, she made a reconnaissance of Bone and was also ordered to make a reconnaissance of Bougie.
		4 Dec 1942	1954	37° 37'N, 8° 08'E	At 1954 hours, two steamers escorted by two corvettes or MTBs, were sighted at a distance of 2,500 metres. One of the escorts turned toward Bronzo who was forced to go deep at 2005 hours.
		10 Dec 1942	1916	37° 14'N, 8° 03'E	At 1912 hours, two ships were sighted at a distance of 2,500-3,000 metres. At 1916 hours, they were now seen to be two "SOUTHAMPTON" class cruisers with two destroyers steering northward at 15 knots. Four torpedoes (533mm) were fired at 6-second firing intervals at a range of 1,500 metres. Two torpedoes had an irregular run, one breaking surface. Bronzo dived and reached a depth of 30 metres when a hit was heard after 85 seconds. This success has not been confirmed.
		11 Dec 1942	0650		At 0650 hours, a German aircraft was sighted and exchanged recognition signals.
	Buldrini, Cesare	18 Dec 1942	1330	Cagliari	18 Dec 1942	1735	Cagliari	20	Exercises.
	Buldrini, Cesare	28 Dec 1942	0840	Cagliari	28 Dec 1942	1200	Cagliari	25	Exercises.
7	Buldrini, Cesare	6 Jan 1943	2010	Cagliari	13 Jan 1943	1159	Cagliari	?	Patrolled in the western Mediterranean between 37°20'N and the African coast, and between 05°40'E and 06°20'E. Sighted a convoy on 10 January, but could not mount an effective attack.
		10 Jan 1943	1412	37° 03'N, 5° 06'E	At 1412 hours, a convoy of three 5-6,000-ton steamers escorted by three large minesweepers and two aircraft, was sighted at a range of about 2,500 metres. They had not been detected by the hydrophones. Bronzo closed to a distance of 600 meters for a bow attack but, unable to use the periscope effectively because of the escorts, she failed to get into a good attacking position. The same convoy was sighted a few hours later by Mocenigo, but she was too far away to carry out an attack.
8	Buldrini, Cesare	21 Jan 1943	1803	Cagliari	6 Feb 1943	0636	Cagliari	?	Sailed for a patrol between 37°40' N and 38°00' N, and between 06°20' E and 06°40' E. On 23rd January, she was ordered to a new area between 37°20' N and the Algerian coast, and between 04°40' E and 05°00' E. On 3rd February, she was ordered to an area between 37°20' N and the Algerian coast, and between 05°40' E and 06°00' E. Sighted several ships but was unable to carry out an attack.
		22 Jan 1943	0442		At 0442 hours, a submarine was sighted at a distance of 4,000 metres. Bronzo turned away.
		24 Jan 1943	1240	37° 24'N, 4° 47'E	At 1240 hours, a patrol vessel was sighted at a distance of 7-8,000 metres, steering 100°, 10-12 knots. It had not been detected with hydrophones. Bronzo turned away.
		26 Jan 1943	1637	36° 58'N, 5° 02'E	At 1637 hours, two corvettes or MTBs were sighted at a distance of 3,000 metres. Bronzo turned away.
		27 Jan 1943	0305		At 0305 hours, a bomber, which was almost certainly a Douglas DB - 7B Havock or Boston, was sighted. The aircraft circled five times but did not attack and Bronzo did not open fire with her machine-guns as she was close to the coast.
		29 Jan 1943	1803	37° 00'N, 4° 43'E	At 1803 hours, a convoy of fourteen ships, including at least six destroyers, was sighted at a distance of 13-14,000 metres. Bronzo closed, but apparently the convoy was under air attack and, at 1840 hours, bombs fell near the submarine which went deep and could not regain contact.
		31 Jan 1943	1201	36° 54'N, 4° 55'E	At 1201 hours, two patrol vessels of about 300-400 tons were sighted at a distance of 8-10,000 metres.
		31 Jan 1943	1401	36° 54'N, 4° 55'E (0) Approximately.	At 1401 hours, an MTB, which had not been detected by hydrophones, was sighted at a distance of 2-3,000 metres. Bronzo went deep.
		31 Jan 1943	1615	36° 54'N, 4° 55'E (0) Approximately.	At 1615 hours, Bronzo was proceeding at a depth of 70 metres, when she was depth-charged by an A/S vessel detected with hydrophones at 1555 hours. The submarine went deep, but suffered some minor damage.
	Buldrini, Cesare	12 Feb 1943	1712	Cagliari	13 Feb 1943	1640	La Maddalena		Passage Cagliari-La Maddalena.
	Buldrini, Cesare	11 Mar 1943	1003	La Maddalena	12 Mar 1943	0824	Naples		Passage La Maddalena-Naples.
	Buldrini, Cesare	25 May 1943		Naples	25 May 1943		Naples		Exercises with the torpedo boat Orsa.
	Buldrini, Cesare	31 May 1943	0302	Pozzuoli	1 Jun 1943	0200	La Maddalena		Passage Pozzuoli-La Maddalena.
	Buldrini, Cesare	10 Jun 1943	0538	La Maddalena	10 Jun 1943	0812	Bonifacio		Passage La Maddalena-Bonifacio.
9	Buldrini, Cesare	18 Jun 1943	0155	Bonifacio	3 Jul 1943	1002	La Maddalena		Patrolled between 37°20'N and Algerian coast, and between 04°30'E and 05°07'E then from 20th June, between 38°20'N and 39°00'N, and between 04°20 and 05°00'E. On 28th June, ordered to patrol south of 37°10'N between 05°00'E and 06°00'E. Uneventful except for H.E. and distant explosions.
	Buldrini, Cesare	3 Jul 1943	0155	La Maddalena	3 Jul 1943	1142	Porto Palma (Caprera Island)		Changed anchorage.
	Buldrini, Cesare	3 Jul 1943	2145	Porto Palma (Caprera Island)	5 Jul 1943	1204	Pozzuoli		Passage Porto Palma (Caprera Island)-Pozzuoli.
10	Gherardi, Antonio	10 Jul 1943	2230	Pozzuoli	12 Jul 1943	1326	Syracuse (Captured)		She sailed for a patrol off eastern Sicily, east of 15°40' E and off Syracusa and Augusta, to attack the Allied invasion forces. She was reported at Point C at 2350 hours on 10th July, proceeding toward Messina and point M 3 at 12 knots. She carried six torpedoes (four G7e in the bow tubes and two Italian S.I.L. torpedoes in the stern tubes). Captured off Augusta and taken in tow to Syracuse by British minesweepers HMS Boston, HMS Cromarty, HMS Poole and HMS Seaham as she was not aware that the town had fallen. At 0007 hours on the 14th, MARICOSOM, unaware of her capture, ordered her to occupy the southern half of zone 80. Her captain and eight men were killed.
		11 Jul 1943	1609 1605 (e)	(0) 30 miles south of Cape Vaticano	At 1609 hours, an enemy submarine was sighted and Bronzo made a signal to report her presence. This was HMS Unruly (Lieutennat J.P. Fyfe, RN). She had sighted the Italian submarine at 1550 hours and fired four torpedoes at 1605-1606 hours at a range of 3,000 yards. They all missed.
		12 Jul 1943	1050Z (e)	37° 06'N, 15° 24'E	At 1050Z hours, the minesweeper HMS Seaham sighted a U-boat at a distance of 2,000 yards. This was Bronzo approaching Syracuse, unaware that the town had fallen. The minesweeper went full speed as the submarine crash-dived. HMS Seaham was in company with the minesweepers HMS Boston, HMS Cromarty and HMS Poole. At 1100 hours, the submarine re-surfaced and HMS Seaham opened fire with her 3" gun at a range of 200 yards and was soon imitated by HMS Poole and HMS Boston from about 900 yards. Seaham swept the submarine's deck with her 2-pdrs as she passed close on her port side and at 1112 hours, the submarine's crew waved the white flag. Nine had been killed including T.V. Antonio Gherardi. Bronzo was boarded and nineteen men were taken prisonners by HMS Seaham. Eleven were picked up by HMS Boston and another six by HMS Poole. Bronzo was taken in tow by HMS Seaham and brought to Syracuse. During the brief action, HMS Seaham had expended 4 3" (scoring 3 hits), 40 2-pdr, 650 0.5" MG and 12 20mm oerlikon rounds. HMS Boston fired 7 3", 50 2-pdr and 130 20mm oerlikon rounds.
		18 Jul 1943	Date???	Syracuse	19 Jul 1943		Malta		Passage Syracuse-Malta. On 18th August, it was proposed to giver her to the Hellenic Navy and, if they refused, to the Yugoslav Navy.
		17 Feb 1944			17 Feb 1944				The French destroyer Forbin sailed from Algiers to Malta bringing the new crew for the ex-Bronzo. Renamed Narval II.

100 entries. 66 total patrol entries (10 marked as war patrols) and 43 events.

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