Italian submarines in World War Two

Wolframio (Volframio) (VO)
Wolframio

Type	Coastal / Sea going
Class	Platino 2 (25)
Laid down	16 Dec 1940	Cantieri Navale Tosi di Taranto, Taranto
Launched	9 Nov 1941
Commissioned	15 Feb 1942
End service
Stricken
Loss date	9 Sep 1943
Loss position	44° 05'N, 9° 50'E
History	The name of this submarine is often spelled as 'Volframio', yet in most official documents from the submarine herself her name is spelled as 'Wolframio'. Scuttled at La Spezia on 9th September 1943 to prevent her capture by the Germans. Raised by the Germans. Sunk during an Allied air raid in 1944.
Fate

Commands

Commander	Date from	Date to
C.C. Giuseppe Vocaturo	15 Feb 1942	19 May 1942
T.V. Giovanni Manunta	20 May 1942	7 Jul 1943
C.F. Alcide Bardi	7 Jul 1943	9 Sep 1943

Ships hit

No ships hit by this submarine.

Patrols and events

	Commander	Date	Time	Port	Arr. date	Arr. time	Arr. port	Miles	Description
		5 Feb 1942	1028	Taranto	5 Feb 1942	1606	Taranto		Trials, escorted by the tug Gennariello.

	Vocaturo, Giuseppe	3 May 1942	0800	Taranto	3 May 1942	1830	Taranto	27	Exercises.

	Vocaturo, Giuseppe	5 May 1942	0620	Taranto	5 May 1942	1820	Taranto	29	Exercises, escorted by minesweeper R.D.13.

	Vocaturo, Giuseppe	7 May 1942	0900	Taranto	7 May 1942	1805	Taranto	29	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	11 Jun 1942	0700	Taranto	11 Jun 1942	1913	Taranto	34	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	14 Jun 1942	0620	Taranto	14 Jun 1942	1420	Taranto	34	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	16 Jun 1942	1200	Taranto	16 Jun 1942	1955	Taranto	40	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	19 Jun 1942	0900	Taranto	19 Jun 1942	1600	Taranto	35	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	20 Jun 1942	0830	Taranto	20 Jun 1942	1600	Taranto	35	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	24 Jun 1942	1358	Taranto	26 Jun 1942	2241	Naples	521	Passage Taranto-Naples on the surface at 12 knots. Escorted through the Strait of Messina by torpedo boat Dezza.

	Manunta, Giovanni	28 Jun 1942	0808	Naples	28 Jun 1942	1545	Naples	34	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	29 Jun 1942	0805	Naples	29 Jun 1942	1700	Naples	31	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	30 Jun 1942	0810	Naples	30 Jun 1942	1622	Naples	35	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	2 Jul 1942	0821	Naples	2 Jul 1942	1600	Naples	28	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	3 Jul 1942	0802	Naples	3 Jul 1942	1600	Naples	32,1	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	4 Jul 1942	0807	Naples	4 Jul 1942	1501	Naples	28	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	6 Jul 1942	0800	Naples	6 Jul 1942	1536	Naples	28	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	7 Jul 1942	0801	Naples	7 Jul 1942	1744	Naples	39	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	8 Jul 1942	0820	Naples	8 Jul 1942	1427	Naples	22,5	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	10 Jul 1942	0815	Naples	10 Jul 1942	1548	Naples	32,5	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	11 Jul 1942	1400	Naples	11 Jul 1942	1902	Naples	29,1	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	12 Jul 1942	0812	Naples	12 Jul 1942	1409	Naples	28,7	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	14 Jul 1942	0820	Naples	14 Jul 1942	1446	Naples	31,5	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	15 Jul 1942	0803	Naples	15 Jul 1942	1606	Naples	34	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	16 Jul 1942	0906	Naples	16 Jul 1942	1525	Naples	30	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	18 Jul 1942	0827	Naples	18 Jul 1942	1551	Naples	30	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	19 Jul 1942	1305	Naples	19 Jul 1942	2327	Naples	36,2	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	20 Jul 1942	0810	Naples	20 Jul 1942	1629	Naples	33,3	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	22 Jul 1942	0819	Naples	22 Jul 1942	1512	Naples	36,5	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	23 Jul 1942	0839	Naples	23 Jul 1942	1524	Naples	34	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	24 Jul 1942	0812	Naples	24 Jul 1942	1555	Naples	26,5	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	27 Jul 1942	0910	Naples	27 Jul 1942	1154	Naples	15,7	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	31 Jul 1942	0726	Naples	31 Jul 1942	0800	Naples	6	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	1 Aug 1942	0800	Naples	1 Aug 1942	1904	Naples	63,5	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	3 Aug 1942	0959	Naples	4 Aug 1942	0934	Cagliari	280	Passage Naples-Cagliari.

1	Manunta, Giovanni	5 Aug 1942	1759	Cagliari	19 Aug 1942	0035	Cagliari	1390	Patrolled north-west of Cape Caxine, between 37°40'N and 38°00'N, and between 02°20'E and 02°40'E, to intercept PEDESTAL convoy. Heard only H.E. and distant explosions.
		12 Aug 1942	0230		At 0230 hours, Wolframio received information of a damaged aircraft carrier 60 miles from her position and proceeding toward her. She dived to listen with her hydrophones. At 2000 hours, the submarine received an order to change her patrol area and took a 230° course. The next day, another signal was received ordering her to a new position and she altered course to 240°. On 14th August, the submarine heard H.E. but sighted nothing.
		17 Aug 1942	1054		At 1054 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived.
		18 Aug 1942	0852		At 0852 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived.

	Manunta, Giovanni	2 Sep 1942	1400	Cagliari	2 Sep 1942	1802	Cagliari	31,5	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	4 Sep 1942	0814	Cagliari	4 Sep 1942	1215	Cagliari	33,6	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	10 Sep 1942	0801	Cagliari	10 Sep 1942	1232	Cagliari	34,2	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	13 Sep 1942	2158	Cagliari	15 Sep 1942	0807	Augusta	367	Passage Cagliari-Augusta.

	Manunta, Giovanni	30 Sep 1942	0822	Cagliari	30 Sep 1942	1157	Cagliari	24	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	5 Oct 1942	0833	Augusta	5 Oct 1942	1215	Augusta	17	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	14 Oct 1942	0825	Augusta	14 Oct 1942	1235	Augusta	17,8	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	22 Oct 1942	0835	Augusta	22 Oct 1942	1253	Augusta	18,5	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	2 Nov 1942	0839	Augusta	2 Nov 1942	0952	Augusta	2,2	Exercises.

2	Manunta, Giovanni	4 Nov 1942	1807	Augusta	10 Nov 1942	1505	Augusta	2433,4	Sailed for transport mission to Tobruk (22.5 tons of ammunition), but recalled on 8th November.
		5 Nov 1942	1118		At 1118 hours, a submarine was sighted surfacing. This was Giada and recognition signals were exchanged.
		6 Nov 1942	1425		At 1425 hours, fourteen aircraft were sighted on a southerly course and the submarine dived.
		7 Nov 1942	1525		At 1525 hours, twenty aircraft were seen on a 190° course and the submarine dived.
		7 Nov 1942	1615		At 1615 hours, a hospital ship was sighted at a distance of 10,000 metres.
		10 Nov 1942	1230 1221 (e)	37° 06'N, 15° 50'E	At 1230 hours, a torpedo track was sighted and missed Wolframio by 50 metres on the starboard side. The Italian submarine fired three rounds in the presumed direction of the enemy submarine for intimidation purposes. The attack was made by the British submarine HMS Una (Lieutenant C.P. Norman). The Italian submarine had been sighted at 1215 hours, steering 231° at 9 knots. Due to overstrain and fatigue, Norman had forgotten to order the reload of the torpedo tubes after an attack on the light cruiser Emanuele Filiberto Duca D'Aosta earlier in the day. A single torpedo was reloaded under 8 minutes and fired at 1221 hours at a range of 600-800 yards. It was believed to have missed the target by only 10-15 feet.

3	Manunta, Giovanni	11 Nov 1942	0727	Augusta	21 Nov 1942	0925	Cagliari	2433,4	Patrolled off Philippeville, between 37°00'N and 37°20'N, and between 08°20'E and 08°40'E.
		14 Nov 1942	1010	(0) Off Bone.	At 1010 hours, Wolframio was at periscope depth reconnoitering the bay of Bone when a large aircraft was sighted approaching. The submarine went down to 50 metres.
		14 Nov 1942	1615	(0) Off Bone.	At 1615 hours, a submarine, believed to be Italian, was observed proceeding on the surface on a southerly course and later submerged. Hydrophone effect was heard but nothing could observed through the periscope but depth charges explosions were heard close. Wolframio was later ordered to go to the Bay of Djidjelli, but could not comply as it was 110 miles away and the submarine had not had an opportunity to fully.charge her batteries Finally, at 1330 hours on the 15th, she was ordered to check the Bay of Bougie but sighted nothing.
		20 Nov 1942	0645	(0) Near Point C of Cagliari.	At 0645 hours, the submarine Giada was encountered and exchanged recognition signals.

	Manunta, Giovanni	28 Nov 1942	0850	Cagliari	28 Nov 1942	1250	Cagliari	35,1	Exercises.

4	Manunta, Giovanni	2 Dec 1942	1848	Cagliari	16 Dec 1942	1142	Cagliari	1696	Patrolled off Algerian coast between 37°00'N and 37°20'N, and between 05°40'E and 06°00'E, then moved to between 37°20'N and 37°40'N, and between 08°20'E and 08°40'E.
		5 Dec 1942	0800		At 0800 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived to 30 metres.
		5 Dec 1942	1330		At 1330 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived to 30 metres.
		6 Dec 1942	0805		At 0805 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived to 30 metres.
		7 Dec 1942	2316		The submarine was informed about a German aircraft shot down and at 2316 hours arrived in the presumed area and began searching. At 0417 hours on the 8th, nothing could be found and Wolframio returned to her patrol area.
		8 Dec 1942	0658	37° 21'N, 8° 24'E	At 0632 hours, a vessel was detected with the hydrophones. At 0658 hours, Wolframio came to periscope depth and observed an enemy destroyer. The forward tubes were not yet ready to fire, when the destroyer passed some 500 metres from the submarine. At 0730 hours, the target disappeared over the horizon.
		10 Dec 1942	2320		At 2320 hours, an aircraft dropped three flares over the submarine. Wolframio dived.
		11 Dec 1942	0527	37° 31'N, 6° 56'E	At 0527 hours, a destroyer was sighted in poor visibility. It moved away and Woframio submerged at 0551 hours. The destroyer returned at 0658 hours and was joined later by a second vessel. The submarine was depth-charged ineffectively until 0952 hours and escaped by going deep.
		11 Dec 1942	2015	37° 20'N, 6° 34'E	At 2015 hours, a destroyer, five corvettes and a small patrol vessel were sighted at a distance of 3-4,000 metres. Wolframio submerged to attack, but lost contact with her hydrophones.
		13 Dec 1942	1725	37° 51'N, 6° 56'E	At 1725 hours, four destroyers were sighted at a distance of 2,000 metres. Wolframio turned away to fire her stern torpedoes, but the distance had closed rapidly and the track angle did not permit a good shot. The submarine was forced to submerge.

	Manunta, Giovanni	17 Dec 1942	0934	Cagliari	18 Dec 1942	1017	Naples	280	Passage Cagliari-Naples on the surface at 12 knots.

	Manunta, Giovanni	7 Jan 1943	1213	Naples	7 Jan 1943	1729	Naples	30	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	9 Jan 1943	1540	Naples	10 Jan 1943	1835	Cagliari	280	Passage Naples-Cagliari.

5	Manunta, Giovanni	11 Jan 1943	1800	Cagliari	12 Jan 1943	0457	Cagliari	83,5	Sailed for patrol off Bougie but returned due to a leak.

	Manunta, Giovanni	15 Jan 1943	0819?	Cagliari	15 Jan 1943	1126	Cagliari	27	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	18 Jan 1943	0810	Cagliari	18 Jan 1943	1158	Cagliari	26,7	Exercises.

6	Manunta, Giovanni	20 Jan 1943	1234	Cagliari	21 Jan 1943	0547	Cagliari	140	Sailed for patrol off Bougie but had to turn back due to chlorine fumes.

	Manunta, Giovanni	24 Jan 1943	0818	Cagliari	24 Jan 1943	1521	Cagliari	40	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	28 Jan 1943	0712	Cagliari	28 Jan 1943	1131	Cagliari	22	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	31 Jan 1943	0110	Cagliari	31 Jan 1943	0800	Cagliari	13	Exercises.

7	Manunta, Giovanni	2 Feb 1943	2000	Cagliari	10 Feb 1943	0620	Cagliari	677,1	Sailed for special operation on the Algerian coast, between Cape Carbon and Cape Sigli (landing a commando consisting of one officer and ten other ranks of the Arditi).
		5 Feb 1943	2111	(0) Near Cape Carbon.	At 2111 hours, an attempt was made to land an Arditi (commando) team of eleven men led by Tenente Mario Betti on the Algerian coast. The attempt was finally abandoned because of the rough seas.

	Manunta, Giovanni	13 Feb 1943	0812	Cagliari	13 Feb 1943	1240	Cagliari	25,2	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	14 Feb 1943	0810	Cagliari	14 Feb 1943	1136	Cagliari	22,6	Exercises.

8	Manunta, Giovanni	16 Feb 1943	1811	Cagliari	22 Feb 1943	1037	Cagliari	699	Patrolled off Algerian coast between Bone and Philippeville, between 37°20'N and Algerian coast, and between 05°40'E and 06°00'E.
		18 Feb 1943	0345	37° 08'N, 5° 59'E (0) Approximate position.	At 0345 hours, a Wellington bomber was seen and the submarine dived.
		18 Feb 1943	0715	37° 08'N, 5° 59'E	At 0715 hours, a convoy, escorted by destroyers and MTBs, was sighted at a distance of 8-9,000 metres. All the merchant ships were towing a balloon with about 100 metres of cable. Wolframio made a submerged approach but gave up because the noises of the MTBs confused the hydrophone operator.
		18 Feb 1943	1015	37° 03'N, 5° 57'E	At 1015 hours, two steamers escorted by two MTBs, were sighted at a distance of 5-6,000 metres on easterly course. Wolframio dived again to 50 meters, but could not regain contact.

	Manunta, Giovanni	28 Feb 1943	1223	Cagliari	1 Mar 1943	0914	La Maddalena	224,3	Passage Cagliari-La Maddalena. Probably sighted by the Dutch submarine Dolfijn off Serpentara Island.

	Manunta, Giovanni	3 Mar 1943	0806	La Maddalena	3 Mar 1943	1311	La Maddalena	34	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	13 Mar 1943	0632	La Maddalena	13 Mar 1943	0800	La Maddalena	13	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	14 Mar 1943	0800	La Maddalena	14 Mar 1943	1056?	La Maddalena	18	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	26 Mar 1943	0943	La Maddalena	26 Mar 1943	1654	La Maddalena	4	Exercises.

	Manunta, Giovanni	28 Mar 1943	1007	La Maddalena	29 Mar 1943	0858	La Maddalena	10	Exercises.

9	Manunta, Giovanni	30 Mar 1943	1621	La Maddalena	11 Apr 1943	1400	La Maddalena	790,5	Sailed for special operation on Algerian coast between Cape Carbon and Cape Sigli, landing a commando consisting of one officer and ten other ranks of the Arditi. After several attempts on 5-7th April, the operation was aborted due to poor visibility.
		8 Apr 1943	0002	38° 12'N, 4° 44'E (e) 38° 19'N, 4° 20'E	At 0002B/8, a submarine, apparently of the ARGO class, was sighted at a distance of 1,000 metres. It did not answer recognition signals and Wolframio broke off contact. This was HMS Torbay (Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck, RN) returning to Algiers froom patrol. HMS Torbay had obtained a radar contact at a range of 1500 yards at 2250A/7. When the range had closed to 900 yards the contact was seen to be an enemy submarine. Torpedoes could not be fired so it was decided to engage the enemy with the 4" gun but the enemy dived before fire could be opened apparently also having sighed HMS Torbay by now. The position in which the enemy submarine dived is given as 38°19'N, 04°20'E which is about 20 nautical miles off from the position given by Wolframio. However navigation could well be a bit off in both submarines as the weather conditions were bad and most likely no accurate sights had been taken for a while.

	Manunta, Giovanni	12 Apr 1943	1045	La Maddalena	13 Apr 1943	0855	Naples	232	Passage La Maddalena-Pozzuoli with the submarine Mocenigo, escorted by two MAS.
		12 Apr 1943	1230	41° 06'N, 9° 43'E	At 1230 hours, a submarine was sighted at a distance of 2,000 metres. It was lost from sight very quickly and Wolframio made an enemy report. A MAS boat was sent to investigate.

	Manunta, Giovanni	13 Apr 1943	1020	Naples	13 Apr 1943	1200	Pozzuoli	8,8	Passage La Maddalena-Pozzuoli.

	Manunta, Giovanni	13 Apr 1943	1705	Pozzuoli	13 Apr 1943	1915	Castellammare di Stabia	20,5	Passage Pozzuoli-Castellammare di Stabia.

	Manunta, Giovanni	19 Apr 1943	0558	Castellammare di Stabia	19 Apr 1943	0812	Naples	13,2	Passage Castellammare di Stabia-Naples.

	Manunta, Giovanni	19 Apr 1943	1710	Naples	19 Apr 1943	1900	Pozzuoli	8,8	Passage Naples-Pozzuoli.

	Manunta, Giovanni	3 Jun 1943	0842	Naples	3 Jun 1943	1454	Naples	43,25	Trials.

	Manunta, Giovanni	6 Jun 1943	1110	Naples	6 Jun 1943	1210	Naples	8	Trials.

	Manunta, Giovanni	6 Jun 1943	1420	Naples	6 Jun 1943	1629	Naples	16	Trials.

	Manunta, Giovanni	7 Jun 1943	0830	Naples	7 Jun 1943	1310	Naples	48	Trials.

	Manunta, Giovanni	8 Jun 1943	0855	Naples	8 Jun 1943	1123	Naples	12,15	Trials.

	Manunta, Giovanni	9 Jun 1943	0716	Naples	9 Jun 1943	1237	Naples	26,5	Trials.

	Manunta, Giovanni	10 Jun 1943	1553	Naples	10 Jun 1943	2350	Naples	59	Trials.

	Manunta, Giovanni	15 Jun 1943	1605	Naples	16 Jun 1943	0105	Naples	71	Trials.

	Manunta, Giovanni	20 Jun 1943	0859	Naples	20 Jun 1943	1145	Naples	20	Trials.

	Manunta, Giovanni	27 Jun 1943	1334	Naples	27 Jun 1943	1630	Naples	19,8	Trials.

	Manunta, Giovanni	28 Jun 1943	0800	Naples	28 Jun 1943	1019	Pozzuoli	12	Passage Naples-Pozzuoli.

	Manunta, Giovanni	1 Jul 1943	0213	Pozzuoli	2 Jul 1943	0834	Portoferraio	285	Passage Pozzuoli-Portoferraio.

	Manunta, Giovanni	6 Jul 1943	1437	Portoferraio	6 Jul 1943	2221	La Spezia	101,2	Passage Portoferraio-La Spezia, escorted by the torpedo boat Orione.

	Bardi, Alcide	9 Sep 1943		La Spezia	9 Sep 1943	1000	Scuttled		Scuttled after Armistice. One of seven boats scuttled at La Spezia. In November 1943, she was raised by the Germans, docked and awaited a change of batteries.
		9 Sep 1943		(0) At La Spezia.	Wolframio was unable to sail from La Spezia at the Armistice and was scuttled by her crew. She was later raised by the Germans.

		4 Sep 1944		La Spezia	4 Sep 1944		Sunk		Sunk in an air raid at La Spezia.
		4 Sep 1944		(0) La Spezia harbour.	During an Allied air raid, Wolframio was bombed and sunk.

108 entries. 90 total patrol entries (9 marked as war patrols) and 28 events.

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Italian submarines

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Italian submarines in World War Two

Wolframio (Volframio) (VO)
Wolframio

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All Italian submarines

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Italian submarines

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Italian submarines in World War Two

Wolframio (Volframio) (VO)Wolframio

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Wolframio (Volframio) (VO)
Wolframio