Giuseppe Finzi (FZ, I.2)
Finzi

Type	Ocean going
Class	Calvi (10)
Laid down	1 Aug 1932	Odero-Terni-Orlando, Muggiano
Launched	29 Jun 1935
Commissioned	8 Jan 1936
End service	9 Sep 1943
Stricken
Loss date	25 Aug 1944
Loss position	45° 03'N, 1° 03'W
History	Captured at Bordeaux by the Germans on 9th September 1943 while undergoing conversion to a cargo submarine, code name "AQUILA IV". Renamed UIT-21 by the Germans. Scuttled at Le Verdon-sur-Mer on 25th August 1944.
Fate

Commands

Commander	Date from	Date to	Command notes
C.C. Alberto Dominici	17 Nov 1939	20 Apr 1941
C.C. Ugo Giudice	20 Apr 1941	4 Oct 1942
C.C. Giovenale Anfossi	5 Oct 1942	31 Oct 1942
T.V. Angelo Amendolia	1 Nov 1942	21 Jan 1943
T.V. Mario Rossetto	21 Jan 1943	21 May 1943
C.F. Ferdinando Corsi	22 May 1943	9 Jun 1943
T.V. Mariano Dellino	22 Jun 1943	8 Sep 1943

Ships hit

	Date	Commander	Ship hit	Type	GRT	Nat.	Loss type
1.	6 Mar 1942	C.C. Ugo Giudice	Melpomene	Cargo ship	7,011		Sunk
2.	7 Mar 1942	C.C. Ugo Giudice	Skåne	Cargo ship	4,528		Sunk
3.	10 Mar 1942	C.C. Ugo Giudice	Charles Racine	Tanker	9,957		Sunk
4.	28 Mar 1943	T.V. Mario Rossetto	Granicos	Cargo ship	3,689		Sunk
5.	30 Mar 1943	T.V. Mario Rossetto	Celtic Star	Cargo ship	5,575		Sunk

Patrols and events

	Commander	Date	Time	Port	Arr. date	Arr. time	Arr. port	Miles	Description
	Dominici, Alberto	3 Jun 1940	2320	La Spezia	5 Jun 1940	0205	Cagliari		Passage La Spezia-Calgari with the submarines Glauco, Tazzoli and Cappellini escorted by the torpedo boat Curtatone.
1	Dominici, Alberto	5 Jun 1940	1115	Cagliari	10 Jul 1940	1115	Cagliari	4976,42	Patrolled off Canary Islands. On 10th June, all the officers and eighteen ratings suffered an intoxication due to Methylene Chloride. The problem was quickly identified, the submarine surfaced to ventilate and all the bottles of Methylene Chloride disposed of.
		10 Jun 1940		(0) East of Gibraltar.	All the officers and eighteen ratings suffered from intoxication due to Methylene Chloride. The problem was quickly identified, the submarine surfaced to ventilate and all the bottles of Methylene Chloride disposed of. Most of the men recovered after four or five days, except for two men who took ten days.
		12 Jun 1940	0253 0412 (e)	(e) 35° 48'N, 5° 10'W (0) 160° - Point Almina - 6 miles.	From a distance of 1,200-1,500 metres, Giuseppe Finzi sighted the shape of a destroyer coming straight at her and dived immediately. The first depth charges exploded as the submarine was a a depth of 30 before settling on the bottom at 108 metres. This was the destroyer HMS Watchman, which claimed the submarine sunk or badly damaged, but Finzi suffered only minor damages. Later in the day, the armed trawler HMT Stella Sirius also reported a contact off Almina Point.
		23 Jun 1940	1610	(0) North of Teneriffe (Canary Islands).	A French sloop of the BOUGAINVILLE class was sighted but the submarine could not gain an attack position.
		9 Jul 1940	1650	(0) West of Sardinia.	The submarine was suddenly attacked by an aircraft, believed to be British, which dropped a single bomb. It exploded very near the hull, but caused no damage. The aircraft may have been Italian as no RAF bomber reported such an attack.
	Dominici, Alberto	12 Jul 1940	0900	Cagliari	13 Jul 1940	1535	La Spezia	377	Passage Cagliari-La Spezia.
	Dominici, Alberto	26 Aug 1940	0815	La Spezia	26 Aug 1940	1628	La Spezia	32	Exercises.
	Dominici, Alberto	27 Aug 1940	0716	La Spezia	27 Aug 1940	1730	La Spezia	45	Exercises.
	Dominici, Alberto	30 Aug 1940	0843	La Spezia	30 Aug 1940	1054	La Spezia	8,5	Exercises.
2	Dominici, Alberto	7 Sep 1940	0630	La Spezia	29 Sep 1940	1750	Bordeaux	2889	Passage La Spezia to Bordeaux. Passed Gibraltar on 12th September 1940. Patrolled between 42°00 and 43°00'N, and between 10°00 W and Spanish coast. Sighted several vessels, mostly Spanish or Portuguese. Escorted in by the German minesweepers M-2 and M-9. Visited by Admiral Doenitz on 30th September 1940.
		14 Sep 1940	0740	36° 08'N, 9° 25'W	An aircraft was sighted at long range and the submarine dived.
		15 Sep 1940	1202-1211 1230 (e)	37° 23'N, 10° 01'W (e) 37° 08'N, 10° 42'W (0) 276° - Cape St. Vincent - 85 miles	At 1125 hours, the submarine sighted an escort vessel and dived. The vessel dropped seven depth-charges between 1202 and 1211 hours. This was the destroyer ORP Garland who reported attacking a contact without visible result. The submarine escaped unscathed.
3	Dominici, Alberto	24 Oct 1940	1130	Bordeaux	4 Dec 1940	1140	Bordeaux	6409,6	Patrolled west of British Isles, between 57°20 and 59°20'N and 17°00' and 20°00'W [between Italian Grids 0670 and 0602]. The submarine was escorted on her way back by Sperrbrecher 3 and minesweeper M-10 (2.MSFL).of the 2nd Minesweeping Flotilla.
		30 Oct 1940	1345	56° 30'N, 18° 09'W	A 6-8,000-ton steamer armed with two guns was observed. The submarine fired one torpedo (533mm) from a bow tube at a distance 1,500-2,000 metres, but missed.
		30 Oct 1940	1410-1540	56° 30'N, 18° 09'W (0) Approximately.	The submarine heard H.E. of what must have been an approaching escort vessel, which dropped seven depth-charges at 1430 hours. She dived to 80 meters. Another depth-charge followed at 1523 hours and a final one at 1540 hours, but the submarine was undamaged.
		6 Nov 1940	1452	59° 08'N, 23° 02'W	An unknown steamer was sighted at a distance of 10-12,000 metres and Giuseppe Finzi moved to intercept. At 1533 hours, the submarine dived but could not close the range at less than 6,000 meters and lost contact. The executive officer T.V. Girola was highly critical of his commanding officer for the extreme caution the latter exhibited during this action.
		16 Nov 1940	1705	58° 00'N, 19° 00'W	At 1705 hours, Giuseppe Finzi received a signal reporting an escorted convoy of 10-20 steamers at 1415 in 55°35' N, 11°05' W steering 250°, 9 knots. At 1810 hours the submarine turned on a 210° course at 13.5 knots to intercept. In heavy seas and taking water from the stern, the submarine was forced to change course to 330° at 0645 hours on the 17th, and to reduce speed to 4 knots.
		18 Nov 1940	2110	58° 10'N, 19° 00'W (0) Approximately.	At 2110 hours, Giuseppe Finzi received a signal reporting a convoy at 0345 hours on the 18th, in 56°35' N, 13°55' W steering 250°, 14 knots. At 2145 hours, the submarine turned on a 180° course at 8 knots to intercept. The submarine gave up the chase at 1500 hours as it was believed that it had no chance to intercept.
		22 Nov 1940	1205	57° 35'N, 18° 52'W	Giuseppe Finzi sighted a lone steamer at 6-7,000 metres and dived to 60 meters to attempt to close submerged using her hydrophones. At 1515 hours, three depth-charges were heard, followed at 1530 hours by another four which detonated closer. Finally, at 1540 hours, the submarine detected the convoy with hydrophones. It was estimated at 10 or 20 steamers, escorted by auxiliary cruisers steering 100° course at a speed of 8 knots. Another fourteen depth-charges were heard between 1610-1615 hours and contact was lost at 1900 hours. At 1950 hours, the submarine surfaced in very poor visibility and made an enemy report.
		24 Nov 1940	0000-0130	58° 19'N, 20° 17'W	Giuseppe Finzi heard hydrophone effects believed to be from a convoy on a 080° course. The submarine surfaced at 1135 hours and made an enemy report.
		27 Nov 1940	1320	57° 40'N, 18° 30'W	A vessel was sighted at a distance of 15,000 metres. The submarine dived immediately and took an intercepting course to attack, but soon gave up the chase as the target was travelling at 15 knots and she could not close the range.
		27 Nov 1940	1815	57° 16'N, 17° 37'W	A three-funnelled destroyer was sighted at a distance of 10,000 metres. The submarine submerged to attack but could not stay at periscope depth because of the heavy seas and lost contact.
		28 Nov 1940	0515	55° 20'N, 17° 36'W	An unknown vessel was sighted and closed 700-800 metres. It turned out to be a submarine and Finzi turned away.
		30 Nov 1940	0515	49° 57'N, 17° 56'W	Giuseppe Finzi sighted an unknown vessel at a distance of 10,000 metres and turned to attack. It was then identified as a submarine and the Italian submarine turned away.
	Dominici, Alberto	24 Feb 1941	0835	Bordeaux	24 Feb 1941	1440	Le Verdon	65	Passage Bordeaux-Le Verdon.
	Dominici, Alberto	25 Feb 1941	0835	Le Verdon	25 Feb 1941	1540	La Pallice	65	Passage Le Verdon-La Pallice escorted by the German submarine chaser UJ-E and Sperrbrecher 34.
	Dominici, Alberto	27 Feb 1941	0845	La Pallice	27 Feb 1941	1628	La Pallice	17	Exercises.
	Dominici, Alberto	28 Feb 1941	0838	La Pallice	28 Feb 1941	1946	Pauillac	95	Passage La Pallice-Pauillac.
	Dominici, Alberto	1 Mar 1941	0800	Pauillac	1 Mar 1941	1020	Bordeaux	20	Passage Pauillac-Bordeaux.
		1 Mar 1941	1240	(0) At La Pallice.	The submarine ran aground as she was returning from exercises and had to be freed with the help of tugs.
	Dominici, Alberto	1 Mar 1941	1020	Bordeaux	1 Mar 1941	1415	Bassens	3	Passage Bordeaux-Bassens. Ran aground and was freed with the help of a tug.
		1 Mar 1941	1240	(0) At La Pallice.	The submarine ran aground as she was returning from exercises and had to be freed with the help of tugs.
	Dominici, Alberto	1 Mar 1941	1915	Bassens	1 Mar 1941	1930	Bordeaux	3	Passage Bassens-Bordeaux.
		1 Mar 1941	1240	(0) At La Pallice.	The submarine ran aground as she was returning from exercises and had to be freed with the help of tugs.
4	Dominici, Alberto	9 Mar 1941	1545	Bordeaux	17 Apr 1941	1300	Bordeaux	6752	Sailed escorted by the German minesweeper M-12 and Sperrbrecher 16 and patrolled (1) between 40°00'N and 42°00'N, and between 17°00'W and 21°00'W (2) between 13°00'N and 18°00'N, and between 19°00'W and 21°00'W (3) between 27°00'N and 30°00'N, and between 18°00'W and 21°00'W (4) between 36°00'N and 38°00'N, and between 13°00'W and 16°00'W (the BETASOM report gives 36°00'N and 39°00 N, and between 13°00'W and 15°00'W), west of the Canary Islands and east of Cape Verde Island.
		17 Mar 1941	0205		A destroyer was sighted at a distance of 2,000 metres and she turned toward the submarine who dived to a depth of 60 metres.
		17 Mar 1941	0430-2000	40° 00'N, 22° 40'W	At 0235 hours, the hydrophones detected noise of vessels steering 135°, 8 knots. At 0430 hours, the submarine surfaced and proceeded at 13.5 knots to search for a convoy from Gibraltar.
		17 Mar 1941	2000		The submarine having failed to locate the first convoy from Gibraltar turned toward a second convoy. The search went on until 2130 hours on the 18th and again nothing was sighted.
		24 Mar 1941	1540		An unknown vessel was sighted, which turned out to be Spanish. The submarine aborted the attack.
		2 Apr 1941	1750 1800 (e)	26° 20'N, 18° 50'W	At 1750 hours, a smoke was observed on the horizon and the submarine closed. It was a convoy of ten to fifteen ships escorted by destroyers. This was convoy S.L.69 bound from Freetown for Liverpool. The submarine dived when one of the destroyers, followed by a second, turned toward her. Two depth charges exploded at 1941 hours and a third at 1950 hours, but Giuseppe Finzi escaped damage. The submarine then tried to renew contact with the convoy but at 0900 hours on the 4th, she abandoned the chase. This was the Free French sloop Commandant Dominé (C.C. Jaquelin de la Porte de Vaux), which dropped three depth-charges after being guided by the seaplane from HMS Mauritius.
	Giudice, Ugo	27 Jun 1941	0840	Bordeaux	27 Jun 1941	2143	Le Verdon	55	Passage Bordeaux-Le Verdon.
	Giudice, Ugo	29 Jun 1941	2223	Le Verdon	29 Jun 1941	1555	La Pallice	87	Passage Le Verdon-La Pallice.
5	Giudice, Ugo	3 Aug 1941	1301	La Pallice	11 Sep 1941	1150	Bordeaux	7119	Sailed for Atlantic patrol via 45°00'N, 23°30'W to ca. 39°00'N, 14°00'W.
		5 Aug 1941	2100	45° 12'N, 12° 26'W	A derelict mine was sighted. The submarine attempted to destroy it with machine gun fire but was unsuccessful because of the heavy seas. At 0800 hours on the 6th, following orders from BETASOM, the submarine proceeded at 10 knots to 37°45' N, 11°15' W.
		7 Aug 1941	1615	40° 34'N, 12° 33'W	An unknown steamer was sighted but left alone as GIUDICE did not wish to disclose his position and resumed proceeding to intercept a convoy.
		9 Aug 1941	2300	38° 12'N, 11° 25'W (0) Approximately.	Giuseppe Finzi was informed by BETASOM that a convoy had sailed from Gibraltar.She was ordered to intercept it in 33°55' N, 09°15' W at 2000 hours on the 10th. The submarine altered course at 12 knots, but later engine defects slowed her down and were repaired. At 1735 hours on the 10th, Finzi received another order to proceed to 36°45' N, 10°15' W, the convoy was in 36°25' N, 08°25' W at 1500 hours on the 10th. A signal from BETASOM, received at 2330 hours on the 10th, ordered her to 36°15' N, 11°15' W. This location was reached at 0715 hours on the 11th with several more signals following until 12th August.
		12 Aug 1941	1640	38° 35'N, 12° 55'W (0) Italian Grid 9502/64.	The enemy convoy was sighted at a distance of 8,000 metres. The submarine was forced to submerge at 1645 hours as one of the escorting destroyers turned toward her. At 2045 hours, she surfaced and tried to catch up with the convoy. At 2235 hours on the 12th, a signal was received from BETASOM reporting the convoy in 38°55' N, 13°25' W and ordering Finzi, Marconi and Veniero to attack it, but Finzi sighted nothing.
		13 Aug 1941	0230	39° 11'N, 14° 02'W	An enemy destroyer was sighted at a distance of 3,000 metres and the submarine maneuvered to gain a more favourable position.
		13 Aug 1941	0245	39° 11'N, 14° 02'W	A second enemy destroyer was sighted at a distance of 2-3,000 metres and GIUDICE elected to go deep.
		13 Aug 1941	0745	39° 24'N, 14° 30'W	An enemy destroyer was sighted at a distance of 4,000 metres and the submarine was forced to submerge.
		13 Aug 1941	1515	39° 24'N, 14° 30'W (0) Approximately.	A submarine was sighted. This was probably Marconi, but is not identified in the patrol report. Recognition signals were exchanged but at 1520 hours, Giuseppe Finzi was forced to submerge by an aircraft.
		13 Aug 1941	2000-2045 1755 zone-1 (e)	39° 54'N, 15° 36'W (e) 40° 19'N, 15° 46'W (0) Italian Grid 5142/46.	Two destroyers were observed to be depth-charging a submarine. These were HMS Faulknor and HMS Wild Swan. Giuseppe Finzi moved away.
		14 Aug 1941	0047	40° 42'N, 15° 46'W	Giuseppe Finzi was cruising on the surface, when a destroyer was sighted. The submarine submerged at 0050 hours. Later, the convoy was heard with her hydrophones but she could not get within sighting range.
		14 Aug 1941	0805	40° 48'N, 16° 41'W (0) Approximately.	Two destroyers were sighted in the mist, at a distance of 7-8,000 metres. Giuseppe Finzi submerged and heard depth-charge explosions at 0845, 0858 and 0958 hours but at a distance.
		14 Aug 1941	1830		The submarine had just surfaced when a destroyer was sighted at a distance of 4,000 metres. She was forced to submerge again and, heard three depth-charges at a distance.
		19 Aug 1941	1130-1520	37° 37'N, 19° 10'W (0) Approximately.	A smoke was sighted on the horizon. Finzi gave chase but at 1520 hours, the vessel was identified as Spanish and the submarine turned away.
		21 Aug 1941	1405	37° 08'N, 15° 14'W	A steamer was sighted but she turned out to be Portuguese.
		26 Aug 1941	0140	32° 02'N, 13° 46'W	A Spanish vessel was sighted steering 020° and no action was taken.
		26 Aug 1941	0715	31° 15'N, 13° 56'W	A Spanish vessel was sighted on a northerly course and she was left alone.
		26 Aug 1941	1025	31° 02'N, 14° 00'W	An unidentified ship was sighted and the submarine gave chase, but the vessel was fast and escaped.
		29 Aug 1941	1745	29° 26'N, 12° 33'W	An unidentified ship was sighted and the submarine gave chase, but lost her in the mist. In the next days, the submarine sighted other ships but they turned out to be either Spanish or Portuguese.
	Giudice, Ugo	5 Dec 1941	0850	Bordeaux	5 Dec 1941	1255	Le Verdon	60	Passage Bordeaux-Le Verdon.
6	Giudice, Ugo	5 Dec 1941	1748	Le Verdon	26 Dec 1941	1149	St. Nazaire	5273	Sailed on a mission to rescue the survivors from the German raider Atlantis and her supply ship Python, northwest of Cape Verde (took 70 men from U-129). Four submarines participated in the operation: Finzi, Calvi, Torelli and Tazzoli. The four commanders were decorated by Admiral Doenitz.
		11 Dec 1941	0825	35° 27'N, 18° 25'W	An unknown illuminated steamer was sighted steering 000°-020°. She was probably neutral and C.C. Giudice did not attempt to investigate as his submarine was on a rescue mission.
		16 Dec 1941	1315-1540	14° 30'N, 28° 30'W	Giuseppe Finzi met with U-129 (KL Nicolai Claussen) carrying survivors from Atlantis and Python and took off seventy survivors and brought them to St. Nazaire.
	Giudice, Ugo	26 Dec 1941	1430	St. Nazaire	27 Dec 1941	1112	Le Verdon	148	Passage St. Nazaire-Le Verdon.
	Giudice, Ugo	27 Dec 1941	1112	Le Verdon	27 Dec 1941	1550	Bordeaux	60	Passage Le Verdon-Bordeaux.
7	Giudice, Ugo	5 Feb 1942	0950	Bordeaux	31 Mar 1942	1759	Le Verdon	8286	Patrolled in Caribbean, carried nineteen torpedoes. On 2nd February, BETASOM had issued an order to bombard Atlantic City (New Jersey) but three days later the order was countermanded by Admiral Legnani who warned them not to entertain similar ideas.
		10 Feb 1942	1205	40° 43'N, 14° 11'W	Giuseppe Finzi sighted two destroyers at a distance of 10,000 metres proceeding on a NW course. One of them turned toward the submarine and the submarine dived. Only two depth-charges were heard, one at 1235 hours and the other at 1247 hours but the destroyer remained in the area for several hours. Apparently she was keeping down the submarine as a convoy was heard at 1700 hours in 40°43' N, 14°18' W. The submarine finally surfaced at 1910 hours.
		3 Mar 1942	1330	22° 06'N, 62° 54'W	An unknown aircraft was sighted at 15,000 metres and the submarine dived.
		4 Mar 1942	2022	23° 40'N, 62° 22'W	An unidentified tanker was sighted at 10,000 metres steering 160°. The submarine maneuvered to carry out a night attack, but engine defects delayed her and she could not renew contact.
		5 Mar 1942	1138	24° 11'N, 61° 33'W	An illuminated steamer was sighted on a SE course at a distance of 8,000 metres. The submarine gave up the chase as she appeared to be neutral.
		6 Mar 1942	0308 2110/5 (e)	23° 36'N, 62° 28'W (e) 23° 35'N, 62° 39'W	At 2055 hours on 5th March 1942, a smoke was sighted on the horizon at a range of 10,000 meters in 24°00' N, 61°42' W. It turned out to be a tanker steering 265°. At 0308 hours on the 6th, Giuseppe Finzi closed to 1,200 metres and , she fired a pair of torpedoes (533mm) from her bow tubes. One torpedo apparently hit amidship and another hit the stern. However, survivors later reported that only one torpedo hit under the bridge. This was the British Melpomene (ex-French, 7,011 GRT, built 1923) bound from Belfast to New Orleans in convoy O.S.19. The crew began to abandon ship. At 0337 hours, the submarine fired a third torpedo from a bow tube at Melpomene and hit her again, but she failed to sink. At 0402 hours, a fourth torpedo was fired and squarely hit Melpomene which finally sank at 0423 hours. The forty-nine men of her crew had taken to three lifeboats and made for San Juan (Puerto Rico). They were all rescued (including three seriously wounded) by the American steamer Idaho.
		7 Mar 1942	0150 1945/6 (e)	22° 42'N, 60° 07'W (e) 22° 50'N, 62° 10'W	At 1435 hours on 6th March 1942, Giudice sighted a vessel from a distance of 8,000 metres and trailed her with the intention of attacking after dusk. The attack finally occurred at 0150 hours on the 7th, Giuseppe Finzi firing two bow torpedoes (533mm) and both hit. This was the Swedish Skåne (4528 GRT, built 1921) steering 163° at 9 knots [also reported as Boren, ex Skåne]. She was on a trip from New York to Bombay, carrying 7,500 tons of general cargo and some trucks and armoured cars on deck. The vessel was only damaged and Captain Cronberg and his crew began to abandon ship. At 0254 hours, a third torpedo was fired and again hit the Swedish Skåne. She was sinking very slowly and the submarine fired 7 rounds to finish her off. At 0502 hours, gunfire was resumed with another 18 rounds, pumped into her hull rendering the ship in a sinking condition. At 0620 hours, the submarine was forced to dive because of an aircraft with lights on (which was probably a commercial one). An explosion was heard at 0700 hours and Skåne must have sunk at this time. The crew of thirty-four (including two women) had taken to two lifeboats and were all picked up the next day by the American freighter Ipswich. The survivors believed that they had been attacked by two submarines, one of them of the PIETRO MICCA type, the confusion certainly arose from Finzi carrying attacks from both sides. It was suspected that the vessel may have been boarded by the Italian submarine (this was not the case) but the American authorities were relieved to note that no US Navy codes were carried. On 8th March, between 1130 and 1700 hours, the submarine reloaded her forward tubes with three torpedoes which were carried on deck.
		8 Mar 1942	1730	22° 42'N, 60° 07'W	The submarine was instructed by BETASOM to cede 50 tons of fuel to Morosini. GIUDICE replied that this would significantly curtail the autonomy of Giuseppe Finzi and BETASOM instructed him to cede only 30 tons.
		10 Mar 1942		23° 49'N, 59° 58'W (e) 23° 33'N, 60° 10'W	At 2349 hours on 9th March 1942, Giuseppe Finzi sighted a vessel at a range of 10,000 metres in 23°49' N, 59°58' W. It appeared to be a tanker steering 250° at 10-11 knots. She was the Norwegian motor tanker Charles Racine (9,957 GRT, built 1937) and she was actually steering 245° at 12 knots. At 0124 hours on 10th March, two bow torpedoes (probably 533mm) were fired at 1,300 metres and claimed one hit. In fact, none had hit and her survivors later reported that one torpedo had missed 10 metres ahead. Guidice noted that the tanker did not make an SOS. At 0511 hours, another pair of torpedoes were fired from the bow tubes at a distance of 1,500 metres. This time both hit, one amidships and the other the stern section. The ship made an SOS and was abandoned. At 0540 hours, a third pair of torpedoes were fired and again both hit, but the ship still refused to sink. At 0719 hours, one torpedo was fired from a stern tube and hit the tanker Charles Racine who finally sank. Her crew of forty-one were all saved. They had been sighted by a plane and then by the destroyer USS Moffett (DD-362), who found three boats with thirty-four survivors and brought them to San Juan. The remaining seven men in the fourth lifeboat were picked up by an Argentine steamer and landed in Trinidad.
		11 Mar 1942	1230	23° 12'N, 56° 22'W	The Italian submarine Morosini was sighted and recognition signals were exchanged. However, at 1250 hours, Morosini sighted a ship in 23°12' N, 56°42' W steering 240° and Giuseppe Finzi turned away to let her carry out an attack.
		11 Mar 1942	1655	23° 03'N, 56° 46'W	An unknown steamer was sighted on a 250° course. (possibly Manaqui?). Giuseppe Finzi closed to attack, but then sighted another ship at 1925 hours.
		11 Mar 1942	1925	22° 35'N, 57° 25'W	Finzi closed to attack but then sighted Morosini at 2010 and told her of the sightings.
		12 Mar 1942	0149		A steamer had been sighted at dusk on 11th March and Giuseppe Finzi closed to attack. Giudice opted for a stern shot, as he only had one torpedo left in the bow tubes. However, he was beaten to the race by Morosini which torpedoed the steamer first. The target was probably Manaqui (2802 GRT, built 1921) who disappeared without a trace at that time.
		12 Mar 1942	1305		Giuseppe Finzi closed Morosini to refuel her, as instructed by BETASOM. At 1516 hours, she took her in tow to start the refuelling process and eventually 24 tons were transferred. Finzi then returned home.
	Giudice, Ugo	1 Apr 1942	1400	Le Verdon	1 Apr 1942	2015	Bordeaux	58	Passage Le Verdon-Bordeaux.
	Giudice, Ugo	5 Jun 1942	1100	Le Verdon	5 Jun 1942	1635	Bordeaux	58	Passage Bordeaux-Le Verdon.
8	Giudice, Ugo	6 Jun 1942	2200	Le Verdon	17 Aug 1942	1515	Bordeaux	14381	Patrolled in Caribbean through Crooked Passage and Windward Passage between Haiti and Jamaica near Roncador. Carried nineteen torpedoes (eight forward, eight aft and three in outside containers and 330 rounds of 10 cm). Appears to have been used as a supply vessel for the other submarines (Da Vinci, Giuliani and Morosini).
		20 Jun 1942	1935-2245	25° 15'N, 29° 50'W (0) Italian Grid 2639/26.	Italian submarine Leonardo Da Vinci was first sighted at 1500 hours in 25°15' N, 29°50' W (the actual rendezvous point was 25°05' N, 30°05' W). From 1935 to 2245 hours, Giuseppe Finzi ceded 11 tons of fuel to her.
		1 Jul 1942	1231	23° 30'N, 55° 45'W (0) Italian Grid 7373/15.	The submarine Morosini was encountered and she was to take some fuel from Finzi. At 1231 hours, in heavy seas. the two submarines had a minor collision. The refuelling was postponed to 3 July 1942 and again to 4 July 1942 but the bad weather persisted and it was cancelled.
		12 Jul 1942	2334	18° 05'N, 74° 48'W (0) Italian Grid 4919/15.	A corvette was sighted at 4,000 metres, the submarine took no action.
		13 Jul 1942	0515	17° 35'N, 74° 35'W (0) Italian Grid 3419/44.	A large steamer was sighted on northerly course. The submarine then heard H.E. of three ships. The submarine was too far to intercept but made an enemy report at 0615 hours.
		13 Jul 1942	2050	16° 05'N, 75° 55'W	Two aircraft were observed through the periscope but no special action taken.
		17 Jul 1942	1825	19° 56'N, 74° 00'W	Two corvettes were sighted on westerly course at a distance of 6-7,000 metres.
		20 Jul 1942	1100	23° 35'N, 69° 55'W (0) Italian Grid 2123/46.	A tanker escorted by three destroyers was observed steering 250° at about 15 knots, however Giuseppe Finzi was not in a favourable position to attack and they passed out of range.
		23 Jul 1942	1720-0041/24	23° 05'N, 60° 45'W (0) Approximately.	The Italian submarine Reginaldo Giuliani was encountered and Giuseppe Finzi supplied her with 49 tons of fuel and 5 tons of drinking water.
		27 Jul 1942	1050	30° 45'N, 52° 25'W	The Italian submarine Morosini was encountered and Giuseppe Finzi supplied her with 25 tons of fuel and one ton of lubricating oil. At 0415 hours on 28th July, Finzi was ordered to a new area between 30°05' N, 55°55' W and 30°55' N, 50°05' W.
		29 Jul 1942	0536+	29° 45'N, 54° 45'W	A large two-funnel liner was sighted first at 0440 hours, then at 0536 hours. Giuseppe Finzi closed to 2,500 metres and fired three torpedoes (probably 533mm) from the bow tubes, but missed. At 1000-1200 hours on 12th July, the three torpedoes stored on deck containers were transferred to the forward torpedo room.
		7 Aug 1942	1825	43° 00'N, 53° 00'W	A smoke was observed on the horizon. The submarine could not close to identify it.
		11 Aug 1942	1504	45° 15'N, 16° 05'W	An enemy bomber was sighted at 3,000 metres and the submarine dived.
		12 Aug 1942	0855	44° 57'N, 12° 40'W	An aircraft was sighted and the submarine dived.
		12 Aug 1942	1232	44° 50'N, 12° 08'W	An aircraft was sighted and the submarine dived.
		13 Aug 1942	1705	44° 20'N, 9° 20'W (0) Approximately.	Six or seven aircraft were sighted, but no action was taken as they flew at high altitude.
		14 Aug 1942	1217	44° 26'N, 8° 54'W	An aircraft was sighted and the submarine dived.
		15 Aug 1942	1435	44° 25'N, 5° 00'W	An aircraft was sighted and the submarine dived.
	Anfossi, Giovenale	5 Oct 1942		Bordeaux	31 Oct 1942		Bordeaux		Refit in Bordeaux.
	Amendolia, Angelo	14 Nov 1942	0920	Bordeaux	14 Nov 1942	1510	Le Verdon	55	Passage Bordeaux-Le Verdon.
	Amendolia, Angelo	14 Nov 1942	1605	Le Verdon	14 Nov 1942	1824	Le Verdon		Gyrocompass tests.
	Amendolia, Angelo	15 Nov 1942	0855	Le Verdon	15 Nov 1942	1852	La Pallice	73,5	Passage Le Verdon-La Pallice.
	Amendolia, Angelo	18 Nov 1942	1057	La Pallice	18 Nov 1942	1505	La Pallice	9,3	Exercises.
	Amendolia, Angelo	20 Nov 1942	1242	La Pallice	20 Nov 1942	1602	La Pallice	2	Exercises.
	Amendolia, Angelo	23 Nov 1942	0800	La Pallice	23 Nov 1942	1530	La Pallice	9,3	Exercises.
9	Giudice, Ugo	26 Nov 1942	1000	La Pallice	22 Dec 1942	1745	Bordeaux	4329,5	Sailed for patrol off Brazil, but returned due to defects. She carried nineteen torpedoes (eight forward, eight aft and three in external containers) and 314 rounds of 102 mm. At the issue of this patrol, T.V. Arendolia complained that the binoculars on the submarine were old and inadequate and had been repaired frequently.
		3 Dec 1942	0638	37° 01'N, 15° 58'W	An illuminated steamer was observed on 095° course. The submarine chased it but finally gave up at 0815 hours.
		4 Dec 1942	1408	35° 25'N, 17° 38'W	A vessel was sighted at distance of 6,000 metres. The submarine closed to 1,000 metres before identifying her as a Spanish tanker of the PLUTON class proceeding on 75° course at 11 knots. The attack was aborted.
		9 Dec 1942	1545	25° 25'N, 29° 14'W	A vessel was sighted at distance of 15,000 metres and the submarine closed to attack. She was identified as the Spanish tanker Campuzano (6,320 GRT, built 1932), and the attack was aborted.
		21 Dec 1942	1035	(0) 183° - Le Verdon - 3.8 miles.	The Sperrerbrecher, which was leading the submarine, detonated a mine and appeared to be sinking until an M-Boot took her in tow. The submarine was later taken in charge from Le Verdon to Pauillac by a minesweeper and two M-Boats.
	Rossetto, Mario	4 Feb 1943	1555	Bordeaux	4 Feb 1943	1815	Pauillac	24	Passage Bordeaux-Pauillac.
	Rossetto, Mario	5 Feb 1943	1350	Pauillac	5 Feb 1943	1750	Le Verdon	27	Passage Pauillac-Le Verdon.
	Rossetto, Mario	6 Feb 1943	0805	Le Verdon	6 Feb 1943	1643	La Pallice	80	Passage Le Verdon-La Pallice.
	Rossetto, Mario	7 Feb 1943	1505	La Pallice	7 Feb 1943	1845	La Pallice	2,5	Exercises.
	Rossetto, Mario	9 Feb 1943	1601	La Pallice	9 Feb 1943	1838	La Pallice	5,4	Exercises.
10	Rossetto, Mario	11 Feb 1943	1105	La Pallice	18 Apr 1943	1048	Le Verdon	9681	Sailed for patrol in Indian Ocean and to supply Da Vinci. The submarine was equipped with METOX.
		14 Feb 1943	0259	45° 07'N, 7° 45'W	An aircraft was detected with Metox and the submarine dived.
		14 Feb 1943	2300	44° 56'N, 9° 18'W	An aircraft was detected with Metox and the submarine dived.
		15 Feb 1943	0510	44° 54'N, 9° 35'W	An aircraft was detected with Metox and the submarine dived.
		15 Feb 1943	2330	44° 45'N, 10° 52'W	An aircraft was detected with Metox and the submarine dived.
		19 Feb 1943	2328	38° 17'N, 17° 09'W	A Portuguese illuminated ship was sighted and the submarine turned away. Following BETASOM's signal of 1930 hours, the submarine proceeded to a Grid delimited by 15°00' N and 16°00' N and by 20°00' W and 21°00' W. On 27th February, another signal ordered her to a square delimited by 12°00' N and 13°00' N and by 02°00' E and 03°00' E.
		18 Mar 1943	2038	11° 47'S, 1° 40'E (e) 11° 44'S, 1° 44'E	At 2015 hours, a vessel was sighted at a distance of 9,000 metres. At 2038 hours, Giuseppe Finzi closed to 2,500 metres and fired a single torpedo from a bow tube. This was a surface attack and it missed astern. The target was the British steamer Lulworth Hill (7,628 GRT, built 1940) travelling from Capetown to Freetown. At 2039 hours, a second torpedo was fired from a bow torpedo from a range of 1,200 metres at Lulworth Hill and again it missed. At 2040 hours, a third torpedo fired from a bow tube was not more successful. At 2042 hours, Lulworth Hill opened fire with a stern gun and forced the submarine to submerge. At 2215 hours, Giuseppe Finzi sighted Leonardo Da Vinci and informed her about the steamer. A few hours later, Lulworth Hill was sunk by Da Vinci.
		19 Mar 1943	2158-2340	12° 30'S, 2° 30'E	Giuseppe Finzi met Leonardo Da Vinci and gave her 90 tons of fuel, three torpedoes (450 mm), provisions and lubricating oil. In return, Finzi took from her two survivors from Empress Of Canada (one Italian and one British). They were fortunate as Leonardo Da Vinci would later be lost with all hands.
		28 Mar 1943	2218 2000 (e)	3° 50'N, 15° 15'W	At 1545 hours, a smoke was sighted on the horizon and Giuseppe Finzi proceeded at full speed to intercept. At 1650 hours, it was observed to be a ship zigzagging at a distance of 20,000 metres on a 020° course. The submarine maneuvered to take a position ahead of the target after dark. At 2218 hours, a pair of bow torpedoes (533mm?) were fired from 700 metres but they missed. This was the Greek steamer Granicos (3,689 GRT, built 1916) on passage from Rio de Janeiro to Freetown. At 2219 hours, a second pair of bow torpedoes (533mm and 450mm?) were fired from 700 metres. One torpedo hit and the Greek ship sank. Thirty of her crew were killed. A Portuguese (or Brazilian?) survivor was picked up by the Italian submarine. Another survivor, Nikolaos Antilis, was found on a raft on 4th April in 01°00' S, 17°00' W.
		30 Mar 1943	0057	4° 08'N, 17° 35'W	A smoke was sighted at 1150 hours on 29th March 1943 in 05°15' N, 17°03' W. The submarine maneuvered to intercept after dark. At 0057 hours on the 30th, Giuseppe Finzi fired a pair of torpedoes from a distance of 2,700 metres. They missed. The target was the British Celtic Star (5,575 GRT, built 1918) on a voyage from Manchester and Greenock to Montevideo and Buenos Aires. At 0058 hours, a second pair of torpedoes was fired and this time both hit after 2 minutes and 10 seconds. Celtic Star sank at 0112 hours. Two men were killed. A Canadian G. Paatinson was captured by the submarine. HMS Fandango, HMS Aimwell and HMS Wastwater searched for survivors and sixty-three were recovered (also reported as sixty-six).
		1 Apr 1943	0840	9° 25'N, 21° 50'W	An aircraft was detected with Metox and the submarine dived.
		8 Apr 1943	2325	26° 10'N, 21° 56'W	An illuminated ship was observed from a distance of 15,000 metres. The submarine closed to 1,500 metres and identified her as a Spanish vessel steering 230°, 8 knots. The submarine turned away.
		11 Apr 1943	0655	36° 22'N, 16° 34'W	An aircraft was detected with Metox and the submarine dived.
		12 Apr 1943	0635	36° 28'N, 15° 21'W	An aircraft was detected with Metox and the submarine dived.
		12 Apr 1943	1845	39° 28'N, 14° 47'W	A small tanker was sighted at 18,000 metres. After closing, it was believed to a neutral vessel on a 270° and the submarine turned away.
		14 Apr 1943	0618	42° 29'N, 12° 00'W	An aircraft was detected with Metox and the submarine dived.
		15 Apr 1943	0309	42° 53'N, 9° 37'W	An aircraft was detected with Metox and the submarine dived.
		15 Apr 1943	1358		What appeared to be a torpedo wake was observed but no action was taken.
		15 Apr 1943	1850	44° 27'N, 8° 17'W	An unknown ship was sighted at a distance of 15,000 metres and the submarine turned away.
		16 Apr 1943	0452	44° 35'N, 6° 40'W	An aircraft was detected with Metox and the submarine dived.
		18 Apr 1943	0741	45° 37'N, 1° 29'W	As the submarine was proceeding in the wake of a Sperrbrecher, a mine detonated under her and near the auxiliary motors. The submarine suffered some damage but managed to reach her base without further incidents. The mine was possibly laid by HMS Cachalot on 28th March 1941 (F.D.32) but was more probably an air-laid magnetic mine.
10b	Rossetto, Mario	18 Apr 1943	1245	Le Verdon	18 Apr 1943	1919	Bordeaux		Passage Le Verdon-Bordeaux.
		18 Apr 1943	0741	45° 37'N, 1° 29'W	As the submarine was proceeding in the wake of a Sperrbrecher, a mine detonated under her and near the auxiliary motors. The submarine suffered some damage but managed to reach her base without further incidents. The mine was possibly laid by HMS Cachalot on 28th March 1941 (F.D.32) but was more probably an air-laid magnetic mine.
	Corsi, Ferdinando	22 May 1943		Bordeaux	9 Jun 1943		Bordeaux		Refit in Bordeaux (change in command).
	Crepas, Alberto	10 Jun 1943		Bordeaux	14 Jun 1943		Bordeaux		Refit in Bordeaux (change in command).
	Dellino, Mariano	1 Jul 1943	1755	Bordeaux	1 Jul 1943	1914	Ile Verte	12,3	Passage to Ile Verte for trials.
	Dellino, Mariano	1 Jul 1943	1755	Bordeaux	1 Jul 1943	1914	Ile Verte	12,3	Passage to Ile Verte for trials.
	Dellino, Mariano	30 Jul 1943	1710	Bordeaux	30 Jul 1943	2140	Le Verdon	42,8	Passage Bordeaux-Le Verdon to sail for a war patrol.
	Dellino, Mariano	31 Jul 1943	0903	Le Verdon	31 Jul 1943	1325	Le Verdon	18,2	Exercises.
	Dellino, Mariano	9 Sep 1943	0820	Le Verdon	9 Sep 1943	1221	Bordeaux	42,8	Passage Le Verdon-Bordeaux. Seized by the Germans and renamed UIT-21, but it was decided not to use her.

135 entries. 49 total patrol entries (10 marked as war patrols) and 100 events.

All Italian submarines

• Front page
• About
• Contact us
• FAQ
• Glossary
• What's new

 © 1995 - 2024 Guðmundur Helgason