Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23)
Brin

Type	Ocean going
Class	Brin 1 (14)
Laid down	3 Dec 1936	Cantieri Navale Tosi di Taranto, Taranto
Launched	3 Apr 1938
Commissioned	30 Jun 1938
End service
Stricken	1 Feb 1948
Loss date
Loss position
History	In June 1943, was proposed to be used as a transport submarine, code name "AQUILA X". Stricken on 1st February 1948.
Fate

Commands

Commander	Date from	Date to	Command notes
C.C. Fausto Sestini	5 Jun 1940	18 Jun 1940
T.V. Luigi Longanesi Cattani	18 Jun 1940	6 Sep 1941
T.V. Luigi Andreotti	1 Nov 1941	30 Nov 1941
T.V. Leo Sposito	1 Dec 1941	3 Dec 1941
T.V. Luigi Andreotti	4 Dec 1941	13 Dec 1941
T.V. Leo Sposito	14 Dec 1941	31 Dec 1941
T.V. Luigi Andreotti	8 Jan 1942	23 Nov 1943
T.V. Carlo Imperiali	23 Nov 1943	Aug 1945

Ships hit

	Date	Commander	Ship hit	Type	GRT	Nat.	Loss type
1.	13 Jun 1941	C.C. Luigi Longanesi Cattani	Djurdjura	Cargo ship	3,460		Sunk
2.	13 Jun 1941	C.C. Luigi Longanesi Cattani	Eirini Kyriakides	Cargo ship	3,781		Sunk

Patrols and events

	Commander	Date	Time	Port	Arr. date	Arr. time	Arr. port	Miles	Description
1	Sestini, Fausto	9 Jun 1940	1422	Augusta	15 Jun 1940	0733	Augusta	915	Patrollled between Pantelleria and Tunisian coast near 36°50'N, 11°30'E.
		13 Jun 1940	1404	36° 50'N, 11° 30'E (0) Approximately.	At 1404, two Italian torpedo-boats of the ALTAIR class were sighted at 4,000 metres, steering 180°, 24 knots. They were Antares and Aldebaran who had been ordered to destroy a derelict Greek freighter. The vessel was Makis (3,546 GRT, built 1906), mined near Pantelleria. The submarine saw them passing at a distance. The two torpedo boats dropped depth charges, but this is not recorded in the submarine report.
2	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	18 Jun 1940	1452	Augusta	28 Jun 1940	1720	Augusta	1480	Patrolled off north coast of Crete. Apparently sighted only Greek ships and an unidentified destroyer.
		18 Jun 1940	1708	(0) 090° - San Croce Light (Augusta) - 15 miles.	At 1708 hours, a torpedo wake was sighted. It appeared to be fired by a submarine from a distance of about 2,500 metres. This may have been HMS Grampus,, in which case she would have survived the attack of 16th June 1940. It could also be a porpoise, frequently mistaken for torpedoes by nervous lookouts. An occurrence which was not rare in the war.
		24 Jun 1940	0115	(0) 20 miles east of Cerigotto.	At 0115 hours, a destroyer was sighted at 3,000 metres. Believing it had also been seen, Benedetto Brin was taken deep to 70 metres but no attack occurred.
3	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	9 Jul 1940	0030	Augusta	12 Jul 1940	1004	Augusta	396	Patrolled in 36°50'N, 17°20'E.
		9 Jul 1940	1054 1115Z (e)		At 1054 hours, an aircraft, believed to be a Hawker Osprey 4, was sighted at 6,000 metres, It strafed the submarine and Benedetto Brin replied with her machine guns. The conning tower was hit by a few machine gun rounds, but they caused no serious damage. The aircraft was also believed to have been hit and did not return to the attack. This was a Swordfish from the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle.
		9 Jul 1940	1254 1245 (e)		At 1254 hours, a Sunderland aircraft was sighted at a distance of 4.000 metres. Benedetto Brin dived immediately to 60 metres and the bombs fell astern. The attack was carried out by Sunderland 'T' of 230 Squadron, piloted by Flying Lieutenant P.R. Woodward.It was carrying out a reconnaissance duriing the battle of Punto Stylo. It claimed a direct hit abaft the conning tower, but Benedetto Brin was unscathed.
4	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	15 Jul 1940	1312	Augusta	17 Jul 1940	1055	Augusta	322	Patrolled west of Malta. Uneventful.
	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	22 Jul 1940	1514	Augusta	22 Jul 1940	1723	Augusta	7	Exercises.
	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	25 Jul 1940	0800	Augusta	25 Jul 1940	1044	Augusta	8	Exercises.
	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	1 Aug 1940	1515	Augusta	1 Aug 1940	1640	Augusta	6,5	Exercises.
	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	10 Aug 1940	0827	Augusta	10 Aug 1940	1006	Augusta	7	Exercises.
	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	24 Aug 1940	0723	Augusta	25 Aug 1940	0840	Taranto	306	Passage Augusta-Taranto .
	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	5 Oct 1940	0845	Taranto	5 Oct 1940	1806	Taranto	50	Trials.
	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	9 Oct 1940	1020	Taranto	9 Oct 1940	1718	Taranto	52	Trials.
	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	18 Oct 1940	0846	Taranto	18 Oct 1940	1627	Taranto	38	Trials.
	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	21 Oct 1940	0845	Taranto	21 Oct 1940	1602	Taranto	4	Trials.
	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	25 Oct 1940	1005	Taranto	26 Oct 1940	1625	Messina	204	Passage Taranto-Messina.
5	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	28 Oct 1940	2225	Messina	4 Nov 1940	1910	Tangiers	1346	On passage to Bordeaux, was attacked by two British destroyers at 1530 hours on 4th November, 2 miles from Cape Malabata, and damaged. Escaped to Tangiers. Passed Gibraltar on 3rd November 1940 [mileage from Taranto].
		3 Nov 1940	2155	(0) Straits of Gibraltar.	At 2155 hours, a vessel initially believed to be a tug was sighted. It was later identified as a patrol vessel. The submarine submerged and took evading action.
		3 Nov 1940	2305-0005/24	(0) Straits of Gibraltar.	At 2305 hours, a vessel was sighted at a distance of 4,000 metres. It was later identified as American and was left undisturbed.
		4 Nov 1940	1530	(0) 2 miles NE of Cape Malabata.	At 1530 hours, after hitting the bottom twice, Benedetto Brin had come to periscope depth when the two destroyers were sighted. She tried to rest on the bottom again, but her battery had drained and she was forced to surface. The submarine was ready to fight it out but, realising she was near Cape Malabata, she raced toward Tangiers while one of the destroyers unsuccessfully attempted to ram her.
5b	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	13 Dec 1940	0350	Tangiers	18 Dec 1940	1308	Le Verdon	927,5	Sailed from Tangiers with submarine Bianchi for Bordeaux.
		18 Dec 1940	0555+	45° 28'N, 2° 27'W (0) 240. La Coubre Light - 35 miles.	At 0550 hours, a submarine was encountered. It appeared to make a signal with a white light, which only partially corresponded with the recognition signal of the day. Benedetto Brin answered the signal. Five minutes later, the other submarine - this was HMS Tuna (Lt. Cdr. Cavenagh-Mainwaring, DSO, RN) - fired a shell across the bow of Benedetto Brin. T.V. Luigi Longanesi Cattani was still not sure of her identity. Aware of the presence in the area of the submarine Michele Bianchi, he was hesitant to act, fearing it might be a case of mistaken identity. He signaled "Sono un sommergibile Italiano" ("I am an Italian submarine") and Benedetto Brin turned to bring both of her guns to bear on the submarine. As she made another recognition signal, it was correctly answered by another vessel at a longer distance straight ahead. At this moment, Longanesi Cattani understood that the distant vessel was Michele Bianchi and the submarine firing at her was indeed enemy. A second round fell at about 50 metres on the port side of Brin's conning tower. The Italian submarine had to turn to avoid a possible torpedo attack, but this maneuver prevented the use of her machine guns. The alteration of course must have been made just in time, as four underwater explosions were heard. These were correctly believed to be torpedoes exploding at the end of their run. At 0630 hours, two torpedo tracks were observed missing the stern as the Italian submarine took avoiding action. HMS Tuna had fired a salvo of six torpedoes from 1,500 yards. Luckily for the Italian submarine, they all missed. The British submarine fired eight 4" rounds and claimed one hit, but in fact none of them found their mark. The action was observed from a distance by Michele Bianchi, but she could not intervene. At 0640 hours, the British submarine was observed coming out from a fog bank at just 500 metres. Benedetto Brin altered course to starboard and at 0641 hours fired two stern torpedoes (533mm) and very quickly five rounds of 100mm, one of which was believed to have hit the enemy's bow (HMS Tuna was not hit). The enemy submarine then disappeared. Shortly after the action, two vessels were seen but they proved to be fishing boats.
	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	19 Dec 1940	0350	Le Verdon	19 Dec 1940	1308	Pauillac	10	Passage Le Verdon-Pauillac.
	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	20 Dec 1940	0925	Pauillac	20 Dec 1940	1515	Pauillac	20	Passage Pauillac-Bordeaux but then turned back.
	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	22 Dec 1940	1104	Pauillac	22 Dec 1940	1404	Bordeaux	40	Passage Pauillac-Bordeaux.
	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	21 Feb 1941	1525	Bordeaux	21 Feb 1941	1945	Le Verdon	40	Passage Bordeaux-Le Verdon.
	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	23 Feb 1941	1220	Le Verdon	24 Feb 1941	0045	La Pallice	50	Passage Le Verdon-La Pallice with submarine Argo, escorted by the German minesweepers M-2, M-6 and M-21 and Sperrbrecher 16.
	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	25 Feb 1941	0845	La Pallice	25 Feb 1941	1600	La Pallice	?	Exercises at Le Pertuis d'Antioche. On her return, Brin met with Finzi which was arriving from Le Verdon and they reached La Pallice together.
6	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	26 Feb 1941	1713	La Pallice	25 Mar 1941	1615	Bordeaux	4570	Sailed for patrol west of Ireland via 46°15'N, 09°00'W and 51°50'N, 18°00'W.
		5 Mar 1941	1203 1101 (e)		At 1203 hours, an aircraft was seen at a distance of 16 miles. Benedetto Brin dived slowly because of the heavy seas and had reached a depth of 25 metres when three bombs exploded at proximity. At 1215 hours, a fourth bomb exploded but far astern. The submarine moved at high speed underwater toward the sun for seven miles then surfaced at 1343 hours. An aircraft was seen in the distance but the submarine managed to move away without being seen. In fact, two aircraft had been involved in the attack. The first was Sunderland 'B' of 10 Squadron (RAAF), piloted by Flying Officer V.A. Hodgkinson. It had spotted the submarine at 12 miles and closed quickly. When still at 6 miles, the submarine was observed to submerge. Four 450-lb depth charges were dropped from a height of 100 feet, two set at a depth of 100 feet and two at a depth of 150 feet. A patch of oil was observed. Shortly after, Whitley bomber 'K' of 502 Squadron appeared on the scene and dropped a single depth charge from a height of 150 feet, it was set at 100 feet. This was most probably the one that had been heard by Brin at 1215 hours. The depth charges dropped by the Sunderland had indeed caused a small leak to one of the fuel tanks of the submarine. It was decided to switch the supply to this tank before all its fuel was lost.
		9 Mar 1941	1842		At 1842 hours, the submarine Velella was sighted and exchanged recognition signals.
		19 Mar 1941	1110		At 1110 hours, Benedetto Brin was informed by BETASOM of the position of a convoy of 25 merchant ships with gunboats. The submarine altered course at 12 knots intending to intercept it at 1700 hours on the 20th. At 1810 hours on the 19th, another signal was received reporting a new position of the convoy and Brin altered course and speed reduced to 7 knots because of weather damage. The submarine arrived the next day at 1440 hours in the intercept position and cruised until 2200 hours, but sighted nothing.
		21 Mar 1941	1731		At 1504 hours, a signal from BETASOM was received reporting a convoy and Benedetto Brin was proceeding toward it, intending to intercept at 2000 hours. At 1731 hours, a submarine chaser was sighted and Brin dived. At 1805 hours, depth-charges were heard at a distance and again at 2016 hours. At 0010 hours on 22 March, the submarine received a signal reporting a new position for this convoy, but she was short of fuel and started her return voyage.
	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	24 May 1941	0700	Bordeaux	25 May 1941	2030	Bordeaux		Sailed for trials off Le Verdon then returned to Bordeaux.
	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	27 May 1941	0820	Bordeaux	27 May 1941		Le Verdon		Passage Bordeaux-Le Verdon (dropped anchor awaiting escort).
7	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	27 May 1941	2030	Le Verdon	20 Jun 1941	1640	Bordeaux	5764	Patrolled off Azores between 34°45'N and as far south as fuel permitted and between 11°15'W and 11°45'W [mileage from 24th May].
		1 Jun 1941	1150	35° 57'N, 11° 00'W	At 1150 hours, a steamer was sighted at 22,000 metres. It was determined to be steering 085° at 12 knots. At 1525 hours, Benedetto Brin dived with the intention of carrying a stern attack. At 1610 hours, from a distance of 3,000 metres she was recongnised to be Spanish. At 1621 hours, she passed 500 metres astern the submarine and her name could be read. She was the Spanish Motomar (5,675 GRT, built 1921).
		3 Jun 1941	0945	23° 51'N, 8° 42'W	At 0945 hours, several fishing vessels and, shortly after, a steamer appeared. Benedetto Brin closed to investigate. At 1404 hours, the submarine submerged on an attacking course. At 1510 hours, the vessel passed 400 metres astern and was recognised as the Spanish Marte (3,714 GRT, built 1900). The attack was aborted.
		5 Jun 1941	0730	(0) 140° - Cape St. Vincent - 6 miles.	At 0410 hours, two vessels were sighted and Benedetto Brin closed to 500 metres only to recognise them as submarine chasers. The submarine turned away to avoid them and moved 10 miles northward. At 0734 hours, a submarine chaser was sighted and at 0813 hours, five depth charges were heard exploding at a distance. It appeared to be hunting a submarine. Benedetto Brin reached the bottom at 89 metres. At 1425 hours, propeller noises were heard this was followed by a single depth charge which exploded near the submarine. At 1428 hours, the vessel returned and dropped another six depth charges which detonated very close to the submarine. At 2330 hours, Benedetto Brin surfaced with all weapons at the ready and the destruction of secret documents prepared. The submarine chaser was sighted at 1,500 metres but did not notice the submarine who made good her escape.
		7 Jun 1941	0748	33° 54'N, 14° 36'W	At 0748 hours, a small convoy was sighted steering 250°, 8 knots. Benedetto Brin attempted to trail it but lost contact in a rain squall at 1100 hours.
		7 Jun 1941	1154	33° 10'N, 15° 30'W	At 1154 hours, the submarine Mocenigo was encountered and exchanged recognition signals.
		9 Jun 1941	1320 1420 (e)	34° 16'N, 14° 28'W	At 1320 hours, an aircraft was seen at 6,000 metres, making directly for Benedetto Brin. C.C. Longanesi Cattani decided to fight it out on the surface and the submarine's Breda guns opened fire. The aircraft veered away, but circled the submarine outside the range of the machine guns. Longanesi Cattani hesitated to dive, fearing the aircraft would attack it at a vulnerable time. This was Catalina 'J' (AH553) of 202 Squadron, piloted by Flight Lieutenant E.M. Pain. It had spotted the U-boat steering 20° at 14 knots and reported it. It was taking photos and waiting for an opportunity to pounce. At 1425 hours, Longanesi Cattani observed the aircraft making an attack run and four depth charges dropped. One exploded near the submarine but caused no damage. The aircraft appeared to have been hit by the antiaircraft fire. Flight Lieutenant Pain reported only three actually dropped, the fourth hung up but was dropped on a second run. It failed to explode. At 1610 hours, a new attack was repelled by machine guns and judging the aircraft to be at the limit of its autonomy, Benedetto Brin finally dived and escaped.
		12 Jun 1941	1255	37° 25'N, 23° 15'W	The submarine had been ordered by BETASOM to a new position on 10th June. At 1255 hours on 12th June, the enemy convoy was sighted. The submarine tried to remain in contact by alternately submerging and running on the surface but finally lost contact at 2345 hours.
		13 Jun 1941	0515	38° 40'N, 24° 00'W	At 0440 hours, in in 38°34' N, 23°56' W, Benedetto Brin sighted the convoy in three columns. Earlier, she had received a signal from BETASOM ordering her with Veniero and Velella to proceed to 40°20' N, 25°00' W. This was convoy SL. 76 bound from Freetown to Liverpool. The submarine maneuvered for an attack with the intention to fire stern torpedoes at two steamers in the central column and bow torpedoes at steamers on the port column. C.C. Longanesi Cattani miscalculated and was forced to change his plans. At 0515 hours, two torpedoes were fired from the bow tubes at a steamer in the port column, but there was a premature explosion leading Longanesi Cattani to believe that the two torpedoes had collided (!). Very shortly after, two more torpedoes were launched from the bow tubes, aimed at another steamer on the port column. One torpedo misfired but the other appeared to hit the target after 23 seconds but the 4,000-ton vessel did not appear to sink and fired off rockets to give the alarm. The target was the British steamer Ulla (1,575 GRT, built 1930). She had not been hit but had observed the torpedo missing under her keel. She was the fifth vessel in the seventh column between Djurdjura (fifth vessel in fifth column) and Eirini Kyriakides (fifth vessel in ninth column), which were both sunk shortly after. Sheridan, who was the fifth vessel in the eighth column, sighted the submarine at 0340 hours but her gun misfired.
		13 Jun 1941	0536-0538 0335 (e)	38° 40'N, 24° 00'W	From 0536 to 0538 hours, Benedetto Brin launched four stern torpedoes aimed at three merchant ships in convoy SL. 76. Longanesi Cattani claimed that all four hits and the three merchant ships immediately sank. In fact two had been hit, the Free French Djurdjura (3460 GRT, built 1922), carrying iron ore from Pepel to Oban, and the Greek Eirini Kyriakides (3781 GRT, 1922) carrying iron ore from Lourençô Marques to Adrossan. Both sank. Djurdjura had a crew of thirty-eight, only five were saved. Eirini Kyriakides had a crew of thirty-one, none survived. The submarine then dived for eight hours to reload tubes and lost contact with the convoy. At that time, it was the only instance of an Italian submarine penetrating a convoy for a successful attack.
	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	8 Aug 1941	0830	Bordeaux	8 Aug 1941	1600	Le Verdon		Passage Bordeaux-Le Verdon.
	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	9 Aug 1941	0800	Le Verdon	9 Aug 1941	1650	La Pallice		Passage Le Verdon-La Pallice.
	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	12 Aug 1941	0800	La Pallice	12 Aug 1941	1130	La Pallice		Trials at Le Pertuis d'Antioche.
	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	12 Aug 1941	2004	La Pallice	16 Aug 1941	1830	Bordeaux		Sailed for Messina but turned back because of defects.
		14 Aug 1941	1040		At 1040 hours, an aircraft of the Consolidated PBY 28 type was observed at 4,000 metres and the submarine dived.
		15 Aug 1941	0830 0754 (e)	(e) 45° 02'N, 9° 02'W (0) Italian Grid 2530/12.	At 0830 hours, a submarine was sighted at 5,000 metres. It appeared similar to Velella and both submarines prudently dived. This was possibly HMS Parthian (Lt.Cdr. M.G. Rimington, DSO, RN) who sighted an unknown vessel and dived.
		16 Aug 1941	0705	(0) In the Searched Channel.	At 0705 hours, the submarine Cappellini was encountered and exchanged recognition signals [the encounter is not mentioned in the Cappellini patrol report].
8	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	20 Aug 1941	0900	Bordeaux	20 Aug 1941	Time?	Le Verdon.		Passage Bordeaux-Le Verdon.
8b	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	20 Aug 1941	2100	Le Verdon	1 Sep 1941	1840	Messina		Passage Le Verdon-Messina. Passed Gibraltar on 28th August 1941.
		24 Aug 1941	1300		At 1300 hours, a submarine chaser and aircraft were observed on the horizon. Benedetto Brin dived.
		24 Aug 1941	1930	(0) West of Gibraltar.	At 1930 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived. Two explosions were heard at 2040 and 2041 hours.
8c	Longanesi Cattani, Luigi	3 Sep 1941	1245	Messina	4 Sep 1941	0945	Taranto	3922	Passage Messina-Taranto [mileage from Bordeaux].
	Andreotti, Luigi	1 Nov 1941		Taranto	30 Nov 1941		Taranto		Refit in Taranto.
	Sposito, Leo	1 Dec 1941		Taranto	3 Dec 1941		Taranto		Refit in Taranto.
	Andreotti, Luigi	13 Dec 1941	0830	Taranto	13 Dec 1941	1530	Taranto	21	Trials with the submarine Bronzo, escorted by the auxiliary Dalmazia.
	Sposito, Leo	17 Dec 1941	0846	Taranto	17 Dec 1941	1452	Taranto	25	Trials.
	Sposito, Leo	24 Dec 1941	0835	Taranto	24 Dec 1941	1340	Taranto	20	Trials.
	Sposito, Leo	31 Dec 1941	0914	Taranto	31 Dec 1941	1230	Taranto	30	Trials.
	Andreotti, Luigi	7 Jan 1942	0925	Taranto	7 Jan 1942	0950	Taranto		Exercises.
	Andreotti, Luigi	11 Jan 1942	1300	Taranto	11 Jan 1942	1740	Taranto	29	Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Abbazia.
	Andreotti, Luigi	13 Jan 1942	1300	Taranto	13 Jan 1942	1742	Taranto	26,5	Exercises, escorted by the pilot vessel Limbara.
	Andreotti, Luigi	15 Jan 1942	0840	Taranto	15 Jan 1942	1455	Taranto	30,5	Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Dalmazia.
	Andreotti, Luigi	20 Jan 1942	1030	Taranto	23 Jan 1942	1428	Cagliari	780	Passage Taranto-Cagliari. During a crash-dive, a rating was injured by the conning tower hatch falling on him.
9	Andreotti, Luigi	28 Jan 1942	1413	Cagliari	28 Jan 1942	1849	Cagliari	55	Sailed for patrol between 37°50'N and 38°10'N, and between 05°30'E and 05°40'E with Alagi, Aradam, Turchese and Axum, but then recalled.
	Andreotti, Luigi	5 Feb 1942	0850	Cagliari	5 Feb 1942	1720	Cagliari		Exercises, escorted by the minesweeper R.D.34.
10	Andreotti, Luigi	8 Feb 1942	2025	Cagliari	17 Feb 1942	1213	Cagliari	1256,2	Sailed with Alagi for patrol north of Cape de Fer, between African coast and 37°30'N, and between 06°20'E and 06°30'E.
		9 Feb 1942	2200	37° 20'N, 6° 25'E (0) Approximate position.	At 2200 hours, an illuminated vessel was sighted on a westerly course. She proved to be the French St. Étienne (1,971 GRT, built 1924).
		10 Feb 1942	0440	37° 20'N, 6° 25'E (0) Approximate position.	At 0440 hours, an illuminated vessel was sighted on a westerly course. She proved to be the French Sainte Marthe (4,702 GRT, built 1903).
		10 Feb 1942	1535	37° 20'N, 6° 25'E (0) Approximate position.	At 1535 hours, an unknown submarine was sighted at 10,000 metres. It was believed to be an Italian submarine from VII.Grupsom. At 1615 hours, the submarine was sighted again at 12,000 metres and was closed to 6,000 meters. It was identified as of the Alagi class.
		10 Feb 1942	1840	37° 20'N, 6° 25'E (0) Approximate position.	At 1840 hours, an aircraft was sighted at 12,000 metres and the submarine dived.
		10 Feb 1942	2009	37° 20'N, 6° 25'E (0) Approximate position.	At 2009 hours, Benedetto Brin was informed of an enemy cruiser and a destroyer, sighted at 1205 hours on the previous day in Italian Grid 6291, steering 090°, 20 knots. The submarine proceeded to an intercept position, but sighted nothing. Two vessels were seen at 0015 hours on the 11th, hugging the coast and were presumed French.
		16 Feb 1942	0700	37° 20'N, 6° 25'E (0) Approximate position.	At 0700 hours, an illuminated French ship was observed. It was believed to be Château Larose (2,047 GRT, built 1930), as listed in the French calendar no. 29 and no action was taken.
11	Andreotti, Luigi	27 Feb 1942	1233	Cagliari	10 Mar 1942	1131	Cagliari	1667	Sailed with submarines Axum, Aradam and Turchese and patrolled south of Majorca and off Cape Falcon. Several neutral ships were observed.
		6 Mar 1942	1815	36° 58'N, 0° 50'W	At 1815 hours, an enemy naval force was detected with hydrophones. It was steering 090°, which passed to the north of the submarine.
		8 Mar 1942	0015	36° 42'N, 0° 34'W	At 0015 hours, an enemy naval force of five ships, probably destroyers, was sighted at a distance of 5,000 metres, steering 090°. The ships were too far to attack but, at 0032 hours, the second and fourth destroyers turned toward the submarine. Benedetto Brin dived immediately but was not attacked.
12	Andreotti, Luigi	27 Mar 1942	2150	Cagliari	16 Apr 1942	2005	Cagliari	2579,1	Patrolled south of Majorca and off Cape Ferrat. Sighted French ships.
		28 Mar 1942	1930		At 1930 hours, Benedetto Brin was informed by MARICOSOM (1718/28) of a naval force steering 090°, 16 knots. The force consisting of a battleship, two aircraft carriers and ten light units had been observed earlier in Italian Grid 2651/2 (37°23' N, 01°55' E). The submarine altered course to 180° to intercept it.
		29 Mar 1942	0844	37° 48'N, 3° 06'E	At 0844 hours, five silhouettes were seen at 15,000 metres. Two of them were large, with an aircraft probably escorting them, which was sighted at 8,000 meters. The submarine dived immediately to periscope depth without seeing anything, but maintained hydrophone contact until 0950 hours. She then surfaced and made an enemy report.
		30 Mar 1942	0645		At 0555 hours, a French ship was sighted and closed at 600 metres. It was identified as Oued Tiflet (1,190 GRT, built 1914). At 1420 hours, the submarine was ordered by MARICOSOM to move 40 miles to the south (to ca. 37°10' N).
		31 Mar 1942	0255	36° 58'N, 3° 25'E	At 0135 hours, propeller sounds were heard on the hydrophones. At 0255 hours, the vessel was sighted and initially believed to be a medium-sized warship, but apparently it was a steamer. At 0300 hours, a second vessel appeared at a distance of 8-10,000 meters before disappearing westward.
		31 Mar 1942	0705 0558 (e)	37° 05'N, 3° 18'E	At 0705 hours, Benedetto Brin was proceeding on the surface when an aircraft was sighted at 4,000 metres. It attacked. The submarine dived and when she reached a depth of 15 meters, a bomb exploded near her causing no damage. This was Catalina 'C' (AJ162) of 202 Squadron, piloted by light Lieutenant Melville-Jackson. Five seconds after the submarine had disappeared, it dropped four 250 lb MK VIII A/S bombs set to explode at a depth of 25 feet from an altitude of 200 feet.
		2 Apr 1942	0518		At 0518 hours, two vessels were sighted. Both proved to be French, the dredger Provence towed by the tug Gysbert.
		9 Apr 1942	1110		At 1110 hours, Benedetto Brin was informed of a 5,000-ton light cruiser steering 270°, 22 knots sighted at 0800 hours in Italian Grid 3477/6 (8 miles east of Cani Island). The information was amplified by a second signal at 1415 hours and the submarine proceeded at a speed of 10-12 knots to intercept.
		10 Apr 1942	0448	36° 45'N, 0° 36'W	At 0448 hours, propeller noises were heard and believed to be an enemy cruiser steering 260°. It passed out of range,
		10 Apr 1942	1729	36° 06'N, 0° 44'W	At 1729 hours, hydrophone noises were heard and were believed to be two enemy cruisers (earlier reported by MARICOSOM) steering 050°. They passed out of range.
		15 Apr 1942	1245		At 1045 hours, a vessel was sighted steering 340°. The submarine closed to 800 metres, identifying her as the French steamer Sainte Lucille (1,465 GRT, built 1917).
	Andreotti, Luigi	4 May 1942	0810	Cagliari	4 May 1942	1155	Cagliari		Exercises.
13	Andreotti, Luigi	17 May 1942	1455	Cagliari	9 Jun 1942	0930	Cagliari	2027,8	Sailed via 37°40' N, 02°20' E for patrol between 36°50'N and 37°10'N, and between 01°20'E and 02°00'E. She was warned that one Italian submarine was 50 miles north of her and another 063° - 70 miles from her. At 2023 hours on the 17th, a signal from MARICOSOM made a modification to the order, by placing her in Grids 8765 and 8726 (between 38°20'N and 38°40' N, and between 02°20'E and 02°50'E). She was then ordered to leave this area at 2200 hours on the 20th and return to her original position. On 28th May, was ordered to move 50 miles east and 10 miles north (ca. 37°10' N, 02°42' E). At 1402 hours on the 30th, she was ordered to Grids 3342 and 3340 (probably ca. 37°00'N, 01°00'E).
		18 May 1942	1220		At 1220 hours, an aircraft was sighted at 12,000 metres and the submarine dived.
		18 May 1942	1625		At 1625 hours, an aircraft was sighted at 15,000 metres and the submarine dived.
		18 May 1942	1900		At 1900 hours, an aircraft, probably of Botha type, was seen at 15,000 metres and the submarine dived.
		3 Jun 1942	1220	36° 58'N, 1° 10'E	At 1220 hours, a cruiser was sighted (pages missing from the report).
		7 Jun 1942	0402 0405 (e)	37° 23'N, 2° 58'E	At 0402 hours, Benedetto Brin sighted an aircraft of the Stirling type, which proceeded to attack. The submarine was slightly damaged and claimed the aircraft damaged (details unknown, pages missing from the patrol report). This was Sunderland 'R' (W3983) of 10 Squadron (RAAF) piloted by Flight Lieutenant R.W. Marks. It had detected the submarine by radar at 3 miles. It dived from 1500 feet to a height of 100 feet, releasing a stick of eight depth charges, as the submarine put up a light antiaircraft defence. The submarine was strafed and the center of the DC stick fell about 30 yards on the submarine's port beam. Immediately after the attack, heavy vibration in the Sunderland as well as a back firing port engine caused the pilot to break off the engagement and return to base.
		7 Jun 1942	1207 1144 (e)	37° 40'N, 4° 03'E	At 1207 hours, Benedetto Brin was again under air attack. Exact details from the submarine are not known as pages are missing from her patrol report. The aircraft was claimed to have been hit by the submarine machine guns. The submarine was slightly damaged. The aircraft was Sunderland 'M' of 202 Squadron, piloted by Flying Officer R.M. Corrie. It had sighted the submarine steering 80° at 14 knots, and made an attack from the stern. The depth charges failed to release on the first run, but the submarine was heavily strafed. The four depth charges were dropped on the second run but the aircraft was hit by the antiaircraft guns and one crew member was wounded. As the submarine submerged, four more depth charges were dropped about 13 seconds after it had disappeared. Despite having damaged aerials and wings, the Sunderland managed to reach its base.
	Andreotti, Luigi	28 Jun 1942	1015	Cagliari	29 Jun 1942	1010	Naples	294	Passage Cagliari-Naples. Uneventful.
	Andreotti, Luigi	19 Jul 1942	1400	Naples	19 Jul 1942	1742	Naples		Exercises.
	Andreotti, Luigi	24 Jul 1942	1005	Naples	25 Jul 1942	0840	Cagliari	295	Passage Naples-Cagliari.
14	Andreotti, Luigi	1 Aug 1942	1600	Cagliari	18 Aug 1942	2120	Cagliari	1903,2	Patrolled to the northwest of Cape Caxine, against expected convoys from Gibraltar. On 5th August, she was informed of a sortie of the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle, the light cruiser HMS Charybdis and four destroyers. On 11th August she was informed of a strongly escorted convoy (PEDESTAL). The same afternoon, her hydrophones detected noises and in the late evening, a destroyer was sighted. Brin was then told of a damaged aircraft carrier (Eagle) but no further visual contact was made. Her diesels emitted a lot of smoke and maximum speed was reduced from 12 to 11 knots.
		5 Aug 1942	2216		At 2216 hours, Benedetto Brin was informed that a naval squadron, including the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle, had sailed eastward. No sighting or H.E. contact was made.
		11 Aug 1942	0525		At 0525 hours, Benedetto Brin was informed of a heavily escorted convoy [this was the PEDESTAL convoy], sighted off Cape Ferrat, steering 090°. For the next hours the submarine altered between surface observation and listening with her hydrophones.
		11 Aug 1942	2200	37° 10'N, 2° 30'E	At 2200 hours, a destroyer was sighted at 2,000 metres, steering 270° toward Benedetto Brin. The submarine dived immediately but was not attacked.
		12 Aug 1942	0920	(0) Italian Grid 2660.	At 0920 hours, Benedetto Brin was at a depth of 45 metres, on a listening watch and heard several explosions until 1900 hours. The submarine returned to periscope depth at 1955 hours, but the horizon was empty.
		13 Aug 1942	0030		At 0030 hours, Benedetto Brin was informed of a damaged aircraft carrier steering 210°, 10 knots. The submarine altered course to 270° to intercept but sighted nothing.
	Andreotti, Luigi	3 Sep 1942	0815	Cagliari	3 Sep 1942	1240	Cagliari	27,5	Exercises.
	Andreotti, Luigi	8 Sep 1942	0811	Cagliari	8 Sep 1942	1156	Cagliari	29,5	Exercises.
	Andreotti, Luigi	29 Sep 1942	1400	Cagliari	29 Sep 1942	1756	Cagliari	25,3	Exercises.
	Andreotti, Luigi	17 Oct 1942	0800	Cagliari	17 Oct 1942	1214	Cagliari	25,7	Exercises.
15	Andreotti, Luigi	17 Oct 1942	1810	Cagliari	31 Oct 1942	1343	Cagliari	1773,5	Patrolled north of Cape Como (Island of Ibiza) ca. 38°40'N, 01°00'E.
		18 Oct 1942	1100		At 1100 hours, an aircraft was seen at 10,000 metres and the submarine dived.
		25 Oct 1942	1403	37° 30'N, 1° 55'E	At 1403 hours, two aircraft were seen and the submarine dived.
		26 Oct 1942	0605	38° 47'N, 1° 05'E	At 0605 hours, a submarine of the CORALLO class was sighted at 10,000 metres. Benedetto Brin turned away and, at 0620 hours, lost sight of the submarine.
		27 Oct 1942	1245	39° 10'N, 1° 19'E	At 1235 hours, noises were heard on the hydrophones and ten minutes later, a fishing vessel was sighted steering 140°.
		30 Oct 1942	0740	38° 48'N, 3° 08'E	At 0740 hours, a submarine, which could not be identified but was believed to be the Italian Emo, was sighted at a distance of 5,000 metres on a parallel course. At 1200 hours, it had disappeared from sight.
		30 Oct 1942	1402	38° 48'N, 4° 13'E	At 1402 hours, a steamer was sighted steering 330°. At 1423 hours, Benedetto Brin was trying to close, but was briefly forced to submerge by an aircraft sighted at 8,000 metres. At 1510 hours, the submarine had closed enough the vessel to identify her as the French steamer Hebe (1,684 GRT, built 1920) now steering 340°. She had been announced on the French calendar of merchant traffic no. 27.
		30 Oct 1942	1423	38° 48'N, 4° 13'E	At 1423 hours, an aircraft was seen at 8,000 metres and the submarine dived.
16	Andreotti, Luigi	7 Nov 1942	0340	Cagliari	17 Nov 1942	0802	Cagliari	1485	Patrolled off Bougie. On 15th November, she attacked a small vessel without success.
		8 Nov 1942	2212	37° 35'N, 6° 29'E	At 2212 hours, a submarine was sighted, steering 200°. This was probably Velella. Benedetto Brin turned away.
		11 Nov 1942	1920	38° 10'N, 6° 30'E	At 1920 hours, an aircraft was seen at 500 metres without any action being taken.
		12 Nov 1942	2008	38° 10'N, 6° 30'E	At 2008 hours, a submarine was sighted on parallel course. Benedetto Brin turned away.
		13 Nov 1942	0455		At 0455 hours, a corvette was sighted steering 180°. Benedetto Brin turned away.
		13 Nov 1942	0520	36° 45'N, 5° 08'E	At 0520 hours, two corvette were sighted steering 180°. Benedetto Brin turned away.
		13 Nov 1942	1325	(0) Off Bougie.	At 1325 hours, an aircraft was sighted at 8,000 metres and the submarine dived.
		14 Nov 1942	1411	(0) Off Bougie.	At 1411 hours, two aircraft were sighted at 10,000 metres and the submarine dived.
		14 Nov 1942	1452	(0) Off Bougie.	At 1452 hours, an aircraft was sighted at 8,000 metres and the submarine dived.
		14 Nov 1942	1850	(0) Off Bougie.	At 1850 hours, a submarine was sighted steering 250°. Benedetto Brin countinued on her way to Bougie.
		15 Nov 1942	0158	36° 49'N, 5° 34'E	At 0137 hours, a shadow was sighted at 4,500 metres, silhouetted against the coast. Benedetto Brin closed at 10 knots so that her wake would not be visible. At 0151 hours, the range had closed to 800-1,000 metres and the vessel was at first identified as a medium sized motor vessel. Three torpedoes (533mm, S.I.C. type) were fired at 2-second intervals, set at a depth of 5 metres, from a distance of 500 metres. They all missed. The rapid acceleration of the vessel led T.V. Andreotti believe the target was actually a small patrol vessels and he prudently withdrew. There is an outside possibility that the target was the cased petrol vessel Coxwold (1,124 GRT, built 1938) who sailed unescorted on that day from Bougie for Bone, or Pozarica (1,893 GRT, built 1938) who arrived with escorts at Bougie. However the description of the target seems to indicate a smaller vessel.
	Andreotti, Luigi	18 Nov 1942	1616	Cagliari	19 Nov 1942	1858	Naples	296	Passage Cagliari-Naples then refit.
	Andreotti, Luigi	16 Feb 1943	1000	Naples	16 Feb 1943	1445	Naples	28	Exercises.
	Andreotti, Luigi	20 Feb 1943	0920	Naples	20 Feb 1943	1159	Naples	25	Exercises.
	Andreotti, Luigi	22 Feb 1943	1135	Naples	22 Feb 1943	2140	Naples	41	Exercises with the torpedo boat Cigno.
	Andreotti, Luigi	25 Feb 1943	1338	Naples	25 Feb 1943	1730	Naples	1,5	Gyrocompass tests.
	Andreotti, Luigi	26 Feb 1943	1202	Naples	26 Feb 1943	1630	Naples	21	Exercises.
	Andreotti, Luigi	28 Feb 1943	0715	Naples	1 Mar 1943	0935	Cagliari	279	Passage Naples-Cagliari.
	Andreotti, Luigi	1 Mar 1943	1814	Cagliari	2 Mar 1943	0800	Cagliari	12	Exercises.
17	Andreotti, Luigi	2 Mar 1943	1606	Cagliari	21 Mar 1943	0805	La Maddalena	2208,5	Patrolled off Cape Carbon, intially between 37°00'N and 37°40'N, and between 05°00'E and 05°40'E and then between 38°20 'N and the African coast, and between 04°40'E and 05°20'E. She reported being the target of several depth charge attacks, but none are confirmed in Allied documents.
		7 Mar 1943	0855-1921	37° 00'N, 5° 00'E (0) Approximately.	Between 0855 and 1921 hours, Benedetto Brin appeared to have been the subject of a long hunt by A/S vessels and aircraft. She escaped damage.
		11 Mar 1943	0434	37° 37'N, 5° 13'E	At 0434 hours, two corvettes were sighted at 500 metres and Benedetto Brin turned away.
		14 Mar 1943	0720	37° 32'N, 5° 11'E	At 0720 hours, a destroyer was sighted at 7,000 metres and a minute later Benedetto Brin dived.
		18 Mar 1943	1048-1430	37° 52'N, 5° 20'E	Between 1048 and 1430 hours, Benedetto Brin appeared to have been the subject of a hunt by A/S vessels and aircraft. She escaped damage.
	Andreotti, Luigi	3 Apr 1943	1200	La Maddalena	4 Apr 1943	0815	Naples	238,1	Passage La Maddalena-Naples.
	Andreotti, Luigi	9 Apr 1943	0715	Naples	9 Apr 1943	0830	Castellammare di Stabia	13	Passage Naples-Castellammare di Stabia.
	Andreotti, Luigi	11 Apr 1943	1100	Castellammare di Stabia	11 Apr 1943	1200	Castellammare di Stabia	4,2	Trials.
18	Andreotti, Luigi	11 Apr 1943	2300	Castellammare di Stabia	17 Apr 1943	0930	La Maddalena	1020,3	Patrolled west of Sardinia, between 39°40'N and 40°00'N, and between 07°40'E and 08°10'E.
		12 Apr 1943	0630-1430		From 0630 to 1430 hours, a submarine of the ARGENTO class was seen on parallel course. This was probably Platino.
	Andreotti, Luigi	20 Apr 1943	0200	La Maddalena	21 Apr 1943	0710	Naples	238	Passage La Maddalena-Naples.
	Andreotti, Luigi	26 Apr 1943	0806	Naples	26 Apr 1943	1130	Naples	27	Exercises.
	Andreotti, Luigi	27 Apr 1943	0000	Naples	28 Apr 1943	0632	La Maddalena	239,7	Passage Naples-La Maddalena.
	Andreotti, Luigi	18 May 1943	0615	Villamarina (La Maddalena)	18 May 1943	1115	Ajaccio	65	Passage La Maddalena-Ajaccio.
19	Andreotti, Luigi	29 May 1943	2150	Ajaccio	13 Jun 1943	1024	La Maddalena	1566,2	Patrolled off Bougie, between 38°40'N and 39°20'N, and between 05°40'E and 06°20'E.
		10 Jun 1943	2208 2210b (e)	37° 10'N, 5° 30'E	At 2204 hours, Benedetto Brin surfaced in the midst of a convoy. It had not been detected by hydrophones. This was convoy G.T.X.2 from Algiers and had ships headed for Bone, Bougie, Phlippeville, Malta and Tunis. At 2208 hours, four torpedoes (533mm, Italian, 45-knot type) were fired from the stern tubes at a distance of 1500 metres at 3-second intervals. They were aimed at a freighter and a tanker presenting a continuous target. Two explosions were sighted after 80 seconds give a running range of 1,700 metres. The freighter took a port list. At 2213 hours, four torpedoes were to follow from the bow tubes (533mm, G7e, 28-knots), but one of them misfired and only three were launched at 3-second intervals from a distance of 1,000 metres. Two more hits were heard. Thirty seconds, after the firing, a destroyer was observed dangerously close. Benedetto Brin went down to 50 metres and six depth charges were heard. They were followed by six more at 2225 hours and another five at 2306 hours. The submarine was only slightly damaged. The identity of the stricken vessel has not been confirmed. Yet, HMS Wishart reported that a ship had been torpedoed. The tug Empire Gnome was sent from Bougie to assist, but was recalled when the destroyer signalled that the ship had sunk and she was searching for survivors.
	Andreotti, Luigi	14 Jun 1943	2010	Villamarina (La Maddalena)	16 Jun 1943	0652	Naples	239,5	Passage La Maddalena-Naples.
	Andreotti, Luigi	22 Jun 1943	1400	Naples	22 Jun 1943	1550	Catellamare di Stabbia	11	Passage Naples-Catellamare di Stabbia.
	Andreotti, Luigi	3 Jul 1943	0811	Castellamare di Stabbia	3 Jul 1943	1159	Castellamare di Stabbia	52,5	Passage Castellamare di Stabbia-Pozzuoliand return.
	Andreotti, Luigi	3 Jul 1943	1608	Castellamare di Stabbia	3 Jul 1943	1726	Naples	13	Passage Castellamare di Stabbia-Naples.
	Andreotti, Luigi	4 Jul 1943	0127	Naples	5 Jul 1943	0710	La Maddalena	226	Passage Naples-La Maddalena.
	Andreotti, Luigi	5 Jul 1943	1752	La Maddalena	5 Jul 1943	2005	Bonifacio	25	Passage La Maddalena-Bonifacio.
20	Andreotti, Luigi	10 Jul 1943	0350	Bonifacio	15 Jul 1943	0716	Naples	822	Sailed via west coast of Sardinia. Patrolled in zone 103 [between 37°40'N and 38°00'N, and between 08°40'E and 09°00'E]. At 1310 hours on the 10th, she received MARICOSOM orders (TG 1201/10) to switch patrol to zones 173 [between 38°25'N and 38°35'N, and between 12°40'E and 13°00'E], 174 [between 38°15'N and 38°25'N, and between 12°40'E and 12°50'E] and 175 [between 38°15'N and 38°25'N, and between 12°50'E and 13°05'E]. At 2345 hours on the 10th, MARICOSOM ordered her to occupy the northern half of 82 [between 37°05'N and 37°10'N, and between 15°20'E and 15°40'E]. At 0022 hours on the 11th she received MARICOSOM orders (TG 2251/10) to proceed to zone 82 [between 37°00'N and 37°10'N, and between 15°20'E amd 15°40'E] via 39°00'N, 15°00'E and point M 3 (Cape Vaticano) then directly through the Strait of Messina to patrol area, escorted by the corvette Gabbiano. At 1842 hours on the 11th MARICOSOM ordered her to occupy the northern half of zone 81 [between 37°15'N and 37°20'N, and between 15°20'E and 15°40'E].
		10 Jul 1943	0820	41° 15'N, 8° 13'E	At 0820 hours, an Italian submarine was observed at a distance of 7,000 metres,steering 230°. Benedetto Brin did not make contact.
		10 Jul 1943	0935	40° 58'N, 8° 00'E	At 1025 hours, an Italian bomber was seen. steering 70° at height of 500 metres.
		10 Jul 1943	0935	40° 28'N, 7° 50'E	At 1315 hours, an Italian aircraft was seen at 6,000 metres flying at a height of 200 metres.
		11 Jul 1943	1110	38° 32'N, 9° 59'E	At 1110 hours, the conning tower of a submarine was observed at 10,000 metres. Her route could not be ascertained and she dived quickly after . This was possibly Turchese. Benedetto Brin remained on the surface. Her diesels were smoking heavily and the head of cylinder no.1 was broken. She finally submerged at 1308 hours.
		11 Jul 1943	1722	38° 37'N, 11° 01'E	At 1722 hours, an American four-engine bomber was sighted at a distance of 5,000 metres flying at a height of 100 metres. It made straight for the submarine, but at a distance of 3,000 metres it made a large circle. Benedetto Brin seized the opportunity to crash dive
		12 Jul 1943	1039	38° 45'N, 12° 50'E	At 1039 hours, an aircraft was seen at 10,000 metres and the submarine dived.
		13 Jul 1943	0040	39° 04'N, 14° 09'E	At 0040 hours, flares were observed and Benedetto Brin dived.
		13 Jul 1943	1323	38° 59'N, 14° 56'E	At 1323 hours, an aircraft was seen at 6,000 metres and the submarine dived.
		13 Jul 1943	1636	39° 02'N, 15° 10'E	At 1636 hours, an aircraft was seen at 10,000 metres and the submarine dived.
		13 Jul 1943	2050 2049 (e)	38° 35'N, 15° 50'E	At 2050 hours, Benedetto Brin sighted three torpedo tracks, believed to have been fired from a distance of about 3,000 metres by a submerged submarine. The Italian submarine took evasive action and they missed just a few metres ahead. The attack had been carried out by HMS Unruly (Lt. J.P. Fyfe, RN). It had sighted Benedetto Brin steering 140° on the surface at 11 knots (she was actually making 8 knots) and fired a full salvo of four torpedoes from a distance of 3,000 yards and claimed one hit. The torpedoes had exploded on the coast. For a long time, HMS Unruly was credited with sinking the submarine Acciaio. Although, the U-boat assessment Committee had concluded at the time: "U-boat present. No damage". There is no doubt she had attacked Benedetto Brin and had missed. The Italian submarine had developed defects in its starboard diesel and Andreotti decided to return to Naples.
		14 Jul 1943	0050	38° 41'N, 15° 42'E	At 0050 hours, an Italian corvette was sighted at 2,000 metres. She was probably Gabbiano.
		14 Jul 1943	0250-0305	38° 50'N, 15° 35'E	At 0250 hours, Benedetto Brin sighted a submarine steering 120° at 5 knots at a distance of 2,500 metres. At 0305 hours, the range had closed to 1,000 metres, when the submarine dived before T.V. Andreotti could take offensive action. This was probably HMS Unruly who reported diving at 0240 hours. HMS Ultor was also in the vicinity but had dived at 0021 hours.
		14 Jul 1943	1520	39° 56'N, 14° 33'E	At 1520 hours, an aircraft was seen at 8,000 metres and the submarine dived.
	Andreotti, Luigi	20 Jul 1943	1835	Naples	20 Jul 1943	2115	Pozzuoli	11,5	Passage Naples-Pozzuoli.
	Andreotti, Luigi	1 Aug 1943	0900	Pozzuol	1 Aug 1943	1230	Pozzuoli	31	Exercises.
	Andreotti, Luigi	20 Aug 1943	1330	Pozzuol	20 Aug 1943	1730	Pozzuoli	36	Exercises.
	Andreotti, Luigi	27 Aug 1943	1300	Pozzuoli	27 Aug 1943	1430	Naples	13	Passage Pozzuoli-Naples.
21	Andreotti, Luigi	3 Sep 1943	0226	Naples	5 Sep 1943	1002	Naples	264,2	Patrolled off Salerno.
22	Andreotti, Luigi	7 Sep 1943	1445	Naples	11 Sep 1943	1815	Bone	735	Sailed for patrol off Salerno. When the armistice was announced, she was ordered to Bone. Met HMS HMS Eclipse at 2214 hours on the 9th in 40°15'N, 13°25'E and was directed to Bone.
		7 Sep 1943	2005 2003 (e)		At 2005 hours, the submarine Velella, proceeding 4,000 metres ahead of Benedetto Brin, was observed blowing up with three torpedo hits. There were no survivors.
		9 Sep 1943	1310	40° 02'N, 14° 20'E	At 1310 hours, Benedetto Brin, proceeding in company of Galatea toward Bone, sighted a naval formation which could not be identified.
		9 Sep 1943	1545	40° 14'N, 13° 56'E	At 1545 hours, Benedetto Brin and Galatea encountered the British MTB 266. She ordered them to proceed to Palermo but they declined, as their orders were to surrender at Bone. They resumed their passage.
		9 Sep 1943	2126 2214 (e)	40° 44'N, 13° 00'E	At 2126 hours, a British destroyer was encountered (this was HMS Eclipse). Again Benedetto Brin and Galatea were ordered to proceed to Palermo and again the Italians refused. T.V. Cruciani of Galatea went aboard HMS Eclipse to discuss their situation and finally the two submarines were allowed to resume their passage to Bone.
		10 Sep 1943	1016	41° 54'N, 11° 46'E	At 1016 hours, six unidentified aircraft were seen but nothing occurred.
		11 Sep 1943	1422	37° 15'N, 8° 09'E	At 1422 hours, two British fighters were seen. The two Italian submarines continued on their route undisturbed.
	Andreotti, Luigi	14 Sep 1943	1324	Bone	16 Sep 1943	1130	Malta	356	Passage Bone-Malta with the submarines Alagi, Giada, Platino, Galatea, Marea, Menotti and Turchese escorted by the destroyer HMS Isis.
	Andreotti, Luigi	2 Oct 1943	1310	Saint Paul (Malta)	2 Oct 1943	1515	La Valetta (Malta)	12	Passage San Paolo-Valetta (Malta).
	Andreotti, Luigi	19 Nov 1943	1615	La Valetta (Malta)	20 Nov 1943	0930	Augusta		Passage Malta-Augusta with the submarines Settembrini, Squalo and Bandiera escorted by the corvette Chimera.
	Imperiali, Carlo	6 Dec 1943	0655	Augusta	7 Dec 1943	1731	Taranto	285	Passage Augusta-Taranto with the submarines Dandolo, Giada and Mameli, escorted by torpedo boats Aliseo, Fortunale, Riboty, Abba, the corvette Urania and the armed trawler HMS Grilse with convoy AH.11.
	Imperiali, Carlo	3 Apr 1944	0945	Taranto	3 Apr 1944	1700	Taranto	48,3	Trials.
	Imperiali, Carlo	8 Apr 1944	0841	Taranto	8 Apr 1944	1442	Taranto	70,9	Trials.
	Imperiali, Carlo	12 Apr 1944	1300	Taranto	12 Apr 1944	1518	Taranto	10,7	Trials.
	Imperiali, Carlo	13 Apr 1944	0754	Taranto	13 Apr 1944	1720	Taranto	109,3	Trials.
	Imperiali, Carlo	15 Apr 1944	1000	Taranto	16 Apr 1944	0719	Augusta	247,1	Passage Taranto-Augusta.
	Imperiali, Carlo	16 Apr 1944	1100	Augusta	16 Apr 1944	2005	Malta	121,5	Passage Augusta-Malta.
	Imperiali, Carlo	19 Apr 1944	0550	Malta	22 Apr 1944	1915	Port Said	1053,9	Passage Malta-Port Said.
	Imperiali, Carlo	23 Apr 1944	0536	Port Said	23 Apr 1944	1444	Suez	89	Passage Port Said-Suez.
	Imperiali, Carlo	25 Apr 1944	1035	Suez	28 Apr 1944	2210	Massawa	890,7	Passage Suez-Massawa.
	Imperiali, Carlo	16 May 1944	1025	Massawa	18 May 1944	0750	Aden	467,1	Passage Massawa-Aden.
	Imperiali, Carlo	20 May 1944	1700	Aden	29 May 1944	1545	Colombo	2066,3	Passage Aden-Colombo.
	Imperiali, Carlo	7 Jun 1944	0745	Colombo	7 Jun 1944	1930	Colombo	89,5	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	8 Jun 1944	0730	Colombo	8 Jun 1944	1720	Colombo	63,8	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	9 Jun 1944	0825	Colombo	9 Jun 1944	1855	Colombo	87	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	10 Jun 1944	0735	Colombo	10 Jun 1944	1900	Colombo	91,5	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	13 Jun 1944	0722	Colombo	13 Jun 1944	1840	Colombo	74,5	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	14 Jun 1944	0725	Colombo	14 Jun 1944	1827	Colombo	86,1	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	15 Jun 1944	0734	Colombo	15 Jun 1944	1840	Colombo	94,9	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	16 Jun 1944	0735	Colombo	16 Jun 1944	1450	Colombo	46,5	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	22 Jun 1944	0725	Colombo	22 Jun 1944	1405	Colombo	51,5	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	23 Jun 1944	0730	Colombo	23 Jun 1944	1350	Colombo	53,5	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	26 Jun 1944	0737	Colombo	26 Jun 1944	1750	Colombo	58	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	27 Jun 1944	0740	Colombo	27 Jun 1944	2250	Colombo	119,5	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	28 Jun 1944	1215	Colombo	28 Jun 1944	1840	Colombo	44,6	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	6 Jul 1944	0735	Colombo	6 Jul 1944	1815	Colombo	71	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	7 Jul 1944	0730	Colombo	7 Jul 1944	1810	Colombo	62,7	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	8 Jul 1944	0730	Colombo	8 Jul 1944	1807	Colombo	76	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	10 Jul 1944	0735	Colombo	10 Jul 1944	1651	Colombo	60	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	11 Jul 1944	1123	Colombo	11 Jul 1944	1825	Colombo	44,2	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	12 Jul 1944	0732	Colombo	12 Jul 1944	1935	Colombo	71,3	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	13 Jul 1944	0700	Colombo	13 Jul 1944	1444	Colombo	36,6	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	14 Jul 1944	1125	Colombo	14 Jul 1944	1835	Colombo	46,7	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	22 Jul 1944	0730	Colombo	22 Jul 1944	1320	Colombo	41,5	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	28 Jul 1944	0635	Colombo	29 Jul 1944	1150	Colombo	143,5	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	2 Aug 1944	0710	Colombo	2 Aug 1944	1925	Colombo	67,7	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	3 Aug 1944	0700	Colombo	3 Aug 1944	1945	Colombo	68,5	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	4 Aug 1944	0656	Colombo	5 Aug 1944	0145	Colombo	135	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	5 Aug 1944	0711	Colombo	5 Aug 1944	1959	Colombo	81,7	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	7 Aug 1944	0700	Colombo	7 Aug 1944	2100	Colombo	57,4	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	10 Aug 1944	0900	Colombo	10 Aug 1944	1118	Colombo	18,5	Trials.
	Imperiali, Carlo	15 Aug 1944	1110	Colombo	15 Aug 1944	1850	Colombo	56	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	16 Aug 1944	0700	Colombo	16 Aug 1944	1852	Colombo	81,2	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	17 Aug 1944	0700	Colombo	17 Aug 1944	1900	Colombo	82,2	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	18 Aug 1944	0700	Colombo	18 Aug 1944	1433	Colombo	40	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	20 Oct 1944	1400	Colombo	20 Oct 1944	1854	Colombo	34,5	Trials.
	Imperiali, Carlo	22 Oct 1944	0754	Colombo	22 Oct 1944	1450	Colombo	40,8	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	23 Oct 1944	0753	Colombo	23 Oct 1944	1829	Colombo	56	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	24 Oct 1944	0820	Colombo	24 Oct 1944	1235	Colombo	8,5	Gyrocompass tests.
	Imperiali, Carlo	25 Oct 1944	1712	Colombo	26 Oct 1944	0145	Colombo	76,5	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	26 Oct 1944	0717	Colombo	26 Oct 1944	2037	Colombo	69,7	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	27 Oct 1944	0715	Colombo	28 Oct 1944	0015	Colombo	112,5	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	31 Oct 1944	0715	Colombo	31 Oct 1944	1835	Colombo	78,3	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	2 Nov 1944	0707	Colombo	3 Nov 1944	0015	Colombo	159,6	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	3 Nov 1944	0735	Colombo	3 Nov 1944	2350	Colombo	144,5	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	7 Nov 1944	1125	Colombo	7 Nov 1944	1807	Colombo	52,7	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	10 Nov 1944	0725	Colombo	10 Nov 1944	2140	Colombo	90,1	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	13 Nov 1944	0805	Colombo	13 Nov 1944	2306	Colombo	89,6	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	14 Nov 1944	0800	Colombo	14 Nov 1944	2215	Colombo	97	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	15 Nov 1944	0735	Colombo	15 Nov 1944	1850	Colombo	73	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	16 Nov 1944	0745	Colombo	16 Nov 1944	1845	Colombo	92,4	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	17 Nov 1944	0742	Colombo	17 Nov 1944	1835	Colombo	119	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	21 Nov 1944	0730	Colombo	21 Nov 1944	2325	Colombo	125,7	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	23 Nov 1944	0735	Colombo	23 Nov 1944	1353	Colombo	33,5	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	24 Nov 1944	0740	Colombo	24 Nov 1944	2220	Colombo	121,1	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	27 Nov 1944	0735	Colombo	27 Nov 1944	1840	Colombo	77,5	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	29 Nov 1944	0740	Colombo	29 Nov 1944	1825	Colombo	69	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	30 Nov 1944	0740	Colombo	30 Nov 1944	1344	Colombo	40	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	2 Dec 1944	0718	Colombo	3 Dec 1944	0230	Colombo	165,5	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	5 Dec 1944	1120	Colombo	5 Dec 1944	1840	Colombo	57	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	6 Dec 1944	0740	Colombo	6 Dec 1944	1900	Colombo	50,5	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	8 Dec 1944	0730	Colombo	8 Dec 1944	2330	Colombo	76	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	12 Dec 1944	0735	Colombo	12 Dec 1944	1410	Colombo	46,6	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	15 Dec 1944	0750	Colombo	15 Dec 1944	1414	Colombo	38	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	18 Dec 1944	0802	Colombo	18 Dec 1944	1515	Colombo	39	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	19 Dec 1944	0730	Colombo	19 Dec 1944	1935	Colombo	99,2	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	20 Dec 1944	0805	Colombo	20 Dec 1944	1840	Colombo	67,5	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	21 Dec 1944	0735	Colombo	21 Dec 1944	1815	Colombo	64	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	22 Dec 1944	0735	Colombo	22 Dec 1944	1935	Colombo	64	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	28 Dec 1944	1720	Colombo	29 Dec 1944	0035	Colombo	57,6	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	29 Dec 1944	0735	Colombo	29 Dec 1944	2325	Colombo	94,7	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	30 Dec 1944	0730	Colombo	30 Dec 1944	1415	Colombo	41,5	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	2 Jan 1945	0728	Colombo	2 Jan 1945	1842	Colombo	53,5	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	3 Jan 1945	1450	Colombo	4 Jan 1945	0335	Colombo	96,7	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	8 Jan 1945	1635	Colombo	9 Jan 1945	0210	Colombo	79,8	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	9 Jan 1945	0635	Colombo	9 Jan 1945	2355	Colombo	125,4	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	10 Jan 1945	0630	Colombo	10 Jan 1945	1525	Colombo	79,6	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	12 Jan 1945	0640	Colombo	12 Jan 1945	1830	Colombo	69,5	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	17 Jan 1945	0725	Colombo	18 Jan 1945	0030	Colombo	113,4	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	18 Jan 1945	0735	Colombo	18 Jan 1945	2155	Colombo	78,3	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	19 Jan 1945	0715	Colombo	20 Jan 1945	0300	Colombo	118,6	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	22 Jan 1945	1115	Colombo	22 Jan 1945	2340	Colombo	92	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	23 Jan 1945	0725	Colombo	23 Jan 1945	1845	Colombo	90,3	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	24 Feb 1945	0715	Colombo	24 Feb 1945	1410	Colombo	38,8	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	2 Mar 1945	0735	Colombo	2 Mar 1945	1415	Colombo	41,5	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	3 Mar 1945	1205	Colombo	3 Mar 1945	2010	Colombo	56,5	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	6 Mar 1945	1120	Colombo	6 Mar 1945	1800	Colombo	38,5	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	8 Mar 1945	0730	Colombo	9 Mar 1945	0215	Colombo	82,2	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	14 Mar 1945	0805	Colombo	14 Mar 1945	2025	Colombo	66,5	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	15 Mar 1945	1125	Colombo	15 Mar 1945	1745	Colombo	38,4	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	16 Mar 1945	1130	Colombo	16 Mar 1945	1825	Colombo	42	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	21 Mar 1945	0730	Colombo	21 Mar 1945	1505	Colombo	46,2	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	22 Mar 1945	1120	Colombo	22 Mar 1945	2355	Colombo	102,4	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	23 Mar 1945	0720	Colombo	23 Mar 1945	2340	Colombo	111,9	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	26 Mar 1945	0745	Colombo	26 Mar 1945	1500	Colombo	42,5	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	29 Mar 1945	0740	Colombo	29 Mar 1945	2340	Colombo	98,9	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	2 Apr 1945	0730	Colombo	2 Apr 1945	1525	Colombo	44	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	3 Apr 1945	0730	Colombo	3 Apr 1945	1650	Colombo	57,9	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	4 Apr 1945	1135	Colombo	4 Apr 1945	2210	Colombo	67,1	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	5 Apr 1945	0725	Colombo	5 Apr 1945	1820	Colombo	55,4	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	6 Apr 1945	0725	Colombo	6 Apr 1945	1820	Colombo	63,4	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	17 Apr 1945	0735	Colombo	17 Apr 1945	1500	Colombo	44,4	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	24 Apr 1945	1130	Colombo	24 Apr 1945	1942	Colombo	42,4	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	26 Apr 1945	0730	Colombo	26 Apr 1945	1500	Colombo	47,3	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	30 Apr 1945	0735	Colombo	30 Apr 1945	1430	Colombo	37	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	1 May 1945	0730	Colombo	1 May 1945	1440	Colombo	45,6	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	4 May 1945	0730	Colombo	4 May 1945	1430	Colombo	44,9	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	7 May 1945	0743	Colombo	7 May 1945	1520	Colombo	56,1	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	12 May 1945	1122	Colombo	12 May 1945	1855	Colombo	51,1	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	30 May 1945	0740	Colombo	30 May 1945	1555	Colombo	57,9	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	7 Jun 1945	0735	Colombo	7 Jun 1945	1452	Colombo	39	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	8 Jun 1945	0740	Colombo	8 Jun 1945	1315	Colombo	35,2	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	27 Jun 1945	0730	Colombo	27 Jun 1945	1730	Colombo	64,8	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	3 Jul 1945	0730	Colombo	3 Jul 1945	1448	Colombo	44,8	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	9 Jul 1945	0735	Colombo	9 Jul 1945	1500	Colombo	47,6	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	16 Jul 1945	0730	Colombo	16 Jul 1945	1453	Colombo	47	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	23 Jul 1945	0645	Colombo	23 Jul 1945	1552	Colombo	50,4	Exercises.
	Imperiali, Carlo	23 Aug 1945	0908	Colombo	23 Aug 1945	1234	Colombo	9,7	Trials and gyrocompass tests.
	Imperiali, Carlo	25 Aug 1945	1000	Colombo	5 Sep 1945	0720	Aden	2134,5	Passage Colombo-Aden.
	Imperiali, Carlo	8 Sep 1945	1000	Aden	14 Sep 1945	2150	Suez		Passage Aden-Suez.
	Imperiali, Carlo	14 Sep 1945	0440	Suez	14 Sep 1945	1620	Port Said	1423,1	Passage Suez-Port Said.
	Imperiali, Carlo	17 Sep 1945	1230	Port Said	22 Sep 1945	0625	Taranto	988,2	Passage Port Said-Taranto.

304 entries. 227 total patrol entries (22 marked as war patrols) and 98 events.

All Italian submarines

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