Italian submarines in World War Two


Topazio (TP)
Topazio

TypeCoastal / Sea going 
ClassSirena (21) 
Laid down 26 Sep 1931 Cantieri Navale del Quanaro, Fiume
Launched15 May 1933
Commissioned26 Apr 1934
End service
Stricken
Loss date12 Sep 1943
Loss position38° 39'N, 9° 22'E
History
Fate Sunk on 12th September 1943 south of Sardinia in position 38°39'N, 09°22'E by a Bisley aircraft (Sq. 13/J RAF) having failed to identify herself.

Commands


CommanderDate fromDate toCommand notes
T.V. Emilio Berengan2 May 194029 Nov 1941
T.V. Gaetano Di Meglio30 Nov 19413 Feb 1942
C.C. Bruno Zelik9 Feb 194228 Feb 1942
T.V. Adriano Pini28 Feb 194217 Mar 1942
S.T.V. Carlo Carbone18 Mar 194223 Apr 1942
G.M. Francesco Niccoli23 Apr 194221 Jun 1942
T.V. Mario Patanè21 Jun 194229 Jun 1943
T.V. Pier Vittorio Casarini2 Jul 194312 Sep 1943

Ships hit


DateCommanderShip hitTypeGRTNat.Loss type
1.10 Sep 1941C.C. Emilio BerenganMurefteCargo ship691TurkishSunk

Patrols and events

 CommanderDateTimePortArr. dateArr. timeArr. portMilesDescription
1Berengan, Emilio9 Jun 19401500Tobruk14 Jun 19401410Tobruk262,3Patrolled off Sollum (Egypt), 30° - Ras Azzaz - 70 miles [or 60 miles?] (on a line with Lafolè, Diamante and Nereide, 20 miles apart).

2Berengan, Emilio28 Jun 19402000Tobruk14 Jul 19400742Taranto1202,4Patrolled off Sollum (area S 15) between (1) 32°00'N, 25°18'E (2) 32°10'N, 25°02'E (3) 32°34'N, 25°24'E (4) 32°24'N, 25°38'E until 9 July, then went to Taranto for refit. On 10th July she picked up six survivors of the destroyer Espero which had sunk twelve days earlier 120 miles southwest of Matapan (a total of thirty-five survived).
  10 Jul 19401847
(0) 000° - Ras El Hilal - 46 miles.
At 1847 hours, Topazio was returning home when a lifeboat was sighted. It had six survivors from the destroyer Espero.

Twelve days before, the Italian destroyer had been sunk after a desperate fight against five British cruisers. She had sacrificed herself to enable her two sister-ships Ostro and Zeffiro to escape and had succumbed after an action that had lasted over two hours. Her captain, C.V. Enrico Baroni, had gone down with his ship. For his gallantry, he was awarded the Medaglia d'Oro. Forty-seven survivors were picked up by the British ships. Thirty-six men had drifted in a lifeboat and raft but after twelve days at sea, only six were alive when found by Topazio.

Berengan, Emilio21 Aug 19400923Taranto21 Aug 19401724Taranto27,5Exercises.

Berengan, Emilio23 Aug 19400725Taranto23 Aug 19401430Taranto36,6Exercises.

3Berengan, Emilio4 Sep 19402120Taranto5 Sep 19401015Taranto69,5Hydrophone watch in Gulf of Taranto.

Berengan, Emilio18 Sep 19400610Taranto18 Sep 19401256Taranto40Exercises.

Berengan, Emilio23 Sep 19402118Taranto24 Sep 19400308Taranto5Exercises.

Berengan, Emilio7 Oct 19400800Taranto7 Oct 19401500Taranto36Exercises.

4Berengan, Emilio11 Oct 19401510Taranto28 Oct 19400900Augusta1848,2Patrolled northeast of Mersa Matruh, between 32°30'N and 14 miles from the coast, 27°10'N and 28°20'E.
  16 Oct 19402124
2129 (e)

(0) 034° - Ras El Tin - 53 miles
At 2124 hours, a submarine was sighted. Aware that Ascianghi was also in the area, C.C. Berengan was reluctant in taking action. Topazio turned away and presented her stern, torpedo tubes ready just in case then Berengan thought he had recognised the shape of a 600-ton Italian submarine. He disengaged.

The submarine was actually HMS Pandora. At 2130 hours, she had sighted two U-boats in line ahead 1,500 yards apart. She had fired two torpedoes at the leading submarine (Topazio, the other was Ascianghi) from a distance of 2,500 yards. They missed. Berengan does not seem to be aware that he had been the object of an attack and that Ascianghi was behind him.

5Berengan, Emilio8 Nov 19401830Augusta13 Nov 19401000Augusta507,5Patrolled southeast of Malta within 20 miles from 34°40'N, 16°00'E, on a line with Bandiera, Santarosa and Capponi on a NE-SW axis. She returned early because of engine defects.
  9 Nov 1940063535° 23'N, 15° 54'EAt 0635 hours, an enemy destroyer was sighted at a range of 2,000 metres, steering on an opposite course. The submarine was about to attack when she was illuminated by a star shell and had to crash dive.
  9 Nov 1940211034° 57'N, 15° 50'EAt 2110 hours, a squadron of four light cruisers in single file with two destroyers on one flank, was sighted at a range of 4,000 metres, steering 045°. This was very probably the Mediterranean Fleet. Either (1) the 3rd cruiser Squadron, (2) the 7th cruiser Squadron or (3) the main battlefleet, consisting of battleships HMS Warspite and HMS Valiant with the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, escorted by the destroyers HMS Decoy and HMS Defender.

Topazio was unable to gain a suitable attacking position.
  11 Nov 19400133
0135 (e)
34° 32'N, 16° 17'EAt 0105 hours, a convoy of four 6-8,000-ton merchant ships, screened by two light cruisers of the LEANDER class and four destroyers, was sighted steering 090° at 8 knots.

At 0133 hours, two torpedoes (533mm) were fired from bow tubes at a distance less than 3,000 metres. Topazio heard two explosions after two minutes and 50 seconds and claimed to have hit two vessels.

This was battleship HMS Ramillies with convoy ME.3, the transports Memnon, Lanarkshire, Clan Macaulay and Clan Ferguson also escorted by the antiaircraft cruiser HMS Coventry and the destroyers HMS Decoy, HMS Defender, HMS Voyager, HMAS Vampire and HMS Waterhen on a trip from Malta to Alexandria. Ramillies heard three loud explosions.

Berengan, Emilio19 Nov 19401430Augusta20 Nov 19401710Taranto280Passage on the surface Augusta-Taranto. Uneventful.

Berengan, Emilio24 Jan 19410845Taranto24 Jan 19411530Taranto26Exercises, escorted by the minesweeper R.D.2.

Berengan, Emilio27 Jan 19410800Taranto27 Jan 19411330Taranto32Exercises.

6Berengan, Emilio28 Jan 19412100Taranto29 Jan 19410930Taranto69,5Hydrophone watch.

7Berengan, Emilio10 Feb 19410925Taranto21 Feb 19411630Taranto717,6Patrolled south of Otranto Straits within 10 miles from 39°10'N, 19°20'E. Uneventful except for H.E.

8Berengan, Emilio4 Mar 19411430Taranto15 Mar 19411600Taranto742,4Patrolled south of Otranto Straits within 10 miles from 39°10'N, 19°20'E. Uneventful except for H.E.

Berengan, Emilio27 Mar 19411300Taranto27 Mar 19411600Taranto21Trials.

9Berengan, Emilio10 Apr 19410850Taranto26 Apr 19411250Leros1590,3Passage Taranto-Leros and patrolled within 20 miles from 33°00'N, 26°40'E on a NE/SW axis.
  16 Apr 1941200033° 21'N, 26° 57'EAt 2000 hours, Topazio was informed of a convoy by MARICOSOM but it was too far to intercept.
  17 Apr 1941210032° 48'N, 26° 45'EAt 2100 hours, information was received of a new position for the convoy of the previous day. Topazio was now 150 miles away and proceeded at full speed to intercept off Gaudo Island on 25° E meridian, but the convoy passed some 40 miles further south than anticipated.
  20 Apr 1941141032° 56'N, 27° 00'EAt 1410 hours, propeller noises were heard from a vessel on an A/S hunt. At 1615 hours, they intensified and two explosions were heard. At 1626 hours, Topazio went down to 80 meters and escaped detection.

10Berengan, Emilio15 May 19410830Leros1 Jun 19411220Taranto1526Passage Leros-Taranto and patrol in Cerigotto Channel and Bay of Messara, between 35°20'N and 35°40'N, 23°00'E and 23°30'E.
  20 May 19410035
(0) Near Cerigotto Channel.
At 2315 hours on 19th May, a vessel was detected with hydrophones.

At 0035 hours, Topazio was attacked by the vessel with three depth-charges.

At 0047 hours, the enemy warship dropped another seven depth-charges and at 0247 hours another thirteen depth-charges but the submarine escaped damage.

Berengan, Emilio28 Jul 19410600Taranto28 Jul 19411302Taranto23Exercises.

Berengan, Emilio1 Aug 19410830Taranto1 Aug 19411605Taranto32Exercises, escorted by the pilot vessel Limbara.

Berengan, Emilio5 Aug 19411400Taranto5 Aug 19411738Taranto21,5Exercises.

Berengan, Emilio15 Aug 19411100Taranto15 Aug 19411655Taranto28Exercises with the destroyer Sella.

Berengan, Emilio16 Aug 19411900Taranto17 Aug 19410010Taranto26Exercises with the submarine Topazio and the torpedo boat Altair.

Berengan, Emilio19 Aug 19411230Taranto20 Aug 19411715Augusta292,2Passage Taranto-Augusta.

11Berengan, Emilio23 Aug 19411210Augusta27 Aug 19411400Augusta492,3Patrolled between Malta and Pantelleria, within 10 miles from 36°31'N, 12°52'E on a E-W axis.
  26 Aug 1941195536° 27'N, 12° 59'EAt 1955 hours, a 3,000-ton steamer was sighted at a range of 10,000 metres, steering 340°. Later it appeared to be a patrol vessel. Topazio tried to close but lost the target in the darkness.

12Berengan, Emilio2 Sep 19411950Augusta17 Sep 19410700Rhodes1635,5Patrolled between Cyprus and the Levant coast and off Beirut, between 32°20'N and 34°40'N, and between 34°00'N and the Syrian coast.
  5 Sep 19410930-0938
1040 (e)
34° 06'N, 25° 10'EAt 0930 hours, a twin-engined bomber of the Blackburn type attacked Topazio from an altitude of 600 meters and dropped five bombs. The submarine put up antiaircraft fire with her machine guns. The bombs missed her by about 60 metres.

This was Blenheim 'Y' (Z.6445) of 203 Squadron piloted by Flying Officer Duke-Woolley. It sighted a large Italian submarine steering 020° at 10 knots and first attacked with a shallow dive from 1,500 feet, but the bombs failed to release. On the second run, four bombs were dropped and claimed to have missed the submarine by 10-20 yards. The submarine was described as having two guns (Topazio had only one). Two other Blenheims were in the area but failed to locate the submarine.

After the second bombing run, C.C. Benrengan took the opportunity to crash-dive. The report does not directly register any damage, but later stated that four hydrophone receivers were damaged and a cylinder head of the port diesel engine was cracked (and was replaced by a spare) since this is attributed to “water concussions”, these could only have come during this attack.
  10 Sep 19412129-2142
2220 (e)
33° 27'N, 34° 54'EAt 2055 hours, a steamer was sighted at 7,000 metres, steering 090°, 9 knots, toward Beirut. The lights of the city could be seen in the distance.

At 2127 hours, the range had closed to 2,000 metres. The vessel must have noticed the submarine as she made an SOS, but giving her position 33°54 N instead of 34°54' N. Topazio fired a burst of machine gun as a warning shot. The vessel replied weakly with a light machine gun.

This was the Turkish steamer Murefte (691 GRT, built 1941) on a trip from Port Said to Mersin, carrying two 6" guns and three 4" guns and ammunition (from the UK).

At 2129 hours, the submarine opened fire with her deck gun, scoring a direct hit aft. Firing was joined with the machine guns and the crew began to abandon ship.

At 2140 hours, two torpedoes were fired from bow tubes at a distance of 500 metres. They both missed.

At 2142 hours, fire was resumed with the 100mm guns with 15 rounds, all of which hit but the vessel was still afloat.

At 2148 hours, Topazio fired a stern shot. This time the torpedo hit and the vessel sank. One was killed. The seventeen survivors (including one wounded) were rescued by the Egyptian steamer Talodi (1,585 GRT, built 1928). Four Blenheims from 55 Squadron (Palestine) and six destroyers searched for the submarine without success.

12bBerengan, Emilio18 Sep 19412000Rhodes19 Sep 19410650Leros99,5Passage Rhodes-Leros.

Berengan, Emilio5 Oct 19411610Leros5 Oct 19411710Leros7Exercises.

Berengan, Emilio6 Oct 19410835Leros6 Oct 19411315Leros25Exercises.

Berengan, Emilio9 Oct 19410820Leros9 Oct 19411223Leros20Exercises.

13Berengan, Emilio11 Oct 19410730Leros27 Oct 19411030Augusta1964Patrolled between 35°00'N and 35°40'N, between Cyprus (Famagusta) and the Syrian coast, which was uneventful, then passage to Augusta.
  27 Oct 1941
0643 (e)
At 0633 hours, HMS HMS Unbeaten (Lieutenant Commander E.A. Woodward, RN) sighted a GEMMA class submarine at a distance of 6,000 yards, steering 340°, 12 knots.

At 0643 hours, she fired four torpedoes at a range of 3,500 yards, they missed.

This was Topazio returning to Augusta. She did not observe the attack.

Berengan, Emilio24 Nov 19411430?Augusta24 Nov 19411645Augusta11,5Exercises.

Berengan, Emilio26 Nov 19410845Augusta26 Nov 19411720Messina74,5Passage Augusta-Messina.

Di Meglio, Gaetano3 Dec 19410907Messina3 Dec 19411600Messina32Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Diversi.

Di Meglio, Gaetano5 Dec 19410810Messina5 Dec 19411130Messina33Exercises, escorted by the auxiliaries Marras and Diversi.

Di Meglio, Gaetano6 Dec 19410950Messina6 Dec 19411650Augusta74,5Passage Messina-Augusta.

Di Meglio, Gaetano11 Dec 19410837Augusta11 Dec 19411137Augusta21Exercises.

14Di Meglio, Gaetano12 Dec 19411430Augusta22 Dec 19411050Augusta799,5Patrolled SSE of Malta between 34°00'N and 34°40'N, and between 15°20'E and 16°00'E. From 16th December was moved to area between 34°20'N and 35°00'N, and between 15°40'E and 16°20'E and finally on 20th December to area between 34°40'N and 35°20'N, and between 16°00'E and 16°40'E.

Di Meglio, Gaetano8 Jan 19420900Augusta8 Jan 19421210Augusta15,5Exercises.

Di Meglio, Gaetano20 Jan 19420915Augusta20 Jan 19421210Augusta15Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary minesweeper Tea.

15Di Meglio, Gaetano21 Jan 19422115Augusta25 Jan 19421055Augusta317Patrolled southeast of Cape Passaro between 36°00'N and 36°20'N, and between 15°20'E and 15°40'E. Uneventful.

Di Meglio, Gaetano26 Jan 19420857Augusta26 Jan 19421815Messina70,5Passage Augusta-Messina.

Di Meglio, Gaetano7 Feb 19421435Messina7 Feb 19421638Messina15Exercises.

16Zelik, Bruno9 Feb 19421727Messina25 Feb 19421320Messina1552Patrolled within 8 miles from 34°40'N, 20°00'E. On the evening of 13th February was moved 20 miles south, then returned to her original position. On the evening of 15th February, she was ordered to shift 098° - 148 miles. Note: Zelik was the commanding officer of Onice, who was undergoing repairs, and took temporary command of Topazio.
  14 Feb 1942212034° 58'N, 19° 54'EAt 2118 hours, a large two-funnel destroyer was sighted at 1,500 metres, proceeding at 18 knots.

At 2120 hours. a single torpedo was fired from a stern tube at a range of 1,000 metres. It missed. T.V. Zelik believed his submarine had been sighted and took her down to 40 meters but no counter-attack ensued.

Pini, Adriano2 Mar 19420903Messina5 Mar 19421140Pola676Passage Messina-Pola. Sighted only Italian vessels.

Pini, Adriano7 Mar 19420849Pola7 Mar 19421425Fiume58Passage Pola-Fiume.

Carbone, Carlo18 Mar 1942Fiume23 Apr 1942FiumeLong refit in Fiume.

Niccoli, Francesco23 Apr 1942Fiume21 Jun 1942FiumeLong refit in Fiume.

Patanè, Mario24 Jun 19420840Fiume24 Jun 19421923Fiume66Trials.

Patanè, Mario26 Jun 19420630Fiume26 Jun 19421612Fiume44Trials.

Patanè, Mario28 Jun 19421008Fiume28 Jun 19421508Fiume8Trials with auxiliary Trau.

Patanè, Mario1 Jul 19420805Fiume1 Jul 19421555Fiume26Trials.

Patanè, Mario2 Jul 19420958Fiume3 Jul 19420005Fiume23Trials.

Patanè, Mario3 Jul 19421020Fiume4 Jul 19420310Fiume42Exercises.

Patanè, Mario4 Jul 19421400Fiume4 Jul 19421812Fiume18Trials.

Patanè, Mario6 Jul 19421010Fiume6 Jul 19421930Fiume7Trials.

Patanè, Mario7 Jul 19420832Fiume7 Jul 19421542Fiume25Exercises.

Patanè, Mario10 Jul 19420812Fiume10 Jul 19421600Fiume17Exercises.

Patanè, Mario11 Jul 19420500Fiume11 Jul 19421848Venice132Passage Fiume-Venice.

Patanè, Mario16 Jul 19420910Venice16 Jul 19421230Venice12Trials.

Patanè, Mario19 Jul 19420450Venice19 Jul 19421820Fiume132Passage Venice-Fiume.

Patanè, Mario23 Jul 19420630Fiume23 Jul 19420953Fiume6,5Trials.

Patanè, Mario25 Jul 19421335Fiume25 Jul 19421925Fiume20Trials.

Patanè, Mario28 Jul 19420710Fiume28 Jul 19421245Fiume34Trials.

Patanè, Mario29 Jul 19420840Fiume29 Jul 19421645Fiume43Trials.

Patanè, Mario30 Jul 19420740Fiume3 Aug 19420748Naples918Passage Fiume-Naples. Sighted only Italian ships. Topazio was sighted by HMS Traveller at 1930C hours on the 30th in 43°50'N, 14°55'E but out of attacking range.

Patanè, Mario4 Aug 19420425Naples4 Aug 19421350Naples58Trials.

Patanè, Mario6 Aug 19420835Naples6 Aug 19421610Naples36Exercises.

Patanè, Mario7 Aug 19420806Naples7 Aug 19421600Naples39Exercises.

Patanè, Mario8 Aug 19420825Naples8 Aug 19421606Naples44Exercises.

Patanè, Mario9 Aug 19420812Naples9 Aug 19421620Naples35Exercises.

Patanè, Mario16 Aug 19420635Naples16 Aug 19421245Naples33Trials.

Patanè, Mario20 Aug 19420707Naples20 Aug 19421200Naples24Exercises.

Patanè, Mario29 Aug 19421540Naples29 Aug 19421735Naples19Trials.

Patanè, Mario1 Sep 19420810Naples1 Sep 19421240Naples14Trials.

Patanè, Mario2 Sep 19420800Naples2 Sep 19421612NaplesExercises.

Patanè, Mario2 Sep 19421849Naples2 Sep 19422315Naples59Exercises.

Patanè, Mario8 Sep 19421130Naples8 Sep 19421615Naples24Trials.

Patanè, Mario9 Sep 19421152Naples9 Sep 19422320Naples61Trials.

Patanè, Mario10 Sep 19421530Naples11 Sep 19421050Messina173Passage Naples-Messina.

Patanè, Mario17 Sep 19421315Messina17 Sep 19421750Messina15Exercises, escorted by AS.17.

Patanè, Mario22 Sep 19420730Messina22 Sep 19421223Messina28Exercises.

Patanè, Mario24 Sep 19420730Messina24 Sep 19421210Messina15Exercises.

Patanè, Mario30 Sep 19421310Messina30 Sep 19421745Messina22Exercises.

Patanè, Mario1 Oct 19420816Messina1 Oct 19421020Messina12Trials.

Patanè, Mario3 Oct 19420802Messina3 Oct 19421012Messina10Trials.

Patanè, Mario14 Oct 19421335Messina14 Oct 19421745Messina21Exercises.

Patanè, Mario20 Oct 19421300Messina20 Oct 19421725Messina23Exercises.

17Patanè, Mario24 Oct 19421410Messina11 Nov 19421342Messina2172,5Patrolled south of Balearic islands, between 37°40'N and 38°10'N, and between 02°20'E and 02°40'E. At 2201 hours on 6th November, patrol was shifted 20 miles south (to German Grid CH 8352, 8362, 8388 and 8398).
  27 Oct 19422400At 2400 hours, a hospital ship was sighted.
  7 Nov 1942101637° 02'N, 2° 23'EAt 1016 hours, as the submarine was listening to the radio, suddenly aircraft bombs were heard and Topazio was taken deep.
  7 Nov 1942210537° 05'N, 2° 41'EAt 2105 hours, a convoy of two steamers escorted by four destroyers proceeding to Algiers was sighted. Topazio fired one torpedo from a stern tube aimed at a destroyer from a distance of 1,100 metres. Another destroyer turned suddenly toward the submarine who escaped by going down to 70 metres. Depth charges were heard at 2110 and 2124 hours.
  9 Nov 1942122538° 10'N, 6° 49'EAt 1225 hours, an aircraft was seen at 5,000 metres and the submarine dived.
  9 Nov 1942143538° 15'N, 6° 58'EAt 1435 hours, an aircraft was seen at 7,000 metres and the submarine dived.
  10 Nov 1942092538° 43'N, 10° 32'EAt 0925 hours, an aircraft was seen at a distance of 6,000 metres and the submarine dived.
  10 Nov 1942123239° 06'N, 11° 13'EAt 1232 hours, an aircraft was seen very distant and the submarine dived.
  10 Nov 1942155839° 08'N, 11° 45'EAt 1558 hours, an aircraft was seen at a distance of 7,000 metres and the submarine dived.
  11 Nov 19420735At 0735 hours, a German four-engine aircraft was seen and exchanged recognition signals.

Patanè, Mario17 Nov 19421305Messina17 Nov 19421635Messina20Trials.

18Patanè, Mario19 Nov 19420735Messina20 Nov 19421130Messina219Sailed for patrol east of Malta then recalled at 2130 hours on the 19th.

Patanè, Mario26 Nov 19420110Messina26 Nov 19422115Naples190Passage Messina-Naples.

Patanè, Mario28 Nov 19420810Naples28 Nov 19421155Naples19Trials.

Patanè, Mario29 Nov 19420830Naples29 Nov 19421150Naples19Trials.

Patanè, Mario7 Dec 19420820Naples7 Dec 19421150Naples17Exercises.

Patanè, Mario8 Dec 19421704Naples9 Dec 19421910Augusta252Passage Napoli-Augusta.

19Patanè, Mario11 Dec 19421700Augusta17 Dec 19420730Augusta592Patrolled between 34°40'N and 35°00'N, and between 14°20'E and 14°40'E [or 35°00'N and 35°10'N, and between 14°30'E and 14°50'E?] to cover, with the submarine Uarsciek, the passage of a convoy from Naples to Tripoli. This was Foscolo escorted by the destroyer Freccia.
  14 Dec 1942014034° 49'N, 14° 35'EAt 0117 hours, a shadow was sighted. Ten minutes later, three cruisers in single file escorted by destroyers could be made out.

At 0140 hours, T.V. Mario Patanè ordered two bow torpedoes fired but inadvertently a third torpedo was fired as well at a range of 1,500 metres aimed at a destroyer. They all missed.

Patanè, Mario17 Dec 19421530Augusta17 Dec 19422228Messina70,5Passage Augusta-Messina.

Patanè, Mario8 Jan 19430805Messina8 Jan 19431208Messina16Trials.

Patanè, Mario16 Jan 19430810Messina16 Jan 19431345Messina18Trials.

Patanè, Mario24 Jan 19430820Messina24 Jan 19431306Messina17Trials.

Patanè, Mario25 Jan 19430804Messina25 Jan 19431229Messina15Trials.

Patanè, Mario27 Jan 19430842Messina27 Jan 19431258Messina21Exercises.

Patanè, Mario29 Jan 19430905Messina29 Jan 19431250Messina15Exercises.

Patanè, Mario30 Jan 19431323Messina30 Jan 19431850Messina21Exercises.

Patanè, Mario1 Feb 19431440Messina1 Feb 19432205Augusta70,5Passage Messina-Augusta.

Patanè, Mario4 Feb 19431421Augusta4 Feb 19431820Augusta18Trials.

Patanè, Mario11 Feb 19430830Augusta11 Feb 19431206Augusta13Exercises.

Patanè, Mario15 Feb 19431205Augusta15 Feb 19431755Augusta41Trials.

Patanè, Mario18 Feb 19431030Augusta18 Feb 19431155Augusta1Trials.

Patanè, Mario20 Feb 19430910Augusta20 Feb 19431205Augusta9Trials.

Patanè, Mario1 Mar 19430827Augusta1 Mar 19431205Augusta21Exercises.

20Patanè, Mario2 Mar 19431905Augusta17 Mar 19430700Augusta1373Patrolled in Central Mediterranean between 31°54'N and 32°20'N, and between 15°50'E and 16°40'E. Uneventful.

Patanè, Mario25 Mar 19430130Augusta26 Mar 19430904Naples303Passage Augusta-Naples.

Patanè, Mario27 Mar 19431353Naples27 Mar 19431607Naples16Trials.

Patanè, Mario30 Mar 19431505Naples30 Mar 19431732Naples8Trials.

Patanè, Mario1 Apr 19430915Naples1 Apr 19431317Naples15Trials.

Patanè, Mario2 Apr 19431502Naples2 Apr 19431800Naples13Trials.

Patanè, Mario6 Apr 19430032Naples7 Apr 19431040La Maddalena235Passage Naples-La Maddalena.
  6 Apr 19430052
(0) Naples harbour.
At 0052 hours, Topazio had a slight collision with the torpedo boat Sagittario and suffered superficial damage.

Patanè, Mario11 Apr 19430830La Maddalena11 Apr 19431350La Maddalena5Trials.

Patanè, Mario12 Apr 19431330La Maddalena12 Apr 19431820La Maddalena7Trials.

21Patanè, Mario15 Apr 19431710La Maddalena4 May 19431620La Maddalena1067Patrolled in Western Mediterranean, between 39°00'N and 39°40'N, and between 05°00'E and 05°40'E. On 16 April 1943, in 40°06'N, 06°24'E, proceeding to patrol area. Uneventful. Sirena should have gone on this patrol, but Topazio replaced her, perhaps because she had developed defects.
  29 Apr 1943060039° 23'N, 5° 39'EAt 0600 hours, the submarine Dandolo was sighted submerging. Topazio turned away.

Patanè, Mario14 May 19431850La Maddalena16 May 19430753Pozzuoli261,2Passage La Maddalena-Pozzuoli for refit.

Patanè, Mario20 May 19430805Pozzuoli20 May 19431510Castellammare di Stabia26Passage Pozzuoli-Castellammare di Stabia.

Patanè, Mario21 Jun 19430600Castellammare di Stabia21 Jun 19430830Naples12Passage Castellammare di Stabia-Naples.

Casarini, Pier Vittorio29 Jul 19431320Castellammare di Stabia29 Jul 19431858Castellammare di Stabia26Trials and exercises.

Casarini, Pier Vittorio1 Aug 19430918Castellammare di Stabia1 Aug 19431635Castellammare di Stabia38Exercises.

Casarini, Pier Vittorio3 Aug 19431528Castellammare di Stabia3 Aug 19431751Naples12Passage Castellammare di Stabia-Naples.

Casarini, Pier Vittorio5 Aug 19431005Naples5 Aug 19431821Naples48Exercises.

Casarini, Pier Vittorio6 Aug 19430702Naples6 Aug 19430900Pozzuoli12Passage Naples-Pozzuoli.

Casarini, Pier Vittorio12 Aug 19430838Pozzuoli12 Aug 19431702Pozzuoli46Exercises.

Casarini, Pier Vittorio18 Aug 19430645Pozzuoli18 Aug 19432038Pozzuoli24Docked briefly in Naples and returned to Pozzuoli.

Casarini, Pier Vittorio19 Aug 19430645Pozzuoli19 Aug 19431920Naples15Docked in Naples.

Casarini, Pier Vittorio19 Aug 19432345Naples21 Aug 19431002La Maddalena250Passage Naples-La Maddalena.

Casarini, Pier Vittorio30 Aug 19431402La Maddalena30 Aug 19431752Porto Palino16Passage La Maddalena-Porto Palino.

22Casarini, Pier Vittorio7 Sep 19431612La Maddalena12 Sep 1943Sunk with all handsSailed with Turchese until she parted on 10th September (she was also seen by Diaspro on the previous day), when on Anzio parallel, slightly east of 11°E. Part of a barrage line with Diaspro, Turchese and Marea in the Gulf of Salerno. On 8th September, she was ordered along with all other submarines, to dive to 80 meters then to surface only at 0800 hours on the 9th and display the Italian flag with a black flag of surrender. Then to proceed to Bone. At 1117 hours on the 12th, an RAF bomber (Bisley "J" of 13 Squadron) reported attacking a surfaced submarine. This was most likely Topazio. It is not clear if she was on her way to surrender. She disappeared without a trace (six officers, forty-three ratings missing).
  12 Sep 1943
1117 (e)

(e) 38° 39'N, 9° 22'E
At 1117 hours, a Bisley from 13 Squadron piloted by Flying Officer G.H. Finch when a submarine was seen slightly down by the stern and making less than 10 knots. Using the cloud cover, the aircraft surprised the submarine with a stick of four depth charges from 50 feet. One of the them exploded within 10 yards of the conning tower. The submarine attempted to make a recognition signal and was completely obscured by plumes and, when they cleared, she was gone. A growing oil slick was visible and some 15-20 men in the water were photographed by the aircraft.

This submarine was initially believed to have been Turchese, who arrived later in Bone, but it was most probably Topazio. T.V. Pier Vittorio Casarini, five officers, and forty-three ratings perished. It was a tragedy that could have been avoided.

150 entries. 137 total patrol entries (22 marked as war patrols) and 27 events.

All Italian submarines