Italian submarines in World War Two

Italian Commanders


Antonio De Giacomo

Born  27 Sep 1911Siena
Died  13 Dec 1979(68)Marina di Campo (Portoferraio)

Ranks

  T.V.Tenente di Vascello
  C.C.Capitano di Corvetta

Decorations

  Croce al merito di guerra
  Cavaliere dell'ordine della Corona d'Italia
9 Feb 1942 Medaglia d'argento al valore militare
30 Mar 1942 Medaglia di bronzo al valore militare
17 Aug 1942 Medaglia d'argento al valore militare
5 Aug 1951 Medaglia d'argento al valore militare

Career information

PIETRO CALVI (T.V. First Officer); from 01.06.1937 to ?
LUIGI TORELLI (T.V. C.O.): from 27.03.1941 to 19.05.1942.
Promoted C.C. ca. August 1941.
LUCIANO MANARA (C.C. C.O.): from 04.06.1942 to 19.11.1942.
Ex-French PHOQUE (C.C. C.O.): from 31.12.1942 to 12.01.1943?
LUIGI TORELLI (C.C. C.O.): from 26.01.1943 to 03.04.1943 (actually to 16.03.1943 when wounded and replaced by S.T.V. Dechecchi).

Commands listed for Antonio De Giacomo


Submarine Type Rank From To
Luigi Torelli (TI, I.9, UIT.25)Ocean goingT.V.27 Mar 194119 May 1942
Luciana Manara (MR)Ocean goingC.C.4 Jun 194219 Nov 1942
FR 111 (ex-Phoque) ()C.C.31 Dec 194212 Jan 1943
Luigi Torelli (TI, I.9, UIT.25)Ocean goingC.C.26 Jan 19433 Apr 1943

Ships hit by Antonio De Giacomo


DateSubmarineShip hitTypeGRTNat.Loss type
1.22 Jul 1941Luigi TorelliIda KnudsenTanker8,913NorwegianSunk
2.20 Feb 1942Luigi TorelliScottish StarCargo ship7,224BritishSunk
3.26 Feb 1942Luigi TorelliEsso CopenhagenTanker9,245PanamanianSunk

War patrols listed for Antonio De Giacomo

 SubmarineDateTimePortArr. dateArr. timeArr. portMilesDescription
1.Luigi Torelli (TI, I.9, UIT.25)14 Apr 19410930Bordeaux14 Apr 19411600Le VerdonPassage Bordeaux-Le Verdon and trials off Le Verdon.

2.Luigi Torelli (TI, I.9, UIT.25)15 Apr 19410800Le Verdon15 Apr 19411600La PallicePassage Le Verdon-La Pallice and trials at Le Pertuis d'Antioche.

3.Luigi Torelli (TI, I.9, UIT.25)16 Apr 19410800La Pallice16 Apr 19411800La PalliceTrials at Le Pertuis d'Antioche.

4.Luigi Torelli (TI, I.9, UIT.25)17 Apr 19412000La Pallice16 May 19411230Bordeaux5060,9Sailed for patrol off Ireland between (1) 55°00'N and 57°00'N, and between 25°00'W and 40°00'W. (2) between 51°00'N and 53°00'N, and between 16°00'W and 23°00'W (3) between 51°00'N and 52°00'N, and between 15°00'W and 20°00'W (4) between 56°00'N and 57°00'N, east of 25°00'W.
  18 Apr 1941184546° 50'N, 6° 25'W
(0) Italian Grid 6894/24.
At 1845 hours, Torelli sighted an aircraft quite far and dived.
  18 Apr 1941223047° 00'N, 7° 05'WAt 2230 hours, lights were seen on the horizon similar to British star shells. Torelli altered course toward them but, at 2350 hours, nothing was seen and she resumed her course toward the patrol area.
  19 Apr 1941083047° 30'N, 9° 30'W
(0) Italian Grid 6894/24.
At 0830 hours, Torelli sighted an aircraft close in the mist and dived.
  20 Apr 1941094548° 25'N, 13° 45'W
(0) Italian Grid 6894/24.
At 0945 hours, Torelli sighted a Sunderland and dived.
  22 Apr 1941085051° 10'N, 20° 25'W
(0) Italian Grid 6894/24.
At 0850 hours, Torelli sighted a biplane of the aircraft carrier type (Swordfish) and dived.
  22 Apr 1941110051° 25'N, 20° 50'W
(0) Italian Grid 6894/24.
At 1100 hours, a smoke was sighted on the horizon and closed.

At 1215 hours, a convoy of seventeen ships on NE course was sighted and reported by signal at 1300 hours: Italian Grid 6894/44, 10-20 ships, steering 025°, 8 knot.
The submarine kept in contact at a distance

At 1500 hours, Torelli made a further signal giving Grid 6894/24 , steering 045°, 7 knots.

At 2130 hours, only seven smokes were sighted, indicating the convoy had split earlier.

At 2400 hours, another signal gave Grid 6820, 8-10 ships, steering 240°, 13 knots. The smokes could no longer be seen in the darkness (Rome time, it was still dusk) and. by 0800 hours on 23rd April, it was evident that contact had been lost and BETASOM was so informed at 1030 hours.
  26 Apr 1941171052° 25'N, 19° 00'W
(0) Italian Grid 6894/24.
At 1710 hours, Torelli sighted an aircraft at a distance and dived.
  26 Apr 1941192552° 20'N, 19° 30'W
(0) Italian Grid 6894/24.
At 1925 hours, Torelli sighted an aircraft at a distance and dived.
  30 Apr 1941163551° 30'N, 19° 00'WAt 1635 hours, Torelli had dived to carry out repairs to the gyrocompass, when three explosions were heard, believed to be from aircraft bombs at 2-3,000 meters. The submarine was at a depth of 45 meters at the time and went down to 90 meters by precaution. At 1715 hours, another salvo of bombs fell at a distance of 1,000 meters and, by 1810 hours, a total of 37 explosions had been heard. In heavy mist, the submarine surfaced at 1825 hours and got away at 14 knots.
  4 May 1941154056° 55'N, 23° 35'WAt 1540 hours, a German submarine was sighted steering NW.
  9 May 19411115
(0) Approx. between 56° and 57° N east of 25°W.
At 1115 hours, Torelli was informed of a convoy 130 miles to the south and altered course to intercept.

At 0640 hours on 10th May, a new signal from Barbarigo put the convoy 150 miles further south and the chase was abandoned.
  10 May 1941175555° 15'N, 21° 50'WAt 1755 hours, two large steamers were sighted at 10,000 metres, unescorted,steering 260°, 13 knots.

Torelli maneuvered to attack, but at 2035 hours, intercepted a distress signal "S.S.S. PORT CAMPBELL 55°01' N, 23°01' W. Submarine sighted." and the two vessels turned away.

By 0130 hours on the 11th, contact had been lost.
  11 May 1941193552° 45'N, 21° 50'WAt 1035 hours, the submarine Cappellini was met and exchanged recognition signals.

5.Luigi Torelli (TI, I.9, UIT.25)29 Jun 19411000Bordeaux28 Jul 19411100Bordeaux5765Sailed for patrol off Gibraltar through (1) 43°00'N, 25°00'W (2) 33°30'N, 25°00 W (3) 33°00'N, 13°00 W for patrol in:

First area: between (1) 36°55'N, 12°25'W (2) 36°45'N, 11°45 W (3) 34°45'N, 10°05'W (4) 35°05'N, 10°55'W.

Second area: between (1) 35°55'N, 10°55'W (2) 37°55'N, 11°55'W (3) 34°45'N, 16°35'W (4) 37°05'N, 21°25'W.

Third area: between (1) 30°55'N, 15°05'W (2) 35°55'N, 13°45'W (3) 35°25'N, 15°55'W (4) 31°25'N, 15°35'W.
  30 Jun 19411045At 1045 hours, BETASOM ordered the submarines to the following positions:

Torelli in Grid 2533/36 or 36°58'N, 12°30'W
Morosini in 2511/33 or 36°30'N, 13°20'W
Cappellini in 8511/66 or 35°58'N, 14°00'W
Da Vinci in 8511/33 or 35°30'N, 13°20'W
Baracca in 8533/31 or 35°10'N, 12°30'W
Malaspina in 3972/51 or 33°00'N, 11°45'W.

Torelli proceeded.
  6 Jul 1941033936° 45'N, 11° 45'WAt 0314 hours, a shadow, which proved to be a destroyer, was sighted at 4,000 metres. Six minutes later a second destroyer appeared.

At 0320 hours, it was now established that the first ship was actually a cruiser and, two minutes later, an aircraft carrier was also observed.

At 0325 hours, the enemy squadron appeared to be formed with a SOUTHAMPTON class cruiser leading it, followed 2,000 metres in her wake by the aircraft carrier HMS Furious, with a DEFENDER class destroyer abeam and another 3,000 metres astern. They were steering 280° at 16 knots.

At 0339 hours, Torelli, who had remained on the surface, fired two torpedoes (one 533mm set at 46 knots and one 450mm set at 39 knots) from the bow tubes, aimed at the nearest destroyer from a distance of 1,300 metres. They missed. The submarine reverted course for a stern attack.

This was indeed HMS Furious escorted by the destroyers HMS Wishart, HMS Legion, HMS Lance and HMS Fury.

At 0340 hours, Torelli fired a torpedo (533mm, 46 knots) from a stern tube, again aimed at the destroyer. It missed ahead. The destroyer turned toward the submarine and dropped two depth charges some distance away. Torelli remained on the surface.

At 0500 hours, the submarine made an en enemy report, but ten minutes later had lost contact.

At 1120 hours, BETASOM ordered the submarines to the following positions:

Torelli in 9697/16 (34°55' N, 10°05' W)
Morosini in 8597/16 (35°55' N, 10°05' W) via 2597/13
Cappellini in 8597/13 (35°25' N, 10°05' W)
Da Vinci in 9697/56 (34°55' N, 10°45' W)
Malaspina in 3997/16 (33°55' N, 10°05' W)
Baracca in 9697/13 (34°25' N, 10°05' W)
  6 Jul 19411245At 1245 hours, the Morosini was sighted in the mist.
  7 Jul 1941123534° 45'N, 10° 05'WAt 1235 hours, a convoy of two steamers with three escorts was observed, steering 205°. Torelli tried to maintain conact and, at 1600 hours, reported the convoy in Italian Grid 8597/32. This was convoy O.G.66, which had sailed on 24th June from Liverpool for Gibraltar.
  7 Jul 19411630The conning tower of a submarine was sighted.
  7 Jul 19411708
1600A (e)
34° 55'N, 10° 00'WAt 1258 hours, Torelli had made contact at 5,000 metres with the convoy, but was forced to dive.

HMS Eridge, of the 13th Destroyer Flotilla, was on the starboard side of the heavily-escorted convoy O.G. 66 and, at 1155A hours, first sighted a submarine fine on the starboard bow at 5-6 miles. The destroyer HMS Farndale was on the port side of the convoy and joined at 1250A hours, but her ASDIC broke down and she could not get a contact. The A/S hunt went on.

At 1708 hours, Torelli had again made contact with the convoy, when an escort vessel fired two rounds, which fell 300 metres astern in the submarine's wake. Two minutes later she dived.

This was the destroyer HMS Farndale and, at 1600A hours, she had sighted the submarine at a range of 8 miles and fired four rounds from her no.1 4" gun at 13,000 yards. HMS Eridge closed, but it was now her turn to have her ASDIC fail.

Torelli managed to elude her two hunters, but kept on trailing the convoy.

At 2100 hours, she made an enemy report giving the position as Grid 3997/55 (33°45' N, 10°45' W).
  8 Jul 1941080034° 50'N, 10° 30'WAt 0800 hours, the submarine Malaspina was encountered and exchanged recognition signals.

At 1100 hours, BETASOM issued orders for new positions:

Bianchi in 2772/11 (36°05' N, 11°05' W)
Torelli in 8597/61 (35°05' N, 10°55' W)
Morosini in 8597/34 (35°35' N, 10°25' W)
Baracca in 9697/11 (34°05' N, 10°05' W)
Malaspina in 3997/54 (33°35' N, 10°45' W)
Da Vinci in 9697/25 (34°15' N, 10°45' W) (the BETASOM diaries give the position as 35°55' N, 19°15' W but this is a typographic error).
  10 Jul 1941130037° 55'N, 11° 55'WAt 1300 hours, a neutral tanker was sighted steering toward Lisbon.
  13 Jul 19410330
0243 (e)
35° 02'N, 16° 42'WAt 0330 hours, two shadows were sighted. Two minutes later, they were identified as submarine chasers and Torelli immediately dived to 125 metres.

At 0346 hours, five depth-charges exploded, followed at 0415 hours by two more and another six at 0430 hours.

The submarine was slightly damaged.

This was the escort destroyer HMS Avon Vale, steering 127° at 18 knots with HMS Farndale in company. She had sighted the submarine at 0235A hours. Fire was not opened from fear of the blinding effect from the flash, which was a mistake.
At 0243 hours, she dropped five depth charges set at 350, 250 and 150 feet.
Her commander was criticised for having lost an opportunity to destroy a U-boat.
  19 Jul 1941103035° 40'N, 14° 27'WAt 1030 hours, a shadow was sighted and initially thought to be a fishing vessel. The submarine attempted to close submerged but lost sight of it.
  19 Jul 1941121935° 40'N, 14° 27'W
(0) Approximately.
At 1219 hours, a small submarine chaser (about 200 tons) was sighted. Torelli took avoiding action.
  19 Jul 1941192031° 40'N, 14° 30'WAt 1920 hours, a ship was sighted which turned out to be the Spanish steamer Monte Banderas (1,597 GRT, built 1929).
  21 Jul 1941103035° 40'N, 14° 27'WAt 1030 hours, a small vessel was sighted, initially believed to be a fishing boat. Torelli dived and closed to investigate. At 1219 hours, she sighted a second vessel, and recognised both to be submarine chasers of about 200 tons. She took avoiding action.
  21 Jul 19412319
2210 (e)
34° 42'N, 14° 38'WAt 2134 hours, a large tanker (later identified as of the SCOTTISH AMERICAN class) was sighted, zigzagging and steering about 060°, 11 knots. Torelli maneuvered to intercept after dark.

At 2319 hours, a single torpedo was fired from a bow tube at a distance of 1,000 metres. Torelli quickly reverted course and fired a second torpedo from a stern tube. Both were claimed to hit, but survivors stated that only the first one hit the port quarter in the pump room, whereas the next two missed.

This was the Norwegian tanker Ida Knudsen (8,913 GRT, built 1925). She was carrying 13,000 tons of fuel oil from Port of Spain to Gibraltar.

At 2328 hours, Torelli fired another torpedo from a stern tube at 600 metres. At the moment of firing, the submarine was rocked by a large wave and the torpedo missed a few metres astern.

At 2335 hours, the target was observed to be shaken by a large explosion,. Probably a secondary explosion following the first torpedo hit. By this time, an SOS had been sent but was interrupted by the explosion. The crew began to abandon ship.

At 2340 hours, the submarine had reverted course to gain a more favourable position and, fired a fourth torpedo from a forward tube at 1,000 metres. It hit abaft the forecastle on the starboard side, causing further damage but the tanker remained afloat.

At 2356 hours, a fifth torpedo from a bow tube hit amidship.

At 0017 hours on 22nd July, a sixth torpedo finally sealed the fate of the tanker.

Five were killed. Fourteen survivors were rescued by the Portuguese trawler Altair and brought to Las Palmas. On 28th July, a lifeboat with seventeen survivors reached Agadir (Morocco). On 9th August 1941, two survivors reached Tenerife in a lifeboat.

6.Luigi Torelli (TI, I.9, UIT.25)5 Sep 19410715Bordeaux5 Sep 19411300Le VerdonPassage Bordeaux-Le Verdon and trials.

7.Luigi Torelli (TI, I.9, UIT.25)5 Sep 19411950Le Verdon6 Sep 19411200PauillacSailed for patrol but defects forced an early return. Escorted back by Sperrbrecher 14.

8.Luigi Torelli (TI, I.9, UIT.25)6 Sep 19411730Pauillac6 Sep 19412005BordeauxPassage Pauillac-Bordeaux.

9.Luigi Torelli (TI, I.9, UIT.25)7 Sep 19411000Bordeaux7 Sep 19411315Le VerdonPassage Bordeaux-Le Verdon.

10.Luigi Torelli (TI, I.9, UIT.25)7 Sep 19411830Le Verdon25 Sep 19411500Le Verdon3782,6Sailed for patrol west of Gibraltar through 45°40'N until the 14°00'W meridian and then south. At 1900 hours on 18th September ordered to 38°05'N, 10°05'W thence to 37°55'N, 12°05'W. At 1050 hours on the 19th, ordered 36°15'N, 12°45'W. At 0955 hours on the 20th, ordered to 36°35'N, 15°35'W. At 1830 hours on the 20th, ordered to 36°55'N. 15°45'W. At 1930 hours on the 21st, ordered to 39°05'N, 21°55'W, etc.
  13 Sep 1941061537° 50'N, 10° 42'WAt 0615 hours, a 4,000-ton Swiss ship was sighted proceeding toward Lisbon.
  19 Sep 1941011036° 14'N, 9° 50'WAt 0110 hours, a large Spanish ship was sighted.

At 0910 hours, Morosini signalled the discovery of a convoy in 35°45' N, 11°15' W.

At 1050 hours, BETASOM ordered the submarines to take the following positions by dusk:

Torelli Italian grid 6711/61 (36°05' N, 12°55' W) (the BETASOM war diaries give it as 36°15' N, 12°45' W but this appears to be a mistake in translating the Grid)
Malaspina 0111/66 (35°55' N, 12°55' W)
Morosini 0111/64 (35°35' N, 12°55' W)
Baracca 6711/52 (36°15' N, 12°45' W)
Da Vinci 0111/63 (35°25' N, 12°55' W)
  19 Sep 1941174036° 21'N, 12° 03'WAt 1740 hours, a biplane aircraft (Swordfish?) was seen and the submarine dived.
  19 Sep 1941193036° 19'N, 12° 24'WAt 1930 hours, a convoy was sighted and reported by Torelli at 2100 hours, in 36°15' N, 12°45' W, steering 310°, 7 knots.
  20 Sep 1941003336° 42'N, 13° 04'WAt 0033 hours, an Italian submarine was encountered. She was believed to be either Da Vinci or Malaspina. As they were near the convoy, they did not exchange signals so as not to disclose their positions. The submarine was sighted again at 0048 and 0116 hours.

At 0955 hours, BETASOM ordered the submarines to take the following positions:

Torelli Italian grid 6792/44 (38°35' N, 15°35' W)
Malaspina 3476/41 (38°05' N, 14°35' W)
Morosini 2092/15 (37°45' N, 15°05' W)
Baracca 2092/32 (37°15' N, 15°25' W)
Da Vinci 3488/63 (38°25' N, 13°55' W)

This was revised at 1230 hours:

Torelli 6792/55 (36°55' N, 15°45' W)
Malaspina 2092/43 (37°35' N, 15°35' W)
Morosini 2092/42 (37°15' N, 15°35' W)
Baracca 2092/32 (37°15' N, 15°25' W, no change)
Da Vinci 2092/34 (37°35' N, 15°25' W).
  20 Sep 1941162237° 25'N, 15° 15'WAt 1622 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived.
  20 Sep 1941193037° 05'N, 15° 42'W
(0) Italian Grid 6792/66.
At 1930 hours, the convoy (H.G. 73) was sighted steering 280°, 7 knots.

Torelli trailed the convoy and was ordered to attack after midnight. The visibility had suddenly dropped and the submarine tried to regain contact but could not do so.
  21 Sep 19410825 [dawn]37° 05'N, 18° 35'WAt 0825 hours (at dawn), Torelli regained visual contact at 2,500 metres. Due to the short distance De Giacomo decided to submerge to carry out his attack.

At 1930 hours, BETASOM had ordered the submarines to the following positions (if they were not already in contact):

Torelli Italian Grid 1366/61 (39°05' N, 21°55' W)
Malaspina 1366/43 (39°25' N, 21°35' W)
Da Vinci 1366/25 (39°45' N, 21°45' W)
Morosini 1556/42 (40°15' N , 20°35' W)
Baracca 1556/24 (40°35' N, 20°15' W)
  21 Sep 19412202
2110 (e)
37° 30'N, 19° 20'W
(0) Approximately.
Torelli had been able to maintain contact with the convoy, despite poor visibility caused by frequent rain squalls.

At 2103 hours, an escort vessel was sighted. C.C. De Giacomo believed his submarine had been spotted by the enemy. He decided to remain surfaced and keep its distance.

At 2200 hours, the vessel could be identified as a submarine chaser. The submarine signalled BETASOM that it had lost contact with the convoy.

At 2202 hours, the submarine chaser turned to starboard and despite the complete darkness, she opened fire. The shots were long but the submarine crash-dived to 130 meters, seven depth-charges exploded above her, causing slight damage.

At 2310 hours, another pattern of seven depth-charges was heard at a distance,

At 0030 hours on 22nd September, fifteen depth-charges exploded in the vicinity, causing serious damage to the batteries. The submarine went down to 150 meters.

At 0310 hours, Torelli surfaced and, fortunately, the submarine chaser was gone, but she had to abandon her patrol.

The destroyer hunting the submarine was HMS Vimy from convoy H.G.73 She had first sighted Torelli at 2005A hours and chased her, opening fire at 2103A hours from about 0.75 mile. Fourteen 4" rounds were fired, but no hits were claimed. At 2126A hours, she dropped a pattern of fourteen depth charges. A delay in operating the ASDIC prevented her from obtaining an accurate contact.
  22 Sep 1941081738° 34'N, 18° 30'WAt 0817 hours, a submarine chaser and another minor vessel were sighted and Torelli dived.
  24 Sep 1941085943° 05'N, 10° 06'WAt 0859 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived.
  24 Sep 1941163043° 45'N, 7° 44'WAt 1630 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived.
  24 Sep 1941170043° 45'N, 7° 30'WAt 1700 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived.
  24 Sep 1941181643° 43'N, 7° 18'WAt 1816 hours, a German submarine with an escort vessel were sighted. Recognition signals were exchanged.

Luigi Torelli (TI, I.9, UIT.25)25 Sep 19411630Le Verdon25 Sep 19411945BordeauxPassage Le Verdon-Bordeaux.

11.Luigi Torelli (TI, I.9, UIT.25)2 Dec 19410900Bordeaux2 Dec 19411705Le VerdonPassage Bordeaux-Le Verdon. Delayed by fog, which forced the submarine to drop anchor at Barbe de Squire.

12.Luigi Torelli (TI, I.9, UIT.25)5 Dec 19411750Le Verdon23 Dec 19411046St. Nazaire4995Sailed on a mission to rescue the survivors from the German raider Atlantis and her supply ship Python, northwest of Cape Verde (took 55 men from U-A). Four submarines participated in the operation: Finzi, Calvi, Torelli and Tazolli. The four commanders were decorated by Admiral Doenitz.
  14 Dec 19411730-213017° 15'N, 27° 35'WBetween 1730 at 2130 hours, the German submarine U-A was met and Torelli supplied her with food. The U-boat was carrying survivors from the raider Atlantis. Two officers and fifty-three ratings were transferred to the Italian submarine and brought to St. Nazaire.
  17 Dec 1941064127° 50'N, 23° 10'WAt 0641 hours, an 8,000-ton vessel was sighted, but was left alone. Torelli had orders to avoid all attacks to bring her passengers safely to St. Nazaire.
  22 Dec 1941094844° 00'N, 6° 20'WAt 0948 hours, a tanker was sighted and was apparently Spanish.

Luigi Torelli (TI, I.9, UIT.25)23 Dec 19411930St. Nazaire24 Dec 19411500BordeauxPassage St. Nazaire-Bordeaux.

13.Luigi Torelli (TI, I.9, UIT.25)31 Jan 19420930Bordeaux31 Jan 19421300Le VerdonPassage Bordeaux-Le Verdon.

14.Luigi Torelli (TI, I.9, UIT.25)1 Feb 19421840Le Verdon31 Mar 19421800Bordeaux9947Patrolled off Martinique (she carried fourteen torpedoes).
  4 Feb 1942130044° 50'N, 10° 50'WAt 1300 hours, a Sunderland aircraft was seen and the submarine dived.
  20 Feb 19420304
2105 ATS/19 (e)
13° 24'N, 49° 36'WAt 1115 hours on 19th February, a vessel was sighted in 16°06' N, 50°35' W, steering 170°. She was travelling fast and the submarine took the whole day to catch up.

At 0304 hours on the 20th, two torpedoes (533mm, S.I. type) were fired at a distance of 900 metres. Both hit the target.

At 0327 hours, Torelli fired 6 100mm rounds, but fire was checked as the ship was being abandoned (the survivors believed that fire had been directed at the W/T aerial) and she sank at 0405 hours.

This was the British Scottish Star (7,224 GRT, built 1916, ex Millais) on a voyage from London to Montevideo with 2,000 tons of general cargo. Her identity was revealed when she made an SOS.

Four were killed or missing. Sixty-nine (or 68?) were rescued (fifty-two by the light cruiser HMS Diomede). The remaining sixteen reached Barbados in lifeboat no. 2 at 1530 hours, local time, on 27th February.
  24 Feb 1942155611° 00'N, 53° 30'WAt 1556 hours, a two-funnel steamer was sighted proceeding at high speed.

At 1644 hours, Torelli gave up chasing the vessel on the surface, as her diesels were emitting too much smoke. She submerged. The vessel was steering 130° but still distant at 12,000 metres.

At 1715 hours, the range had dropped to 4,000 metres, but remained too far for a successful torpedo attack. C.C. De Giacomo waited until she was at some distance to surface and gave chase, intending to attack after dark.

At 2032 hours, a second ship was sighted and De Giacomo decided to switch attack to this new target.
  24 Feb 1942203210° 30'N, 53° 00'WAt 2032 hours, a steamer was sighted steering 275°. The submarine gave chase but lost it in a rain squall at 0530 hours, on 25th February.
  25 Feb 1942124810° 32'N, 53° 20'WAt 1104 hours (dawn), two tankers were sighted.

At 1248 hours, Torelli carried out a submerged attack, firing two torpedoes (450mm) from the stern tubes at a distance of 800 metres, aimed at one of the two tankers sighted earlier. They missed. Because her batteries were low, Torelli could not attempt another submerged attack and waited until the following night. She appeared to be a large modern tanker similar to W.B. WALKER of 10,500 tons, armed with a single 120 mm gun and six machine-guns.

It was the Panamanian tanker Esso Copenhagen (9,245 GRT, built 1939) carrying fuel from Aruba to Buenos Aires.

At 0043 hours on 26th February, one torpedo (533mm, S.I. type) was fired from a bow tube at a distance of 1,500 metres. It missed. Torelli maneuvered to get into a better position.

At 0142 hours, another bow torpedo (533mm) was fired from 1,300 metres. It hit the tanker but she remained afloat. A minute later, the submarine opened fire with her four machine guns to force the quick evacuation of her victim.

At 0150 hours, Toreilli opened fire with her stern gun, causing further damage. Having sighted seven survivors clinging to a capsized lifeboat, the submarine located another lifeboat which was not manned and towed it to the survivors who then boarded it. De Giacomo then waited for the ship to sink.

By 1555 hours, the tanker was still afloat. A stern torpedo (450mm, type A 115) was fired from close range, which hit amidship, provoking a large fuel leak but the ship refused to sink.

At 1630 hours, the submarine finished off the ship with a few rounds from her stern gun and she finally sank at 1720 hours.

One was killed. Thirty-eight survivors were rescued by the American Eastern Guide and the Dutch Notis and landed at Trinidad.
  9 Mar 194212179° 20'N, 56° 30'WAt 1217 hours, a small passenger ship was sighted, steering 330°. Torelli chased her until midnight when she turned out to be French vessel proceeding to Martinique.
  11 Mar 1942010913° 10'N, 56° 30'WAt 2320 hours on 10th March, a vessel was sighted zigzagging on a mean 070° course.

At 0109 hours, Torelli fired a torpedo (533mm, S.I. type) from a bow tube at 800 metres. It missed. The submarine was left with one defective torpedo in a forward tube. She attempted a stern attack, which was thwarted when the vessel escaped at high speed.

This was the British Orari (10,107 GRT, built 1931) who made an SOS.
  19 Mar 1942132529° 40'N, 43° 40'WAt 1325 hours, a steamer was sighted. Torelli gave chase until 1420 hours, when she was identified as Spanish.
  26 Mar 1942195545° 20'N, 19° 00'WAt 1955 hours, a periscope was sighted. Torelli turned away.

Luciana Manara (MR)5 Jun 19421422Fiume6 Jun 19420308Fiume85Exercises with the submarine Menotti, escorted by the torpedo boat Insidioso.

Luciana Manara (MR)8 Jun 19421419Fiume9 Jun 19420221Fiume56Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)11 Jun 19421006Fiume12 Jun 19420320Fiume84Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)13 Jun 19420832Fiume13 Jun 19422045Fiume71Exercises with the submarine Menotti, escorted by the auxiliaries San Giorgio and Trau.

Luciana Manara (MR)16 Jun 19420930Fiume17 Jun 19420035Fiume63Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)18 Jun 19421410Fiume18 Jun 19422015Fiume25Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)22 Jun 19421720Fiume22 Jun 19422046Fiume16Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)23 Jun 19422100Fiume24 Jun 19420155Fiume35Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)24 Jun 19422100Fiume25 Jun 19420125Fiume50Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)26 Jun 19421420Fiume27 Jun 19420040Fiume65Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)29 Jun 19421443Fiume30 Jun 19420135Fiume50Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)1 Jul 19421406Fiume2 Jul 19420309Fiume58Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)3 Jul 19421445Fiume4 Jul 19420250Fiume79Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)6 Jul 19421430Fiume7 Jul 19420200Fiume60Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)8 Jul 19421425Fiume9 Jul 19420125Fiume63Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)10 Jul 19421610Fiume11 Jul 19420120Fiume45Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)14 Jul 19421429Fiume15 Jul 19420205Fiume68Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)16 Jul 19421420Fiume17 Jul 19420315Fiume67Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)20 Jul 19421445Fiume21 Jul 19420210Fiume71Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)22 Jul 19421337Fiume23 Jul 19420100Fiume58Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)24 Jul 19421220Fiume25 Jul 19420120Fiume50Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)28 Jul 19421210Fiume28 Jul 19421900Fiume25Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)30 Jul 19420800Fiume30 Jul 19421640Fiume31Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)1 Aug 19420910Fiume1 Aug 19421455Fiume17Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)3 Aug 19420720Fiume3 Aug 19421245Fiume15Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)3 Aug 19421515Fiume4 Aug 19420127Fiume43Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)5 Aug 19421015Fiume6 Aug 19420045Fiume51,5Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)7 Aug 19421500Fiume8 Aug 19420110Fiume65,5Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)11 Aug 19420915Fiume11 Aug 19421320Fiume9,5Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)11 Aug 19421600Fiume11 Aug 19421820Fiume10,5Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)13 Aug 19421450Fiume14 Aug 19420030Fiume59,5Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)17 Aug 19421510Fiume18 Aug 19420025Fiume63Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)19 Aug 19421515Fiume19 Aug 19422015Fiume11Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)20 Aug 19421452Fiume21 Aug 19420105Fiume71Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)22 Aug 19420830Fiume22 Aug 19421220Fiume12Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)24 Aug 19421510Fiume24 Aug 19421820Fiume12,5Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)26 Aug 19421510Fiume27 Aug 19420050Fiume65Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)28 Aug 19421610Fiume28 Aug 19422025Fiume14,5Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)31 Aug 19421500Fiume1 Sep 19420101Fiume64Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)2 Sep 19421500Fiume3 Sep 19420105Fiume53,8Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)4 Sep 19421950Fiume5 Sep 19420100Fiume41Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)7 Sep 19421505Fiume8 Sep 19420145Fiume69,69Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)11 Sep 19421458Fiume11 Sep 19422355Fiume53,25Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)14 Sep 19420830Fiume14 Sep 19421830Fiume64,75Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)15 Sep 19420430Fiume15 Sep 19421300Fiume2,48Exercises with the submarine Delfino, escorted by the torpedo boat Fortunale.

Luciana Manara (MR)17 Sep 19421500Fiume17 Sep 19422015Fiume10,6Exercises with the submarine Delfino, escorted by the torpedo boat Fortunale.

Luciana Manara (MR)19 Sep 19420825Fiume19 Sep 19421830Fiume13,56Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)21 Sep 19421135Fiume21 Sep 19422020Fiume10,85Exercises with the submarine Delfino, escorted by the auxiliary Marcello.

Luciana Manara (MR)23 Sep 19421410Fiume24 Sep 19420017Fiume46,11Exercises with the submarine Delfino, escorted by the torpedo boat Audace and the auxiliary Jadera.

Luciana Manara (MR)25 Sep 19420841Fiume25 Sep 19421545Fiume16,85Exercises with the submarine Delfino, escorted by the torpedo boat Audace and the auxiliary Jadera.

Luciana Manara (MR)28 Sep 19420930Fiume28 Sep 19421400Fiume13,93Exercises with the submarine Delfino, escorted by the auxiliary Abbazia.

Luciana Manara (MR)29 Sep 19421125Fiume29 Sep 19422320Fiume35,87Exercises with the submarine Delfino, escorted by the gunboat Cattaro.

Luciana Manara (MR)30 Sep 19421015Fiume30 Sep 19422400Fiume51,25Exercises with the submarine Delfino, escorted by the gunboat Cattaro.

Luciana Manara (MR)2 Oct 19420825Fiume2 Oct 19421742Fiume50,5Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)5 Oct 19421330Fiume5 Oct 19422400Fiume58Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)6 Oct 19421050Fiume6 Oct 19422400Fiume67Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)8 Oct 19420740Fiume8 Oct 19421340Fiume34,5Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)9 Oct 19421040Fiume9 Oct 19422300Fiume64Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)12 Oct 19420945Fiume12 Oct 19422235Fiume64Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)13 Oct 19421230Fiume13 Oct 19421900Fiume28Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)15 Oct 19420945Fiume15 Oct 19421725Fiume32Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)16 Oct 19421230Fiume16 Oct 19422400Fiume63Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)19 Oct 19421200Fiume19 Oct 19422120Fiume45Exercises with the submarines Delfino and Jalea, escorted by the torpedo boat Insidioso.

Luciana Manara (MR)21 Oct 19421220Fiume21 Oct 19422240Fiume55Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)23 Oct 19421230Fiume23 Oct 19422100Fiume43Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)26 Oct 19420930Fiume26 Oct 19421530Fiume26,5Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)26 Oct 19421820Fiume26 Oct 19422200Fiume27Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)28 Oct 19421050Fiume28 Oct 19422020Fiume55,5Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)29 Oct 19421150Fiume29 Oct 19421645Fiume26,5Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)31 Oct 19420835Fiume31 Oct 19422145Fiume68Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)2 Nov 19420920Fiume2 Nov 19422010Fiume74Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)3 Nov 19421100Fiume3 Nov 19422035Fiume64Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)5 Nov 19420945Fiume5 Nov 19421745Fiume48Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)6 Nov 19421040Fiume6 Nov 19421645Fiume40Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)7 Nov 19421250Fiume7 Nov 19421745Fiume27Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)9 Nov 19420820Fiume9 Nov 19421140Fiume22,5Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)10 Nov 19421645Fiume10 Nov 19422150Fiume45Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)12 Nov 19420725Fiume12 Nov 19421200Fiume32Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)13 Nov 19420725Fiume13 Nov 19421200Fiume31,5Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)16 Nov 19421315Fiume16 Nov 19422050Fiume54,5Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)17 Nov 19420835Fiume17 Nov 19422000Fiume79Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)19 Nov 19420830Fiume19 Nov 19421715Fiume45,5Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)19 Nov 19421845Fiume19 Nov 19422215Fiume47Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)20 Nov 19420830Fiume20 Nov 19421250Fiume25,5Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)20 Nov 19421816Fiume20 Nov 19422030Fiume20Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)23 Nov 19420835Fiume23 Nov 19421735Fiume51Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)24 Nov 19420850Fiume24 Nov 19421230Fiume23Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)25 Nov 19420900Fiume25 Nov 19421410Fiume28,5Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)26 Nov 19421305Fiume26 Nov 19422030Fiume52,5Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)27 Nov 19420825Fiume27 Nov 19421745Fiume48Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)28 Nov 19420815Fiume28 Nov 19421700Fiume58,5Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)30 Nov 19420755Fiume30 Nov 19422005Fiume79,5Exercises.

FR 111 (ex-Phoque) ()31 Dec 19421100Bizerta31 Dec 19421100BizertaThe submarine was taken over by an Italian crew.

FR 111 (ex-Phoque) ()2 Jan 19430700Bizerta2 Jan 1943BizertaTrials.

FR 111 (ex-Phoque) ()6 Jan 19431305Ferryville7 Jan 19432330Palermo215Passage Bizerta-Palermo with ex-Saphir and German Ruhr, escorted by the torpedo boat Animoso and Groppo.

FR 111 (ex-Phoque) ()11 Jan 19430830Palermo12 Jan 19431130Naples180Passage Palermo-Naples with ex-Saphir, towed by Luni and Ursus. Converted to transport submarine at Castellammare di Stabia. The external tubes and the deck gun were removed.

Luigi Torelli (TI, I.9, UIT.25)11 Feb 19431045Bordeaux11 Feb 19431500Le VerdonPassage Bordeaux-Le Verdon.

Luigi Torelli (TI, I.9, UIT.25)11 Feb 19431645Le Verdon12 Feb 19430530Le VerdonTrials.

Luigi Torelli (TI, I.9, UIT.25)12 Feb 19431400Le Verdon12 Feb 19431545Le VerdonTrials.

15.Luigi Torelli (TI, I.9, UIT.25)13 Feb 19431700Le Verdon15 Feb 19431520BordeauxSailed for patrol but turned because of a fuel leak. Equipped with Metox.
  14 Feb 1943001545° 07'N, 2° 21'WAt 0015 hours, an aircraft with a projector (Leigh Light) was sighted. It had not been detected by the Metox

At 0017 hours, the aircraft came back and the submarine crash-dived. Two bombs exploded. There was no apparent damage, but by daylight, it was noticed that Torelli was leaking fuel and C.C. De Giacomo decided to turn back.

The attacking aircraft has not been identified.

16.Luigi Torelli (TI, I.9, UIT.25)20 Feb 19431724Bordeaux20 Feb 19431952PauillacPassage Bordeaux-Pauillac. Had sailed for patrol earlier (0725/20) but turned back because of heavy fog.

17.Luigi Torelli (TI, I.9, UIT.25)21 Feb 19430745Pauillac3 Apr 19431730BordeauxPatrolled off Brazil. Equipped with Metox, which was not used all the time. More than half of her crew was substituted on this patrol, considerably reducing her efficiency. Upon her return, transformed as a transport submarine.
  23 Feb 1943231544° 30'N, 7° 47'WAt 2315 hours, an aircraft was detected with Metox and the submarine dived.
  24 Feb 1943215044° 00'N, 9° 40'WAt 2118 hours, an aircraft was detected with Metox and the submarine dived.
  25 Feb 1943022543° 32'N, 10° 15'WAt 0225 hours, an aircraft was detected with Metox and the submarine dived.
  25 Feb 1943073043° 25'N, 10° 20'WAt 0730 hours, an aircraft was suddenly sighted (it had not been detected by Metox) and the submarine dived.
  26 Feb 1943111039° 10'N, 14° 50'WAt 1110 hours, an aircraft was seen. It was probably a Clipper and the submarine dived.
  26 Feb 1943140538° 35'N, 15° 25'WAt 1405 hours, an aircraft was seen. It was probably a Clipper and the submarine dived.
  26 Feb 1943210038° 15'N, 16° 00'WAt 2100 hours, an aircraft was detected by Metox and the submarine dived.
  27 Feb 1943164735° 45'N, 18° 40'WAt 1647 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived.
  27 Feb 1943225035° 10'N, 19° 10'WAt 2250 hours, an aircraft was detected by Metox and the submarine dived.
  11 Mar 19431635-21485° 50'N, 29° 13'WAt 1635 hours, the submarine Barbarigo was encountered. She was returning home and ceded 26 tons of fuel to Torelli. The refuelling was completed at 2148 hours.
  16 Mar 194318007° 15'S, 29° 10'WAt 1800 hours, an aircraft was seen and Torelli dived. The hatch was not closed properly and she was forced to surface but the aircraft did not spot her.
  16 Mar 19431910
1645 (e)
7° 15'S, 29° 10'WTorelli had problems with a defective valve in her diesel engines. She surfaced at 1815 hours.

At 1900 hours, a fighter aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm type was observed. Ten minutes, later it attacked, dropping a bomb which missed the submarine by 30 metres on the port side. The submarine's machine guns put up accurate antiaircraft fire.

This was a Dauntless (SBD) of VC-29 Squadron from the escort carrier USS Santee (CVE-29). It was piloted by Ensign E.M. Koos and he attacked a surfaced submarine with a single bomb which (he claimed) landed about 25 feet off the submarine's port beam. During the attack heavy flak hit the Dauntless, knocking out it's radio and wounding Ensign Koos, but he managed to land the aircraft on his carrier.

At 1940 hours, three aircraft of the same type were observed. Two came low and attacked, dropping one bomb each. The first, dropped a bomb which missed the starboard bow and caused no damage. The second, also dropped a bomb, narrowly missing the submarine on the starboard bean and covering the conning tower with fragments. The third did not attack leading C.C. DE Giacomo to believe it was the one which attacked earlier. Both planes were flying low (50-70 metres) and strafed the submarine. At 2005 hours, C.C. De Giacomo was wounded in the right arm and had to temporarily relinquish command to his First Officer S.T.V. Sergio De Checchi. Two ratings were seriously wounded. He claimed that one aircraft was shot down and another set afire.

These aircraft were also from Santee. The first was a Dauntless, piloted by Ensign J. Oster. The other was an Avenger, piloted by Ensign W.R. Taylor and actually dropped two bombs. One was observed to narrowly missed the submarine on the port side (De Giacomo stated it dropped on the starboard side).

The submarine submerged at 2020 hours but had suffered damages and was leaking oil and air.

Attempts were made to repair the damages, but they were unsuccessful and, at 2105 hours on 17th March, De Giacomo signalled BETASOM that he had to abort his patrol.
  28 Mar 1943122535° 35'N, 22° 00'WAt 1225 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived.
  29 Mar 1943040038° 00'N, 19° 30'WAt 0400 hours, an aircraft was detected with Metox and the submarine dived.
  29 Mar 1943224540° 35'N, 16° 30'WAt 2245 hours, an aircraft was detected with Metox and the submarine dived.
  31 Mar 1943083044° 02'N, 10° 25'WAt 0830 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived.
  2 Apr 1943011044° 48'N, 5° 00'WAt 0110 hours, an aircraft was detected with Metox and the submarine dived.
  3 Apr 19430715At 0715 hours, the submarine Barbarigo was encountered and recognition signals were exchanged.

183 entries. 118 total patrol entries (17 marked as war patrols) and 72 events.

Italian Commanders

Italian Submarines