Italian submarines in World War Two
Italian Commanders
Mario Arillo
| Born | 25 Mar 1912 | La Spezia | |
| Died | 26 Sep 2000 | (88) | La Spezia |
| Ranks
Decorations
|
Career information
From 18.07.1938, served at Marinaccad.AMBRA (T.V. C.O.): from 20.01.1941 to 21.05.1943.
Promoted to C.C. ca. January 1943).
S.5 (T.V. C.O.): from 31.07.1943? to 09.09.1943 (working up in Danzig).
Commands listed for Mario Arillo
| Submarine | Type | Rank | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H 6 (H6) | Coastal | T.V. | 24 Jun 1941 | 28 Jun 1941 |
| Ambra (AM) | Coastal / Sea going | T.V. | 20 Jan 1941 | 21 May 1943 |
| S 5 () | Sea going | C.C. | 31 Jul 1943 | 9 Sep 1943 |
Ships hit by Mario Arillo
| Date | Submarine | Ship hit | Type | GRT | Nat. | Loss type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 31 Mar 1941 | Ambra | HMS Bonaventure | Light Cruiser | 5,450 |  | Sunk |
War patrols listed for Mario Arillo
| Submarine | Date | Time | Port | Arr. date | Arr. time | Arr. port | Miles | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ambra (AM) | 25 Jan 1941 | 1130 | Taranto | 25 Jan 1941 | 1155 | Taranto | 2 | Changed moorings? | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 1 Feb 1941 | 1031 | Taranto | 1 Feb 1941 | 1642 | Taranto | 12 | Gyrocompass tests. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 4 Feb 1941 | 0815 | Taranto | 4 Feb 1941 | 1045 | Taranto | 13 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 6 Feb 1941 | 0715 | Taranto | 6 Feb 1941 | 1438 | Taranto | 40,5 | Exercises. | ||
| 1. | Ambra (AM) | 8 Feb 1941 | 2120 | Taranto | 9 Feb 1941 | 1000 | Taranto | 78 | Hydrophone watch. | |
| Ambra (AM) | 10 Feb 1941 | 1100 | Taranto | 11 Feb 1941 | 0109 | Taranto | 53 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 12 Feb 1941 | 0012 | Taranto | 12 Feb 1941 | 1845 | Taranto | 59 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 13 Feb 1941 | 0807 | Taranto | 13 Feb 1941 | 1705 | Taranto | 61 | Exercises. | ||
| 2. | Ambra (AM) | 15 Feb 1941 | 0938 | Taranto | 27 Feb 1941 | 1247 | Augusta | 1130 | Patrolled between 39°20'N and Libyan coast, and between the meridians of Tolmeita (20°57'E) and Ras El Tin, Libya (23°07'E). | |
| 19 Feb 1941 | 1200 | 32° 44'N, 21° 03'E (0) Approximately. | At 1042 hours, noises were detected with hydrophones. At 1200 hours, an unidentified warship, perhaps an auxiliary, was sighted at a distance of 5,000 metres. Ambra tried to move to the attack but lost sight at 1220 hours. | |||||||
| 20 Feb 1941 | 0952 | 32° 44'N, 21° 03'E (0) Approximately. | At 0952 hours, a destroyer was sighted at a distance of 4,000 metres. It appeared to be French, similar to the LE FIER class. | |||||||
| 21 Feb 1941 | 2010 | 32° 44'N, 21° 03'E (0) Approximately. | At 2010 hours, Ambra was informed of a convoy off Cyrenaica. The submarine attempted to intercept but heard only distant H.E. effects. | |||||||
| Ambra (AM) | 16 Mar 1941 | 0850 | Augusta | 16 Mar 1941 | 1300 | Augusta | 15 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 19 Mar 1941 | 0857 | Augusta | 19 Mar 1941 | 1120 | Augusta | 7 | Exercises. | ||
| 3. | Ambra (AM) | 21 Mar 1941 | 1910 | Augusta | 6 Apr 1941 | 0850 | Augusta | 1553 | Patrolled in 32°50'N, 26°20'E on a line 035° - 215°, 20 miles in each direction. | |
| 31 Mar 1941 | 0244 0250 (e) | From 23rd to 30th March, Ambra had detected noises with her hydrophones, but without being able to sight anything. At 0030 hours on the 31st, she received a signal ordering her home and steered accordingly. At 0237 hours, Ambra was proceeding on the surface when, from the bridge, S.T.V. Ignazio Spinale observed a shadow in the mist at a distance of 2,000 metres, followed by another at about 1,000 metres. At 0244 hours, three torpedoes were fired from bow tubes at 4-second intervals. After a lapse of time, T.V. Arillo thought the torpedoes had missed. He was about to order the firing of more torpedoes when a double explosion was observed. He immediately gave orders to crash-dive. ASDIC pings (described as "Hastings" in the Italian report) were heard and many depth charges followed but the submarine escaped. The target had been the light cruiser HMS Bonaventure, who was indeed struck by two torpedoes and sank. She was stationed astern of convoy GA. 8, consisting of HMS Breconshire and the steamer Cameronia escorted by destroyers HMAS Stuart, HMS Griffin and HMS Hereward, proceeding from Piraeus to Alexandria and steering 131° at 16.5 knots. Twenty-three officers and 115 ratings were killed. HMAS Stuart was missed by a torpedo and carried out a heavy counter attack, dropping 29 depth-charges in seven deliberate runs. HMS Hereward carried out two attacks, the submarine breaking surface after the second attack, but then contact was lost. HMS Hereward picked up 310 survivors and brought them to Alexandria. Following this attack, British vessels were ordered to zig-zag day or night unless the weather was such that a submarine attack was unlikely. Ambra had at least partially avenged the battle of Matapan. | ||||||||
| Ambra (AM) | 19 Apr 1941 | 0915 | Augusta | 19 Apr 1941 | 1155 | Augusta | 7 | Exercises. | ||
| 4. | Ambra (AM) | 25 Apr 1941 | 2020 | Augusta | 26 Apr 1941 | 0935 | Augusta | 109 | Hydrophone watch in 37°05' N, 15°30' E with the submarine Settimo. | |
| 5. | Ambra (AM) | 1 May 1941 | 1858 | Augusta | 7 May 1941 | 0800 | Augusta | ? | Sailed for patrol off Alexandria, between 31°40'N and 33°00'N, and between 28°00'E and 29°20'E. Early return due to a leak in one of the torpedo tubes. Arillo and his chief engineer were reprimanded as Admiral Falangola judged that the defect was not serious enough. | |
| 6. | Ambra (AM) | 13 May 1941 | 1810 | Augusta | 21 May 1941 | 0905 | Augusta | 617 | Patrolled southeast of Malta on an NE-SW axis within 15 miles from 35°15'N, 15°25'E. Uneventful. | |
| Ambra (AM) | 31 May 1941 | 0400 | Augusta | 2 Jun 1941 | 1630 | La Spezia | 631 | Passage Augusta-La Spezia, then long refit. | ||
| 1 Jun 1941 | 2155 | At 2155 hours, the destroyer Libeccio, towed by two tugs and escorted by the torpedo-boat Curtatone, was encountered and recognition signals exchanged. | ||||||||
| 2 Jun 1941 | 1433 | (0) 8 miles SE of Palmaria. | At 1433 hours, a derelict mine was sighted. | |||||||
| 7. | H 6 (H6) | 24 Jun 1941 | 1640 | La Spezia | 28 Jun 1941 | 1010 | La Spezia | 349 | Hydrophone Watch with H.4 in Ligurian Gulf. Uneventful. Sighted only Italian vessels. | |
| Ambra (AM) | 5 Aug 1941 | 0826 | La Spezia | 5 Aug 1941 | 1747 | La Spezia | 26 | Trials. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 7 Aug 1941 | 0818 | La Spezia | 7 Aug 1941 | 1711 | La Spezia | 40 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 10 Aug 1941 | 0739 | La Spezia | 10 Aug 1941 | 1345 | La Spezia | 34 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 11 Aug 1941 | 0830 | La Spezia | 11 Aug 1941 | 1958 | La Spezia | 57 | Exercises, escorted by auxiliary S. Antioco. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 13 Aug 1941 | 0845 | La Spezia | 13 Aug 1941 | 1242 | La Spezia | 39 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 15 Aug 1941 | 2015 | La Spezia | 16 Aug 1941 | 0425 | La Spezia | 42 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 17 Aug 1941 | 0811 | La Spezia | 17 Aug 1941 | 1339 | La Spezia | 24 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 18 Aug 1941 | Date1308 | La Spezia | 18 Aug 1941 | 1736 | La Spezia | 23,3 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 19 Aug 1941 | 0809 | La Spezia | 19 Aug 1941 | 1548 | La Spezia | 12 | Gyrocompass trials. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 20 Aug 1941 | 0713 | La Spezia | 20 Aug 1941 | 0930 | La Spezia | 16 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 21 Aug 1941 | 0520 | La Spezia | 23 Aug 1941 | 2002 | Augusta | 638 | Passage La Spezia-Augusta. | ||
| 23 Aug 1941 | 1100-1125 | (0) Gulf of Policastro. | At 1100 hours, an Italian squadron of four cruisers and four destroyers was sighted on opposite course. At 1125 hours, at a distance of 6-7,000 metres, one of the destroyers appeared to have sighted an enemy submarine and dropped depth-charges. Ambra continued on her course. | |||||||
| Ambra (AM) | 5 Sep 1941 | 0815 | Augusta | 5 Sep 1941 | 1236 | Augusta | Exercises. | |||
| Ambra (AM) | 6 Sep 1941 | 1052 | Augusta | 6 Sep 1941 | 1820 | Messina | 73 | Passage Augusta-Messina. | ||
| 8. | Ambra (AM) | 8 Sep 1941 | 1352 | Messina | 9 Sep 1941 | 1145 | Messina | ? | Anti-submarine patrol off Cape Orlando with the auxiliaries Marras and Castiglia. | |
| 9. | Ambra (AM) | 12 Sep 1941 | 1302 | Messina | 14 Sep 1941 | 1445 | Messina | ? | Anti-submarine patrol with MAS 563 and MAS 564 in zone delimited by (a) Punta Stilo, (b) 130° - Punta Stilo - 9 miles, (c) 191° - Punta Stilo - 17 miles (d) Siderno Marina. Uneventful. The combination of a MAS/submarine was viewed favourably at the time, the submarine providing better hydrophones and the MAS providing the speed to intercept. | |
| 10. | Ambra (AM) | 18 Sep 1941 | 1915 | Messina | 19 Sep 1941 | 0850 | Messina | 59 | Anti-submarine patrol south of 38°30'N, between 15°20'E and 15°50'E with the auxiliaries Castiglia and Diversi. Uneventful. Heard hydrophone noises but sighted nothing. | |
| 11. | Ambra (AM) | 23 Sep 1941 | 1209 | Messina | 24 Sep 1941 | 0958 | Messina | 165 | Antisubmarine patrol with the torpedo boat Albatros, in 38°02.5'N, 16°14'E, 38°11.5'N, 16°19.5'E, 38°18'N, 16°29.5'E and 38°12'N, 16°40'E. Uneventful. | |
| 12. | Ambra (AM) | 2 Oct 1941 | 1828 | Messina | 3 Oct 1941 | 0920 | Messina | 57 | Anti-submarine patrol north of the Strait of Messina. Heard five depth-charges at 1925 hours on 2nd October (this was torpedo boat Pilo hunting a bogus contact), otherwise uneventful. | |
| 13. | Ambra (AM) | 3 Oct 1941 | 1758 | Messina | 5 Oct 1941 | 1845 | Messina | 450 | Sailed for patrol 13 miles north of Ras Zebib on a line 5 miles west from this point (on a barrage line with Ametista 23 miles north, and Corallo 33 miles north of the Cape) via the north coast of Sicily, but then recalled. Uneventful. | |
| Ambra (AM) | 18 Oct 1941 | 0940 | Messina | 20 Oct 1941 | 1840 | La Spezia | 561 | Passage Messina-La Spezia. Surfaced at 10 knots. | ||
| 20 Oct 1941 | 0430 | 42° 18'N, 11° 22'E | At 0430 hours, four unidentified steamers were sighted. Ambra made the recognition signal but was not answered. | |||||||
| 20 Oct 1941 | 1351 | (0) 1 mile NW of the Melaria Lightship. | At 1351 hours, a derelict mine was sighted. Ambra attempted to sink it without success and finally just reported it. | |||||||
| Ambra (AM) | 9 Dec 1941 | 0845 | La Spezia | 9 Dec 1941 | 1645 | La Spezia | 20 | Exercises with the submarine Acciaio, escorted by the auxiliaries Taormina, Capodistria and Crotone. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 12 Dec 1941 | 0835 | La Spezia | 12 Dec 1941 | 1800 | La Spezia | 37 | Exercises with the submarine Colonna, escorted by the destroyer Premuda, MAS 507 and the auxiliaries Santantioco, Capodistria, Crotone and Favignana. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 15 Dec 1941 | 0820 | La Spezia | 15 Dec 1941 | 1640 | La Spezia | 54 | Exercises, escorted back by the torpedo boat Carini and auxiliaries Crotone, Capodistria, Favignana and Rimini. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 17 Dec 1941 | 0828 | La Spezia | 17 Dec 1941 | 1225 | La Spezia | 28 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 19 Dec 1941 | 0805 | La Spezia | 19 Dec 1941 | 1645 | La Spezia | 22 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 20 Dec 1941 | 0830 | La Spezia | 20 Dec 1941 | 1730 | La Spezia | 8 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 7 Jan 1942 | 0845 | La Spezia | 7 Jan 1942 | 1715 | La Spezia | 41,3 | Exercises, escorted by the auxiliaries Crotone and Capodistria. Escorted back by the auxiliaries Porto Sdobba, Crotone, Capodistria, Giasone and Favignana. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 12 Jan 1942 | 0847 | La Spezia | 12 Jan 1942 | 1740 | La Spezia | 39,5 | Exercises. Escorted by the auxiliaries Crotone and Rimini. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 16 Jan 1942 | 0838 | La Spezia | 16 Jan 1942 | 2135 | La Spezia | 60,8 | Exercises with the German submarine U-453 escorted by MAS 510. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 21 Jan 1942 | 0815 | La Spezia | 21 Jan 1942 | 1657 | La Spezia | 44,1 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 23 Jan 1942 | 0819 | La Spezia | 23 Jan 1942 | 1731 | La Spezia | 35,9 | Exercises, escorted by the auxiliaries Favignana and Capodistria. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 5 Feb 1942 | 1005 | La Spezia | 5 Feb 1942 | 1641 | La Spezia | 33,7 | Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Torre Annunziata. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 13 Feb 1942 | 0830 | La Spezia | 13 Feb 1942 | 1630 | La Spezia | 8 | Trials. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 14 Feb 1942 | 0830 | La Spezia | 14 Feb 1942 | 1123 | La Spezia | 24,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 16 Feb 1942 | 0826 | La Spezia | 16 Feb 1942 | 1755 | La Spezia | 76,1 | Exercises with the torpedo boat Libra. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 17 Feb 1942 | 0835 | La Spezia | 17 Feb 1942 | 1845 | La Spezia | 38,8 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 19 Feb 1942 | 0830 | La Spezia | 19 Feb 1942 | 1915 | La Spezia | 32,6 | Exercises with the submarines Acciaio and Rismondo, escorted by the auxiliaries Crotone and Porto Sdobba. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 20 Feb 1942 | 1310 | La Spezia | 20 Feb 1942 | 1740 | La Spezia | 32,8 | Trials. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 21 Feb 1942 | 0830 | La Spezia | 21 Feb 1942 | 1430 | La Spezia | 3,8 | Gyrocompass tests. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 23 Feb 1942 | 0837 | La Spezia | 23 Feb 1942 | 1755 | La Spezia | 32,5 | Exercises with the submarine H.6, escorted by the auxiliaries Crotone and Santantioco. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 25 Feb 1942 | 0829 | La Spezia | 25 Feb 1942 | 1535 | La Spezia | 3,6 | Gyrocompass tests. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 3 Mar 1942 | 0855 | La Spezia | 3 Mar 1942 | 1905 | La Spezia | 41,4 | Exercises with the submarine H.6, escorted by the torpedo boat Carini and the auxiliaries Favignana and Crotone. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 4 Mar 1942 | 1520 | La Spezia | 4 Mar 1942 | 1920 | La Spezia | 28,8 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 11 Mar 1942 | 1545 | La Spezia | 11 Mar 1942 | 1930 | La Spezia | 24,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 14 Mar 1942 | 0830 | La Spezia | 14 Mar 1942 | 1755 | La Spezia | 49,2 | Exercises, escorted by the tug Favignana. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 23 Mar 1942 | 0825 | La Spezia | 23 Mar 1942 | 1656 | La Spezia | 41,9 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 28 Mar 1942 | 0825 | La Spezia | 28 Mar 1942 | 1735 | La Spezia | 26,5 | Exercises with the submarine H.6, escorted by the torpedo boat Climene. Escorted back by MAS 509, MAS 525, MAS 567 and MAS 569. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 1 Apr 1942 | 0825 | La Spezia | 1 Apr 1942 | 2100 | La Spezia | 45,8 | Exercises with the submarines H.1 and Bajamonti, escorted by the auxiliary Crotone. | ||
| 14. | Ambra (AM) | 11 Apr 1942 | 1820 | La Spezia | 19 Apr 1942 | 1015 | La Spezia | 704,1 | Sailed, escorted for about an hour by MAS 505 and MAS 510, for patrol west of Sardinia [40°07'N, 08°27'E] for 10th MAS Flotilla SLC test. | |
| 13 Apr 1942 | 0230 | 41° 48'N, 7° 26'E | At 0230 hours, a submarine was sighted. This report was apparently bogus, as no allied or enemy submarines operated in this area at that time. | |||||||
| Ambra (AM) | 20 Apr 1942 | 1930 | La Spezia | 21 Apr 1942 | 0850 | La Spezia | 5,5 | Trials. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 25 Apr 1942 | 1600 | La Spezia | 26 Apr 1942 | 0930 | La Spezia | 6 | Trials. | ||
| 15. | Ambra (AM) | 29 Apr 1942 | 1225 | La Spezia | 5 May 1942 | 1845 | Leros | Passage La Spezia-Leros for a Maiali operation. Escorted through the Messina Strait by the torpedo boat Abba, then through (a) 34°40'N, 22°00'E (b) 34°10'N, 24°40'E (c) 34°20'N, 26°20'E (d) 34°56'N, 27°50'E (e) 35°40'N, 27°54'E. At 0515/5, met by the destroyer Sella who escorted her to Leros. | ||
| 2 May 1942 | 1445 | 36° 48'N, 17° 46'E | At 1445 hours, a derelict mine was sighted and disposed with light machine gun fire (180 rounds expended). | |||||||
| 3 May 1942 | 0745 | 35° 21'N, 20° 40'E | At 0745 hours, a derelict mine was sighted and disposed with light machine gun fire (160 rounds expended). | |||||||
| Ambra (AM) | 9 May 1942 | 0620 | Portolago (Leros) | 10 May 1942 | 0940 | Leros | Exercises, escorted by the destroyer Sella. | |||
| 16. | Ambra (AM) | 11 May 1942 | 0626 | Leros | 24 May 1942 | 1120 | La Spezia | 3602,9 | Launched Maiale attack from 1.5 mile from Ras el Tin light at 2025-2050 hours on 14th May (operation G.A.4). Returned via Rhodes (brief stop to pick up her secret papers) and Messina (escorted locally by the torpedo boat Abba on 22nd May 1942) through (1) 35°35'N, 28°00'E (2) 34°20'N, 26°25'E (3) 34°05'N, 24°40'E (4) 34°20'N, 23°00'E. | |
| 14 May 1942 | 2025-+2050 | (0) 030° - Ras el Tin -1.75 mile or north of Kait Bey Fort (Alexandria). | At 2110 hours on 13th May, the searchlights of Alexandria were observed as Ambra arrived off her objective. At 0130 hours on the 14th, antiaircraft fire coming from the city could be observed as an air raid had been arranged to provide cover. At 0300 hours, the submarine closed submerged, T.V. Arillo using bathometric data to guide himself. At 1925 hours, Ambra reached the sea floor and stopped at a depth of only 10.5 metres. The Ras-El-Tin light was observed at 1.75 mile. Between 2025 and 2050 hours, the three SLCs were launched. They were piloted by: GM Giovanni Magello/2o Capo Palombaro Giuseppe Morbelli TGN Luigi Feltrinelli/Sottocapo Palombaro (Diver) Luciano Favale S.T.V. (Medical) Giorgio Spaccarelli/Sg Palombaro Armano Memoli. The mission failed because of currents, which diverted the 'maiales' several thousand meters off course. The British were alerted when the crossing of the western loop was detected at 2340 hours and contacts were depth-charged at 0130 and 0140 hours. The three SLCs were scuttled off Agami, Mex and Anfouchy (to the west of the harbour entrance), they blew up at 1030 hours. Two Italians were captured at 0600 hours (Mex) and two more at 1030 (Anfouchy), the latter had scuttled their SLC about one mile from the wreck of the City of Pittsburg where they took refuge. The third team [Feltrinelli/Favale] eluded capture until 19th June. The Mediterranean Fleet had been put on alert as an attempt on Alexandria was known since 6th May and the floating dock was believed to be the main target. | |||||||
| 21 May 1942 | 1052 | 36° 50'N, 17° 40'E | At 1052 hours, a derelict mine was sighted and disposed with light machine gun fire (120 rounds expended). | |||||||
| Ambra (AM) | 29 May 1942 | 0907 | La Spezia | 29 May 1942 | 1036 | La Spezia | 12 | Trials. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 7 Aug 1942 | 1300 | La Spezia | 7 Aug 1942 | 1830 | La Spezia | 33,4 | Trials. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 10 Aug 1942 | 0827 | La Spezia | 10 Aug 1942 | 1925 | La Spezia | 58,9 | Trials. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 12 Aug 1942 | 0815 | La Spezia | 12 Aug 1942 | 1840 | La Spezia | 50 | Trials. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 17 Aug 1942 | 0809 | La Spezia | 18 Aug 1942 | 0750 | La Spezia | 42,3 | Trials. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 19 Aug 1942 | 0815 | La Spezia | 20 Aug 1942 | 0750 | La Spezia | 10,9 | Exercises and gyrocompass tests. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 25 Aug 1942 | 1540 | La Spezia | 26 Aug 1942 | 0307 | La Spezia | 11,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 29 Aug 1942 | 0810 | La Spezia | 29 Aug 1942 | 1710 | La Spezia | 16,7 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 1 Sep 1942 | 0837 | La Spezia | 1 Sep 1942 | 1650 | La Spezia | 37,7 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 11 Sep 1942 | 1545 | La Spezia | 11 Sep 1942 | 1800 | La Spezia | 5,3 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 12 Sep 1942 | 1510 | La Spezia | 12 Sep 1942 | 1723 | La Spezia | 4,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 13 Sep 1942 | 0830 | La Spezia | 13 Sep 1942 | 1255 | La Spezia | 9,7 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 21 Sep 1942 | 0910 | La Spezia | 21 Sep 1942 | 1852 | La Spezia | 29,8 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 23 Sep 1942 | 0845 | La Spezia | 23 Sep 1942 | 2005 | La Spezia | 49 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 28 Sep 1942 | 0850 | La Spezia | 28 Sep 1942 | 1205 | La Spezia | 23 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 30 Sep 1942 | 0820 | La Spezia | 30 Sep 1942 | 0958 | La Spezia | 7,2 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 3 Oct 1942 | 0732 | La Spezia | 3 Oct 1942 | 1050 | La Spezia | 12 | Trials. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 5 Oct 1942 | 0740 | La Spezia | 5 Oct 1942 | 0951 | La Spezia | 5,3 | Trials. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 6 Oct 1942 | 0745 | La Spezia | 6 Oct 1942 | 1925 | La Spezia | 57,6 | Exercises, escorted by MAS 505. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 7 Oct 1942 | 1550 | La Spezia | 8 Oct 1942 | 1440 | La Spezia | 142,5 | Exercises, escorted by MAS 505. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 13 Oct 1942 | 0745 | La Spezia | 13 Oct 1942 | 1638 | La Spezia | 58,7 | Exercises with the submarines H.4 and H.6, escorted by MAS 556. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 15 Oct 1942 | 0948 | La Spezia | 15 Oct 1942 | 1149 | La Spezia | 5,2 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 20 Oct 1942 | 1536 | La Spezia | 20 Oct 1942 | 2249 | La Spezia | 2,6 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 27 Oct 1942 | 0747 | La Spezia | 27 Oct 1942 | 1635 | La Spezia | 57,9 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 28 Oct 1942 | 1625 | La Spezia | 29 Oct 1942 | 0800 | La Spezia | 5,2 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 9 Nov 1942 | 1730 | La Spezia | 9 Nov 1942 | 0802 | La Spezia | 1 | Trials. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 10 Nov 1942 | 0830 | La Spezia | 10 Nov 1942 | 1210 | La Spezia | 27,2 | Trials. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 10 Nov 1942 | 0900 | La Spezia | 10 Nov 1942 | 1055 | La Spezia | Exercises. | |||
| Ambra (AM) | 16 Nov 1942 | 1045 | La Spezia | 16 Nov 1942 | 1220 | La Spezia | 5,3 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 17 Nov 1942 | 1542 | La Spezia | 17 Nov 1942 | 1917 | La Spezia | 5,3 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 19 Nov 1942 | 0835 | La Spezia | 19 Nov 1942 | 1715 | La Spezia | 5,3 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 20 Nov 1942 | 1455 | La Spezia | 20 Nov 1942 | 1850 | La Spezia | 5,3 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 23 Nov 1942 | 1537 | La Spezia | 23 Nov 1942 | 2045 | La Spezia | 5,3 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 24 Nov 1942 | 1315 | La Spezia | 24 Nov 1942 | 1750 | La Spezia | 6 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 25 Nov 1942 | 0942 | La Spezia | 25 Nov 1942 | 2100 | La Spezia | 26,6 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 25 Nov 1942 | 1245 | La Spezia | 25 Nov 1942 | 1545 | La Spezia | Exercises. | |||
| Ambra (AM) | 27 Nov 1942 | 1545 | La Spezia | 27 Nov 1942 | 2212 | La Spezia | 7 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 3 Dec 1942 | 1020 | La Spezia | 3 Dec 1942 | 1943 | La Spezia | 11 | Exercises. | ||
| 17. | Ambra (AM) | 4 Dec 1942 | 1452 | La Spezia | 15 Dec 1942 | 1120 | La Spezia | 1539,26 | Launched frogmen and SLC attack on Algiers [Operation N.A.1]. The operation was delayed by 24 hours as SUPERMARINA had been informed of the arrival of a large convoy to Algiers on 9th November. Arillo was awarded the Medaglia D'Oro for his exploits. | |
| 11 Dec 1942 | 2300-2320 | (0) 105° - Southern entrance of Algiers harbour - 2000 m. | At 2145 hours, Ambra had reached a position just 2,000 metres from the entrance of the harbour of Algiers. By 2300 hours, the ten Gamma men had left the boat. At 2320 hours, the three SLCs left. SLC: 1. TV Giorgio Badessi (Group Leader)/ S.C. Palombaro Carlo Pesel 2. TNG Guido Arena/ Sotto Capo Palombaro Ferdinando Cocchi 3. GM Giorgio Reggioli/S.C. Palombaro Colombo Pammolli Gamma men (each pair given 5 objectives): 1. Serg. Alberto Evangelista/Serg. Luigi Rolfini 2. Serg. Gaspare Ghiglione /Soldato Luciano Luciani 3. Marò (or S.C, Fuochista) Rodolfo Lugano/Marò Giovanni Lucchetti (Lucchetti had threatened Morello who had ordered him to return to the submarine. He disobeyed and carried on) 4. S.C. Palombaro Giuseppe Feroldi/Marò Evideo Boscolo (Boscolo attacked target no. 5, Feroldi was unable to reach his objective). 5. STAN Agostino Morello (Gamma leader)/2° Capo Inf. Oreste Botti Reserve: T,V, Augusto Jacobacci 2° Capo Armando Battaglia At that time, the following vessels were present in Algiers: the British Empire Centaur (7,041 GRT, built 1942), the Norwegian Berto (1,493 GRT, built 1918), the British Harmattan (4,558 GRT, built 1930), Ocean Vanquisher (7,174 GRT, 1942) and an unidentified vessel [the USS Thomas Stone beached after being crippled by a German torpedo bomber]. They were the five objectives of the operation [operation N.A.1]. Also present were the light cruisers HMS Sirius and HMS Dido and the sloop HMS Deptford. Berto was sunk at 0620 hours (all the crew was saved) and the others badly damaged (Empire Centaur had no. 2 and 3 holds flooded, Harmattan had her engine room flooded and had beached herself, Ocean Vanquisher had run aground with engine room and boiler rooms flooded). The sixteen men of the Decima Flottiglia MAS were all captured. It had been a great success. | |||||||
| Ambra (AM) | 6 Mar 1943 | 0810 | La Spezia | 6 Mar 1943 | 1351 | La Spezia | 24 | Trials. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 10 Mar 1943 | 0810 | La Spezia | 10 Mar 1943 | 1215 | La Spezia | 23 | Trials. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 12 Mar 1943 | 0805 | La Spezia | 12 Mar 1943 | 1530 | La Spezia | 29 | Trials. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 21 Mar 1943 | 0800 | La Spezia | 21 Mar 1943 | 1625 | La Spezia | 57,8 | Trials. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 22 Mar 1943 | 1200 | La Spezia | 22 Mar 1943 | 1620 | La Spezia | 10 | Trials. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 24 Mar 1943 | 1200 | La Spezia | 24 Mar 1943 | 1620 | La Spezia | 2,5 | Gyrocompass tests. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 30 Mar 1943 | 1300 | La Spezia | 30 Mar 1943 | 1615 | La Spezia | 2,5 | Exercises. | ||
| 18. | Ambra (AM) | 31 Mar 1943 | 0800 | La Spezia | 5 Apr 1943 | 0745 | La Spezia | 668 | Sailed for area west of Bonifacio Strait for test, with twelve Gamma combat swimmers, three M.T.R. and four operators. | |
| 3 Apr 1943 | 1200 | 41° 31'N, 6° 31'E | At 1200 hours, a Spanish vessel was sighted. | |||||||
| Ambra (AM) | 10 Apr 1943 | 0800 | La Spezia | 10 Apr 1943 | 1740 | La Spezia | 49,6 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 12 Apr 1943 | 0731 | La Spezia | 12 Apr 1943 | 1730 | La Spezia | 52 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 3 May 1943 | 0645 | La Spezia | 3 May 1943 | 1615 | La Spezia | 57 | Exercises, escorted out by MAS 525. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 8 May 1943 | 0715 | La Spezia | 8 May 1943 | 1715 | La Spezia | 66,6 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 16 May 1943 | 0700 | La Spezia | 16 May 1943 | 1303 | La Spezia | 24,6 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 17 May 1943 | 0845 | La Spezia | 17 May 1943 | 1730 | La Spezia | 28,7 | Exercises. | ||
| Ambra (AM) | 19 May 1943 | 0755 | La Spezia | 19 May 1943 | 2345 | La Spezia | 84,4 | Exercises. | ||
| S 5 () | 1 Aug 1943 | Danzig | 1 Aug 1943 | Danzig | Started trials. | |||||
| S 5 () | 9 Sep 1943 | Danzig | 9 Sep 1943 | Danzig | Seized by the Germans at the armistice. Carried out only one three-day patrol in Gulf of Finland. | |||||
134 entries. 128 total patrol entries (18 marked as war patrols) and 16 events.