Italian submarines in World War Two
Italian Commanders
Guido Gozzi
| Born | 25 Oct 1910 | Bologna | |
| Died | 2 Aug 1941 | (30) | Killed in action |
| Ranks
Decorations
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Career information
MOROSINI (T.V. First Officer): from 09.11.1938 to ?MARCANTONIO COLONNA (T.V. C.O.): from 15.08.1940 to 25.10.1940.
TEMBIEN (T.V. C.O.): from 26.10.1940 to 02.08.1941 (sunk, Gozzi was killed).
Commands listed for Guido Gozzi
| Submarine | Type | Rank | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marcantonio Colonna (CN) | Ocean going | T.V. | 15 Aug 1940 | 25 Oct 1940 |
| Tembien (TE) | Coastal / Sea going | T.V. | 26 Oct 1940 | 2 Aug 1941 |
Ships hit by Guido Gozzi
No ships hit by this Commander.War patrols listed for Guido Gozzi
| Submarine | Date | Time | Port | Arr. date | Arr. time | Arr. port | Miles | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marcantonio Colonna (CN) | 27 Aug 1940 | 0755 | Fiume | 27 Aug 1940 | 1850 | Fiume | 68 | Exercises. | ||
| Marcantonio Colonna (CN) | 30 Aug 1940 | 0901 | Fiume | 30 Aug 1940 | 1910 | Fiume | 11 | Exercises. | ||
| Marcantonio Colonna (CN) | 4 Sep 1940 | 1201 | Fiume | 4 Sep 1940 | 1327 | Fiume | 0,5 | Trials. | ||
| Marcantonio Colonna (CN) | 5 Sep 1940 | 0720 | Fiume | 5 Sep 1940 | 1958 | Fiume | 42,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Marcantonio Colonna (CN) | 6 Sep 1940 | 0745 | Fiume | 6 Sep 1940 | 1315 | Pola | 60 | Passage Fiume-Pola. | ||
| Marcantonio Colonna (CN) | 6 Sep 1940 | 1658 | Pola | 6 Sep 1940 | 1710 | Pola | 1 | Trials. | ||
| Marcantonio Colonna (CN) | 8 Sep 1940 | 0749 | Pola | 8 Sep 1940 | 1531 | Pola | 14 | Trials. | ||
| Marcantonio Colonna (CN) | 10 Sep 1940 | 0831 | Pola | 10 Sep 1940 | 1659 | Pola | 57 | Exercises. | ||
| Marcantonio Colonna (CN) | 12 Sep 1940 | 1655 | Pola | 12 Sep 1940 | 1855 | Pola | 12 | Exercises. | ||
| Marcantonio Colonna (CN) | 17 Sep 1940 | 0305 | Pola | 18 Sep 1940 | 1435 | Brindisi | 342,7 | Passage Pola-Brindisi. | ||
| 1. | Marcantonio Colonna (CN) | 19 Sep 1940 | 0025 | Brindisi | 9 Oct 1940 | 1650 | Messina | 1456,8 | Patrolled north of the Egyptian coast between 32°30'N, 33°10'E and 23°25'N, 24°45'E. Attacked in error by the submarine Serpente. | |
| 19 Sep 1940 | 2035 | 39° 06'N, 18° 22'E (e) 38° 46'N, 18° 27'E | Marcantonio Colonna was attacked in error by the submarine Serpente. Three torpedoes were fired and, luckily, all missed. | |||||||
| Marcantonio Colonna (CN) | 14 Oct 1940 | 1200 | Messina | 15 Oct 1940 | 1109 | Naples | 222 | Passage Messina-Naples. | ||
| Tembien (TE) | 1 Nov 1940 | 1007 | Naples | 1 Nov 1940 | 1705 | Naples | 32,7 | Exercises. | ||
| Tembien (TE) | 5 Nov 1940 | 0740 | Naples | 5 Nov 1940 | 1604 | Naples | 34 | Exercises. | ||
| Tembien (TE) | 13 Nov 1940 | 0820 | Naples | 13 Nov 1940 | 1605 | Naples | 31,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Tembien (TE) | 17 Nov 1940 | 0820 | Naples | 18 Nov 1940 | 1625 | Augusta | 297 | Passage Naples-Augusta. | ||
| 2. | Tembien (TE) | 19 Nov 1940 | 2045 | Augusta | 23 Nov 1940 | 0756 | Augusta | 488 | Patrolled within 20 miles from 36°00'N, 13°20'E (west of Malta). Uneventful. | |
| 3. | Tembien (TE) | 26 Nov 1940 | 0835 | Augusta | 2 Dec 1940 | 0834 | Augusta | 564,5 | Patrolled on a line 15 miles east from 36°00'N, 13°30'E with Dessiè, northwest of Malta. | |
| 27 Nov 1940 | 2328 2334 (e) | 36° 00'N, 13° 47'E | At 2324 hours, the starboard lookout spotted a warship at a distance of 2,000 metres, a little forward on the starboard beam. Tembien immediately steered toward it and now three warships in single file could be made out, steering 320° at a little under 9 knots. At 2328 hours, a pair of torpedoes (533mm) were fired from bow tubes at a distance of 1,500 metres. The submarine remained on the surface, still steering toward them at reduced speed to observe the result. The torpedoes missed. These were the light cruisers HMS Gloucester (C.S.3) and HMS Glasgow and the heavy cruiser HMS York, steering 302° at 15 knots. At 2330 hours, a second pair (one 533mm and one 450mm) was fired from bow tubes at a distance of 1,000 metres. A hit was heard after 45 seconds. In fact both missed. Tembien was hunted by a destroyer with depth-charges. Gloucester reported underwater explosions at 2334 and at 2338 hours. | |||||||
| Tembien (TE) | 6 Dec 1940 | 0800 | Augusta | 6 Dec 1940 | 1935 | Messina | 75 | Passage Augusta-Messina. | ||
| Tembien (TE) | 26 Dec 1940 | 0825 | Messina | 26 Dec 1940 | 1735 | Messina | Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Cotugno. | |||
| 4. | Tembien (TE) | 1 Jan 1941 | 1400 | Messina | 12 Jan 1941 | 1050 | Augusta | 1193 | Patrolled from 32°55'N, 22°50'E on course 108° for 190 miles then course 360° for 30 miles, off Derna and Gulf of Sollum and off Bardia. | |
| 8 Jan 1941 | 0041 | 31° 46'N, 25° 10'E | At 0005 hours, a 10,000-ton freighter was sighted zigzagging. At 0041 hours, a pair of torpedoes (533mm, W.270 type G) was fired from bow tubes at a range of 1,500 metres. They briefly broke surface after a 40-50 metres run and deviated to the left. They missed. At 0046 hours, a second pair (533mm, W.270 type G, and 450mm, W.200 type) was fired from bow tubes at a range of 1,100 metres. The 533mm torpedo also briefly broke surface but then disappeared from view. The 450mm had a straight run, but missed astern. They also missed. At 0054 hours, the submarine turned to port and presented her stern to fire a third pair (533mm, W.270 type H, and 450mm, W.200 type). The 533mm broke surface after 80 metres, deviating from its course, while the 450mm had a normal course, but missed astern. T.V. Guido Gozzi decided not to continue the action with the gun because of the proximity of Bardia (now in British hands). He was criticised by Admiral Falangola for his excessive prudence. | |||||||
| Tembien (TE) | 27 Jan 1941 | 0858 | Augusta | 27 Jan 1941 | 1148 | Augusta | 4,8 | Exercises. | ||
| 5. | Tembien (TE) | 2 Feb 1941 | 1120 | Augusta | 13 Feb 1941 | 1015 | Augusta | 815 | Patrolled east of Malta within 15 miles from 35°30'N, 16°10'E. Uneventful, except for sighting two Ju 88 bombers, hearing H.E. and attempt to sink a derelict mine. | |
| 12 Feb 1941 | 0355 | 35° 33'N, 16° 06'E | At 0355 hours, a derelict mine was sighted at a distance of 200 metres. 60 rounds of machine-gun fire failed to hit it. Tembien proceeded on. | |||||||
| Tembien (TE) | 10 Mar 1941 | 0700 | Augusta | 12 Mar 1941 | 1710 | La Spezia | 542 | Passage Augusta-La Spezia. Uneventful. | ||
| Tembien (TE) | 21 Mar 1941 | 1358 | La Spezia | 21 Mar 1941 | 1731 | La Spezia | 28 | Exercises. Docked on 1 April 1941 for repairs and refit. | ||
| Tembien (TE) | 11 May 1941 | 0848 | La Spezia | 11 May 1941 | 1737 | La Spezia | 58,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Tembien (TE) | 15 May 1941 | 0840 | La Spezia | 15 May 1941 | 1553 | La Spezia | 21 | Exercises. | ||
| Tembien (TE) | 30 May 1941 | 0930 | La Spezia | 30 May 1941 | 1210 | La Spezia | 5,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Tembien (TE) | 30 May 1941 | 1342 | La Spezia | 30 May 1941 | 1752 | La Spezia | 25 | Exercises. | ||
| Tembien (TE) | 31 May 1941 | 0804 | La Spezia | 31 May 1941 | 1317 | La Spezia | 8,6 | Exercises. | ||
| Tembien (TE) | 2 Jun 1941 | 1338 | La Spezia | 2 Jun 1941 | 1459 | La Spezia | 6,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Tembien (TE) | 15 Jun 1941 | 0904 | La Spezia | 15 Jun 1941 | 1907 | La Spezia | 38,3 | Exercises. | ||
| Tembien (TE) | 18 Jun 1941 | 0658 | La Spezia | 20 Jun 1941 | 1820 | Augusta | 650 | Passage La Spezia-Augusta. Uneventful. | ||
| Tembien (TE) | 22 Jun 1941 | 1412 | Augusta | 22 Jun 1941 | 1807 | Augusta | 26,5 | Exercises. | ||
| 6. | Tembien (TE) | 23 Jun 1941 | 2030 | Augusta | 11 Jul 1941 | 0912 | Augusta | 2058 | Patrolled between 32°00'N and 32°15'N, and between 25°00 and 25°20'E and the coast, northeast of Ras Azzaz. | |
| 24 Jun 1941 | 2020 | 35° 02'N, 19° 16'E | At 2020 hours, a derelict mine was sighted at a distance of 300 metres. Tembien failed to destroy it with machine-gun fire. | |||||||
| 25 Jun 1941 | 1025 | At 1025 hours, an aircraft was seen at a distance of 5,000 metres, making a straight line for the submarine. Tembien dived but was not attacked. | ||||||||
| 29 Jun 1941 | 0437 | 32° 08'N, 25° 12'E | At 0437 hours, two silhouettes were sighted on the horizon. The submarine lost contact with them in the mist. | |||||||
| 29 Jun 1941 | 2041 2142 (e) | 32° 14'N, 25° 00'E | At 1940 hours, Tembien surfaced and a silhouette was sighted over the horizon at a distance of 10,000 metres. The submarine steered straight toward it. At 2000 hours, the range had closed to 3,000 metres and the silhouette could be recognised as a warship, probably a large destroyer. It was proceeding slowly on a 060° course, leading T.V. Guido Gozzi to believe that she was damaged. The enemy was thought to be of the JERVIS class. At 2041 hours, a pair of torpedoes were fired from the stern tubes (probably 533mm and 450mm) at a range of 500-600 metres. T.V. Gozzi had intended to fire only one torpedo and follow up with a second, but due to an error in drill two were simultaneously fired. As the torpedoes were racing toward the target, Gozzi suddenly noticed a second destroyer next to the first one. This vessel immediately opened fire with her stern guns forcing the submarine to crash-dive. The torpedoes missed. This was the destroyer HMS Waterhen. She had been seriously damaged by a bomb at 2005 hours in 32°15' N, 25°20' E and abandoned. Waterhen was returning from a supply run to Tobruk. The crew was picked up by HMS Defender (there were no casualties) who returned and attempted to take her in tow. The two torpedoes passed under Defender. HMS Defender had sighted the submarine and opened fire, forcing her to dive. Two loud explosions were heard. HMAS Waterhen later capsized and sank. There were no casualties. | |||||||
| 1 Jul 1941 | 0255-0428 | 32° 13'N, 25° 19'E | At 0255 hours, two shadows were sighted to northward. Tembien steered toward them. At 0332 hours, these could be identified as destroyers but, by 0428 hours, the submarine could not close to less than 4,000 metres and the attack was given up. | |||||||
| 1 Jul 1941 | 1947 | 32° 07'N, 25° 08'E | At 1947 hours, a destroyer was sighted at a range of 6,000 metres, steering 120°. They passed out of range. | |||||||
| 4 Jul 1941 | 0342+ | 32° 14'N, 25° 00'E | At 0342 hours, information was received from MARICOSOM indicating the presence of an enemy unit in 32°20' N, 24°30' E. Tembien proceeded at fast speed toward the northern part of her zone to intercept. A destroyer was sighted in 32°14' N, 25°00' E, steering 120° and doing at least 20 knots, coming straight at the submarine. Tembien turned away and by the time a torpedo attack could be mounted, the range had increased to 3,000 metres and the opportunity was missed. | |||||||
| 7 Jul 1941 | 1836 | 32° 14'N, 25° 00'E | At 1828 hours, a vessel was detected with the hydrophones. At 1836 hours, the vessel apparently dropped a depth charge on Tembien who was at a depth of 34 metres and she was slightly damaged. | |||||||
| 8 Jul 1941 | 0020 | (0) East of Tobruk. | At 0020 hours, a submarine was sighted. Tembien turned away as she had orders not to attack any submarine encountered. It was later believed to have been Malachite. | |||||||
| 7. | Tembien (TE) | 31 Jul 1941 | 1340 | Augusta | 2 Aug 1941 | AM | Sunk with all hands | Sailed for patrol west of Malta within 8 miles from 36°12'N, 12°35'E. Rammed in the Sicilian narrows by the British light cruiser HMS Hermione at 28 knots in 36°21'N, 12°40'E (five officers and thirty-eight ratings lost, no survivors). On 3 August, she was ordered to proceed to a new position off Ras Mustafa (Tunisia) but did not acknowledge. | ||
| 2 Aug 1941 | 0512B (e) | (e) 36° 21'N, 12° 40'E | In the early hours of 2nd August, Force "X" was proceeding toward Malta with troops and stores (operation STYLE). It consisted of the light cruisers HMS Hermione and HMS Arethusa, the fast minelayer HMS Manxman and the destroyers HMS HMS Sikh and HMS Lightning. At 0510B hours, Lieutenant (N) J.B.E. Wainwight, RN of HMS Hermione sighted on the port bow a surfaced U-boat apparently stopped at a distance of 1,400 yards. He at once gave port wheel to ram. Within two minutes, the cruiser racing at 28 knots had rammed the submarine. HMS Lightning and HMS Sikh were detached to search but found nothing. The cruiser was only slightly damaged and took 20 tons of water. Parts of the submarine were later removed from the lower stern. There is little doubt that this was Tembien who failed to return from patrol. T.V. Guido, four officers and thirty-eight ratings perished. | |||||||
44 entries. 36 total patrol entries (7 marked as war patrols) and 14 events.