Italian submarines in World War Two
Italian Commanders
Carlo Liannazza
| Born | 10 Aug 1902 | Brescia | |
| Died | 26 Jan 1981 | (78) | Sampierdarena (Genoa) |
| Ranks
Decorations
|
Career information
EMO (C.C. C.O.): from 05.12.1938 to 04.12.1940.Promoted to C.F. in 1941?
AMMIRAGLIO CAGNI (C.F. C.O.): from 31.05.1941 to 07.05.1943.
In 1944: Head of COMANDO GRUPPO LEVANTE.
Commands listed for Carlo Liannazza
| Submarine | Type | Rank | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emo (EO, I.17) | Ocean going | C.C. | 6 Dec 1938 | 4 Dec 1940 |
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | Ocean going | C.F. | 31 May 1941 | 7 May 1943 |
Ships hit by Carlo Liannazza
| Date | Submarine | Ship hit | Type | GRT | Nat. | Loss type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 14 Sep 1940 | Emo | St. Agnes | Cargo ship | 5,191 |  | Sunk |
| 2. | 3 Nov 1942 | Ammiraglio Cagni | Dagomba | Cargo ship | 3,845 | | Sunk |
| 3. | 29 Nov 1942 | Ammiraglio Cagni | Argo | Cargo ship | 1,995 |  | Sunk |
War patrols listed for Carlo Liannazza
| Submarine | Date | Time | Port | Arr. date | Arr. time | Arr. port | Miles | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 10 Jun 1940 | Naples | 10 Jun 1940 | Naples | At Naples undergoing repairs. | |||||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 23 Jun 1940 | 0215 | Naples | 23 Jun 1940 | 1630 | Naples | 59 | Exercises. | ||
| 1. | Emo (EO, I.17) | 27 Jun 1940 | 1007 | Naples | 16 Jul 1940 | 1030 | Naples | 456,23 | Patrolled near Gibraltar in 35°50'N, 03°46'E on a patrol line with Marconi. Sighted HMS Hood, but was unable to attack. | |
| 4 Jul 1940 | 1430 | (0) About 60 miles east of Gibraltar. | At 1430 hours, following several hydrophone noises, Emo came to periscope depth and sighted a naval force consisting of battleships, an aircraft carrier and a number of destroyers on a westerly course. These were certainly Force H with the battle cruiser HMS Hood, the battleships HMS Valiant and HMS Resolution, the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, the light cruisers HMS Enterprise and HMS Arethusa, and eleven destroyers (HMS Faulknor (D.8), HMS Fearless, HMS Forester, HMS Foresight, HMS Escort, HMS Foxhound, HMS Keppel (D.13), HMS Vortigern, HMS Vidette, HMS Active and HMS Wrestler) returning from Operation CATAPULT. | |||||||
| 6 Jul 1940 | 1450 | (0) About 75 miles east of Gibraltar. | At 1450 hours, Emo observed a British squadron consisting of two battleships (one of them recognised as HMS Hood), one aircraft carrier and five destroyers at a distance of 12-13,000 metres. They had first been detected by hydrophones. The submarine could not close to less than 9,000 metres. At 1450 hours, following several hydrophone noises, Emo came to periscope depth and sighted a naval force consisting of battleships, an aircraft carrier and a number of destroyers on a westerly course. These were certainly Force H with the battle cruiser HMS Hood, the battleship HMS Valiant, the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, the light cruisers HMS Enterprise and HMS Arethusa, and the destroyers (HMS Faulknor (D.8), HMS Fearless, HMS Forester, HMS Escort, HMS Foxhound, HMS Wishart, HMS Vortigern, HMS Vidette, HMS Active and HMS Wrestler) carrying Operation LEVER. | |||||||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 13 Aug 1940 | 0906 | Naples | 13 Aug 1940 | 1427 | Naples | 28 | Exercises. | ||
| 2. | Emo (EO, I.17) | 27 Aug 1940 | 0915 | Naples | 3 Oct 1940 | 1530 | Bordeaux | 4450 | Passage to Bordeaux. Patrolled between 42°00'N and 19°00'W and 30°10'W. Passed Gibraltar on 9th September 1940. Escorted in by the German minesweeper M-10 and Sperrbrecher V. | |
| 14 Sep 1940 | 0900 0700 GMT (e) | (e) 41° 27'N, 21° 50'W | At 0830 hours (dawn), a steamer was sighted at 6,000 metres on a northerly course. Emo submerged and closed to the attack. At 0900 hours, the submarine fired a torpedo (533mm, S.I.) at a distance of 4,000 metres. It hit. This was the British St. Agnes (5,191 GRT, built 1918) carrying 7,500 tons of oil seed and general cargo [also reported — in error — as AGRUS], from convoy SLS.46 (Freetown to Methil). She was damaged and made an SOS. Emo trailed her and was close enough to identify her as St. Agnes and observe that she was armed with a 120mm or 152mm gun and a smalller one. At 1730 hours, the submarine surfaced and opened fire. At 1749 hours, fire was checked after 28 rounds (which caused no visible damage as most failed to detonate) as a second freighter appeared on the scene. Chief Officer C.S. Whitticombe reported that the submarine surfaced twice firing 12 rounds the first time and another 8 rounds the second time. None appeared to hit. Emo altered course to deal with the newcomer but, at 1830 hours, she was identified as the American Excalibur, and the submarine returned to the first ship. At 1932 hours, a second torpedo (450mm) was fired from a stern tube. St. Agnes was hit and sank. Her sixty-four (or sixty-three?) survivors were picked up by the American steamer Exochorda (not Excalibur as reported in some documents) and landed in Lisbon. | |||||||
| 3. | Emo (EO, I.17) | 31 Oct 1940 | 0700 | Bordeaux | 6 Nov 1940 | 1130 | Bordeaux | 1052,5 | Sailed with Faà di Bruno, escorted out by the German minesweepers M-9 and M-21, for Atlantic patrol between 55°20'N and 56°00'N, and between 15°00'W and 20°00'W (Grids 9990-9998 and 9915). She was ordered to leave the Gironde estuary at a speed of 11 knots through 45°06'N, 02°32'W and 49°00'N, 19°00'W, reducing to 8 knots when passing the 12° W meridian, then course north to join her patrol position. Turned back because her commanding officer was injured. | |
| 2 Nov 1940 | 1600 | 47° 55'N, 10° 00'W | At 1600 hours, in heavy weather, the lookout Giuseppe Gobbi was carried away by a wave. Emo turned back to try to recover him but he was never found. Another lookout, Teodoro Caruso, was injured. | |||||||
| 3 Nov 1940 | 0700 | 47° 55'N, 10° 00'W | At 0700 hours, a large wave fell over the conning tower and C.C. Carlo Liannazza was thrown heavily against the railing. He was injured apparently with a broken rib. The Executive Officer, T.V. Giuseppe Franco, took over and decided to turn back. | |||||||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 14 Jul 1941 | 0930 | Monfalcone | 14 Jul 1941 | 1418 | Monfalcone | 9,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 21 Jul 1941 | 0938 | Monfalcone | 21 Jul 1941 | 1725 | Pola | 9,5 | Passage Monfalcone-Pola. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 24 Jul 1941 | 0600 | Pola | 24 Jul 1941 | 2051 | Pola | 133 | Trials with the submarine Pisani. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 29 Jul 1941 | 0740 | Pola | 29 Jul 1941 | 1908 | Pola | 77 | Exercises with Ammiraglio Saint Bon, escorted by the auxiliary Jadera and the torpedo boat Audace. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 31 Jul 1941 | 0850 | Pola | 31 Jul 1941 | 1205 | Saccorgiana | 6,5 | Passage Pola-Saccorgiana for exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Grado. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 31 Jul 1941 | 1511 | Saccorgiana | 31 Jul 1941 | 1640 | Pola | 6,5 | Passage Saccorgiana-Pola. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 1 Aug 1941 | 1139 | Pola | 1 Aug 1941 | 1601 | Monfalcone | 72 | Passage Pola-Monfalcone. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 9 Aug 1941 | Monfalcone | 9 Aug 1941 | Monfalcone | Joined MARICOSOM and assigned to 2.GRUPSOM. | |||||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 21 Aug 1941 | 1045 | Monfalcone | 21 Aug 1941 | 1542 | Pola | 72 | Passage Monfalcone-Pola. Docked on 25th August. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 29 Aug 1941 | 0510 | Pola | 29 Aug 1941 | 1810 | Fiume | 112 | Sailed with the submarine Ammiraglio Saint Bon for exercises then proceeded to Fiume. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 2 Sep 1941 | 0938 | Fiume | 2 Sep 1941 | 1420 | Fiume | 15,5 | Exercises with Motorboat R.27. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 3 Sep 1941 | 1400 | Fiume | 3 Sep 1941 | 1725 | Fiume | 15,4 | Exercises with Motorboat R.27. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 6 Sep 1941 | 1532? | Fiume | 6 Sep 1941 | 1756? | Pola | 55 | Passage Fiume-Pola. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 8 Sep 1941 | 0745 | Pola | 8 Sep 1941 | 1745 | Pola | 56 | Exercises with the submarines Jalea, Des Geneys and Speri, escorted by the auxiliaries Salvore, Jadera and Morrhua. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 9 Sep 1941 | 0855 | Pola | 9 Sep 1941 | 1022 | Pola | 8 | Exercises. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 10 Sep 1941 | 0756 | Pola | 10 Sep 1941 | 2015 | Pola | 15 | Exercises. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 11 Sep 1941 | 0745 | Pola | 11 Sep 1941 | 1645 | Pola | 47 | Exercises with the submarine Ammiraglio Millo and the torpedo boat Audace, escorted by auxiliary Morrhua. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 12 Sep 1941 | 0750 | Pola | 12 Sep 1941 | 1730 | Pola | 130 | Diving exercises. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 13 Sep 1941 | 0800 | Pola | 13 Sep 1941 | 1752 | Pola | 68 | Exercises escorted by the auxiliary San Giorgio. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 17 Sep 1941 | 0800 | Pola | 17 Sep 1941 | 1550 | Pola | 63 | Exercises escorted by San Giorgio. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 18 Sep 1941 | 0820 | Pola | 18 Sep 1941 | 1230 | Pola | 26 | Exercises with the steamer Salvore. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 20 Sep 1941 | 0738 | Pola | 21 Sep 1941 | 1810 | Taranto | 522 | Passage Pola-Taranto. On 22nd September, a diver found a crack in the starboard propeller. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 24 Sep 1941 | 1733 | Taranto | 24 Sep 1941 | 1753 | Taranto | 0,8 | Docked? | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 27 Sep 1941 | 1820 | Taranto | 27 Sep 1941 | 1905 | Taranto | 5 | Exercises. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 30 Sep 1941 | 1331 | Taranto | 30 Sep 1941 | 1620 | Taranto | 26,08 | Exercises with MAS 4 D. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 3 Oct 1941 | 0800 | Taranto | 3 Oct 1941 | 1155 | Taranto | 16 | Exercises. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 10 Oct 1941 | 0905 | Taranto | 10 Oct 1941 | 1837 | Taranto | 2,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 12 Oct 1941 | 0750 | Taranto | 12 Oct 1941 | 1140 | Taranto | 37 | Exercises with MAS 4 D. | ||
| 4. | Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 15 Oct 1941 | 1325 | Taranto | 18 Oct 1941 | 1830 | Bardia | 780 | Supply mission to Bardia (140.7 tons: 0.5 ton of ammunition and 7379 cans x 20 litres of petrol for 140.2 tons). Uneventful. | |
| 5. | Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 18 Oct 1941 | 2300 | Bardia | 22 Oct 1941 | 1330 | Taranto | 794 | Return trip from supply mission to Bardia. | |
| 19 Oct 1941 | 0325 | 32° 20'N, 25° 23'E | At 0325 hours, Ammiraglio Cagni had just sailed from Bardia and was on her way to Taranto, when a dark shadow was sighted on the port beam. The submarine was just turning toward it when a gunfire shot was heard followed by a second. Cagni quickly dived as a third shot was heard. This was HMS Kandahar , one of three destroyers (the others were HMS Griffin and HMS Jaguar) screening the minelayer HMS Abdiel. They were carrying troop reinforcements to Tobruk (operation CULTIVATE). Because of the urgency to reach their destination before daylight, the destroyers did not try to hunt the submarine. | |||||||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 13 Nov 1941 | 1314 | Taranto | 13 Nov 1941 | 1535 | Taranto | 1 | Changed moorings? | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 13 Nov 1941 | 1314 | Taranto | 13 Nov 1941 | 1535 | Taranto | 1 | Trials? | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 14 Nov 1941 | 1303 | Taranto | 14 Nov 1941 | 1843 | Taranto | 22 | Exercises. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 14 Nov 1941 | 1303 | Taranto | 14 Nov 1941 | 1848 | Taranto | 22 | Exercises. | ||
| 6. | Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 18 Nov 1941 | 1305 | Taranto | 22 Nov 1941 | 1725 | Bardia | 760 | Supply mission to Bardia (142.6 tons: 7350 cans of petrol for 139.6 tons and 3 tons of ammunition). Uneventful. | |
| 7. | Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 22 Nov 1941 | 2105 | Bardia | 25 Nov 1941 | 1300 | Taranto | 780 | Return trip from supply mission to Bardia. | |
| 24 Nov 1941 | 0805 | At 0805 hours, a derelict mine was sighted at a distance of 150 metres. It was hit with rifle fire and sank. Twenty seconds later, it exploded, shaking the submarine. At 1410 hours, a second mine was sighted but the appearance of an aircraft prevented the submarine from disposing of it. At 1645 hours, a third mine was sunk without difficulty. | ||||||||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 27 Nov 1941 | 1300 | Taranto | 27 Nov 1941 | 1320 | Taranto | 1 | Changed moorings? | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 27 Nov 1941 | 1300 | Taranto | 27 Nov 1941 | 1320 | Taranto | 1 | Trials? | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 28 Nov 1941 | 1500 | Taranto | 28 Nov 1941 | 1520 | Taranto | 1 | Changed moorings? | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 28 Nov 1941 | 1500 | Taranto | 28 Nov 1941 | 1520 | Taranto | 1 | Trials? | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 30 Nov 1941 | 0800 | Taranto | 30 Nov 1941 | 1800 | Taranto | 3 | Exercises. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 30 Nov 1941 | 0800 | Taranto | 30 Nov 1941 | 1800 | Taranto | 3 | Trials? | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 1 Dec 1941 | 1345 | Taranto | 1 Dec 1941 | 1520 | Taranto | 5 | Trials? | ||
| 8. | Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 2 Dec 1941 | 1345 | Taranto | 5 Dec 1941 | 1750 | Bardia | 726 | Supply mission to Bardia (141.2 tons: 139.7 tons of petrol and lubricant, 1.5 tons of food supplies). | |
| 3 Dec 1941 | 1125 | At 0925 hours, an Italian aircraft was sighted and exchanged recognition signals. | ||||||||
| 3 Dec 1941 | 1125 | At 0925 hours, an aircraft was sighted and came too close. Cagni opened fire with her machine guns. It made a complete circle and made the recognition signal of the G.A.F. and the submarine answered accordingly. | ||||||||
| 9. | Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 5 Dec 1941 | 2220 | Bardia | 9 Dec 1941 | 1200 | Taranto | 740 | Return trip from supply mission to Bardia, brought back twenty PoWs (or fifteen?). | |
| 6 Dec 1941 | 0207 | 32° 30'N, 25° 10'E | At 0207 hours, a torpedo-boat was sighted. As a precaution, Cagni dived. | |||||||
| 7 Dec 1941 | 0241 | 32° 50'N, 23° 20'E | At 0241 hours, a naval force was sighted. Its strength could not be determined, but Cagni made an enemy report at 0339 hours. | |||||||
| 10. | Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 16 Dec 1941 | 1350 | Taranto | 17 Dec 1941 | 1423 | Taranto | 230 | Sailed for supply mission to Bardia (144.7 tons of provisions) but then recalled. | |
| 11. | Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 24 Dec 1941 | 1400 | Taranto | 27 Dec 1941 | 1800 | Bardia | 683 | Supply mission to Bardia (146.7 tons of food supplies). Uneventful. | |
| 12. | Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 27 Dec 1941 | 2200 | Bardia | 31 Dec 1941 | 1300 | Taranto | 660 | Return trip from supply mission to Bardia with fifteen British PoWs. | |
| 30 Dec 1941 | 1045 1055 (e) | 36° 20'N, 19° 40'E | At 1045 hours, an enemy bomber was sighted and attacked, dropping four bombs. Cagni replied with her machine guns and the aircraft returned for three strafing runs. This was Blenheim 'F' (No.6423, aircraft K7TF) of 203 Squadron piloted by Pilot Officer Hemsted belong to 201 Naval Cooperation Group. He had sighted a submarine steering 300° at 10 knots and dropped from 1500 to 800 feet to carry out the attack. Four 250-lb A/S bombs were released and they all overshot, the nearest being 60 yards off the submarine who took no action. The bomber carried out a strafing run as the submarine took evasive action. She remained on the surface and was shadowed for over an hour before the Blenheim departed. The submarine was described as 200-250 feet in length, coloured grey, with one gun forward and one aft, tall oval shaped conning tower, sharp bows and a short mast on the stern. | |||||||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 18 Jan 1942 | 0800 | Taranto | 18 Jan 1942 | 1045 | Taranto | 20,05 | Exercises, escorted by the tug Dalmazia. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 21 Jan 1942 | 1640 | Taranto | 21 Jan 1942 | 2315 | Taranto | 105 | Ordered to Augusta but then recalled by MARICOSOM. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 28 Jan 1942 | 1644 | Taranto | 29 Jan 1942 | 1437 | Augusta | 299 | Passage Taranto-Augusta. | ||
| 29 Jan 1942 | 0210 | At 0210 hours, the submarine Settimo was encountered and exchanged recognition signals. | ||||||||
| 29 Jan 1942 | 0505 | (0) About 100 miles SEE of Augusta. | At 0505 hours, the destroyer Maestrale escorting the two steamers Probitas and Potestas was sighted. They were proceeding to Taranto. | |||||||
| 29 Jan 1942 | 0600 | (0) About 90 miles SEE of Augusta. | Two schooners were sighted. | |||||||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 1 Feb 1942 | 1020 | Augusta | 1 Feb 1942 | 1135 | Augusta | Trials. | |||
| 13. | Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 1 Feb 1942 | 1803 | Augusta | 5 Feb 1942 | 1305 | Tripoli | Supply mission to Tripoli (147.5 tons of ammunition). Uneventful. Developed a few defects and a leak. | ||
| 14. | Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 7 Feb 1942 | 1455 | Tripoli | 9 Feb 1942 | 1000 | Taranto | 1370 | Return trip from supply mission to Tripoli. Uneventful. | |
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 25 Feb 1942 | 1220 | Taranto | 25 Feb 1942 | 1604 | Taranto | 24 | Trials. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 3 Mar 1942 | 2140 | Taranto | 5 Mar 1942 | 1200 | Fiume | 546 | Passage Taranto-Fiume. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 31 Mar 1942 | 0920 | Fiume | 31 Mar 1942 | 1320 | Fiume | 18 | Trials. Escorted by the torpedo boat Audace, the auxiliaries San Giorgio and Jadera and two motorboats. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 2 Apr 1942 | 0810 | Fiume | 2 Apr 1942 | 1720 | Fiume | 29 | Torpedo firing exercises with the torpedo boat Audace, escorted by the auxiliary Jadera and two motorboats. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 3 Apr 1942 | 0815 | Fiume | 3 Apr 1942 | 1815 | Fiume | 18 | Exercises with the torpedo boat Audace, the auxiliary Jadera and two motorboats. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 12 Apr 1942 | 0522 | Fiume | 14 Apr 1942 | 1410 | Taranto | 591 | Passage Fiume-Taranto at 15 knots. | ||
| 13 Apr 1942 | 2120 | At 1330 hours, MARICOSOM informed Cagni that an enemy submarine was sighted at 1330 hours in 132° - Cape S. Maria di Leuca - 23 miles [apparently a bogus sighting]. At 2120 hours, C.C. Liannazza had ordered tubes no. 3 and 4 (forward) and tube no. 12 (aft) to be readied when the torpedo (450mm) accidentally left tube no. 4 for reasons unknown. At 0155 hours, on the 14th, Cagni and Ametista were informed that an enemy submarine was reported at 2355 hours on the 13th in Grid 3850/3. | ||||||||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 16 Apr 1942 | 0900 | Taranto | 16 Apr 1942 | 1625 | Taranto | 3 | Gyrocompass tests. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 22 Apr 1942 | 0803 | Taranto | 22 Apr 1942 | 1125 | Taranto | 29 | Trials. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 25 Apr 1942 | 0656 | Taranto | 25 Apr 1942 | 1020 | Taranto | 21 | Trials escorted by the minesweeper R.D.13. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 30 Apr 1942 | 1015 | Taranto | 30 Apr 1942 | 1040 | Taranto | 2 | Entered dock. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 5 May 1942 | 1327 | Taranto | 5 May 1942 | 1805 | Taranto | 40 | Trials. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 10 May 1942 | 0700 | Taranto | 10 May 1942 | 1225 | Taranto | 55 | Trials. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 16 May 1942 | 0800 | Taranto | 16 May 1942 | 1550 | Taranto | 38,5 | Trials. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 19 May 1942 | 0930 | Taranto | 19 May 1942 | 1007 | Taranto | 6 | Trials. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 28 May 1942 | 1330 | Taranto | 28 May 1942 | 1620 | Taranto | 17 | Trials. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 21 Jun 1942 | 1312 | Taranto | 21 Jun 1942 | 1815 | Taranto | 29 | Trials and exercises. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 9 Jul 1942 | 0801 | Taranto | 9 Jul 1942 | 1708 | Taranto | 49 | Trials. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 21 Jul 1942 | 1611 | Taranto | 23 Jul 1942 | 0855 | Pola | 567 | Passage Taranto-Pola. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 25 Jul 1942 | 0559 | Pola | 25 Jul 1942 | 1055 | Monfalcone | 72,1 | Passage Pola-Monfalcone. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 5 Sep 1942 | 0700 | Monfalcone | 5 Sep 1942 | 1300 | Monfalcone | 35 | Exercises. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 10 Sep 1942 | 0955 | Monfalcone | 10 Sep 1942 | 1945 | Pola | 105 | Passage Monfalcone-Pola. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 14 Sep 1942 | 0915 | Pola | 14 Sep 1942 | 1615 | Pola | 52 | Trials. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 15 Sep 1942 | 1050 | Pola | 15 Sep 1942 | 1925 | Pola | 54 | Trials. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 16 Sep 1942 | 0800 | Pola | 16 Sep 1942 | 1520 | Pola | 48 | Gyrocompass tests. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 18 Sep 1942 | 0840 | Pola | 18 Sep 1942 | 1240 | Pola | 2 | Gyrocompass tests. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 19 Sep 1942 | 0845 | Pola | 23 Sep 1942 | 2055 | Taranto | 796 | Passage Pola-Taranto. Uneventful. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 29 Sep 1942 | 0945 | Taranto | 29 Sep 1942 | 1100 | Taranto | 9 | Exercises. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 30 Sep 1942 | 1515 | Taranto | 30 Sep 1942 | 2140 | Taranto | 35 | Exercises. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 3 Oct 1942 | 1611 | Naples | 4 Oct 1942 | 0855 | La Maddalena | 215 | Passage Naples-La Maddalena. | ||
| 15. | Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 6 Oct 1942 | 1830 | La Maddalena | 20 Feb 1943 | 1830 | Bordeaux | 17403 | Patrolled off Capetown, in area between 01°00'N and 02°00'S, and between 27°00'W and 32°00'W, then headed to Bordeaux (passed Gibraltar on 12 October 1942). This was longest mission of an Italian submarine during WWII (137 days, 17,403 miles). | |
| 17 Oct 1942 | 1120 | 33° 00'N, 14° 00'W | At 1120 hours, a smoke was sighted on the horizon. Cagni maneuvered to take a position ahead of the vessel and dived at 1305 hours. At 1412 hours, the submarine closed to a distance of 1,000 meters before recognising her to be Spanish Rio Francoli (2,078 GRT, built 1909 and aborted the attack. | |||||||
| 3 Nov 1942 | 1842 1800 GMT (e) | 2° 35'S, 18° 31'W | At 1130 hours, two masts were sighted on the horizon. Cagni proceeded at 15 knots to take a position ahead of the vessel. At 1703 hours, the submarine submerged for the attack. At 1842 hours, three bow torpedoes (450mm, W 200 type) were fired from 400 metres. All three hit and she sank. This was the British Dagomba (3,845 GRT, built 1928) on passage from Takoradi to Trinidad. Ten killed, twenty-one survivors were rescued by the Portuguese sloop Bartolomeu Dias at 0530 hours on 14th November in 07°05' N, 16°00' W. Twenty-three survivors in a lifeboat were picked up by a Vichy patrol vessel and landed at Dakar. They were interned for a few days before being liberated when the Allies landed in North Africa on 8th November. | |||||||
| 9 Nov 1942 | 1103 | 5° 28'S, 11° 52'W | At 1103 hours, a twin-engine plane was sighted at 5,000 metres. Cagni dived immediately. | |||||||
| 29 Nov 1942 | 2025 2000 (e) | 34° 45'S, 17° 42'E | At 1503 hours, a smoke was sighted on the horizon steering 030°. Cagni proceeded to intercept at 15 knots. She could not catch up for an attack in daylight hours so C.C. Liannazza opted for an attack after dark. At 1915 hours, the attack began but was thwarted by a sudden change of course of the vessel. She was now steering 070°. At 2025 hours, a pair of torpedoes (450mm, 40 knots) were fired from bow tubes at a distance of 2,500 metres. They missed, apparently due to an irregular course. This was the Greek steamer Argo (1,995 GRT, built 1920) on a voyage from Buenos Aires to Capetown and Durban. At 2125 hours, another pair of torpedoes (450mm) were fired from bow tubes. They both hit and the vessel sank. Eighteen were killed [twelve crew members and all six passengers], seven survivors (including Captain Synodinos) were rescued by HMS Rotherham and another eleven by HMAS Norman. HMAS Norman later transferred the survivors she had picked up to HMS Rotherham which landed them at Simonstown in the evening. | |||||||
| 3 Jan 1943 | 1305 | 1° 35'S, 24° 25'W | At 1305 hours, the submarine Enrico Tazolli was met. Cagni was to cede her eight 450mm torpedoes but the bad weather prevented the operation from being carried out and it was finally cancelled. | |||||||
| 13 Jan 1943 | 1530-1620 | 1° 00'N, 22° 00'W (0) German Grid FD 3465. | The German Milk cow submarine U-459 (KK Wilamowitz-Möllendorf) was met and from 1530 to 1620 hours she supplied the Italian submarine with 41 tons of fuel (50 cbm). An ULTRA intercept had revealed that Cagni was to meet U-459 on 1200 hours on 12th January in 01°03' N, 23°57' W. The German submarine observed two destroyers and the rendezvous was moved to a new position. These were the destroyers HMS Ilex and HMS Holcombe. They had been ordered to intercept but found nothing. | |||||||
| 25 Jan 1943 | 0045 | 3° 22'N, 28° 10'W | At 0045 hours, a fully illuminated steamer was sighted steering 025°. It was believed to be the pre-announced Swiss Eiger (4,386 GRT, built 1929) on a voyage from Bahia to Las Palmas (Canaries). | |||||||
| 7 Feb 1943 | 1432 | 29° 10'N, 23° 20'W | At 1432 hours, a German submarine was sighted on a southerly course. Recognition signals were exchanged. | |||||||
| 7 Feb 1943 | 1637 | 29° 25'N, 23° 16'W | At 1637 hours, a German submarine was sighted on a northerly course. Recognition signals were exchanged. | |||||||
| 15 Feb 1943 | 1750 | 44° 37'N, 9° 56'W | At 1750 hours, a Sunderland aircraft was sighted at 8,000 metres. C.C. Liannazza gave the order to crash dive, but for reasons not revealed, it failed and the submarine surfaced again. The aircrat circled then carried out an attack dropping six medium-sized bombs. They missed the submarine by 20-30 metres. Cagni was also strafed and had one rating killed and one wounded. This was Sunderland was 'I' (DV961) of 461 Squadron (RAAF) piloted by Flight Lieutenant S.R.C. Wood. He sighted the submarine at a distance of 7 miles, steering 100° and correctly identified it as Italian. It dived from the clouds when it was 2-3 miles away. The submarine was observed to fire a red star cartridge and remained surfaced. Heavy strafing observed to knock men overboard. In an attack from the starboard beam six depth charges were released from 100-150 feet. Owing to a faulty distributor they were released in salvo and overshot. The Sunderland attacked at 44.49 N 09.17 W. The submarine was covered in spray but was apparently undamaged and submerged two minutes after the attack. | |||||||
| 17 Feb 1943 | 2015 | 44° 39'N, 10° 03'W | At 2015 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived. | |||||||
| 18 Feb 1943 | 0940 | 44° 47'N, 6° 12'W | At 0940 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived. | |||||||
| 18 Feb 1943 | 1440 | 44° 50'N, 5° 40'W | At 1440 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived. | |||||||
| 18 Feb 1943 | 1816 | 44° 53'N, 5° 20'W | At 1816 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived. | |||||||
109 entries. 90 total patrol entries (15 marked as war patrols) and 30 events.