Italian submarines in World War Two
Italian Commanders
Giovanni Lombardi
| Born | 1 Jan 1908 | Capua (Caserta) |
| Ranks
Decorations
|
Career information
ZAFFIRO (T.V. C.O.): from 28.04.1940 to 18.04.1942.Promoted C.C. in mid-June 1940.
SERPENTE (C.C. C.O.): from 21.02.1942 to to 28.02.1942?
Commands listed for Giovanni Lombardi
| Submarine | Type | Rank | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serpente (ex-Nautilus) (SE) | Coastal / Sea going | C.C. | 21 Feb 1942 | 28 Feb 1942 |
| Zaffiro (ZA) | Coastal / Sea going | T.V. | 28 Apr 1940 | 18 Apr 1942 |
Ships hit by Giovanni Lombardi
No ships hit by this Commander.War patrols listed for Giovanni Lombardi
| Submarine | Date | Time | Port | Arr. date | Arr. time | Arr. port | Miles | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Zaffiro (ZA) | 9 Jun 1940 | 0440 | Leros | 14 Jun 1940 | 2100 | Leros | 505,19 | Patrolled 15 miles south of Cape Prassoni (Rhodes). Uneventful. | |
| 2. | Zaffiro (ZA) | 29 Jun 1940 | 1700 | Leros | 9 Jul 1940 | 0640 | Leros | 781 | Patrolled south of Rhodes in 35°50'N, 27°30'E, in Scarpanto Channel. Uneventful. | |
| 3. | Zaffiro (ZA) | 24 Jul 1940 | 1955 | Leros | 6 Aug 1940 | 0610 | Leros | 874 | Patrolled in Scarpanto Channel between (1) 10 miles south of Cape Prassinosi (2) 20 miles east of Kupho Island (3) 5 miles south of Punta Castello (Scarpanto). Uneventful. | |
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 29 Aug 1940 | 0945 | Leros | 29 Aug 1940 | 1310 | Leros | 20 | Exercises. | ||
| 4. | Zaffiro (ZA) | 3 Oct 1940 | 1500 | Leros | 10 Oct 1940 | 0155 | Leros | 654 | Patrolled off Mudros, Port Kalloni (Mytilene) and off Cape Baba. Sighted a number of vessels, but none that could be identified as enemy. | |
| 5. | Zaffiro (ZA) | 27 Oct 1940 | 1805 | Leros | 6 Nov 1940 | 1005 | Leros | 1078 | Patrolled in Kaso Straits, then from 1st November off Suda Bay. Uneventful. | |
| 6. | Zaffiro (ZA) | 2 Dec 1940 | 1650 | Leros | 5 Dec 1940 | 0105 | Leros | 253,5 | Patrolled near Rhodes, 154° - Punta Rosa - 42 miles. Ca. 37°20'N, 26°30'E. | |
| 7. | Zaffiro (ZA) | 22 Dec 1940 | 1800 | Leros | 31 Dec 1940 | 0710 | Leros | 895 | Patrolled to intercept traffic between Turkey and Greece. Uneventful. | |
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 22 Jan 1941 | 0930 | Leros | 22 Jan 1941 | 1140 | Parteni | 15 | Passage Leros-Parteni. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 23 Jan 1941 | 1305 | Parteni | 23 Jan 1941 | 1530 | Leros | 10 | Passage Parteni-Leros. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 3 Feb 1941 | 1750 | Leros | 9 Feb 1941 | 1130 | Augusta | 673 | Passage Leros-Augusta. At 2005 hours on 8th February, was diverted to Cape Passero instead of Cape Spartivento, following a report of a submarine lurking near the latter. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 12 Feb 1941 | 0845 | Augusta | 14 Feb 1941 | 1900 | La Spezia | 552 | Passage Augusta-La Spezia. | ||
| 13 Feb 1941 | 0720 | 40° 25'N, 12° 45'E | At 0720 hours, an Italian convoy of three steamers escorted by a torpedo-boat was sighted steering 220°. | |||||||
| 14 Feb 1941 | 0807 | 42° 31'N, 9° 49'E | At 0807 hours, a derelict mine was sunk with machine gun and rifle fire. | |||||||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 21 Apr 1941 | 0940 | La Spezia | 21 Apr 1941 | 1618 | La Spezia | 41 | Trials. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 26 Apr 1941 | 0853 | La Spezia | 26 Apr 1941 | 1500 | La Spezia | 43 | Trials. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 30 Apr 1941 | 0840 | La Spezia | 30 Apr 1941 | 1300 | La Spezia | 24,5 | Trials, escorted by the tug Taormina. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 5 May 1941 | 0925 | La Spezia | 5 May 1941 | 1740 | La Spezia | 26 | Exercises. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 9 May 1941 | 0800 | La Spezia | 9 May 1941 | 1850 | La Spezia | 55,4 | Exercises. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 16 May 1941 | 0900 | La Spezia | 16 May 1941 | 1810 | La Spezia | 25,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 19 May 1941 | 1455 | La Spezia | 19 May 1941 | 1905 | La Spezia | 31,4 | Exercises. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 19 May 1941 | 1455 | La Spezia | 19 May 1941 | 1905 | La Spezia | 31,4 | Exercises. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 22 May 1941 | 0905 | La Spezia | 22 May 1941 | 1425 | La Spezia | 30,3 | Exercises with C.B.2 and another unidentified C.B. boat. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 24 May 1941 | 1305 | La Spezia | 24 May 1941 | 1625 | La Spezia | 19,7 | Exercises with C.B.2. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 8 Jun 1941 | 0822 | La Spezia | 8 Jun 1941 | 1324 | La Spezia | 26,4 | Exercises. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 15 Jun 1941 | 0505 | La Spezia | 17 Jun 1941 | 0900 | Messina | 554,7 | Passage La Spezia-Messina. Sighted only Italian ships. | ||
| 16 Jun 1941 | 1245 | (0) Off Naples. | At 1245, the submarine Smeraldo was encountered and exchanged recognition signals. | |||||||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 19 Jun 1941 | 1755 | Messina | 21 Jun 1941 | 0130 | Crotone | 284,3 | Passage Messina-Crotone. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 21 Jun 1941 | 1236 | Crotone | 21 Jun 1941 | 2210 | Taranto | 81,2 | Passage Crotone-Taranto. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 27 Jul 1941 | 0825 | Taranto | 27 Jul 1941 | 1641 | Taranto | 49,3 | Exercises. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 29 Jul 1941 | 0755 | Taranto | 29 Jul 1941 | 1343 | Taranto | 33 | Exercises. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 30 Jul 1941 | 1200 | Taranto | 2 Aug 1941 | 1017 | Augusta | 355,3 | Passage Taranto-Augusta. Sighted only Italian vessels. | ||
| 8. | Zaffiro (ZA) | 2 Aug 1941 | 1500 | Augusta | 5 Aug 1941 | 0850 | Augusta | 333 | Patrolled east of Malta. Uneventful. | |
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 8 Aug 1941 | 0814 | Augusta | 8 Aug 1941 | 1415 | Augusta | 37,1 | Exercises. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 11 Aug 1941 | 1045 | Augusta | 11 Aug 1941 | 1205 | Augusta | 11,2 | Exercises. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 17 Aug 1941 | 0802 | Augusta | 17 Aug 1941 | 1420 | Augusta | 51,3 | Exercises. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 22 Aug 1941 | 1555 | Augusta | 22 Aug 1941 | 1750 | Augusta | 4,5 | Exercises. | ||
| 9. | Zaffiro (ZA) | 23 Aug 1941 | 1150 | Augusta | 27 Aug 1941 | 1500 | Augusta | 520,5 | Patrolled between Malta and Pantelleria, in 36°16'N, 12°52'E. Uneventful. | |
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 9 Sep 1941 | 0810 | Augusta | 9 Sep 1941 | 1158 | Augusta | 18,8 | Exercises. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 10 Sep 1941 | 0855 | Augusta | 10 Sep 1941 | 1640 | Messina | 75 | Passage Augusta-Messina. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 12 Sep 1941 | 0437 | Messina | 12 Sep 1941 | 1345 | Messina | 66,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 14 Sep 1941 | 0734 | Messina | 14 Sep 1941 | 1345 | Messina | 33 | Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Diversi. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 16 Sep 1941 | 1908 | Messina | 16 Sep 1941 | 2400 | Messina | 24,6 | Exercises. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 18 Sep 1941 | 0715 | Messina | 18 Sep 1941 | 1501 | Messina | 67 | Exercises with the submarine Ametista, escorted by the auxiliary Marzano. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 22 Sep 1941 | 0000 | Messina | 22 Sep 1941 | 0742 | Augusta | 71,9 | Exercises. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 22 Sep 1941 | 1853 | Augusta | 26 Sep 1941 | 0940 | Leros | 621,1 | Passage Augusta-Leros. Attack periscope needed repairs. ULTRA decrypt revealed her passage. | ||
| 23 Sep 1941 | 1505 | 36° 30'N, 19° 20'E | At 1505 hours, a CANT Z.506 seaplane was seen at 8,000 metres and exchanged recognition signals. | |||||||
| 24 Sep 1941 | 1410 | 35° 48'N, 22° 17'E | At 1410 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived. | |||||||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 6 Oct 1941 | 0837 | Leros | 6 Oct 1941 | 1302 | Leros | 25,8 | Exercises. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 10 Oct 1941 | 0812 | Leros | 10 Oct 1941 | 1158 | Leros | 18,2 | Exercises. | ||
| 10. | Zaffiro (ZA) | 12 Oct 1941 | 0705 | Leros | 28 Oct 1941 | 0545 | Leros | 1840,9 | Patrolled on Alexandretta-Port Said route, between 33°00'N and 34°00'N, and between 33°20'E and 34°20'E, on a line with Topazio. Uneventful [ULTRA decrypt revealed the mission but the submarine was not identified]. | |
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 14 Nov 1941 | 0800 | Leros | 14 Nov 1941 | 1200 | Leros | 17 | Exercises. | ||
| 11. | Zaffiro (ZA) | 21 Nov 1941 | 0744 | Leros | 21 Nov 1941 | 0952 | Leros | 30,4 | Sailed for patrol north of Cyrenaica, but returned because of defects. | |
| 12. | Zaffiro (ZA) | 22 Nov 1941 | 0650 | Leros | 4 Dec 1941 | 1250 | Leros | 1489,7 | Patrolled initially 20 miles north of coast on 20°50'E meridian, then, on 25th November, shifted to 22°00'E. At 1910 hours on the 25th, MARICOSOM ordered her to the area between 33°40'N and 34°20'N, and between 22°40'E and 23°20'E. At 1810 hours on the 27th, the order was modified to a new area between 34°00'N and 34°40'N, and between 24°00'E and 24°40'E. At 1225 hours on the 29th, she was ordered between 34°00'N and 34°40'N, and between 25°00'E and 25°40'E to intercept an enemy convoy. | |
| 22 Nov 1941 | 1035-1053 | 36° 33'N, 26° 48'E | At 1035 hours, a derelict mine was sighted at 600 metres and was sunk with machine gun and rifle fire. | |||||||
| 24 Nov 1941 | 1542 | 34° 09'N, 22° 50'E | At 1542 hours, a merchant ship was sighted at a range of 25,000 metres, steering 020°. Zaffiro could not close to attack and soon lost sight of the vessel. | |||||||
| 25 Nov 1941 | 1450 | At 1450 hours, information was received of an enemy naval force from two signals from MARICOSOM. One (1210/25) reporting two cruisers and eight destroyers sighted at 0750 hours in 30°30' N [sic 33°30' N], 25°30' E steering 270°, 16 knots. The second (1225/25) amplifying it to three cruisers and eight destroyers in 33°30' N, 24°30' E, course 270°, 18 knots. Zaffiro attempted to intercept and was later informed by MARICOSOM (1740/25) of a convoy of five steamers escorted by two cruisers and four destroyers, sighted at 1155 hours in 32°50' N, 25°30' E steering 285°, 14 knots. The submarine was hampered by defects to her diesel engines and sighted nothing. | ||||||||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 17 Dec 1941 | 0855 | Leros | 17 Dec 1941 | 1150 | Leros | 15 | Exercises. | ||
| 13. | Zaffiro (ZA) | 18 Dec 1941 | 2110 | Leros | 28 Dec 1941 | 1525 | Leros | 985,6 | Sailed through 35°40'N, 28°20'E and 33°30'N, 30°16'E and patrolled off Rosetta in 31°40'N, 30°20'E to pick up Maiali operators after their attack on Alexandria (none showed up as all had been captured). | |
| 22 Dec 1941 | 1935 | 31° 51'N, 30° 21'E | At 1935 hours, a fishing vessel was sighted at 6,000 metres, but this was later corrected to be a British MTB. At 2125 hours, Zaffiro dived as it closed to 1,500 metres. | |||||||
| 23 Dec 1941 | 0004 | 31° 41'N, 30° 22'E | At 0004 hours, Zaffiro had reached the rendezvous point where she was to pick up the six Decima Flottiglia MAS divers who had penetrated Alexandria (operation C 3). A destroyer appeared and the submarine dived to the bottom at 45 metres. The submarine surfaced at 0230 hours and continued her search until 0400 hours for the fishing vessel which should have been commandeered by the six men. The submarine returned the following night from 0226 to 0500 hours and again between midnight and 0400 hours on the 25th, but none of the divers were at the rendezvous and Zaffiro headed for home. | |||||||
| 14. | Zaffiro (ZA) | 3 Jan 1942 | 2123 | Leros | 8 Jan 1942 | 1110 | Messina | 830,3 | Passage Leros-Messina and via Kaso Strait and 33°50'N, 26°20'E for patrol in Grids 8475 and 1875 [Grid 18 is within a square between 33°20'N and 34°00'N, 21°40'E and 22°20'E]. | |
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 16 Jan 1942 | 1057 | Messina | 17 Jan 1942 | 0955 | Naples | 243,5 | Passage Messina-Naples for long refit. | ||
| Serpente (ex-Nautilus) (SE) | 21 Feb 1942 | 0700 | Naples | 21 Feb 1942 | 1630 | Naples | 68,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Serpente (ex-Nautilus) (SE) | 24 Feb 1942 | 1055 | Naples | 26 Feb 1942 | 1610 | Brindisi | 520,1 | Passage Naples-Brindisi. Sighted only Italian vessels. | ||
| 25 Feb 1942 | 1105 | (0) Off S. Rainieri. | At 1105 hours, the submarine Topazio was sighted at 15,000 metres. | |||||||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 10 Apr 1942 | 0930 | Naples | 10 Apr 1942 | 1615 | Naples | 27 | Trials, escorted by the torpedo boat Achille Papa. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 14 Apr 1942 | 1013 | Naples | 14 Apr 1942 | 1335 | Naples | 20,2 | Trials. | ||
62 entries. 57 total patrol entries (14 marked as war patrols) and 11 events.