Italian submarines in World War Two
Italian Commanders
Paolo Monechi
| Born | 28 Jan 1911 | Reggello Valdarno (Florence) | |
| Died | 1995 | (83) | Florence |
| Ranks
Decorations
|
Career information
GUGLIELMO MARCONI (T.V. First Officer): from 08.02.1940 to ?ALESSANDRO MALASPINA (T.V. First Officer): ? to May 1941?
MOCENIGO (T.V. C.O.): from 01.11.1941 to 23.06.1942.
Promoted to C.C. on 01.03.1942.
ALABASTRO (C.C. C.O.): from 29.06.1942 to 14.07.1942.
TRITONE (C.C. C.O.): from 10.10.1942 to 19.01.1943 (sunk, Monecchi survived as PoW).
Commands listed for Paolo Monechi
| Submarine | Type | Rank | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | Ocean going | T.V. | 1 Nov 1941 | 23 Jun 1942 |
| Alabastro (AB) | Coastal / Sea going | C.C. | 29 Jun 1942 | 14 Jul 1942 |
| Tritone (TN) | Sea going | C.C. | 24 Jun 1942 | 19 Jan 1943 |
Ships hit by Paolo Monechi
| Date | Submarine | Ship hit | Type | GRT | Nat. | Loss type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 14 Mar 1942 | Mocenigo | Sainte Marcelle | Cargo ship | 1,518 |  | Sunk |
War patrols listed for Paolo Monechi
| Submarine | Date | Time | Port | Arr. date | Arr. time | Arr. port | Miles | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 2 Nov 1941 | 0810 | La Spezia | 2 Nov 1941 | 1745 | La Spezia | 68 | Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Torre Annunziata. | ||
| Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 7 Nov 1941 | 0745 | La Spezia | 7 Nov 1941 | 1700 | La Spezia | 61,2 | Exercises, escorted by MAS 570. | ||
| Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 8 Nov 1941 | 0810 | La Spezia | 8 Nov 1941 | 1538 | La Spezia | 26 | Exercises. | ||
| Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 10 Nov 1941 | 0813 | La Spezia | 10 Nov 1941 | 1500 | La Spezia | 15 | Exercises. | ||
| Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 11 Nov 1941 | 1650 | La Spezia | 11 Nov 1941 | 1740 | La Spezia | 1 | Exercises. | ||
| Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 12 Nov 1941 | 0917 | La Spezia | 12 Nov 1941 | 1250 | La Spezia | 6 | Exercises. | ||
| Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 14 Nov 1941 | 0935 | La Spezia | 14 Nov 1941 | 1010 | La Spezia | 1 | Exercises. | ||
| Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 16 Nov 1941 | 0750 | La Spezia | 16 Nov 1941 | 1435 | La Spezia | 36 | Exercises. | ||
| Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 17 Nov 1941 | 0800 | La Spezia | 17 Nov 1941 | 1220 | La Spezia | 28 | Exercises. | ||
| Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 18 Nov 1941 | 0800 | La Spezia | 18 Nov 1941 | 1200 | La Spezia | 29 | Exercises with the submarines Colonna and Acciaio, escorted by the auxiliaries Crotone, Santantioco and Capodistria. | ||
| Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 20 Nov 1941 | 2210 | La Spezia | 22 Nov 1941 | 0845 | Naples | 340 | Passage La Spezia-Naples. | ||
| Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 26 Nov 1941 | 0900 | Naples | 26 Nov 1941 | 1640 | Naples | 40 | Exercises. | ||
| Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 29 Nov 1941 | 0925 | Naples | 29 Nov 1941 | 1645 | Naples | 45 | Exercises. | ||
| Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 4 Dec 1941 | 1605 | Naples | 6 Dec 1941 | 0930 | Taranto | 510 | Passage Naples-Taranto with Veniero. They were to proceed on the surface at 12 knots via Caqe Palinuro (2345/4), Cape Suvero (0630/5), Cape Peloro (1030/5), Cape Colonne (2330/5) and point M.2 (Taranto) (0800/6). | ||
| 1. | Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 11 Dec 1941 | 1115 | Taranto | 17 Dec 1941 | 1800 | Bardia | Supply mission to Bardia and Benghazi (59 tons of fuel, 15 tons of food supplies) (part 1). Two attempts to enter Bardia on 15th and 16th December 1941 failed because of bad weather. | ||
| 12 Dec 1941 | 1240 1249B (e) | 37° 13'N, 19° 21'E (e) 37° 26'N, 19° 17'E | At 1240 hours, an aircraft was sighted at a distance of 3,500 metres. Mocenigo made a recognition signal but was not answered. As the aircraft appeared to be threatening, the submarine fired two rounds from her stern gun to keep it a t bay and it flew away. This was a Malta-based Maryland of 69 Squadron on a reconnaissance mission (Flying Officer Drew). | |||||||
| 2. | Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 17 Dec 1941 | 2115 | Bardia | 21 Dec 1941 | 0915 | Benghazi | Supply mission to Bardia and Benghazi (59 tons of fuel, 15 tons of food supplies) (part 2). | ||
| 18 Dec 1941 | 1117 | 33° 28'N, 24° 42'E | At 1117 hours, Mocenigo sighted three destroyers, steering 020° at over 25 knots, from a distance of 14,000 metres but was unable to close for an attack. | |||||||
| 3. | Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 21 Dec 1941 | 1857 | Benghazi | 23 Dec 1941 | 1825 | Bardia | Supply mission to Bardia (15 tons of food supplies). Uneventful. | ||
| 4. | Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 23 Dec 1941 | 2110 | Bardia | 27 Dec 1941 | 0820 | Suda | Return trip from supply mission to Bardia and Benghazi. Brought back a wounded captain, a sub lieutenant, fifteen sailors and ten PoWs. | ||
| 24 Dec 1941 | 1030 1034B (e) | (e) 33° 32'N, 24° 58'E | At 1030 hours, a bomber was sighted and Mocenigo dived immediately. The submarine had reached a depth of 40 metres when three small bombs were heard to explode near by. This was Blenheim 'P' of 203 Squadron (Pilot Officer Wintle) carrying out a "Trident" patrol and had sighted a surfaced submarine steering 240° at 8 knots. The bomber circled it twice, giving it a chance to identify itself, but the submarine began crash diving when the Blenheim was completing its second circuit, without making any recognition signal. The aircraft made a dive attack from 1,500 feet, pulling out at 500 feet and releasing four 250lb A/S bombs in a salvo. They fell within an area of 20 yards and the gunner saw them all explode just to the port side of the U-boat which was just submerged but still visible under the water. The aircraft circled the position and, after 30 seconds, a 40 yards square patch of dark brown oil appeared . In fact, Mocenigo had escaped unscathed. The submarines HMS Thunderbolt and HMS Proteus, who were in the general area, were informed of the presence of this submarine but did not make contact. | |||||||
| 27 Dec 1941 | 2216 | 35° 46'N, 23° 49'E | At 2216 hours, Mocenigo sighted a Spanish vessel which had left Suda and shortly after a submarine of the VENIERO class on opposite course. | |||||||
| 5. | Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 27 Dec 1941 | 1700 | Suda | 31 Dec 1941 | 1525 | Taranto | 2592,07 | Return trip from supply mission to Bardia and Benghazi. | |
| 27 Dec 1941 | 2216 | 35° 46'N, 23° 49'E | At 2216 hours, Mocenigo sighted a Spanish vessel which had left Suda and shortly after a submarine of the VENIERO class on opposite course. | |||||||
| 31 Dec 1941 | 0247 | 39° 12'N, 18° 20'E | At 0247 hours, a submarine of the CAGNI class was seen on a parallel course at a distance of 1,200 metres. It was not identified but was probably Dandolo. | |||||||
| Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 5 Jan 1942 | 1005 | Taranto | 5 Jan 1942 | 1045 | Taranto | 0,5 | Docked. | ||
| Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 12 Jan 1942 | 1215 | Taranto | 12 Jan 1942 | 1335 | Taranto | 0,5 | Left dock. | ||
| Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 27 Jan 1942 | 1113 | Taranto | 27 Jan 1942 | 1740 | Taranto | 30,5 | Trials. | ||
| Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 30 Jan 1942 | 1130 | Taranto | 30 Jan 1942 | 1150 | Taranto | 0,2 | Changed moorings. | ||
| Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 4 Feb 1942 | 1046 | Taranto | 4 Feb 1942 | 1135 | Taranto | 4 | Changed moorings. | ||
| 6. | Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 9 Feb 1942 | 1007 | Taranto | 11 Feb 1942 | 1321 | Taranto | 371 | Sailed for patrol within 8 miles of 33°30'N, 20°40'E, on a patrol line with Dandolo, but early return because of defects. | |
| Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 14 Feb 1942 | 1120 | Taranto | 14 Feb 1942 | 1530 | Taranto | 33,5 | Trials. | ||
| 7. | Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 14 Feb 1942 | 1725 | Taranto | 27 Feb 1942 | 1405 | Cagliari | 1832,8 | Sailed for a patrol in area between 36°00'N and 36°20'N and 15°20'E and 15°40'E. On 21st February, her patrol was shifted to an area between 36°40' N and 37°00' N and between 15°20' E and 15°40' E (patrolled southeast of Malta and southeast of Cape Passero). | |
| 18 Feb 1942 | 1212 | 35° 33'N, 15° 36'E | At 1212 hours, two aircraft were sighted at 10,000 metres and Mocenigo dived. Shortly after, three explosions were heard. | |||||||
| 25 Feb 1942 | 0845 | At 0845 hours, the submarine Serpente was sighted. | ||||||||
| 25 Feb 1942 | 2058 | At 2058 hours, an Italian steamer escorted by a destroyer were sighted at a distance of 5,000 metres. Recognition signals were exchanged. Marina Messina had informed Mocenigo of a possible encounter. | ||||||||
| Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 11 Mar 1942 | 0705 | Taranto | 11 Mar 1942 | 1215 | Taranto | 37,8 | Exercises. | ||
| Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 13 Mar 1942 | 0703 | Taranto | 13 Mar 1942 | 1145 | Taranto | 31,3 | Exercises, escorted by MAS 503. | ||
| 8. | Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 13 Mar 1942 | 1856 | Cagliari | 3 Apr 1942 | 1455 | Cagliari | 2878 | Patrolled north of Cape Falcon, in area between 36°00'N and 36°40'N and 00°40'E and 01°40'E. | |
| 14 Mar 1942 | 2056 1955 (e) | 37° 16'N, 5° 05'E (0) 325° - Cape Carbon - 30 miles (French source). | At 1530 hours, a 5,000-ton tanker was observed zigzagging steering between 50 and 140°. The vessel appeared to leave the route assigned to French traffic. At 2056 hours, a stern torpedo (450mm) was fired from a distance of 1,500 metres. It hit the vessel on the port side. The tanker took a list before sinking very quickly. This as the Vichy French Sainte Marcelle (ex-Norwegian Vigoer, 1518 GRT, built 1935, she had been seized at Casablanca in June 1940) who had sailed from Marseilles for Tunis on 7th March. There were two men killed, and twenty-seven survivors. Following this mistake, the Pétain government stopped its adherence to the "Paris Protocols" which included the supply of trucks and other goods to Axis forces in North Africa. | |||||||
| 20 Mar 1942 | 1533 1440 (e) | 36° 30'N, 1° 23'W (e) 36° 33'N, 1° 26'W | At 1350 hours, Mocenigo heard distant turbine noises but the periscope revealed nothing. At 1510 hours, the periscope finally revealed a number of vessels proceeding on a 040° course at 20-22 knots. These were identified as two aircraft carriers (type EAGLE and ARGUS), a battleship, a cruiser and ten or twelve destroyers. The submarine moved to intercept and had reached a distance of 2,500 metres, when a first attack was thwarted by the sudden appearance of two destroyers. They had not been noticed earlier and forced the submarine to a depth of 15 metres, to avoid being rammed. The aircraft carrier, identified as HMS Eagle, passed very near the submarine before action could be taken. She was now presenting her stern at a distance of 800 metres while HMS Argus and the battleship were turning to port. Monechi decided to fire a stern salvo of three torpedoes at Eagle and immediately took his submarine deep, as two destroyers had appeared to have discovered him, and were moving to the attack. He had reached a depth of 45 metres when an explosion was heard 3 minutes after firing, followed 2 minutes later by two more. The submarine reached a depth of 75 metres, but was not depth charged. These were indeed the aircraft carriers HMS Eagle and HMS Argus, the battleship HMS Malaya, the light cruiser HMS Hermione and nine destroyers (these were the fleet destroyers HMS Laforey, HMS Duncan, HMS Active, HMS Anthony, HMS Wishart, HMS Whitehall and the escort destroyers HMS Blankney, HMS Croome and HMS Exmoor) on their way to carry out operation PICKET, phase 1. None of the torpedoes hit. HMS Eagle observed an explosion believed to be a torpedo at the end of its run. | |||||||
| Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 5 Apr 1942 | 0930 | Cagliari | 5 Apr 1942 | 1015 | Cagliari | 0,7 | Changed moorings. | ||
| 9. | Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 20 Apr 1942 | 1610 | Cagliari | 20 Apr 1942 | 1753 | Cagliari | 9,2 | Sailed for patrol between 37°20'N and 37°40'N and 09°20'E and 09°40'E to operate against an enemy force but quickly recalled. | |
| 10. | Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 29 Apr 1942 | 1155 | Cagliari | 20 May 1942 | 0832 | Cagliari | 2629,7 | Sailed for a patrol between 37°40'N and 38°20'N and 01°20'E and 01°40'E. On 30th April 1942, she was ordered to shift her patrol to 37°20'N and 38°00'N and between 02°00'E and 02°20'E. On 16th May, she was ordered off Cape Ténès. | |
| 2 May 1942 | 0740 | 37° 03'N, 0° 15'E | At 0740 hours, a German submarine was encountered and recognition signals exchanged. She was proceeding to the assistance of U-573 (KL Heinrich Heinsohn), who was reported in difficulty after an air attack in Quadrat CH 8218 or 37°15' N, 00°42' E. This was almost certainly U-74 (OL Karl Friedrich) who signalled at 1052 hours that she was in Quadrat CH 8137 (37°15' N, 00°10' E). Eventually, U-573 managed to reach Cartagena where she was interned, but U-74 was sunk later that day. | |||||||
| 2 May 1942 | 1434 | 37° 00'N, 0° 08'E | At 1434 hours, the submarine sighted a destroyer at a distance of 16,000 metres. | |||||||
| 9 May 1942 | 0912 | 37° 41'N, 2° 18'E | At 1434 hours, the submarine sighted from a distance of 13,000 metres a destroyer proceeding at 24 knots. | |||||||
| 18 May 1942 | 0826 0828 (e) | 37° 05'N, 1° 03'E (e) 37° 07'N, 1° 05'E | At 0811 hours, an enemy formation was observed through the periscope, proceeding on a 050° course at a distance of 8-9,000 metres. It was identified as HMS Eagle, HMS Argus, a cruiser and several destroyers. Mocenigo closed to 2,000 metres and attempted an attack on Eagle but could not get a suitable track angle. At 0826 hours, Monechi gave the order to fire three stern torpedoes (533mm) at the cruiser from a distance of 1,200 metres and heard two hits after 90 seconds. Several depth charges followed. These were indeed the aircraft carriers HMS Eagle and HMS Argus, the light cruiser HMS Charybdis screened by screened by the destroyers HMS Westcott, HMS Antelope, HMS Wrestler, HMS Wishart, HMS Partridge and HMS Ithuriel carrying operation L.B. (flying off Spitfires to Malta). HMS Charybdis reported missed by two or three torpedoes (also sighted by HMS Partridge) and dropped three depth-charges. Partridge hunted the submarine dropping 24 depth charges. The submarine was badly shaken and went down to 96 metres. The damages forced her to abandon her patrol. | |||||||
| Mocenigo (MO, I.19) | 2 Jun 1942 | 0925 | Cagliari | 3 Jun 1942 | 0825 | Naples | 275,3 | Passage Cagliari-Naples. | ||
| Alabastro (AB) | 30 Jun 1942 | 0730 | Monfalcone | 30 Jun 1942 | 1210 | Venice | 60 | Passage Monfalcone-Venice. | ||
| Tritone (TN) | 30 Jun 1942 | 0930 | Monfalcone | 30 Jun 1942 | 1705 | Pola | Passage Monfalcone-Pola. | |||
| Alabastro (AB) | 1 Jul 1942 | 1145 | Venice | 1 Jul 1942 | 1355 | Venice | 6 | Exercises. | ||
| Tritone (TN) | 2 Jul 1942 | 0930 | Pola | 2 Jul 1942 | 1745 | Pola | Trials. | |||
| Tritone (TN) | 3 Jul 1942 | 0810 | Pola | 3 Jul 1942 | 1905 | Pola | Trials. | |||
| Tritone (TN) | 4 Jul 1942 | 0830 | Pola | 4 Jul 1942 | 2120 | Pola | Trials. | |||
| Alabastro (AB) | 6 Jul 1942 | 1405 | Venice | 6 Jul 1942 | 1630 | Venice | 6 | Exercises. | ||
| Tritone (TN) | 6 Jul 1942 | 0825 | Pola | 6 Jul 1942 | 2005 | Pola | Trials. | |||
| Tritone (TN) | 7 Jul 1942 | 0825 | Pola | 7 Jul 1942 | 1135 | Pola | Trials, escorted by the torpedo boat T.3. | |||
| Alabastro (AB) | 8 Jul 1942 | 0800 | Venice | 8 Jul 1942 | 1500 | Pola | 72 | Passage Venice-Pola. | ||
| Tritone (TN) | 8 Jul 1942 | 0915 | Pola | 8 Jul 1942 | 1455 | Pola | Trials. | |||
| Tritone (TN) | 9 Jul 1942 | 0840 | Pola | 9 Jul 1942 | 1510 | Pola | Trials. | |||
| Tritone (TN) | 10 Jul 1942 | 0910 | Pola | 10 Jul 1942 | 1635 | Pola | Trials. | |||
| Alabastro (AB) | 11 Jul 1942 | 1440 | Pola | 11 Jul 1942 | 1700 | Pola | 8 | Exercises. | ||
| Alabastro (AB) | 12 Jul 1942 | 0750 | Pola | 12 Jul 1942 | 1950 | Pola | 8 | Gyrocompass tests. | ||
| Alabastro (AB) | 14 Jul 1942 | 0415 | Pola | 14 Jul 1942 | 1925 | Pola | 168 | Diving trials with the torpedo boat Pilo in 44°45.2'N, 14°34.8'E and 44°50.8'N, 14°34.2'E. | ||
| Alabastro (AB) | 15 Jul 1942 | 0855 | Pola | 15 Jul 1942 | 1104 | Pola | 10 | Trials. | ||
| Tritone (TN) | 15 Jul 1942 | 0930 | Pola | 15 Jul 1942 | 1500 | Pola | Trials. | |||
| Tritone (TN) | 17 Jul 1942 | 0525 | Pola | 17 Jul 1942 | 1825 | Pola | Trials. | |||
| Tritone (TN) | 18 Jul 1942 | 0925 | Pola | 18 Jul 1942 | 1055 | Pola | Trials. | |||
| Tritone (TN) | 19 Jul 1942 | 0825 | Pola | 19 Jul 1942 | 0915 | Pola | Trials. | |||
| Tritone (TN) | 21 Jul 1942 | 1120 | Pola | 21 Jul 1942 | 1855 | Pola | Trials. | |||
| Tritone (TN) | 22 Jul 1942 | 1010 | Pola | 22 Jul 1942 | 1445 | Monfalcone | Passage Pola-Monfalcone. | |||
| Tritone (TN) | 29 Sep 1942 | Monfalcone | 29 Sep 1942 | Monfalcone | Trials. | |||||
| Tritone (TN) | 2 Oct 1942 | Monfalcone | 2 Oct 1942 | Monfalcone | Trials. | |||||
| Tritone (TN) | 5 Oct 1942 | Time? | Monfalcone | 5 Oct 1942 | 1645 | Monfalcone | Trials. | |||
| Tritone (TN) | 6 Oct 1942 | 0845 | Monfalcone | 6 Oct 1942 | 1750 | Monfalcone | Trials. | |||
| Tritone (TN) | 7 Oct 1942 | 0845 | Monfalcone | 7 Oct 1942 | 1600 | Monfalcone | Trials. | |||
| Tritone (TN) | 8 Oct 1942 | 0910 | Pola | 8 Oct 1942 | 1630 | Pola | Exercises. | |||
| Tritone (TN) | 10 Oct 1942 | Monfalcone | 10 Oct 1942 | Monfalcone | Entered service. | |||||
| Tritone (TN) | 24 Oct 1942 | 0730 | Monfalcone | 24 Oct 1942 | 1220 | Venice | 62 | Passage Monfalcone-Venice. | ||
| Tritone (TN) | 25 Oct 1942 | 0940 | Venice | 25 Oct 1942 | 1340 | Venice | 11,1 | Trials. | ||
| Tritone (TN) | 26 Oct 1942 | 0925 | Venice | 26 Oct 1942 | 1232 | Venice | 11,5 | Trials. | ||
| Tritone (TN) | 31 Oct 1942 | 0240 | Venice | 31 Oct 1942 | 0815 | Pola | 81,5 | Passage Venice-Pola. | ||
| Tritone (TN) | 4 Nov 1942 | 1346 | Pola | 4 Nov 1942 | 1637 | Pola | 3,6 | Exercises. | ||
| Tritone (TN) | 5 Nov 1942 | 0537 | Pola | 5 Nov 1942 | 1805 | Pola | 130 | Exercises. | ||
| Tritone (TN) | 7 Nov 1942 | 0746 | Pola | 7 Nov 1942 | 1740 | Pola | 9,3 | Exercises. | ||
| Tritone (TN) | 8 Nov 1942 | 0811 | Pola | 8 Nov 1942 | 1530 | Pola | 19 | Exercises. | ||
| Tritone (TN) | 13 Nov 1942 | 0602 | Pola | 13 Nov 1942 | 1625 | Sussa | 79,8 | Passage Pola-Sussa. | ||
| Tritone (TN) | 14 Nov 1942 | 0942 | Sussa | 14 Nov 1942 | 2055 | Pola | 82,5 | Passage Sussa-Pola. | ||
| Tritone (TN) | 20 Nov 1942 | 1915 | Pola | 22 Nov 1942 | 1556 | Taranto | 622,5 | Passage Pola-Taranto. | ||
| Tritone (TN) | 6 Dec 1942 | 0702 | Taranto | 6 Dec 1942 | 1535 | Taranto | 22,5 | Depth trials to 130 meters. | ||
| Tritone (TN) | 9 Dec 1942 | 2020 | Taranto | 12 Dec 1942 | 0745 | Naples | 528 | Passage Taranto-Naples. Uneventful. | ||
| Tritone (TN) | 14 Dec 1942 | 0805 | Naples | 14 Dec 1942 | 1645 | Castellammare di Stabia | 37 | Exercises and passage Naples-Castellammare di Stabia. | ||
| Tritone (TN) | 15 Dec 1942 | 0810 | Castellammare di Stabia | 15 Dec 1942 | 1645 | Castellammare di Stabia | 26 | Exercises. | ||
| Tritone (TN) | 16 Dec 1942 | 0810 | Castellammare di Stabia | 16 Dec 1942 | 1532 | Naples | 25 | Passage Castellammare di Stabia-Naples. | ||
| Tritone (TN) | 24 Dec 1942 | 0821 | Naples | 24 Dec 1942 | 1520 | Naples | 40 | Trials. | ||
| Tritone (TN) | 26 Dec 1942 | 0815 | Naples | 26 Dec 1942 | 1620 | Castellammare di Stabia | 33 | Exercises and passage Naples-Castellammare di Stabia. | ||
| Tritone (TN) | 27 Dec 1942 | 0803 | Castellammare di Stabia | 27 Dec 1942 | 1610 | Castellammare di Stabia | 27 | Exercises. | ||
| Tritone (TN) | 28 Dec 1942 | 0820 | Castellammare di Stabia | 28 Dec 1942 | 1600 | Castellammare di Stabia | 33 | Exercises. | ||
| Tritone (TN) | 29 Dec 1942 | 0817 | Castellammare di Stabia | 29 Dec 1942 | 1640 | Castellammare di Stabia | 36 | Exercises. | ||
| Tritone (TN) | 30 Dec 1942 | 0811 | Castellammare di Stabia | 30 Dec 1942 | 1615 | Naples | 33 | Exercises and passage Castellammare di Stabia-Naples. | ||
| Tritone (TN) | 2 Jan 1943 | 1030 | Naples | 2 Jan 1943 | 1230 | Naples | Exercises. | |||
| Tritone (TN) | 3 Jan 1943 | 0930 | Naples | 3 Jan 1943 | 1825 | Naples | Exercises. | |||
| Tritone (TN) | 4 Jan 1943 | 1200 | Naples | 5 Jan 1943 | 1545 | Naples | Exercises. | |||
| Tritone (TN) | 7 Jan 1943 | 1025 | Naples | 7 Jan 1943 | 1945 | Naples | Exercises. | |||
| Tritone (TN) | 9 Jan 1943 | 0925 | Naples | 9 Jan 1943 | 1100 | Naples | Exercises. | |||
| Tritone (TN) | 13 Jan 1943 | 1853 | Naples | 14 Nov 1942 | 1945 | Cagliari | Passage Naples-Cagliari. | |||
| 11. | Tritone (TN) | 17 Jan 1943 | 2355 | Cagliari | 19 Jan 1943 | 1530 | Sunk | Sailed on first patrol off Bougie, between 37°20'N and the Algerian coast, and between 05°20'E and 05°40'E. Sunk in 37°06'N, 05°22'E by HMS Antelope and HMCS Port Arthur(escort of convoy MKS.6, which was on course 250°, 7 knots). According to her survivors, she carried two reload torpedoes forward and one aft. | ||
| 18 Jan 1943 | 1100 1112 (e) | At 1100 hours, Tritone was attacked by an American bomber which dropped a bomb. The submarine replied with her antiaircraft machine guns and escaped by diving. This was actually Hudson ' R' of 500 Squadron piloted by Flying Officer J.R. Pugh. It was flying at a height of 3,000 feet when a surfaced submarine was sighted at 1112 hours. The position was about 40 miles NNW of the attack carried out by Hudson ' 'J' of the same squadron the previous night and it was presumed that the submarine might be the same one (it was actually Nichelio). The aircraft released a 250lb A/S bomb from 1,300 feet. The Hudson circled the sub which remained on the surface and fired a signal cartridge. A Junker 88 shortly arrived on the scene and as the Hudson was getting short on fuel, it departed the area. | ||||||||
| 19 Jan 1943 | 1413A (e) | (e) 37° 05'N, 5° 22'E | At 1413A hours, the corvette HMCS Port Arthur (Lieutenant E.T. Simmons, DSC, RCNVR) was zigzagging at 10 knots, screening the convoy MKS.6 from Philippeville to Gibraltar and the United Kingdom, when the ASDIC operator obtained an echo at 1,700 yards. At first, it was thought to be doubtful but a minute later it was confirmed to be a submarine. At 1418A hours, a pattern of ten depth charges was released and the explosion temporarily disable the ASDIC. Three minutes later two underwater explosions were heard. In the meantime, the destroyer HMS Antelope (Lieutenant Commander Sinclair, RN) joined the hunt. At 1423A hours, the submarine surfaced about 700 yards from the destroyer and appeared to be down by the stern. HMS Antelope opened fire with her 4.7" guns and smaller armament, scoring at least three 4.7" hits, two on the conning tower and one on the pressure hull. The destroyer closed to 30 yards and attempted to send a boarding party but the submarine sank in two minutes. This was Tritone. C.C. Paolo Monechi, three officers and twenty-two ratings were picked up by Antelope. Twenty-six men perished, including a civilian worker. | |||||||
102 entries. 93 total patrol entries (11 marked as war patrols) and 17 events.