Italian submarines in World War Two
Italian Commanders
Giuseppe Roselli Lorenzini
| Born | 17 Mar 1910 | Rome | |
| Died | 26 Aug 1987 | (77) | Rome |
| Ranks
Decorations
|
Career information
ADUA (T.V. C.O.): from 15.02.1940 to 08.10.1940.SMERALDO (T.V. C.O.): from 08.10.1940 to 17.11.1940.
Promoted to C.C. ca. November 1940.
EMO (C.C. C.O.): from 29.11.1940 to 12.02.1942.
JALEA (C.C. C.O.): from 14.02.1942 to 17.05.1942.
SERPENTE (C.C. C.O.): from 18.05.1942 to 09.06.1942.
AMMIRAGLIO CAGNI (C.C. C.O.): from 07.05.1943 to 23.04.1944.
Commands listed for Giuseppe Roselli Lorenzini
| Submarine | Type | Rank | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adua (AD) | Coastal / Sea going | T.V. | 15 Feb 1940 | 8 Oct 1940 |
| Smeraldo (SD) | Coastal / Sea going | T.V. | 8 Oct 1940 | 17 Nov 1940 |
| Emo (EO, I.17) | Ocean going | C.C. | 29 Nov 1940 | 12 Feb 1942 |
| Jalea (IA) | Coastal / Sea going | C.C. | 14 Feb 1942 | 17 May 1942 |
| Serpente (ex-Nautilus) (SE) | Coastal / Sea going | C.C. | 18 May 1942 | 9 Jun 1942 |
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | Ocean going | C.C. | 7 May 1943 | 23 Apr 1944 |
Ships hit by Giuseppe Roselli Lorenzini
| Date | Submarine | Ship hit | Type | GRT | Nat. | Loss type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 14 Mar 1941 | Emo | Western Chief | Cargo ship | 5,759 |  | Sunk |
| 2. | 25 Jul 1943 | Ammiraglio Cagni | HMS Asturias | Armed Merchant Cruiser | 22,048 | | Damaged |
War patrols listed for Giuseppe Roselli Lorenzini
| Submarine | Date | Time | Port | Arr. date | Arr. time | Arr. port | Miles | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Adua (AD) | 9 Jun 1940 | 1655 | Cagliari | 21 Jun 1940 | 1404 | Cagliari | 1080 | Sailed to form a patrol line (S2) on the Cape Teulada meridian: Axum - 15 miles south of the Cape. Turchese - 35 miles south of the Cape. Adua - 55 miles south of the Cape. Aradam - 75 miles south of the Cape. Later ordered to the West of Majorca and between Ibiza and Majorca. | |
| 17 Jun 1940 | 0228 | (0) Between Dragonera (Mallorca) and Formentara (Ibiza. | At 0228 hours, a destroyer was sighted at a distance of 4,000 metres. As visibility conditions were excellent, this prevented a surface attack. Adua submerged using the Roveto system at a depth of 30 metres and noises from two vessels were heard on the hydrophones. The submarine returned to periscope depth at 0600 hours. | |||||||
| 17 Jun 1940 | 0712 | 38° 40'N, 1° 40'E | At 0625 hours, a periscope scan of the horizon revealed several smokes. This was a French convoy consisting of a 10-15,000-ton liner, four 1-3,000-ton vessels escorted by a sloop of the ANCRE class. At 0712 hours, a single torpedo (533mm) was fired from a stern tube at a range of 1,800 metres aimed at the liner. The submarine was then only 300 metres from one of the smaller merchant vessels and disengaged quickly. At 0714 hours, an explosion was heard and it was believed that the target had been hit. The torpedo had actually missed and does not appear to have been observed. This was convoy IR2F of five ships, Florida (9,146 GRT, built 1926), Kita (3,894 GRT, built 1927), Edéa (3,747 GRT, built 1936), Medie II (5,078 grt, built 1922), Djebel Aurès (2,960 GRT, built 1930) escorted by Commandant Bory and La Curieuse. The same that was attacked by Provana. At 0757 hours, the submarine returned to periscope depth and observed the smaller merchant ships disappearing in the distance while the liner flanked by the sloop were at a distance of 6,000 metres. At the same time, two destroyers of the BISON class were seen at a distance of 4.000 metres rushing to the aid of the convoy. Adua was too far to attack and went down to 40 metres. | |||||||
| Adua (AD) | 29 Jun 1940 | 1009 | Cagliari | 30 Jun 1940 | 1527 | Palermo | 229 | Passage Cagliari-Messina (to Monfalcone for engine overhaul) but diverted to Palermo due to engine defects. An ULTRA intercept mentioned that she had a damaged motor and would be arriving at Point A of Messina at 1130 hours on the 30th. This may have actually referred to point A of Palermo. | ||
| Adua (AD) | 3 Jul 1940 | 1956 | Palermo | 7 Jul 1940 | 0810 | Pola | 766 | Passage Palermo-Pola. | ||
| Adua (AD) | 9 Jul 1940 | 1157 | Pola | 9 Jul 1940 | 2005 | Monfalcone | 82 | Passage Pola-Monfalcone, escorted by the auxiliary San Giusto. Then refit. From October 1940, she was affected to the submarine training school in Pola. | ||
| Adua (AD) | 28 Sep 1940 | 0926 | Monfalcone | 28 Sep 1940 | 1447 | Monfalcone | 50,5 | Trials. | ||
| Adua (AD) | 4 Oct 1940 | 1354 | Monfalcone | 4 Oct 1940 | 1635 | Monfalcone | 20,3 | Diving trials with the submarines Galatea and Fisalia, escorted by tug Morrhua. | ||
| Adua (AD) | 6 Oct 1940 | 1100 | Monfalcone | 6 Oct 1940 | 1810 | Pola | 77,4 | Passage Monfalcone-Pola. | ||
| Smeraldo (SD) | 9 Oct 1940 | 0730 | Pola | 9 Oct 1940 | 1550 | Pola | 15 | Exercises. | ||
| Smeraldo (SD) | 13 Oct 1940 | 0645 | Pola | 13 Oct 1940 | 1530 | Pola | 4,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Smeraldo (SD) | 15 Oct 1940 | 1000 | Pola | 15 Oct 1940 | 1820 | Pola | 44 | Exercises, escorted by the auxiliaries San Giusto and Parenzo. | ||
| Smeraldo (SD) | 19 Oct 1940 | 0745 | Pola | 19 Oct 1940 | 1310 | Pola | 23 | Exercises, escorted by the auxiliaries San Giusto and Marettimo. | ||
| Smeraldo (SD) | 20 Oct 1940 | 1200 | Pola | 22 Oct 1940 | 1825 | Taranto | 495 | Passage Pola-Taranto. | ||
| Smeraldo (SD) | 24 Oct 1940 | 0850 | Taranto | 24 Oct 1940 | 1400 | Taranto | 14,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Smeraldo (SD) | 4 Nov 1940 | 0830 | Taranto | 4 Nov 1940 | 1730 | Taranto | 51 | Exercises. | ||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 2 Dec 1940 | 0930 | Bordeaux | 2 Dec 1940 | 1430 | Le Verdon | Passage Bordeaux-Le Verdon. | |||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 3 Dec 1940 | 0846 | Le Verdon | 3 Dec 1940 | 1800 | La Pallice | 126,5 | Passage Le Verdon-La Pallice (mileage is from 0930 hours on 2nd December). | ||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 4 Dec 1940 | 0930 | La Pallice | 4 Dec 1940 | 1345 | La Pallice | 15 | Exercises at Le Pertuis d'Antioche. | ||
| 2. | Emo (EO, I.17) | 5 Dec 1940 | 1700 | La Pallice | 2 Jan 1941 | 1430 | Bordeaux | 3478,5 | Sailed for Atlantic patrol between 56°00 and 57°00'N and 17°00 and 20°00 W. Escorted in by the minesweepers M-9, M-10 and M-13 from the Second Minesweeping Flotilla. | |
| 17 Dec 1940 | 1810 | At 1810 hours, a steamer was sighted at a distance of 8,000 metres and Emo gave chase in heavy seas. However, some ten tons of water entered through the hatch and the attempt was abandoned [note: Italian submarines had to leave the hatch open to ventilate their diesels. The problem was later addressed in Bordeaux]. | ||||||||
| 20 Dec 1940 | 1427 1435 (e) | 56° 12'N, 19° 55'W (e) 55° 30'N, 19° 25'W | At 1330 hours, in heavy weather, a steamer was sighted steering 280° on the port beam. Due to the heavy smoke of his diesel engines and the impossibility of maintaining a speed of over 10 knots. C.C. Roselli Lorenzini elected for a submerged attack. The range had dropped to 4,000 metres but the submarine had trouble to keep the trim at periscope depth and its conning tower broke surface. At 1427 hours, the range had closed to 500-600 metres and a pair of torpedoes (533mm) were fired at the target, a 3-4,000-ton tanker. She was missed, although an explosion was heard after about 5 minutes, followed by another 2 minutes later. This was the Norwegian tanker Varangberg (2,842 GRT, built 1915) dispersed from convoy OB.260 and on passage from Oban to Freetown. She was then attacked by U-95 (KL Gerd Schreiber) at 1453 and 1457 hours near German grid AL 6176 (55°39' N, 20°05' W), but again escaped. | |||||||
| 27 Dec 1940 | 1140 | At 1140 hours, a warship, probably destroyer, was seen steering 050°. Emo remained on the surface as she was probably too far to be detected. | ||||||||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 27 Feb 1941 | 0830 | Bordeaux | 27 Feb 1941 | 1500 | Le Verdon | Passage Bordeaux-Le Verdon. | |||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 28 Feb 1941 | 0813 | Le Verdon | 28 Feb 1941 | 1730 | La Pallice | Passage Le Verdon-La Pallice, escorted by M-10, M-13 and M-25 from the Second Minesweeping Flotilla. | |||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 1 Mar 1941 | 1100 | La Pallice | 1 Mar 1941 | 1800 | La Pallice | Exercises at Le Pertuis d'Antioche. | |||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 2 Mar 1941 | 1100 | La Pallice | 2 Mar 1941 | 1725 | La Pallice | Exercises at Le Pertuis d'Antioche. | |||
| 3. | Emo (EO, I.17) | 3 Mar 1941 | 1853 | La Pallice | 26 Mar 1941 | 1645 | Bordeaux | 3910 | Sailed for Atlantic patrol between 58°00'N and 59°30'N, and between 13°00'W and 25°00'W. | |
| 9 Mar 1941 | 0104 | 50° 00'N, 18° 00'W (0) Approximately. | At 0104 hours, Emo was informed that a convoy had been reported y a German aircraf at 1300 hours on the 8th in 53°30'40" N, 14°10'20" W (Italian grid 5689/42) steering 250°, 7 knots. | |||||||
| 9 Mar 1941 | 1252 1154 (e) | 50° 00'N, 18° 00'W (e) 51° 53'N, 18° 28'W (0) Approximately. | At 1252 hours, an aircraft was sighted when 2,000 metres away. Emo dived immediately and as she reached a depth of 20 meters, two bombs exploded very twonear, causing some damage. She finally reached 110 meters. At 1309 hours, two more bombs exploded close and more explosions followed at 1501 hours but the submarine escaped further damages. The aircraft was Sunderland 'J' (P.9604) of 10 Squadron piloted by Squadron leader J. Cohen. He had sighted the U-boat at a distance of 2 miles and turned immediately to the attack. Two depth charges were released on the submerging boat from a height of only 30 feet, set to detonate at 100 and 150 feet. Two additional depth charges were dropped very shortly after and were set to 400 feet. Cohen then directed destroyers to the scene and left after about an hour after the first attack. | |||||||
| 10 Mar 1941 | 0010 | 51° 40'N, 21° 05'W | At 0010 hours, a vessel was observed at 12,000 metres. At first, it was thought to be an auxiliary cruiser, but this was later revised to an aircraft carrier. Emo maneuvered to attack but suddenly sighted a destroyer at 700 meters and the submarine dived immediately, eventually losing contact. | |||||||
| 14 Mar 1941 | 1118 | 58° 40'N, 23° 52'W | At 1118 hours, visibility was poor due to frequent rain squalls, a steamer was observed on a westerly course. Emo maneuvered with the intention of carrying a surface attack during the night, as her attack periscope was defective. At 1307 hours, she sighted another steamer on an opposite course, zigzagging on a mean course of 090-095°. This was the British steamer Western Chief (5,759 GRT, built 1918) so she switched target to attack her. | |||||||
| 14 Mar 1941 | 2300 | 58° 52'N, 21° 13'W | At 2300 hours, Emo fired one torpedo (450mm, W 200 type) from a stern tube from a distance of 1,200-1,300 metres at the British steamer Western Chief (5,759 GRT, built 1918). The track could not be observed and it missed. At 2319 hours, a second torpedo (450mm, W 200 type) followed from a stern tube, at a distance of 800-900 metres. It had an irregular course and also missed. At 2349 hours, a third torpedo (533mm, W 270 type) was fired from 500-600 metres at Western Chief. This time it hit and the vessel sank. Twenty-one survivors were picked up by the Dutch steamer Venus and landed at Ponto Delgada on 26 March. | |||||||
| 16 Mar 1941 | 2147 | 59° 10'N, 24° 25'W (0) Approximately. | At 2147 hours, a steamer was sighted steering 230°. Emo was not in a position to intercept and dived to avoid being detected. | |||||||
| 19 Mar 1941 | 0025 2120/18 GMT (e) | 58° 10'N, 24° 22'W (e) 58° 01'N, 24° 25'W | At 1619 hours on 18th March, a steamer was sighted zigzagging on a mean course of 190-200°. Emo maneuvered to intercept after dark. At 0025 hours on the 19th, in very poor visibility, one torpedo (450mm, W 200 type) was fired. It porpoised and missed. This was the British Clan Maciver (4,606 GRT, built 1921) from convoy O.B.297. The submarine avoided an attempt by the steamer to ram her. At 0059 hours, Emo opened fire, but after two rounds the vessel managed to escape, the heavy seas, preventing the submarine from chasing her. Clan Maciver initially made a signal that she had been torpedoed, but later cancelled it. | |||||||
| 21 Mar 1941 | 1505 | At 1505 hours, Emo was informed of the presence of a convoy. The submarine altered course to intercept but, at 2103 hours, a correction to the position of the convoy put it much further west. Being short on fuel, Rosselli Lorenzini, decided to return home. | ||||||||
| 4. | Emo (EO, I.17) | 22 May 1941 | 0617 | Bordeaux | 22 May 1941 | 1330 | Le Verdon | Passage Bordeaux-Le Verdon. | ||
| 5. | Emo (EO, I.17) | 22 May 1941 | 2010 | Le Verdon | 27 May 1941 | 1425 | Bordeaux | Sailed for patrol to intercept convoy traffic to and from Gibraltar, but returned due to defects (leaking fuel). | ||
| 6. | Emo (EO, I.17) | 29 May 1941 | 0930 | Bordeaux | 29 May 1941 | 1300 | Le Verdon | Passage Bordeaux-Le Verdon. | ||
| 7. | Emo (EO, I.17) | 29 May 1941 | 2015 | Le Verdon | 18 Jun 1941 | 1225 | Bordeaux | 4902,5 | Sailed for Atlantic patrol on latitude 38°45'N, between 11°15'W and 11°45'W, to intercept convoys to and from Gibraltar [mileage is from 22nd May]. | |
| 2 Jun 1941 | 1118 | 38° 01'N, 11° 19'W | At 1118 hours, Emo sighted a steamer steering for Oporto. She was thought to be neutral and was not attacked. | |||||||
| 2 Jun 1941 | 2205 | 37° 05'N, 11° 10'W | At 2205 hours, Emo was informed by BETASOM that a convoy was in 33°45' N, 10°45" W, steering 090° at 8 knots, but it was too far to intercept. | |||||||
| 5 Jun 1941 | 1303 | 36° 10'N, 11° 35'W | At 1305 hours, Emo was informed by BETASOM that a convoy had sailed from Gibraltar at 1200 hours on the 4th, on westward passage. The submarine turned south to intercept. | |||||||
| 5 Jun 1941 | 1921 | 36° 10'N, 11° 15'W | At 1921 hours, Emo was informed by BETASOM, retransmitting a signal from Velella (1830/5) reporting a convoy at 35°05' N, 13°05' W, steering 090°, 8 knots. At 2040 hours, Emo received an order from BETASOM to proceed to 35°15' N, 11°45' W. | |||||||
| 5 Jun 1941 | 2055 | 35° 24'N, 11° 38'W | At 2055 hours, the submarine Marconi was encountered and exchanged recognition signals. | |||||||
| 5 Jun 1941 | 2230 | 35° 25'N, 11° 39'W | At 2230 hours, the submarine Velella was encountered and exchanged recognition signals. At 2327 hours, Emo, proceeding to 35°15' N, 11°45' W, received a signal that Marconi had sighted the convoy in 35°05' N, 11°45' W. Rosselli Lorenzini decided to revert course and move northward to intercept, but sighting nothing he turned to southward. At 0030 hours on the 6th, Marconi now reported convoy in 35°15' N, 11°35' W, steering 090° at 8 knots. | |||||||
| 6 Jun 1941 | 0745 | 35° 42'N, 10° 23'W | At 0440 hours, Emo sighted intense firing to the north and turned toward it. At 0745 hours, the submarine sighted two destroyers of the American type. They turned toward the submarine and she dived immediately to avoid being seen. | |||||||
| 6 Jun 1941 | 1400 | 35° 53'N, 9° 46'W (e) 35° 54'N, 9° 50'W | At 1016 hours, Emo sighted the smokes of a convoy in 35°45' N, 10°15' W and six minutes later, made an enemy report to BETASOM. The submarine closed to the attack and counted seven steamers escorted by five gunboats. At 1400 hours, Emo made a submerged attack, firing a pair of bow torpedoes (533mm) from a distance of 1,500 metres aimed each at a steamer. A hit was heard after 90 seconds, followed 5 seconds later by a second one. The two steamers were claimed sunk. This was convoy O.G.63 (Liverpool to Gibraltar). The British steamer Tintern Abbey (2,479 GRT, built 1939) was hit in No.4 hold, by a torpedo which failed to explode but caused a small leak. Roselli Lorenzini explained that he could not fire a salvo of four torpedoes as he lacked an experienced helmsman and he feared his submarine would break surface. | |||||||
| 6 Jun 1941 | 1730 | 35° 00'N, 10° 20'W | At 1730 hours, a large Portuguese fishing vessel was sighted. | |||||||
| 7 Jun 1941 | 1155 | At 1155 hours, Emo received a signal from BETASOM that Brin had reported a convoy in 35°45' N, 15°15' W, steering 250°, 8 knots. Rosselli-Lorenzini declined the order to intercept as he was short of fuel. He was then ordered to remain in his position. | ||||||||
| 8 Jun 1941 | 1730 | 35° 05'N, 12° 42'W | At 1730 hours, a tanker was sighted and Emo submerged to attack. When the vessel was identified as the Spanish Campas (6,276 GRT, built 1932) the attack was broken off . At 1300 hours on the 9th, the submarine was then ordered by BETASOM to proceed through 38°15' N, 22°55' W then to 43°05' N, 19°05' W. At 0800 hours on the 12th, Emo abandoned her patrol as she was short of fuel. | |||||||
| 12 Jun 1941 | 1553 | 37° 20'N, 21° 10'W | At 1553 hours, a steamer, probably neutral,was sighted proceeding at 14 knots toward the Azores. No action was taken. Emo was already short of fuel and could not carry out a chase. | |||||||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 17 Aug 1941 | 1615 | Bordeaux | 17 Aug 1941 | 1830 | Le Verdon | 40 | Passage Bordeaux-Le Verdon. | ||
| 8. | Emo (EO, I.17) | 18 Aug 1941 | 2047 | Le Verdon | 20 Aug 1941 | 0948 | La Pallice | 200 | Sailed for Atlantic patrol and return to Mediterranean, but experienced defects and had to turn back. | |
| 9. | Emo (EO, I.17) | 20 Aug 1941 | 2010 | La Pallice | 1 Sep 1941 | 0715 | Naples | 2401 | Passage La Pallice-Naples. Passed Gibraltar on 27th August 1941. | |
| 22 Aug 1941 | 2135 | 42° 00'N, 12° 00'W (0) Approximately. | At 2135 hours, a vessel, apparently neutral, was sighted steering 120o, toward El Ferrol. No action was taken. | |||||||
| 23 Aug 1941 | 1304 | 40° 38'N, 12° 10'W | At 1304 hours, a signal was received reporting a convoy at 0900 hours in 39°45' N, 10°45' W, steering 135°, 7 knots toward Lisbon. Rosselli-Lorenzini decided to continue his route toward Gibraltar. | |||||||
| 23 Aug 1941 | 2304 | 38° 20'N, 12° 10'W | At 2304 hours, a further signal reported that part of the convoy was to be off Cape St. Vincent at 1000 hours on the 24th. Once again, Lorenzini desisted as he felt he could not be off Cape St. Vincent before noon that day. At 0235 hours on the 25th, the submarine sighted star shells in the distance. | |||||||
| 31 Aug 1941 | 0722 0618 (e) | 39° 00'N, 10° 20'E (e) 38° 37'N, 9° 18'E (0) 110° Cape Carbonara - 70 miles. | At 0722 hours, a torpedo wake was sighted. It missed Emo very widely, passing some 1,000 metres astern. This was followed, a short time later, by an explosion. The attack had been carried out by the Dutch submarine HrMs O 21 (Ltz1. J.F. van Dulm). She had fired two torpedoes from 2,200 yards, at a submarine, identified as of the MARCELLO class, steering 070°. | |||||||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 17 Sep 1941 | 0805 | Naples | 17 Sep 1941 | 1530 | Naples | 38 | Trials. | ||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 22 Sep 1941 | 1505 | Naples | 25 Sep 1941 | 0827 | Pola | 930 | Passage Naples-Pola. Uneventful. Sighted only Italian vessels. | ||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 2 Oct 1941 | 0802 | Pola | 2 Oct 1941 | 1648 | Pola | 54 | Exercises. | ||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 3 Oct 1941 | 1000 | Pola | 3 Oct 1941 | 1750 | Pola | 69 | Exercises. | ||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 7 Oct 1941 | 1000 | Pola | 7 Oct 1941 | 1653 | Pola | 69 | Exercises. | ||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 8 Oct 1941 | 1000 | Pola | 8 Oct 1941 | 1818 | Pola | 74 | Exercises with the submarine Bausan, escorted by the torpedo boat Insidioso and the auxiliary Jadera. | ||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 10 Oct 1941 | 0805 | Pola | 10 Oct 1941 | 1630 | Pola | 52 | Exercises. | ||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 14 Oct 1941 | 1300 | Pola | 15 Oct 1941 | 0200 | Pola | 85 | Exercises with the submarine Toti, escorted by the torpedo boat Audace. | ||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 16 Oct 1941 | 1140 | Pola | 16 Oct 1941 | 2330 | Pola | 77 | Exercises. | ||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 18 Oct 1941 | 0800 | Pola | 18 Oct 1941 | 1630 | Pola | 49 | Exercises with the submarine Toti, escorted by the auxiliary Morrhua. | ||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 21 Oct 1941 | 1257 | Pola | 22 Oct 1941 | 0035 | Pola | 71 | Exercises. | ||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 23 Oct 1941 | 0805 | Pola | 23 Oct 1941 | 1635 | Pola | 59 | Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Grado. | ||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 25 Oct 1941 | 0802 | Pola | 25 Oct 1941 | 1709 | Pola | 68 | Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Morrhua. | ||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 2 Nov 1941 | 0837 | Pola | 2 Nov 1941 | 1637 | Pola | 63 | Exercises with the submarine Bausan, escorted by the auxiliary Morrhua. | ||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 3 Nov 1941 | 0807 | Pola | 3 Nov 1941 | 1655 | Pola | 62 | Exercises with the submarine Bausan, escorted by the auxiliary Grado. | ||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 7 Nov 1941 | 0804 | Pola | 7 Nov 1941 | 1655 | Pola | 60 | Exercises with the submarine Mameli, escorted by the auxiliary San Giorgio. | ||
| 10. | Emo (EO, I.17) | 8 Nov 1941 | 0610 | Pola | 10 Nov 1941 | 0135 | Pola | 164 | Hydrophone watch with the submarine Mameli, to cover an important convoy from Trieste to Venice. Uneventful. | |
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 11 Nov 1941 | 0807 | Pola | 11 Nov 1941 | 1617 | Pola | 64 | Exercises with the submarine Mameli, escorted by the auxiliary San Giorgio. | ||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 17 Nov 1941 | 0807 | Pola | 17 Nov 1941 | 1710 | Pola | 65 | Exercises. | ||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 21 Nov 1941 | 0804 | Pola | 21 Nov 1941 | 1635 | Pola | 63 | Exercises. | ||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 24 Nov 1941 | 0808 | Pola | 24 Nov 1941 | 1637 | Pola | 71 | Exercises. | ||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 26 Nov 1941 | 0813 | Pola | 26 Nov 1941 | 1700 | Pola | 68 | Exercises. | ||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 29 Nov 1941 | 0803 | Pola | 29 Nov 1941 | 1515 | Pola | 58 | Exercises with the submarines Pisani, Toti and Medusa, escorted by the auxiliaries Jadera and Trau. | ||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 2 Dec 1941 | 1645 | Pola | 3 Dec 1941 | 2305 | Pola | 75 | Exercises. | ||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 5 Dec 1941 | 1632 | Pola | 5 Dec 1941 | 2330 | Pola | 82 | Exercises, escorted by the torpedo boat Audace. | ||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 10 Dec 1941 | 0800 | Pola | 10 Dec 1941 | 1715 | Pola | 44 | Exercises with the submarines Mameli, Toti and Pisani, escorted by the auxiliaries Jadera and San Giorgio. | ||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 11 Dec 1941 | 0815 | Pola | 11 Dec 1941 | 1810 | Pola | 60 | Exercises. | ||
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 13 Dec 1941 | 1845 | Pola | 15 Dec 1941 | 0845 | Taranto | 511 | Passage Pola-Taranto. | ||
| 11. | Emo (EO, I.17) | 20 Dec 1941 | 1026 | Taranto | 25 Dec 1941 | 1940 | Bardia | 1016 | Supply mission to Bardia (61 tons: 14 tons of lubricating oil, 15 tons of ammunition and 32 tons of German food supplies). British Intelligence was aware of the mission through ULTRA decrypt. | |
| 21 Dec 1941 | 1115 | (0) 170° - Cape Santa Maria di Leuca - 180 miles. | At 1115 hours, a small vessel was sighted at a range of 5,000 metres. Emo dived for a possible attack, should the vessel prove to be enemy. However, as she was doing so, Emo develop a leak and lost control. It was finally checked when she reached a depth of 90 meters. | |||||||
| 21 Dec 1941 | 1655 | 36° 42'N, 19° 00'E | At 1655 hours, a derelict mine was sighted and Emo attempted to sink it to provide the machine gun crew with some exercise, but they failed to do so. | |||||||
| 12. | Emo (EO, I.17) | 26 Dec 1941 | 0537 | Bardia | 29 Dec 1941 | 0845 | Suda | 505 | Return trip from supply mission to Bardia. Uneventful. Apparently she had a leak which ruined part of her cargo of provisions. | |
| 13. | Emo (EO, I.17) | 31 Dec 1941 | 1730 | Suda | 2 Jan 1942 | 1852 | Bardia | Supply mission to Bardia (? tons of provisions) but she had not been advised that the town had fallen and came under fire on arrival. Managed to escape and was ordered to return to Suda. | ||
| 2 Jan 1942 | 1852-1902 | (0) Bardia harbour. | At 1852 hours, unaware that the town had fallen in enemy hands, Emo was about to enter harbour when she was fired upon by machine guns and other light guns from all over the bay. The larger coastal guns did not open fire on the submarine, because of the depression. The submarine replied with her light guns but could not distinguish where the enemy fire came from. The helmsman was wounded (shot twice) and Rosselli Lorenzini was slightly injured, but the submarine managed to escape. | |||||||
| 14. | Emo (EO, I.17) | 2 Jan 1942 | 1902 | Bardia | 5 Jan 1942 | 0715 | Suda | 758,5 | Return trip (part 1) from aborted supply mission to Bardia [mileage is from 1730 hours on the 31st]. | |
| 2 Jan 1942 | 1852-1902 | (0) Bardia harbour. | At 1852 hours, unaware that the town had fallen in enemy hands, Emo was about to enter harbour when she was fired upon by machine guns and other light guns from all over the bay. The larger coastal guns did not open fire on the submarine, because of the depression. The submarine replied with her light guns but could not distinguish where the enemy fire came from. The helmsman was wounded (shot twice) and Rosselli Lorenzini was slightly injured, but the submarine managed to escape. | |||||||
| 15. | Emo (EO, I.17) | 6 Jan 1942 | 1700 | Suda | 8 Jan 1942 | 1255 | Taranto | 560 | Return trip (part 2) from aborted supply mission to Bardia. Uneventful. | |
| Emo (EO, I.17) | 16 Jan 1942 | 1700 | Taranto | 18 Jan 1942 | 0615 | Naples | 492 | Passage Taranto-Naples. | ||
| Jalea (IA) | 7 Mar 1942 | 0800 | Porto Baross | 7 Mar 1942 | 1357 | Porto Baross | 26,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Jalea (IA) | 9 Mar 1942 | 1235 | Porto Baross | 9 Mar 1942 | 1826 | Porto Baross | 32,6 | Exercises with the submarine Pisani, escorted by the auxiliary Trau. | ||
| Jalea (IA) | 10 Mar 1942 | 0802 | Porto Baross | 10 Mar 1942 | 1400 | Porto Baross | 28,2 | Exercises with the submarine Pisani, escorted by the auxiliaries Jadera and Trau. | ||
| Jalea (IA) | 14 Mar 1942 | 0825 | Porto Baross | 14 Mar 1942 | 1400 | Porto Baross | 26,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Jalea (IA) | 16 Mar 1942 | 1330 | Porto Baross | 16 Mar 1942 | 1745 | Porto Baross | 19,9 | Exercises. | ||
| Jalea (IA) | 17 Mar 1942 | 0835 | Porto Baross | 17 Mar 1942 | 1402 | Porto Baross | 23,6 | Exercises. | ||
| Jalea (IA) | 18 Mar 1942 | 0913 | Porto Baross | 18 Mar 1942 | 1615 | Porto Baross | 38,4 | Exercises with the submarines Asteria and Manara, escorted by the auxiliaries Jadera and Abbazia. | ||
| Jalea (IA) | 1 Apr 1942 | 0920 | Porto Baross | 1 Apr 1942 | 1740 | Porto Baross | 38,5 | Exercises with the submarines Asteria and Manara, escorted by the torpedo boat Audace, the auxiliary Jadera and two motorboats. | ||
| Jalea (IA) | 2 Apr 1942 | 2018 | Porto Baross | 3 Apr 1942 | 0055 | Porto Baross | 31 | Exercises, escorted by the torpedo boat Audace, the auxiliary San Giorgio and motorboat 6 F. | ||
| Jalea (IA) | 4 Apr 1942 | 0830 | Porto Baross | 4 Apr 1942 | 1330 | Porto Baross | 25,3 | Exercises. | ||
| Jalea (IA) | 6 Apr 1942 | 1026 | Porto Baross | 6 Apr 1942 | 1301 | Porto Baross | 8,5 | Exercises with the submarine Pisani, escorted by the torpedo boat Audace. | ||
| Jalea (IA) | 8 Apr 1942 | 0900 | Porto Baross | 9 Apr 1942 | 0205 | Porto Baross | 83,5 | Exercises, escorted by the auxiliaries Abbazia and Trau. | ||
| Jalea (IA) | 9 Apr 1942 | 1004 | Porto Baross | 10 Apr 1942 | 0216 | Porto Baross | 64 | Exercises. | ||
| Jalea (IA) | 11 Apr 1942 | 0915 | Porto Baross | 11 Apr 1942 | 1442 | Porto Baross | 23,2 | Exercises with the submarines Diaspro, Asteria and Manara, escorted by the torpedo boat Insidioso and the auxiliary Jadera. | ||
| Jalea (IA) | 16 Apr 1942 | 1225 | Porto Baross | 17 Apr 1942 | 0116 | Porto Baross | 48 | Exercises with the submarine Manara, escorted by the torpedo boat Insidioso and the auxiliary Jadera. | ||
| Jalea (IA) | 18 Apr 1942 | 0920 | Porto Baross | 18 Apr 1942 | 1340 | Porto Baross | 37,3 | Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Jadera. | ||
| Jalea (IA) | 21 Apr 1942 | 1240 | Porto Baross | 21 Apr 1942 | 2156 | Porto Baross | 43,1 | Exercises, by the auxiliary Jadera. | ||
| Jalea (IA) | 23 Apr 1942 | 1220 | Porto Baross | 23 Apr 1942 | 0042 | Porto Baross | 61,9 | Exercises, escorted by the torpedo boat T.3. | ||
| Jalea (IA) | 25 Apr 1942 | 0920 | Porto Baross | 25 Apr 1942 | 1453 | Porto Baross | 38,8 | Exercises with the submarine Manara, escorted by the torpedo boat T.3. | ||
| Jalea (IA) | 28 Apr 1942 | 1252 | Porto Baross | 29 Apr 1942 | 0029 | Porto Baross | 3,3 | Exercises with the submarines Manara and Giada, escorted by the torpedo boat Audace. | ||
| Jalea (IA) | 30 Apr 1942 | 0822 | Porto Baross | 30 Apr 1942 | 2400 | Porto Baross | 58 | Exercises with the submarines Manara and Giada, escorted by the torpedo boat Audace. | ||
| Jalea (IA) | 2 May 1942 | 1001 | Porto Baross | 2 May 1942 | 1432 | Porto Baross | 12,3 | Exercises, escorted by the torpedo boat Audace. | ||
| Jalea (IA) | 5 May 1942 | 1232 | Porto Baross | 6 May 1942 | 0043 | Porto Baross | 50,4 | Exercises with the submarine Bandiera, escorted by the torpedo boat Audace. | ||
| Jalea (IA) | 7 May 1942 | 0932 | Porto Baross | 7 May 1942 | 1213 | Porto Baross | 24,7 | Exercises with the submarine Bandiera, escorted by the auxiliary Jadera. | ||
| Jalea (IA) | 9 May 1942 | 1051 | Porto Baross | 9 May 1942 | 1455 | Porto Baross | 15,7 | Exercises with the submarine Bandiera, escorted by the torpedo boat T.3. | ||
| Jalea (IA) | 11 May 1942 | 1325 | Porto Baross | 11 May 1942 | 2310 | Porto Baross | 37,5 | Exercises with the submarines Manara and Giada, escorted by the torpedo boat T.3. | ||
| Jalea (IA) | 13 May 1942 | 1315 | Porto Baross | 13 May 1942 | 1648 | Porto Baross | 24,7 | Exercises. | ||
| Jalea (IA) | 15 May 1942 | 1100 | Porto Baross | 15 May 1942 | 2115 | Porto Baross | 38,9 | Exercises with the submarine Manara, escorted by the torpedo boat Insidioso. | ||
| Jalea (IA) | 16 May 1942 | 1330 | Porto Sauro | 16 May 1942 | 1900 | Pola | 58,9 | Passage Porto Baross-Pola. | ||
| Serpente (ex-Nautilus) (SE) | 18 May 1942 | 0601 | Pola | 18 May 1942 | 1115 | Porto N. Sauro (Susak) | 58 | Passage Pola-Susak with the submarine Menotti, escorted by the torpedo boat Insidioso. | ||
| Serpente (ex-Nautilus) (SE) | 19 May 1942 | 1315 | Susak | 20 May 1942 | 0210 | Susak | 70 | Exercises with the submarine Bandiera, escorted by the auxiliary Jadera and the torpedo boat Insidioso. | ||
| Serpente (ex-Nautilus) (SE) | 21 May 1942 | 1405 | Susak | 22 May 1942 | 0210 | Susak | 73 | Sailed with the submarine Bandiera, escorted by the torpedo boat Insidioso for exercises. Was detached for sonar exercises in 45°17'N, 14°24'E with the destroyer Da Verazzano (equipped with German S-Gerät). | ||
| Serpente (ex-Nautilus) (SE) | 23 May 1942 | 0805 | Susak | 23 May 1942 | 0835 | Susak | Changed moorings. | |||
| Serpente (ex-Nautilus) (SE) | 26 May 1942 | 0805 | Susak | 27 May 1942 | 0135 | Susak | 72 | Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Jadera. | ||
| Serpente (ex-Nautilus) (SE) | 28 May 1942 | 0855 | Susak | 29 May 1942 | 0035 | Susak | 60 | Exercises, escorted by the torpedo boat Insidioso. | ||
| Serpente (ex-Nautilus) (SE) | 30 May 1942 | 0720 | Susak | 30 May 1942 | 1300 | Susak | 15 | Exercises, escorted by the torpedo boat Insidioso. | ||
| Serpente (ex-Nautilus) (SE) | 2 Jun 1942 | 1400 | Susak | 3 Jun 1942 | 0025 | Susak | 45,3 | Exercises with the submarine Bandiera, escorted by the torpedo boat Insidioso. | ||
| Serpente (ex-Nautilus) (SE) | 4 Jun 1942 | 0915 | Susak | 4 Jun 1942 | 1730 | Susak | 33 | Exercises. | ||
| Serpente (ex-Nautilus) (SE) | 6 Jun 1942 | 0915 | Susak | 6 Jun 1942 | 1700 | Susak | 35,5 | Exercises with the submarines Bandiera and Ascianghi, escorted by the torpedo boat Insidioso. | ||
| Serpente (ex-Nautilus) (SE) | 9 Jun 1942 | 0917 | Susak | 10 Jun 1942 | 0045 | Susak | 52 | Exercises with the submarine Bandiera, escorted by the torpedo boat Insidioso. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 4 Jun 1943 | 1230 | Bordeaux | 4 Jun 1943 | 1630 | Pauillac | 35 | Passage Bordeaux-Pauillac. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 16 Jun 1943 | 1530 | Pauillac | 16 Jun 1943 | 1830 | Le Verdon | 20 | Passage Pauillac-Le Verdon. | ||
| 16. | Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 17 Jun 1943 | 0900 | Le Verdon | 18 Jun 1943 | 0600 | Le Verdon | 225 | Sailed for Atlantic patrol but turned back due to defects. | |
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 19 Jun 1943 | 0800 | Le Verdon | 19 Jun 1943 | 1100 | Pauillac | 20 | Passage Le Verdon-Pauillac. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 20 Jun 1943 | 1300 | Pauillac | 20 Jun 1943 | 1700 | Bordeaux | 35 | Passage Pauillac-Bordeaux. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 26 Jun 1943 | 1230 | Bordeaux | 26 Jun 1943 | 1930 | Verdon | 55 | Passage Bordeaux-Verdon. | ||
| 17. | Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 29 Jun 1943 | 0400 | Le Verdon | 20 Sep 1943 | 1130 | Durban | 11820 | Sailed for Singapore to pick up a cargo of rubber (she had a crew of 81). Arrived in the Indian Ocean on 8th September 1943. First ordered to Colombo, but then diverted to Durban. She was met by the corvette HMS Jasmine and brought in and moored to the light cruiser HMS Caradoc. | |
| 1 Jul 1943 | 0140 | At 0140 hours, an aircraft was detected with Metox and the submarine dived. | ||||||||
| 2 Jul 1943 | 0110 | 46° 00'N, 9° 00'W (0) Very approximate position. | At 0110 hours, an aircraft was detected by Metox and the submarine dived to 50 metres. Six bomb explosions were heard. | |||||||
| 2 Jul 1943 | 0955 | At 0955 hours, fifteen aircraft were seen and the submarine dived. | ||||||||
| 2 Jul 1943 | 1655 | At 1655 hours, an aircraft was seen diving from the sun and the submarine dived. | ||||||||
| 3 Jul 1943 | 1015 | At 1015 hours, an aircraft was seen diving from the sun and the submarine dived. | ||||||||
| 4 Jul 1943 | 0833 | At 0833 hours, an aircraft was seen diving from the sun and the submarine dived. | ||||||||
| 4 Jul 1943 | 1130 | At 1130 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived. | ||||||||
| 4 Jul 1943 | 1635 | At 1635 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived. | ||||||||
| 12 Jul 1943 | 1615 | 27° 34'N, 21° 15'W | At 1530 hours, a steamer was sighted steering a northerly course. Two minutes later, Cagni submerged and proceeded to attack at periscope depth. At 1615 hours, three torpedoes (450mm, one with standard and two with magnetic pistols) were fired from 1,500 metres. After about a minute, a muffled explosion was heard giving a running range of 1,300 metres. At 1620 hours, three depth charges were heard followed, at 1628 hours, by more. C.C. Roselli Lorenzini believed that the vessel had been hit by a torpedo with a magnetic pistol and the other explosions were perhaps torpedoes hitting the bottom. | |||||||
| 15 Jul 1943 | 1433 | 21° 00'N, 23° 00'W | At 1433 hours, two masts were sighted on the horizon at 12,000 metres. Cagni proceeded to intercept at 12 knots. At 1720 hours, the submarine submerged and prepared to launch two torpedoes from forward tubes. At 1834 hours, the vessel was recognised as Portuguese and the attack broken off. | |||||||
| 19 Jul 1943 | 0928 | 15° 20'N, 21° 05'W (0) Position at noon. | At 1128 hours, a vessel was sighted. One minute later, Cagni submerged to the attack. At 1300 hours, it was recognised as a Swish ship and the attack aborted. | |||||||
| 22 Jul 1943 | 0358 | 6° 52'N, 20° 45'W | At 1510 hours on 21st July, a smoke was sighted on the horizon. Cagni proceeded to intercept at 13 knots. At 1547 hours, she submerged for a stern attack with two torpedoes. The vessel appeared to be a 3,000-ton armed merchant cruiser with four medium-sized gun and six multiple machine gun mounts. At 1713 hours, the sudden loss of periscope depth prevented the attack from being carried out and contact was lost. At 1845 hours, the submarine surfaced and sighted the vessel again and trailed her for an attack after dark. At 0243 hours, on 22nd July, Cagni had gained a position ahead of her target and submerged. At 0358 hours, two torpedoes (450mm) were fired from bow tubes at a distance of over 2,000 metres. They missed. After 12 minutes, explosions were heard believed to be from depth charges. The submarine surfaced and sighted the vessel at 8,000 metres. An attempt to give chase was quickly given up as fuel consumption was becoming a problem. | |||||||
| 25 Jul 1943 | 0149 0100Z (e) | 6° 40'N, 21° 00'W | At 0145 hours, the shadow of a warship was sighted at 2,000 metres. Initially, it was thought to be a destroyer steering 025° at 15 knots. Cagni turned to make a stern attack but she quickly passed at 600-800 metres before it could be made. At 0146 hours, the shadow of a large ship was observed proceeding on a parallel course to the destroyer. At 0149 hours, two torpedoes (450mm) were fired from bow tubes at a distance of 2,500 metres aimed at this target believed to be an aircraft carrier. As another destroyer was now sighted about 1,000 metres astern of the submarine, C.C. Roselli Lorenzini took her down to 110 metres. After 154 seconds, two explosions were heard followed by a louder one. At 0245 hours, Cagni surfaced but heavy rain had reduced visibility to the minimum and nothing could be seen. This was actually the armed merchant cruiser HMS Asturias (22,048 tons, built 1926), zigzagging at 9.7 knots. One torpedo was observed to miss ahead, the other hit amidship. The explosion was muffled. Her engine room, boiler room and auxiliary engine room were flooded, but she managed to crawl away steering 036° at 5 knots. The "aircraft-carrier" was actually a floating dock towed by the tugs Thames and Roode Zee proceeding in company. They had been screened by the corvettes HMS Clarkia, HMS Woodruff and HMS Cowslip, the sloop HMS Milford and the armed whaler HMS Southern Gem and the armed trawler HMS Inkpen. The floating dock, tugs and remaining escorts continued on their way. HMS Clarkia and HMS Southern Gem stood by the stricken vessel and were joined by the frigate HMS HMS Exe on 26th July, followed a few hours later by the sloop HMS Folkestone and the tug Zwarte Zee who took HMS Asturias in tow. On the following day, the frigate HMS Moyola brought pumps and other equipment. HMS Asturias arrived at Freetown at 0400Z hours on 1st August. | |||||||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 8 Nov 1943 | 1715 | Durban | 16 Nov 1943 | 1816 | Kilindini (Mombasa) | 1856 | Passage Durban-Kilindini escorted by the armed yacht HMS Virginia. She was instructed not to take offensive action against enemy submarines, but that enemy surface vessels could be attacked. It was briefly considered to sent her to Leros in a supply role but this did not work out. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 18 Nov 1943 | 0830 | Kilindini (Mombasa) | 25 Nov 1943 | 1600 | Aden | 1754 | Passage Kilindini-Aden escorted by armed yacht HMS Virginia. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 8 Dec 1943 | 0600 | Aden | 13 Dec 1943 | 1520 | Suez | 1400 | Passage Aden-Suez. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 14 Dec 1943 | 0800 | Suez | 14 Dec 1943 | 1930 | Port Said | 70 | Passage Suez-Port Said. Refit lasted 4 months. Then used for A/S training in Palermo. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 17 Dec 1943 | 1415 | Port Said | 18 Dec 1943 | 0700 | Haifa | 165 | Passage Port Said-Haifa. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 28 Dec 1943 | 1330 or 0830/27? | Haifa | 2 Jan 1944 | 1400 | Taranto | 1050 | Passage Haifa-Taranto. Proceeding at 11 knots, diving by day between 25° E and 20° E, through 33°57'N, 25°00'E at 1800B hours on the 30th and 34°15'N, 21°55'E at 1400B hours on the 31st. A long refit followed. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 4 Apr 1944 | 0708 | Taranto | 4 Apr 1944 | 1440 | Taranto | 45 | Trials. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 7 Apr 1944 | 0800 | Taranto | 7 Apr 1944 | 1710 | Taranto | 51 | Trials. | ||
156 entries. 119 total patrol entries (17 marked as war patrols) and 46 events.