Italian submarines in World War Two


Zoea (ZE)
Zoea

TypeMinelaying 
ClassFoca (32) 
Laid down 3 Feb 1936 Cantieri Navale Tosi di Taranto, Taranto
Launched5 Dec 1937
Commissioned12 Feb 1938
End service
Stricken1 Feb 1948
Loss date
Loss position
History Stricken on 1st February 1948.
Fate

Commands


CommanderDate fromDate toCommand notes
C.C. Giorgio Bernabò1 Jun 194018 Dec 1940
T.V. Enrico Lambertini19 Dec 194018 Jun 1941
T.V. Alberto Campanella18 Jun 194114 Nov 1941
T.V. Rino Erler15 Nov 194110 Dec 1941
G.M. Enzo Berardi1 Jan 194220 Jan 1942
S.T.V. Pier Vittorio Casarini20 Jan 19422 Feb 1942
T.V. Alberto Campanella3 Feb 194220 Jun 1942
T.V. Rino Erler20 Jun 194228 Aug 1942
T.V. Rodolfo Bombig28 Aug 194215 Sep 1945

Ships hit

No ships hit by this submarine.

Patrols and events

 CommanderDateTimePortArr. dateArr. timeArr. portMilesDescription
Bernabò, Giorgio9 Jun 19401037La Spezia9 Jun 19401055La Spezia2Moved from the Arsenal to Le Grazie.

Bernabò, Giorgio12 Jun 19400800La Spezia12 Jun 19401400La SpeziaExercises with the submarine Iride.

Bernabò, Giorgio14 Jun 19402120La Spezia16 Jun 19401210Naples335,5Passage La Spezia-Naples.

1Bernabò, Giorgio18 Jun 19401645Naples21 Jun 19401300Tobruk805Supply mission to Tobruk (49 tons of ammunition in 1,225 boxes).

1bBernabò, Giorgio22 Jun 19402027Tobruk24 Jun 19402215Taranto616Return trip from supply mission to Tobruk.

2Bernabò, Giorgio29 Jun 19402300Taranto17 Jul 19401320Taranto2223Minelaying mission off Ras El Kenayis, in 31°17.5'N, 27°52'E to 31°18'N, 27°53.52'E between Mersa Matruh and El Alamein, then patrolled from point 34°22'N, 26°20'E on axis 290°-110°.
  30 Jun 1940061539° 50'N, 18° 00'E
(0) Approximately.
At 0615 hours, the torpedo-boat Pallade was sighted and exchanged recognition signals.
  30 Jun 19400720
(0) Off Cape Santa Maria di Leuca.
At 0720 hours, the torpedo boat Pallade was again sighted, this time in company with a submarine (doubtful).
  4 Jul 19400814-082231° 17'N, 27° 52'EAt 0814 hours, Zoea began laying mines. This should have been a line of 36 mines from 31°17.5' N, 27°52' E to 31°18' N, 27°53.52' E. At 0822 hours, after the 8th mine had been laid an explosion occurred and the minelaying was stopped. A later examination concluded that it was probably not one of the submarine's mines but an enemy one or an aircraft bomb.

It would take the accident that occurred with Atropo and the disappearance of Foca in October 1940, for Italian submarine minelaying operations to be withheld indefinitely.
  8 Jul 19400634
0640 (e)
34° 22'N, 26° 20'EAt 0550 hours, hydrophone effects were heard, but an examination through the periscope revealed nothing.

At 0630 hours, the submarine surfaced to have a better look but sighted a large aircraft and had to crash-dive. She had reached a depth of 10-12 metres when two bombs exploded at 0634 hours. They caused some damage to the hull in the bow section, but Zoea continued her patrol.

This was a Swordfish (Lieutenant (A) P.S. Touchbourne, RN) from 824 Squadron (HMS Eagle) flying at an altitude of 2,000 feet. A submarine similar to the ARGO class was sighted at a distance of 5-6 mile. It had a heavily camouflaged conning tower and was steering 035°. The aircraft dropped six 100 lb bombs of which only four exploded.

Bernabò, Giorgio24 Aug 19400850Taranto24 Aug 19401545Taranto51Exercises.

Bernabò, Giorgio28 Aug 19400801Taranto28 Aug 19401152Taranto28Exercises.

Bernabò, Giorgio3 Sep 19400804Taranto3 Sep 19401154Taranto33Exercises.

3Bernabò, Giorgio22 Sep 19402150Taranto23 Sep 19401004Taranto80,5Defensive patrol (hydrophone watch).

Bernabò, Giorgio27 Sep 19400650Taranto27 Sep 19401255Taranto24Exercises.

4Bernabò, Giorgio7 Oct 19401809Taranto22 Oct 19401715Taranto2374Minelaying mission through (1) 34°00'N, 23°30'E and (2) 33°30'N, 30°00'E to lay a minefield off Jaffa. Captain A.N. Bencivenni came along to check the mines.
  10 Oct 1940123033° 50'N, 25° 24'EAt 1230 hours, Zoea was on her way to her minelaying mission, when she received a signal informing her of a large vessel in the Grid square between 33°40' N and 33°50' N and 23°40' E and 24°00' E, steering 105° at 13 knots. The submarine steered 180°, proceeding on the surface for 20 minutes to intercept then dived to listen with the hydrophones, but nothing was detected.
  14 Oct 19402029-215132° 00'N, 34° 33'EBetween 2029 and 2151 hours, Zoea laid a minefield of 20 mines off Jaffa.

(1) 32°00.5' N, 34°33.8' E to 32°32' N, 34°34' E (8 mines)
(2) 31°59' N, 34°34.4' E to 31°58.5' N, 34°34.5' E (6 mines).
(3) 31°58.3' N, 34°34.7' E to 31°58' N, 34°35' E (6 mines).

One of the mines may have damaged the Hellenic destroyer Spetsai at 0315 hours, on 21st February 1943, in 32°10.5' N, 34°30' E.
  21 Oct 1940203038° 40'N, 17° 43'EAt 2030 hours, two lookouts reported sighting a submarine submerging at a distance of 500 metres.

This was HMS Parthian (Lieutenant Commander M.G. Rimington, RN). At 2025 hours, a submarine was sighted 20° on the port bow at a distance of 500 yards, steering 360°. HMS Parthian was steering 130° and attempted to ram, but missed her opponent's stern by only a few yards. The officer of the watch was certain the submarine was British.

Bernabò, Giorgio24 Oct 19400818Taranto24 Oct 19401130Taranto19Exercises.

Bernabò, Giorgio12 Dec 19400835Taranto12 Dec 19401555Taranto25Exercises.

Bernabò, Giorgio18 Dec 19400840Taranto18 Dec 19401710Taranto18Exercises.

5Lambertini, Enrico22 Dec 19400854Taranto26 Dec 19401055Portolago (Leros)728,5Supply mission (? tons) to Leros through: (1) 35°40'N, 20°20'E (2) 328° - Agria Grabusa Light (Crete) - 10 miles (3) 260° - Cape Malaka (Crete) - 29 miles (4) 158° - Makra Island - 11 miles (5) Point E of Stampalia. Uneventful.

Lambertini, Enrico2 Jan 19411012Leros2 Jan 19411120Leros1Changed moorings?

5bLambertini, Enrico3 Jan 19411705Leros7 Jan 19411530Taranto657Return trip from supply mission to Leros. Uneventful.

Lambertini, Enrico5 Feb 19410835Taranto5 Feb 19411141Taranto26Exercises, escorted by the torpedo boat Pleiadi.

Lambertini, Enrico6 Feb 19410740Taranto6 Feb 19411145Taranto18Exercises.

Lambertini, Enrico10 Feb 19411056Taranto10 Feb 19411634Taranto39,7Exercises.

Lambertini, Enrico12 Feb 19410800Taranto12 Feb 19411510Taranto54Exercises.

6Lambertini, Enrico23 Feb 19410818Taranto28 Feb 19411140Leros647Supply mission to Leros. Uneventful.

6bLambertini, Enrico9 Mar 19411650Leros13 Mar 19411740Taranto677Return trip from supply mission to Leros.

Lambertini, Enrico31 Mar 19410837Taranto31 Mar 19411140Taranto24,5Exercises.

7Lambertini, Enrico1 Apr 19410820Taranto7 Apr 19410600Leros927Supply mission to Leros (? tons). Uneventful.

Lambertini, Enrico15 Apr 19412218Leros16 Apr 19410730Rhodes115Passage Leros-Rhodes to pick up (gold?) from the Bank of Italy.

7bLambertini, Enrico17 Apr 19410100Rhodes17 Apr 19410600Alminia Bay35Return trip from supply mission to Leros. As she was leaving harbour, she was ordered to go to Alimnia Bay and await instructions.

7cLambertini, Enrico17 Apr 19411700Alminia Bay22 Apr 19411430Taranto731Return trip from supply mission to Leros. Uneventful.

Lambertini, Enrico10 May 19410743Taranto10 May 19411215Taranto40Exercises.

Lambertini, Enrico12 May 19410800Taranto12 May 19411400Taranto50Exercises with the pilot vessel Limbara.

8Lambertini, Enrico14 May 19411555Taranto17 May 19411845DernaSupply mission to Derna (75 tons of ammunition for Afrika Korps). Uneventful.

8bLambertini, Enrico18 May 19410300Derna20 May 19411800Taranto1182Return trip from supply mission to Derna. Uneventful.

9Lambertini, Enrico23 May 19411600Taranto26 May 19412000DernaSupply mission to Derna (73 tons of ammunition).
  25 May 1941085034° 20'N, 20° 05'EAt 0850 hours, a derelict mine was sighted and an attempt to sink it by machine gun fire failed.

9bLambertini, Enrico27 May 19410115Derna29 May 19411425Taranto1140Return trip from supply mission to Derna. Unevenful.

10Lambertini, Enrico2 Jun 19410620Taranto4 Jun 19411940DernaSupply mission to Derna (77 tons of ammunition). Uneventful.

10bLambertini, Enrico5 Jun 19410030Derna7 Jun 19411500Taranto1163Return trip from supply mission to Derna.
  6 Jun 1941170037° 06'N, 19° 45'EAt 1700 hours, a derelict mine was sighted and sunk by machine gun fire.
  6 Jun 1941170037° 06'N, 19° 45'EAt 1700 hours, a derelict mine was sunk by machine-gun fire. This was apparently of the Vickers - Elia or P,A. 200 type.
  6 Jun 1941180037° 16'N, 19° 40'EAt 1800 hours, a derelict mine was sunk by machine-gun fire. This was apparently of the Vickers - Elia or P.A. 200 type.

11Campanella, Alberto23 Jun 19410840Taranto26 Jun 19412040DernaSupply mission to Derna (76 tons of ammunition). Uneventful.

11bCampanella, Alberto27 Jun 19410300Derna29 Jun 19411200Taranto1190Return trip from supply mission to Derna. Uneventful.

12Campanella, Alberto4 Jul 19411145Taranto7 Jul 19412100DernaSupply mission to Derna (54 tons of ammunition) Uneventful.

12bCampanella, Alberto7 Jul 19412330Derna10 Jul 19411030Taranto1184Return trip from supply mission to Derna. Uneventful.

13Campanella, Alberto17 Jul 19411030Taranto20 Jul 19412100DernaSupply mission to Derna (56 tons of ammunition). Uneventful.

13bCampanella, Alberto21 Jul 19410100Derna23 Jul 19411145Taranto1182Return trip from supply mission to Derna. Uneventful.

14Campanella, Alberto6 Aug 19411330Taranto10 Aug 19410510Bardia?Supply mission to Bardia with 57 tons of petrol. First submarine to reach Bardia following the British evacuation.
  8 Aug 1941031034° 50'N, 21° 50'EAt 0310 hours, a submarine was sighted on parallel but opposite course. Zoea turned away.

MARICOSOM had issued orders not to attack submarines when east of 22° E and this was close to the limit.
  8 Aug 19411000
1120 (e)
34° 00'N, 23° 16'EAircraft had been seen in the distance at 0700, 0900 and 0915 hours.

At 1000 hours, a fourth aircraft was sighted and circled the submarine at a distance of 2,500 metres. It finally attacked, as Zoea opened fire with her machine guns at distance of 1,500 metres. Three bombs were dropped, falling about 20 metres from the starboard bow. The aircraft attempted a second attack from the stern, Zoea opened fire with two machine guns and, as the aircraft was 500 metres away, it was hit and crashed in the sea. Zoea did not linger on the surface as three aircraft were seen approaching and she dived.

The aircraft was Blenheim 'X' (Z.6421) of 203 Squadron piloted by Flight Lieutenant Corbould. It had sighted the submarine described as small (!) in very dark colours and with no visible armament, steering 100° at 10 knots. It released four SAP bombs, one of which was seen to fall 10-15 yards off the port bow. The aircraft was not shot down as claimed and reached Mersa Matruh.
  10 Aug 19410910+
(0) At Bardia.
General Rommel and General Count Giorgio Carlo Calvi di Bergolo visited the submarine.

14bCampanella, Alberto10 Aug 19410930Bardia13 Aug 19411430Taranto1577Return trip from supply mission to Bardia.
  10 Aug 19410910+
(0) At Bardia.
General Rommel and General Count Giorgio Carlo Calvi di Bergolo visited the submarine.
  11 Aug 1941072534° 05'N, 22° 20'E
(0) Approximately.
At 0725 hours, an aircraft was sighted and it made a stern attack. Zoea opened fire with her machine guns at a range of 1,500 metres. The aircraft replied with its own machine guns but did not drop any bomb. It circled at a distance of 4,000 metres for 40 minutes and it was believed that the aircraft was summoning other bombers to attack.

At 1115 hours, a second aircraft appeared diving from the sun. The submarine made the recognition signal but was not answered and opened fire with her machine guns at a range of 2,000 metres. The aircraft strafed the submarine but did not carry out a bombing attack.
  11 Aug 1941182534° 05'N, 22° 20'EAt 1825 hours, an aircraft flying low came from the sun and strafed the submarine. Zoea opened fire at about 1,000 metres, but one of her gunners was seriously wounded. The aircraft made the reconnaissance signal of the CAT (German Air Corps) while the submarine was plainly displaying the Italian flag. This did not prevent the aircraft making another strafing run, flasing again the CAT reconnaissance signal before flying away.
  12 Aug 1941083036° 00'N, 20° 00'E
(0) Approximately.
At 0830 hours, a French convoy was sighted at a distance of 1,500 metres, steering 110°, 10 knots. Zoea dived to avoid being seen.

Campanella, Alberto22 Oct 1941Taranto22 Oct 19410815SunkAt Taranto, sunk accidentally at her moorings. Later raised and repaired.
  22 Oct 19410815-0920
(0) At Taranto.
The submarine had just left the dock when she accidentally sank at her moorings sometime between 0815 and 0920 hours when the starboard mine hatch was accidentally opened.

There were a number of persons on board. The inquest recorded that some nineteen persons were in the control room at one time or another. Who could have opened the hatch by mistake? Three were electricians from the crew and the remainder workers from the S. Giorgio, Calzoni and Tosi firms and from MARICOST Taranto. There were crew members in other parts of the boat when the accident occurred.

The crew members did not panic and evacuated in good order. However, some of the workers panicked. The submarine sank slowly and Maggiore G.N Festuccia from the nearby submarine Ammiraglio Saint Bon, had time to run and board Zoea. He tried to close the hatches but was not in time and was thrown in the water. There were no victims. The submarine was raised on 5th November and docked. It took several months to be repaired, in time for operation HARPOON.

Erler, Rino15 Nov 19410930Taranto10 Dec 19411430TarantoRepairs at Taranto. Change in command.

Berardi, Enzo1 Jan 1942Taranto20 Jan 1942TarantoRepairs at Taranto. Change in command.

Casarini, Pier Vittorio20 Jan 1942Taranto2 Feb 1942TarantoRepairs at Taranto. Change in command.

Campanella, Alberto16 Apr 19421400Taranto16 Apr 19421745Taranto15Trials.

Campanella, Alberto19 Apr 19421232Taranto19 Apr 19421800Taranto37Trials, escorted by the minesweeper R.D.13.

Campanella, Alberto23 Apr 19420815Taranto23 Apr 19421545Taranto42Trials, escorted by the minesweeper R.D.6.

Campanella, Alberto26 Apr 19420700Taranto26 Apr 19421250Taranto46Trials and exercises.

Campanella, Alberto8 May 19421440Taranto8 May 19421845Taranto46Exercises.

Campanella, Alberto18 May 19420830Taranto18 May 19421730Taranto56Exercises.

Campanella, Alberto24 May 19420730Taranto24 May 19421330Taranto52Exercises.

Campanella, Alberto30 May 19420730Taranto30 May 19421250Taranto46Exercises.

Campanella, Alberto4 Jun 19420800Taranto4 Jun 19421740Taranto79Exercises.

Campanella, Alberto6 Jun 19420815Taranto6 Jun 19421320Taranto33Exercises with the torpedo boat Sagittario.

15Campanella, Alberto14 Jun 19420830Taranto19 Jun 19421435Taranto846Patrolled southeast of Malta between 35°00'N and 35°20'N, and between 15°40'E and 16°00'E.
  19 Jun 19420503At 0503 hours, the submarine Micca was sighted.

16Erler, Rino25 Jun 19421000Taranto28 Jun 19422030DernaSupply mission to Derna (53 tons of petrol and 3 tons of food supplies). ULTRA sigint had learnt that Italian submarines Atropo, Bragadino, Corridoni and Zoea used to transport stores to Derna were passing through 33°20’ N, 22°40’ E.
  27 Jun 1942150533° 49'N, 22° 33'EAt 1505 hours, a submarine was sighted and believed to be Atropo. Zoea had instructions not to attack submarines encountered. She was sighted by HMS Thrasher the next morning when approaching Derna, but the British submarine could not get into an attacking position.

16bErler, Rino29 Jun 19420015Derna2 Jul 19421100Taranto1047Return trip from supply mission to Derna. ULTRA sigint had learnt that Italian submarines Atropo, Bragadino, Corridoni and Zoea used to transport stores to Derna were passing through 33°20’N, 22°40’E. In fact, they were informed that Zoea was due in Derna on the 27th, but it was on her return trip that the interception was made.
  29 Jun 1942122034° 00'N, 22° 50'E
(0) Approximately.
At 1220 hours, a German Red Cross aircraft was sighted and exchanged recognition signals.
  29 Jun 19421505
1639 (e)
34° 20'N, 22° 40'EAt 1430 hours, an aircraft was sighted astern and remained at a distance.

At 1500 hours, an aircraft was sighted making a long circle at low altitude and it made an attack from the sun. It tried strafing the submarine without managing to hit her. Zoea opened fire with her machine guns and even with her deck gun. The aircraft was believed hit and flew away.

This was Maryland 'P' (No. 364) of 203 Squadron piloted by Pilot Officer E. Boyce, on a special search for enemy craft south of Crete. At 1629C hours, it sighted the submarine on the surface, steering 280° at 8 knots. Zoea opened fire but her shots fell astern. The aircraft replied with its guns but without any apparent effect. The Italian flag was seen to be flying. The submarine was still on the surface when the aircraft departed.

17Erler, Rino8 Jul 19421330Taranto11 Jul 19420930TobrukSupply mission to Tobruk (51.4 tons of ammunition).
  9 Jul 19420900At 0900 hours, a derelict mine was sighted and sunk by machine gun fire.

17bErler, Rino11 Jul 19421800Tobruk14 Jul 19421220Taranto1111Return trip from supply mission to Tobruk.
  12 Jul 1942024037° 00'N, 23° 10'EAt 0240 hours, a vessel was sighted but could not be identified. It may have been the torpedo-boat Clio, known to be in the area looking for survivors of a German transport aircraft. Zoea took avoiding action by submerging.

18Erler, Rino19 Jul 19421130Taranto22 Jul 19420900TobrukSupply mission to Tobruk (55.7 tons: 52.7 tons of German ammunition and three tons of provisions).
  20 Jul 19421635At 1635 hours, a German aircraft was sighted, which circled three times around the submarine. The submarine made recognition signals and the aircraft finally flew away.
  21 Jul 19420115At 0115 hours, an italian hospital ship was sighted at a distance of 5,000 metres.

18bErler, Rino22 Jul 19421800Tobruk25 Jul 19421130Taranto1156Return trip from supply mission to Tobruk. Uneventful.

19Erler, Rino2 Aug 19421130Taranto6 Aug 19420830TobrukSupply mission to Tobruk (63.6 tons: 54 tons of petrol, 2.6 tons of lubricating oil, 7 tons of spare parts). Uneventful.
  6 Aug 19421830
(0) Tobruk harbour.
At 1830 hours, Zoea had unloaded her stores when a heavy air raid by the USAAF was witnessed. A heavy bomb fell a few metres from the conning tower on the starboard side, while a pontoon loaded with ammunition suffered a direct hit 200 meters away. The submarine suffered some damage from the near-miss but this was not noticed at the moment. Following the explosions of the ammunition on the pontoon, the First Officer ordered the submarine away. During the air raid TV. Erler was ashore and could not rejoin the submarine before 2000 hours.
  6 Aug 19422005+
(0) Outside Tobruk harbour.
At 2005 hours, the submarine ran aground on a shoal 30 meters from shore as she was maneuvering between obstructions to leave the harbour. Initial efforts to free the submarine failed. At 2300 hours, another heavy air raid occurred and a salvo of bombs fell in the sea 500 meters from the submarine while a second salvo fell on land some 700 meters away. At 0900 hours on the 7th, a tug arrived and the submarine was freed at the first attempt" At 0930, she returned to harbour to check for damage.

19bErler, Rino6 Aug 19422005Tobruk7 Aug 19420930TobrukThe submarine sailed for home, but ran aground at the harbour exit and returned to harbour to check for damage.
  6 Aug 19421830
(0) Tobruk harbour.
At 1830 hours, Zoea had unloaded her stores when a heavy air raid by the USAAF was witnessed. A heavy bomb fell a few metres from the conning tower on the starboard side, while a pontoon loaded with ammunition suffered a direct hit 200 meters away. The submarine suffered some damage from the near-miss but this was not noticed at the moment. Following the explosions of the ammunition on the pontoon, the First Officer ordered the submarine away. During the air raid TV. Erler was ashore and could not rejoin the submarine before 2000 hours.
  6 Aug 19422005+
(0) Outside Tobruk harbour.
At 2005 hours, the submarine ran aground on a shoal 30 meters from shore as she was maneuvering between obstructions to leave the harbour. Initial efforts to free the submarine failed. At 2300 hours, another heavy air raid occurred and a salvo of bombs fell in the sea 500 meters from the submarine while a second salvo fell on land some 700 meters away. At 0900 hours on the 7th, a tug arrived and the submarine was freed at the first attempt" At 0930, she returned to harbour to check for damage.

19cErler, Rino7 Aug 19421830Tobruk9 Aug 19420500+NavarinoPassage Tobruk-Navarino for repairs. At 0500 hours on the 9th, she was met by the torpedo boat Partenope who escorted her to harbour. She was moored next to auxiliary Quarnaro who helped with repairs.

19dErler, Rino11 Aug 19420015Navarino12 Aug 19421220Taranto1276Return trip from supply mission to Tobruk.
  11 Aug 19420830At 0830 hours, an Italian aircraft was sighted and exchanged recognition signals.

Bombig, Rodolfo6 Sep 19421305Taranto6 Sep 19421840Taranto31Trials.

Bombig, Rodolfo7 Sep 19420815Taranto7 Sep 19421322Taranto31Trials.

20Bombig, Rodolfo9 Sep 19421150Taranto12 Sep 19420901BenghaziSupply mission to Benghazi (58 tons of ammunition). Uneventful. Heard only H.E.

20bBombig, Rodolfo12 Sep 19421710Benghazi15 Sep 19421310Taranto1110Return trip from supply mission to Benghazi. Uneventful [mileage is for round trip].

21Bombig, Rodolfo23 Sep 19421115Taranto26 Sep 19420935BenghaziSupply mission to Benghazi (62 tons of ammunition). Her diesel engines emitted a lot of smoke.
  24 Sep 19420830At 0830 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived.

21bBombig, Rodolfo26 Sep 19421550Benghazi29 Sep 19421210Taranto1155Return trip from supply mission to Benghazi [mileage is for round trip].
  27 Sep 1942084534° 45'N, 19° 24'EAt 0845 hours, several aircraft were seen coming from the stern and the submarine dived.
  28 Sep 1942080037° 34'N, 18° 35'EAt 0800 hours, a German aircraft was seen and exchanged recognition signals.

22Bombig, Rodolfo10 Oct 19421115Taranto13 Oct 19421000BenghaziSupply mission to Benghazi (45.6 tons: 45.3 tons of Italian ammunition, 0.3 ton of spare parts). Uneventful.

22bBombig, Rodolfo13 Oct 19421640Benghazi17 Oct 19421700Taranto1123,5Return trip from supply mission to Benghazi [mileage is for round trip].
  14 Oct 1942063533° 30'N, 19° 02'EAt 0635 hours, a German aircraft was seen and exchanged recognition signals.
  14 Oct 1942070633° 38'N, 19° 02'EAt 0706 hours, two aircraft were seen and the submarine dived.
  14 Oct 1942075933° 40'N, 19° 05'EAt 0759 hours, an aircraft was seen steering 290° and the submarine dived.
  14 Oct 1942112233° 59'N, 19° 18'EAt 1122 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived. Two bombs exploded near her but caused no damage.
  15 Oct 1942161535° 36'N, 19° 36'EAt 1615 hours, a German aircraft was seen and the exchanged recognition signals.
  15 Oct 1942162035° 36'N, 19° 36'EAt 1615 hours, another German aircraft was seen and the submarine dived.

23Bombig, Rodolfo1 Nov 19421125Taranto4 Nov 19420915TobrukSupply mission to Tobruk (48 tons of Italian petrol).
  3 Nov 19420545At 0545 hours, a German aircraft was seen and the exchanged recognition signals. Later, Zoea sighted many German aircraft but none made the recognition signals.
  3 Nov 1942152534° 16'N, 22° 58'EAt 1525 hours, two German aircraft were sighted, apparently conducting a systematic search. They exchanged recognition signals at 1540 hours. These were probably the same aircraft sighted by Ascianghi.
  3 Nov 1942163234° 16'N, 22° 58'E
(0) Approximately.
At 1632 hours, an Italian submarine was sighted and exchanged recognition signals. This was Ascianghi.
  3 Nov 1942185534° 00'N, 23° 12'EAt 1855 hours, a hospital ship was sighted steering 300°.
  3 Nov 1942225533° 23'N, 23° 28'E
(0) Approximately.
At 2255 hours, another hospital ship was sighted steering 340°.

23bBombig, Rodolfo4 Nov 19421540Tobruk8 Nov 19421645Taranto1238,5Return trip from supply mission to Tobruk [mileage is for round trip].
  8 Nov 19420800At 0800 hours, a submarine was sighted. It was believed to be Otaria.

Bombig, Rodolfo8 Jan 19431045Taranto8 Jan 19431707Taranto14Trials.

Bombig, Rodolfo11 Jan 19430825Taranto11 Jan 19431705Taranto14Trials.

Bombig, Rodolfo13 Jan 19430932Taranto13 Jan 19431117Taranto4,2Trials.

24Bombig, Rodolfo16 Jan 19431145Taranto23 Jan 19430905SfaxSupply mission to Tripoli (35 tons of Italian ammunition, 5.6 tons of foodstuff and 0.4 tons of various stores). As she was approaching her destination, at 0612 hours on the 20th, she received a signal to return home. At 0037 hours on the 21st, she was told to remain in the area and then was ordered to Zuara and finally to Sfax.
  20 Jan 1943025034° 38'N, 15° 30'EAt 0250 hours, a hospital ship was sighted steering 050°.

24bBombig, Rodolfo23 Jan 19431255Sfax28 Jan 19431505Taranto1620Return trip from supply mission to Sfax [mileage is for round trip].
  25 Jan 1943025034° 38'N, 15° 30'EAt 0250 hours, two destroyers were sighted at distance of 12,000 metres. They were believed to be part of the convoy heading for Malta and later detected with the hydrophones. They turned toward the submarine. Because the moonlight made a surface attack difficult, Zoea submerged.
  28 Jan 19430800
(0) Off Cape Trionto.
At 0800 hours, the torpedo boat Perseo escorting a tanker was sighted.

Bombig, Rodolfo22 Feb 19430800Taranto22 Feb 19431600Taranto66,5Trials.

Bombig, Rodolfo1 Apr 19430800Taranto1 Apr 19431200Taranto17Trials.

Bombig, Rodolfo2 Apr 19430955Taranto2 Apr 19431305Taranto9Trials.

Bombig, Rodolfo8 Apr 19430930Taranto8 Apr 19431600Taranto15Trials.

Bombig, Rodolfo13 Apr 19430712Taranto13 Apr 19431550Taranto43Trials.

Bombig, Rodolfo14 Apr 19430955Taranto16 Apr 19430648Augusta325,5Passage Taranto-Augusta.
  14 Apr 1943142339° 59'N, 17° 14'EAt 1423 hours, a derelict mine was sighted.

25Bombig, Rodolfo4 May 19431800Augusta8 May 19430045LampedusaSupply mission to Lampedusa (54.03 tons of Italian ammunition). Uneventful except for sighting an Italian convoy and hearing H.E.

25bBombig, Rodolfo8 May 19430504Lampedusa12 May 19430207Augusta793Return trip from supply mission to Lampedusa. Uneventful. Heard only H.E.

Bombig, Rodolfo15 May 19432240Augusta18 May 19430705Taranto306Passage Augusta-Taranto. Uneventful.
  16 May 19430004At 0004 hours, the submarine Pietro Micca was sighted and exchanged recognition signals. She was returning because of defects.

Bombig, Rodolfo12 Jun 19431315Taranto12 Jun 19431830Taranto34Trials.

Bombig, Rodolfo18 Jun 19431400Taranto18 Jun 19431835Taranto29,2Sonar exercises with the torpedo boat Lince and auxiliary Claretta.

26Bombig, Rodolfo21 Jun 19431918Taranto22 Jun 19431232Taranto107Hydrophone watch.
  22 Jun 19431423
(0) 182° - Torre Ovo - 11 miles.
At 1423 hours, a derelict mine was sighted.

Bombig, Rodolfo3 Jul 19430510Taranto3 Jul 19431002Taranto36,5Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo7 Jul 19430440Taranto7 Jul 19431110Taranto32,5Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo9 Jul 19430903Taranto9 Jul 19431215Taranto30Trials.

27Bombig, Rodolfo19 Jul 19430315Taranto20 Jul 19430350Taranto116Special mission. Probably hydrophone watch with submarine Micca in Gulf of Taranto.

28Bombig, Rodolfo21 Jul 19430100Taranto21 Jul 19430400TarantoSailed for defensive patrol but quickly recalled.

29Bombig, Rodolfo21 Jul 19430500Taranto23 Jul 19430734Taranto278Sailed with the submarine Micca for defensive patrol in 39°40'N, 17°50'E or 30 miles from Punta Alice, in Gulf of Taranto. This was also reported as Special Mission. Uneventful.

Bombig, Rodolfo27 Jul 19430455Taranto27 Jul 19431020Taranto30Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo4 Aug 19430536Taranto4 Aug 19430951Taranto34,8Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo18 Aug 19430516Taranto18 Aug 19431018Taranto29,4Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo28 Aug 19431435Taranto28 Aug 1943106Taranto8,1Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo1 Sep 19430524Taranto1 Sep 19431107Taranto34Exercises.

30Bombig, Rodolfo3 Sep 19430115Taranto10 Sep 19430930Augusta743Sailed for special mission between 38°30'N and 38°38'N, and between 15°45'E and Italian coast. then diverted to Augusta for surrender.

Bombig, Rodolfo17 Sep 19430602Augusta17 Sep 19431835Malta102Passage Augusta-Malta with the submarines Settembrini, Corridoni, Bragadino, Squalo and Vortice.

Bombig, Rodolfo16 Oct 19430841Malta21 Oct 19430950Haifa1071Passage Malta-Haifa with the submarines Atropo, Corridoni and Menotti.

31Bombig, Rodolfo23 Oct 19430600Haifa26 Oct 19432105LerosSupply mission to Leros (Port Laki) with 48 tons of stores and 25 bags of mail. Uneventful.

31bBombig, Rodolfo27 Oct 19430227Leros29 Oct 19432152Haifa1317Return trip from supply mission to Leros.
  28 Oct 19430206
(0) Kaso Strait.
At 0206 hours, a submarine was sighted. Zoea turned away.
  29 Oct 19430920At 0920 hours, the submarine Ciro Menotti was sighted and exchanged recognition signals.

32Bombig, Rodolfo3 Nov 19430301Haifa6 Nov 19432032LerosSupply mission to Leros through (1) 32°59'N, 34°34'E (2) 34°26'N, 27°10'E, thence diving at dawn north of Kaso Strait. She was carrying 37 tons of stores and six anti-tank guns (on deck).
  5 Nov 19432104At 2104 hours, a British submarine was sighted and exchanged recognition signals. This was HMS Seraph (Lieutenant N.L.A. Jewell, MBE, RN).

32bBombig, Rodolfo7 Nov 19430220Leros10 Nov 19432204Haifa1321Return trip from supply mission to Leros.
  8 Nov 19430522
(0) Kaso Strait.
At 0522 hours, a submarine was sighted and Zoea turned away.
  8 Nov 19431840
1820 (e)

(e) 34° 55'N, 27° 40'E
(0) [southeast of Kaso Strait].
At 1840 hours, a submarine was sighted making a recognition signal, but dived before it was returned (this was ORP Dzik). Zoea turned away.

Bombig, Rodolfo3 Dec 19430815Haifa3 Dec 19431635Haifa311Exercises with coastal battery.

Bombig, Rodolfo4 Dec 19430816Haifa5 Dec 19431840Alexandria311Passage Haifa-Alexandria, escorted by King George II.
  4 Dec 19431147
(0) Off Haifa.
At 1147 hours, the submarine Galatea was sighted.

Bombig, Rodolfo7 Dec 19430825Alexandria7 Dec 19431546AlexandriaBrief sortie for demagnetization.

Bombig, Rodolfo8 Dec 19430800Alexandria8 Dec 19431516Alexandria47Sonar exercises with two British destroyers.

Bombig, Rodolfo9 Dec 19430825Alexandria9 Dec 19431512Alexandria46,6Sonar exercises with a British and a Polish destroyers.

Bombig, Rodolfo10 Dec 19430830Alexandria10 Dec 19431505Alexandria47,3Sonar exercises with a British vessel.

Bombig, Rodolfo12 Dec 19430810Alexandria12 Dec 19430905Alexandria0,6Sailed for exercises but these were then canceled.

Bombig, Rodolfo13 Dec 19430905Alexandria13 Dec 19431552Alexandria47,8Sonar exercises with a British vessel.

Bombig, Rodolfo14 Dec 19430837Alexandria14 Dec 19431403Alexandria48,2Sonar exercises with two British vessels.

Bombig, Rodolfo15 Dec 19430834Alexandria15 Dec 19431315Alexandria46Sonar exercises with two British vessels.

Bombig, Rodolfo16 Dec 19430834Alexandria16 Dec 19431539Alexandria46,5Sonar exercises with two British vessels.

Bombig, Rodolfo17 Dec 19430900Alexandria17 Dec 19431604Alexandria45,8Sonar exercises with two British vessels.

Bombig, Rodolfo18 Dec 19430610Alexandria19 Dec 19431245Haifa321Passage Alexandria-Haifa.

Bombig, Rodolfo9 Jan 19440610Haifa9 Jan 19441245Haifa28,7Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo23 Jan 19440700Haifa24 Jan 19441528Alexandria309Passage Haifa-Alexandria.

Bombig, Rodolfo25 Jan 19440810Alexandria25 Jan 19441629Alexandria51Exercises with a British destroyer.

Bombig, Rodolfo28 Jan 19440800Alexandria28 Jan 19441652Alexandria46,5Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo29 Jan 19440630Alexandria29 Jan 19441422Alexandria42,5Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo1 Feb 19440700Alexandria1 Feb 19441619Alexandria52,8Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo2 Feb 19440720Alexandria2 Feb 19441600Alexandria45Exercises with a Polish destroyer.

Bombig, Rodolfo3 Feb 19440720Alexandria3 Feb 19441600Alexandria47,5Exercises with a British destroyer.

Bombig, Rodolfo4 Feb 19440900Alexandria4 Feb 19441553Alexandria36,2Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo7 Feb 19441000Alexandria7 Feb 19441815Alexandria38Exercises with a British destroyer.

Bombig, Rodolfo9 Feb 19440900Alexandria9 Feb 19441746Alexandria44,7Exercises with a Greek corvette.

Bombig, Rodolfo10 Feb 19440730Alexandria10 Feb 19441658Alexandria42,2Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo11 Feb 19440645Alexandria11 Feb 19441559Alexandria48,2Exercises with a Greek corvette.

Bombig, Rodolfo12 Feb 19440600Alexandria13 Feb 19441306Haifa303,3Passage Alexandria-Haifa for refit.

Bombig, Rodolfo21 Apr 19441045Haifa21 Apr 19441931Haifa47,5Trials.

Bombig, Rodolfo22 Apr 19441816Haifa24 Apr 19441927Alexandria352Passage Haifa-Alexandria.
  23 Apr 19441506
(0) Between Alexandria and Haifa.
At 1506 hours, the submarine Alagi was sighted.

Bombig, Rodolfo25 Apr 19440700Alexandria25 Apr 19441745Alexandria49,2Exercises with a British destroyer.

Bombig, Rodolfo27 Apr 19440723Alexandria27 Apr 19441822Alexandria40,8Exercises with two British corvettes.

Bombig, Rodolfo28 Apr 19440653Alexandria28 Apr 19441733Alexandria45,7Exercises with two British corvettes.

Bombig, Rodolfo1 May 19440736Alexandria1 May 19441733Alexandria41,3Exercises with a Btitish corvette and MTB.

Bombig, Rodolfo2 May 19440742Alexandria2 May 19441514Alexandria38,7Exercises with two Motor Launches.

Bombig, Rodolfo3 May 19440645Alexandria3 May 19441940Alexandria50,1Exercises with a British destroyer and a Motor Launch.

Bombig, Rodolfo5 May 19440656Alexandria5 May 19441658Alexandria53Exercises with a British destroyer and two corvettes.

Bombig, Rodolfo6 May 19441020Alexandria6 May 19441837Alexandria43,3Exercises with a British destroyer.

Bombig, Rodolfo8 May 19441059Alexandria8 May 19441758Alexandria50,6Exercises with two British destroyers and two corvettes.

Bombig, Rodolfo9 May 19441224Alexandria9 May 19441847Alexandria43,6Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo10 May 19441222Alexandria10 May 19441851Alexandria43,2Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo11 May 19441114Alexandria11 May 19441703Alexandria44,2Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo12 May 19440817Alexandria12 May 19441446Alexandria44,3Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo13 May 19440558Alexandria14 May 19441546Haifa341,5Passage Alexandria-Haifa.

Bombig, Rodolfo18 Jun 19441744Haifa20 Jun 19440730Alexandria341Passage Haifa-Alexandria.
  19 Jun 19441506
(0) Between Alexandria and Haifa.
At 1506 hours, two Egyptian sailing vessels were sighted.

Bombig, Rodolfo22 Jun 19440737Alexandria22 Jun 19441414Alexandria53,8Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo26 Jun 19440702Alexandria26 Jun 19441505Alexandria48,2Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo27 Jun 19440655Alexandria27 Jun 19441508Alexandria47,1Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo28 Jun 19440835Alexandria28 Jun 19441544Alexandria43,7Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo30 Jun 19440643Alexandria30 Jun 19441618Alexandria58,7Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo2 Jul 19440644Alexandria2 Jul 19441442Alexandria51,2Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo5 Jul 19440741Alexandria5 Jul 19441221Alexandria45,7Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo6 Jul 19440640Alexandria6 Jul 19441458Alexandria52,3Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo7 Jul 19440640Alexandria7 Jul 19441320Alexandria42,6Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo10 Jul 19440638Alexandria10 Jul 19441723Alexandria57,8Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo11 Jul 19440736Alexandria11 Jul 19441418Alexandria47,5Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo12 Jul 19440641Alexandria12 Jul 19441713Alexandria66Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo13 Jul 19440638Alexandria13 Jul 19441534Alexandria49,2Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo14 Jul 19440706Alexandria14 Jul 19441358Alexandria43Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo17 Jul 19440636Alexandria17 Jul 19441510Alexandria56,2Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo18 Jul 19440737Alexandria18 Jul 19441640Alexandria47,6Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo20 Jul 19440840Alexandria20 Jul 19441454Alexandria44,2Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo21 Jul 19440700Alexandria21 Jul 19441330Alexandria42,2Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo22 Jul 19441909Alexandria24 Jul 19440800Haifa354Passage Alexandria-Haifa.

Bombig, Rodolfo26 Aug 19440842Haifa28 Aug 19440819Alexandria404,6Passage Haifa-Alexandria.

Bombig, Rodolfo29 Aug 19440656Alexandria29 Aug 19441700Alexandria61,2Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo1 Sep 19440749Alexandria1 Sep 19441601Alexandria51,9Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo4 Sep 19440854Alexandria4 Sep 19441754Alexandria56Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo6 Sep 19440907Alexandria6 Sep 19441842Alexandria56,9Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo7 Sep 19440735Alexandria7 Sep 19441432Alexandria54,8Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo11 Sep 19440714Alexandria11 Sep 19441419Alexandria55,5Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo14 Sep 19440759Alexandria14 Sep 19441628Alexandria56,7Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo18 Sep 19440647Alexandria18 Sep 19441422Alexandria56Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo19 Sep 19440732Alexandria19 Sep 19441431Alexandria50Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo21 Sep 19440731Alexandria21 Sep 19441437Alexandria52Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo25 Sep 19440702Alexandria25 Sep 19441638Alexandria60Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo26 Sep 19440650Alexandria26 Sep 19441410Alexandria57,5Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo27 Sep 19440658Alexandria27 Sep 19441542Alexandria58,5Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo29 Sep 19440630Alexandria29 Sep 19441722Alexandria65Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo30 Sep 19440733Alexandria30 Sep 19441433Alexandria46Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo1 Oct 19441845Alexandria3 Oct 19440902Haifa355Passage Alexandria-Haifa.

Bombig, Rodolfo30 Oct 19441237Haifa1 Nov 19441021Alexandria359Passage Haifa-Alexandria.

Bombig, Rodolfo9 Nov 19440650Alexandria9 Nov 19441421Alexandria48,5Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo13 Nov 19440705Alexandria13 Nov 19441447Alexandria45,5Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo14 Nov 19440732Alexandria14 Nov 19441421Alexandria41Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo20 Nov 19440655Alexandria20 Nov 19441647Alexandria48Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo23 Nov 19440722Alexandria23 Nov 19441730Alexandria50Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo25 Nov 19440707Alexandria25 Nov 19441431Alexandria42Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo28 Nov 19440652Alexandria28 Nov 19441656Alexandria44,5Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo29 Nov 19440705Alexandria29 Nov 19441555Alexandria41Exercises.

Bombig, Rodolfo2 Dec 19441615Alexandria4 Dec 19440624Haifa290Passage Alexandria-Haifa with submarine Bandiera.

Bombig, Rodolfo16 Dec 19441011Alexandria20 Dec 19441803Tobruk647Passage Alexandria-Tobruk.

Bombig, Rodolfo21 Dec 19440923Tobruk25 Dec 19441223Messina645Passage Tobruk-Messina.

Bombig, Rodolfo8 Jan 19450630Messina9 Jan 19452020Taranto253Passage Messina-Taranto.

Bombig, Rodolfo11 May 19450645Taranto12 May 19450315Taranto103Passage Taranto-Naples but broke down and had to be towed back by the torpedo boat Fortunale.

Bombig, Rodolfo5 Jun 19450800Taranto5 Jun 19451146Taranto19Trials.

Bombig, Rodolfo6 Jun 19451125Taranto8 Jun 19450845Naples400Passage Taranto-Naples towed by the torpedo boat Fortunale. The submarine did not carry out any sortie for the rest of the war.

240 entries. 211 total patrol entries (32 marked as war patrols) and 61 events.

All Italian submarines