Emo (EO, I.17)
Emo

Type	Ocean going
Class	Marcello (12)
Laid down	16 Feb 1937	Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Monfalcone
Launched	26 Jun 1938
Commissioned	26 Oct 1938
End service
Stricken
Loss date	10 Nov 1942
Loss position	36° 50'N, 2° 50'E
History
Fate	Scuttled on 10th November 1942 west of Algiers in position 36°50'N, 02°50'E after being forced to surface by depth charges from the A/S trawler HMT Lord Nuffield

Commands

Commander	Date from	Date to	Command notes
C.C. Carlo Liannazza	6 Dec 1938	4 Dec 1940
C.C. Giuseppe Roselli Lorenzini	29 Nov 1940	12 Feb 1942
T.V. Salvatore Vassallo	13 Feb 1942	4 Mar 1942
T.V. Giuseppe Franco	5 Mar 1942	10 Nov 1942

Ships hit

	Date	Commander	Ship hit	Type	GRT	Nat.	Loss type
1.	14 Sep 1940	C.C. Carlo Liannazza	St. Agnes	Cargo ship	5,191		Sunk
2.	14 Mar 1941	C.C. Giuseppe Roselli Lorenzini	Western Chief	Cargo ship	5,759		Sunk

Patrols and events

	Commander	Date	Time	Port	Arr. date	Arr. time	Arr. port	Miles	Description
	Liannazza, Carlo	10 Jun 1940		Naples	10 Jun 1940		Naples		At Naples undergoing repairs.
	Liannazza, Carlo	23 Jun 1940	0215	Naples	23 Jun 1940	1630	Naples	59	Exercises.
1	Liannazza, Carlo	27 Jun 1940	1007	Naples	16 Jul 1940	1030	Naples	456,23	Patrolled near Gibraltar in 35°50'N, 03°46'E on a patrol line with Marconi. Sighted HMS Hood, but was unable to attack.
		4 Jul 1940	1430	(0) About 60 miles east of Gibraltar.	At 1430 hours, following several hydrophone noises, Emo came to periscope depth and sighted a naval force consisting of battleships, an aircraft carrier and a number of destroyers on a westerly course. These were certainly Force H with the battle cruiser HMS Hood, the battleships HMS Valiant and HMS Resolution, the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, the light cruisers HMS Enterprise and HMS Arethusa, and eleven destroyers (HMS Faulknor (D.8), HMS Fearless, HMS Forester, HMS Foresight, HMS Escort, HMS Foxhound, HMS Keppel (D.13), HMS Vortigern, HMS Vidette, HMS Active and HMS Wrestler) returning from Operation CATAPULT.
		6 Jul 1940	1450	(0) About 75 miles east of Gibraltar.	At 1450 hours, Emo observed a British squadron consisting of two battleships (one of them recognised as HMS Hood), one aircraft carrier and five destroyers at a distance of 12-13,000 metres. They had first been detected by hydrophones. The submarine could not close to less than 9,000 metres. At 1450 hours, following several hydrophone noises, Emo came to periscope depth and sighted a naval force consisting of battleships, an aircraft carrier and a number of destroyers on a westerly course. These were certainly Force H with the battle cruiser HMS Hood, the battleship HMS Valiant, the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, the light cruisers HMS Enterprise and HMS Arethusa, and the destroyers (HMS Faulknor (D.8), HMS Fearless, HMS Forester, HMS Escort, HMS Foxhound, HMS Wishart, HMS Vortigern, HMS Vidette, HMS Active and HMS Wrestler) carrying Operation LEVER.
	Liannazza, Carlo	13 Aug 1940	0906	Naples	13 Aug 1940	1427	Naples	28	Exercises.
2	Liannazza, Carlo	27 Aug 1940	0915	Naples	3 Oct 1940	1530	Bordeaux	4450	Passage to Bordeaux. Patrolled between 42°00'N and 19°00'W and 30°10'W. Passed Gibraltar on 9th September 1940. Escorted in by the German minesweeper M-10 and Sperrbrecher V.
		14 Sep 1940	0900 0700 GMT (e)	(e) 41° 27'N, 21° 50'W	At 0830 hours (dawn), a steamer was sighted at 6,000 metres on a northerly course. Emo submerged and closed to the attack. At 0900 hours, the submarine fired a torpedo (533mm, S.I.) at a distance of 4,000 metres. It hit. This was the British St. Agnes (5,191 GRT, built 1918) carrying 7,500 tons of oil seed and general cargo [also reported — in error — as AGRUS], from convoy SLS.46 (Freetown to Methil). She was damaged and made an SOS. Emo trailed her and was close enough to identify her as St. Agnes and observe that she was armed with a 120mm or 152mm gun and a smalller one. At 1730 hours, the submarine surfaced and opened fire. At 1749 hours, fire was checked after 28 rounds (which caused no visible damage as most failed to detonate) as a second freighter appeared on the scene. Chief Officer C.S. Whitticombe reported that the submarine surfaced twice firing 12 rounds the first time and another 8 rounds the second time. None appeared to hit. Emo altered course to deal with the newcomer but, at 1830 hours, she was identified as the American Excalibur, and the submarine returned to the first ship. At 1932 hours, a second torpedo (450mm) was fired from a stern tube. St. Agnes was hit and sank. Her sixty-four (or sixty-three?) survivors were picked up by the American steamer Exochorda (not Excalibur as reported in some documents) and landed in Lisbon.
3	Liannazza, Carlo	31 Oct 1940	0700	Bordeaux	6 Nov 1940	1130	Bordeaux	1052,5	Sailed with Faà di Bruno, escorted out by the German minesweepers M-9 and M-21, for Atlantic patrol between 55°20'N and 56°00'N, and between 15°00'W and 20°00'W (Grids 9990-9998 and 9915). She was ordered to leave the Gironde estuary at a speed of 11 knots through 45°06'N, 02°32'W and 49°00'N, 19°00'W, reducing to 8 knots when passing the 12° W meridian, then course north to join her patrol position. Turned back because her commanding officer was injured.
		2 Nov 1940	1600	47° 55'N, 10° 00'W	At 1600 hours, in heavy weather, the lookout Giuseppe Gobbi was carried away by a wave. Emo turned back to try to recover him but he was never found. Another lookout, Teodoro Caruso, was injured.
		3 Nov 1940	0700	47° 55'N, 10° 00'W	At 0700 hours, a large wave fell over the conning tower and C.C. Carlo Liannazza was thrown heavily against the railing. He was injured apparently with a broken rib. The Executive Officer, T.V. Giuseppe Franco, took over and decided to turn back.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	2 Dec 1940	0930	Bordeaux	2 Dec 1940	1430	Le Verdon		Passage Bordeaux-Le Verdon.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	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).
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	4 Dec 1940	0930	La Pallice	4 Dec 1940	1345	La Pallice	15	Exercises at Le Pertuis d'Antioche.
4	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	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.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	27 Feb 1941	0830	Bordeaux	27 Feb 1941	1500	Le Verdon		Passage Bordeaux-Le Verdon.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	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.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	1 Mar 1941	1100	La Pallice	1 Mar 1941	1800	La Pallice		Exercises at Le Pertuis d'Antioche.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	2 Mar 1941	1100	La Pallice	2 Mar 1941	1725	La Pallice		Exercises at Le Pertuis d'Antioche.
5	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	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.
6	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	22 May 1941	0617	Bordeaux	22 May 1941	1330	Le Verdon		Passage Bordeaux-Le Verdon.
6b	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	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).
6c	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	29 May 1941	0930	Bordeaux	29 May 1941	1300	Le Verdon		Passage Bordeaux-Le Verdon.
6d	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	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.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	17 Aug 1941	1615	Bordeaux	17 Aug 1941	1830	Le Verdon	40	Passage Bordeaux-Le Verdon.
7	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	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.
7b	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	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°.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	17 Sep 1941	0805	Naples	17 Sep 1941	1530	Naples	38	Trials.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	22 Sep 1941	1505	Naples	25 Sep 1941	0827	Pola	930	Passage Naples-Pola. Uneventful. Sighted only Italian vessels.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	2 Oct 1941	0802	Pola	2 Oct 1941	1648	Pola	54	Exercises.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	3 Oct 1941	1000	Pola	3 Oct 1941	1750	Pola	69	Exercises.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	7 Oct 1941	1000	Pola	7 Oct 1941	1653	Pola	69	Exercises.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	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.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	10 Oct 1941	0805	Pola	10 Oct 1941	1630	Pola	52	Exercises.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	14 Oct 1941	1300	Pola	15 Oct 1941	0200	Pola	85	Exercises with the submarine Toti, escorted by the torpedo boat Audace.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	16 Oct 1941	1140	Pola	16 Oct 1941	2330	Pola	77	Exercises.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	18 Oct 1941	0800	Pola	18 Oct 1941	1630	Pola	49	Exercises with the submarine Toti, escorted by the auxiliary Morrhua.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	21 Oct 1941	1257	Pola	22 Oct 1941	0035	Pola	71	Exercises.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	23 Oct 1941	0805	Pola	23 Oct 1941	1635	Pola	59	Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Grado.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	25 Oct 1941	0802	Pola	25 Oct 1941	1709	Pola	68	Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Morrhua.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	2 Nov 1941	0837	Pola	2 Nov 1941	1637	Pola	63	Exercises with the submarine Bausan, escorted by the auxiliary Morrhua.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	3 Nov 1941	0807	Pola	3 Nov 1941	1655	Pola	62	Exercises with the submarine Bausan, escorted by the auxiliary Grado.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	7 Nov 1941	0804	Pola	7 Nov 1941	1655	Pola	60	Exercises with the submarine Mameli, escorted by the auxiliary San Giorgio.
8	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	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.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	11 Nov 1941	0807	Pola	11 Nov 1941	1617	Pola	64	Exercises with the submarine Mameli, escorted by the auxiliary San Giorgio.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	17 Nov 1941	0807	Pola	17 Nov 1941	1710	Pola	65	Exercises.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	21 Nov 1941	0804	Pola	21 Nov 1941	1635	Pola	63	Exercises.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	24 Nov 1941	0808	Pola	24 Nov 1941	1637	Pola	71	Exercises.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	26 Nov 1941	0813	Pola	26 Nov 1941	1700	Pola	68	Exercises.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	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.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	2 Dec 1941	1645	Pola	3 Dec 1941	2305	Pola	75	Exercises.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	5 Dec 1941	1632	Pola	5 Dec 1941	2330	Pola	82	Exercises, escorted by the torpedo boat Audace.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	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.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	11 Dec 1941	0815	Pola	11 Dec 1941	1810	Pola	60	Exercises.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	13 Dec 1941	1845	Pola	15 Dec 1941	0845	Taranto	511	Passage Pola-Taranto.
9	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	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.
9b	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	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.
10	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	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.
10b	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	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.
10c	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	6 Jan 1942	1700	Suda	8 Jan 1942	1255	Taranto	560	Return trip (part 2) from aborted supply mission to Bardia. Uneventful.
	Roselli Lorenzini, Giuseppe	16 Jan 1942	1700	Taranto	18 Jan 1942	0615	Naples	492	Passage Taranto-Naples.
	Vassallo, Salvatore	13 Feb 1942		Naples	4 Mar 1942		Naples		Refit in Naples. Change in command.
	Franco, Giuseppe	3 Apr 1942	1145	Naples	3 Apr 1942	1717	Naples	24	Trials.
	Franco, Giuseppe	8 Apr 1942	0843	Naples	8 Apr 1942	1653	Naples	29	Exercises with the destroyer Folgore and the torpedo boat Clio.
	Franco, Giuseppe	9 Apr 1942	0918	Naples	9 Apr 1942	2000	Naples	48	Gyrocompass tests.
	Franco, Giuseppe	11 Apr 1942	1710	Naples	11 Apr 1942	1910	Naples	14	Trials.
11	Franco, Giuseppe	14 Apr 1942	2105	Naples	5 May 1942	0835	Cagliari	2139,6	Patrolled northwest of Algiers, between 37°00'N and 37°40'N, and between 02°40'E and 03°00'E. One of the longest Mediterranean patrols for an Italian submarine.
		27 Apr 1942	0350	(0) Italian Grid 3802/6.	At 0350 hours, Emo received a signal from Velella reporting an enemy submarine and took an intercepting position. Nothing was sighted.
		1 May 1942	1750+		After 1750 hours, Emo received an ordered to assist a German U-boat in difficulty. It was in Italian Grid 4369/6 and was proceeding toward the Spanish coast. This was U-573 (KL Heinrich Heinsohn), which had been damaged by bombs and was later interned in Cartagena. The submarine reached the area at 0601 hours on 2nd May and searched without success until 1400 hours. She was then ordered to return to her patrol area.
	Franco, Giuseppe	18 May 1942	1348	Cagliari	18 May 1942	1620	Cagliari	22	Trials.
	Franco, Giuseppe	21 May 1942	1500	Cagliari	21 May 1942	1908	Cagliari	25	Trials.
	Franco, Giuseppe	29 May 1942	0822	Cagliari	29 May 1942	1130	Cagliari	24	Trials.
12	Franco, Giuseppe	12 Jun 1942	1312	Cagliari	19 Jun 1942	0535	Cagliari	1185	Operating in western Mediterranean, between 37°40'N and 38°00'N, and between 04°00'E and 04°20'E, in Grid 5893, against enemy forces from Gibraltar, with Acciaio, Bronzo, Acciaio, Otaria and Uarsciek. On the evening of 14th June, she was ordered to an area between 37°00'N and 37°20'N, and between 00°00'E and 00°20'E.
		13 Jun 1942	1923		At 1923 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived.
		13 Jun 1942	2018		At 2018 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived.
		15 Jun 1942	0215	37° 19'N, 0° 28'E	At 0215 hours, a submarine was sighted at 2,000 metres but could not be identified or attacked.
		16 Jun 1942	1300	37° 17'N, 0° 21'E	During the day, noises were heard on the hydrophones on several occasions. At 1300 hours, a destroyer was sighted at a distance of 5,000 metres. At the same time, a cruiser and an aircraft carrier believed to be HMS Eagle as well as other ships at a distance of 8-9,000 metres, steering 270°. Most probably, the aircraft carriers HMS Eagle and HMS Argus, the battleship HMS Malaya, the light cruisers HMS Kenya, HMS Liverpool and HMS Charybdis, screened by destroyers (HMS Onslow, HMS Icarus, HMS Escapade, HMS Antelope, HMS Wishart, HMS Westcott, HMS Wrestler and HMS Vidette). They were carrying out operation HARPOON.
		17 Jun 1942	1935	37° 23'N, 4° 52'E (0) 061° - Algiers - 90 miles.	At 1250 hours, Emo had been informed that a cruiser and four destroyers were sighted at 0935 hours in Italian Grid 2021/6 (10 miles south of La Galite), steering 270° at 20 knots. The submarine had steered to 116° to intercept. At 1935 hours, two destroyers were observed at 9,000 metres, steering 270° and fighting off an aircraft attack. They disappeared in the distance.
13	Franco, Giuseppe	22 Jun 1942	1725	Cagliari	17 Jul 1942	1330	Cagliari	2106,9	Patrolled south of Majorca between 37°40'N and 38°00'N, 02°00'E and between 02°20'E. On 26th June, ordered to an area between 37°40'N and 38°20'N, and between 02°20'E and 02°40'E. Sighted only a French ship.
		6 Jul 1942	0224		At 0224 hours, an aircraft believed to be a Sunderland, was sighted on a SW course at 200 metres. Three minutes later, Emo dived.
	Franco, Giuseppe	8 Aug 1942	0430	Cagliari	8 Aug 1942	1257	Cagliari	67	Exercises.
14	Franco, Giuseppe	11 Aug 1942	1745	Cagliari	17 Aug 1942	0226	Cagliari	932,2	Operated north of Tunisia, between 37°20'N and 38°00'N, and between 09°20'E and 09°40'E, on a patrol line with Dandolo and Otaria to intercept the PEDESTAL convoy.
		12 Aug 1942	1633 1634 (e)	37° 52'N, 9° 21'E (e) 37° 45'N, 10° 03'E	At 1546 hours, Emo had detected noises with her hydrophones and steered toward them. At 1604 hours, the enemy squadron was in sight, bearing 310°. Some twenty-nine vessels were counted, including sixteen merchant ships, an aircraft carrier and perhaps a battleship, steering 70° at 14 knots. The submarine picked the aircraft carrier as a target and proceeded to attack. At 1633 hours, the enemy force altered course to 160°, putting the aircraft carrier out of range. Only a cruiser and destroyers could still be attacked. At 1633 hours, a salvo of four torpedoes, aimed at the cruiser, was fired from the bow tubes at a distance of 1,800 metres. Upon firing, Emo went deep and heard explosions after 107, 140 and 150 seconds. At 1637 hours, two depth charges exploded very close. More depth charges followed until 1740 hours, a few of them close. She escaped by going down to 145 metres. All three torpedoes had missed. The target appeared to have been the destroyer HMS Tartar, one of the destroyers screening Force 'Z'. It consisted of the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious, the battleships HMS Nelson and HMS Rodney, and other warships. Rodney reported two torpedo tracks passing astern. HMS Zetland dropped depth charges. HMS Tartar and HMS Lookout then hunted the submarine. They alternated their attacks, HMS Tartar dropped five depth charges at 1645 hours, followed by two more patterns of five depth charges. HMS Lookout attacked the same submarine contact with six depth charges at the same time, six more at 1650 hours and one five minutes later. Emo's attack had come from the starboard flank, while at about the same time, Cobalto was being sunk on the port wing.
		13 Aug 1942	0058	37° 40'N, 9° 16'E	At 0058 hours, two destroyers were sighted at 4,000 metres. Emo could not attack because her forward tubes were empty.
		13 Aug 1942	0610	37° 40'N, 9° 16'E (0) Approximately.	At 0600 hours, the hydrophone picked a contact bearing 115°. At 0610 hours, a submarine was observed. It could not be identified and submerged two minutes later.
		13 Aug 1942	1128	37° 40'N, 9° 16'E (0) Approximately.	At 1128 hours, a submarine was observed at a distance of 7,000 metres, steering to the northwest. It submerged at 1150 hours.
		13 Aug 1942	1438	37° 54'N, 9° 30'E (0) Approximately.	At 1438 hours, a submarine of the DANDOLO class was observed through the periscope. At 1501 hours, Emo received an order to intercept an aircraft carrier and proceeded. At 1620 hours, the order was cancelled and she returned to her patrol zone.
		13 Aug 1942	1915 1934 (e)	37° 54'N, 9° 30'E (0) Approximately.	At 1915 hours, the submarine Bronzo was encountered and exchanged recognition signals.
		14 Aug 1942	1905		At 1905 hours, Emo received an order to search for a damaged cruiser. The search went on until 1150 hours on the 16th, when Emo was recalled.
	Franco, Giuseppe	24 Aug 1942	1937	Cagliari	25 Aug 1942	1705	Naples	286	Passage Cagliari-Naples.
	Franco, Giuseppe	30 Aug 1942	1525	Naples	30 Aug 1942	1710	Naples		Exercises.
	Franco, Giuseppe	3 Sep 1942	1132	Naples	4 Sep 1942	0830	Cagliari	272,5	Passage Naples-Cagliari.
	Franco, Giuseppe	14 Sep 1942	0757	Cagliari	14 Sep 1942	1826	Cagliari	79	Trials.
	Franco, Giuseppe	30 Sep 1942	1404	Cagliari	30 Sep 1942	1803	Cagliari	30	Exercises.
	Franco, Giuseppe	9 Oct 1942	1405	Cagliari	9 Oct 1942	1755	Cagliari	2,5	Gyrocompass tests.
	Franco, Giuseppe	14 Oct 1942	1400	Cagliari	14 Oct 1942	1820	Cagliari	27,7	Exercises.
15	Franco, Giuseppe	17 Oct 1942	1800	Cagliari	31 Oct 1942	0816	Cagliari	1711,9	Patrolled in Western Mediterranean, between 37°30'N and 38°00'N, 01°40'E and 02°00'E, 40 miles east of Cape Callera (Gulf of Valencia), on a patrol line with Brin. On 26th October, ordered to area between 38°50'N and 39°00'N, 00°40'E and 01°10'E. Sighted only neutral ships.
		20 Oct 1942	0515		At 0515 hours, a submarine on southerly course. Emo turned away.
16	Franco, Giuseppe	7 Nov 1942	0250	Cagliari	10 Nov 1942	1300 or 1106	Sunk		Sailed for patrol off Algerian coast, between 37°40'N and 37°50'N, and between 07°30'E and 08°00'E. On 9th November, ordered to patrol 4 miles off Algiers. Sunk by depth-charges and gunfire from HMT Lord Nuffield in 36°50'N, 02°38'E or 36°50'N, 02°50'E. On her last patrol she was equipped with torpedoes with magnetic pistol (probably G7e).
		10 Nov 1942	1055 (e)	(e) 36° 50'N, 2° 50'E	On the morning of the 10th November, Emo was on the surface when an aircraft was sighted and she dived. Shortly after, her hydrophones picked up turbine noises. At periscope depth, a small vessel believed to be a tug was sighted at long range. This was actually the armed trawler HMT Lord Nuffield. T.V. Franco, assumed that she might be ahead of a convoy, took his submarine deep to get a better listening watch. Propeller noises were then picked up and when Franco came back to periscope depth, to his great surprise he saw the vessel just 30 metres away. The British vessel had obtained an ASDIC contact at 1020 hours at a range of 1,750 yards and increased speed to her maximum of 9 knots. The Lord Nuffield's crew saw the periscope only 5 feet from the port quarter. At 1030 hours, she dropped a first pattern of five depth charges set at 150 feet as Emo was desperately trying to go deeper. They caused great damage. Water penetrated the hull as she reached a depth of 90-100 metres. At 1041 hours, the trawler returned for a second run, but briefly lost contact and dropped just one depth charge. However, control of the submarine was being lost and the tanks were blown. Lord Nuffield was coming back for a third attack, when the submarine surfaced 900 yards on her port bow. The submarine tried to escape as Franco ordered his gun crew to action station, but the third 4" shell from the trawler hit the conning tower. T.V. Franco himself, G.M. Gianni and two ratings had managed to man the forward gun and fired off four rounds at the trawler, without causing serious damage. Only one British rating was slightly wounded. The 5th and 6th 4in rounds hit the submarine while the trawler's Oerlikon and machine gun fire swept the casing, making resistance impossible. In all, the trawler fired 13 high explosive 4in rounds and 5 shrapnel shells, claiming 7 hits, plus an undisclosed amount of Oerlikon and machine gun rounds. At 1100 hours, Franco ordered the destruction of his secret documents and the scuttling of his submarine. At 1106 hours, she sank. Of a crew of fifty-nine, ten were killed (including one officer, S.T.V. G.N. Mario Giacchelli) and forty-nine were picked up, including nine wounded, one of them [Vincenzo Malleo] later died. Italian sources put the number of killed at twelve.

115 entries. 78 total patrol entries (16 marked as war patrols) and 53 events.

All Italian submarines

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