Corallo (CO)
Corallo

Type	Coastal / Sea going
Class	Perla (22)
Laid down	1 Oct 1935	Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Monfalcone
Launched	2 Aug 1936
Commissioned	26 Sep 1936
End service
Stricken
Loss date	13 Dec 1942
Loss position	36° 58'N, 5° 07'E
History
Fate	Sunk on 13th December 1942 north of Bougie, Algeria, in position 36°58'N, 05°07'E by depth charges from the sloop HMS Enchantress.

Commands

Commander	Date from	Date to	Command notes
T.V. Alfredo Gatti	10 May 1940	31 Jul 1940
C.C. Loris Albanese	31 Jul 1940	16 Mar 1941
T.V. Gino Andreani	16 Mar 1941	13 Jun 1942
T.V. Renato Scandola	14 Jun 1942	17 Jun 1942
C.C. Gino Andreani	17 Jun 1942	27 Jun 1942
T.V. Serafino Corio	28 Jun 1942	10 Jul 1942
C.C. Mario Tei	11 Jul 1942	14 Aug 1942
T.V. Guido Guidi	14 Aug 1942	13 Dec 1942

Ships hit

	Date	Commander	Ship hit	Type	GRT	Nat.	Loss type
1.	28 Apr 1942	C.C. Gino Andreani	Dar El Salam	Fishing vessel	138		Sunk
2.	28 Apr 1942	C.C. Gino Andreani	Tunis	Fishing vessel	41		Sunk
3.	7 Jun 1942	C.C. Gino Andreani	Hadj Mohamed	Fishing vessel	26		Sunk

Patrols and events

	Commander	Date	Time	Port	Arr. date	Arr. time	Arr. port	Miles	Description
	Gatti, Alfredo	10 May 1940		Monfalcone	31 Jul 1940		Monfalcone		At Monfalcone under repairs. Change in command.
	Albanese, Loris	5 Aug 1940	0900	Monfalcone	5 Aug 1940	1610	Monfalcone	63,5	Trials.
	Albanese, Loris	7 Aug 1940	0915	Monfalcone	7 Aug 1940	1650	Pola	78	Passage Monfalcone-Pola and trials.
	Albanese, Loris	10 Aug 1940	0800	Pola	10 Aug 1940	1945	Fiume	68	Passage Pola-Fiume and trials.
	Albanese, Loris	15 Aug 1940	0725	Fiume	15 Aug 1940	1255	Pola	68	Passage Fiume-Pola.
	Albanese, Loris	16 Aug 1940	0800	Pola	19 Aug 1940	1245	Trapani	836	Passage Pola-Trapani.
	Albanese, Loris	28 Aug 1940	2118	Trapani	29 Aug 1940	1545	Messina	186	Passage Trapani-Messina.
1	Albanese, Loris	29 Aug 1940	1845	Messina	18 Sep 1940	1930	Tobruk	1595	Patrolled in the eastern Mediterranean between (1) 33°32' N, 24°28' E (2) 33°00' N, 25°06' E (3) 34°52' N, 26°06' E (4) 34°20' N, 26°40' E. Following a severe depth-charging, the submarine had to go to Tobruk for temporary repairs.
		4 Sep 1940	1115	(0) Approximately 60 miles south of Crete.	At 1115 hours, Corallo was at a depth of 40 metres when she reported being attacked with fourteen bombs by an aircraft. She was undamaged, but went down to 70 metres to escape.
		13 Sep 1940	0812	(0) Approximately 60 miles south of Crete.	At 0812 hours, Corallo was at a depth of 40 metres when she reported being attacked repeatedly by aircraft until 1640 hours. She was undamaged, but went down to 70-75 metres to escape.
		17 Sep 1940	1830 1940 (e)	33° 34'N, 25° 34'E	At 1750 hours, Corallo was steering 135° at a depth of 50 metres, when her hydrophones picked up noises. At 1800 hours, the submarine had come up to periscope depth to observe, at a distance of 7,000 metres, an aircraft carrier of the ILLUSTRIOUS class, a KENT class cruiser and seven destroyers steering 183°, 16 knots. At 1830 hours, a pair of torpedoes (533mm, W - H type) were fired at 5-second interval from bow tubes, at range of 1,500 metres. The submarine went to a depth of 80 metres and stopped all engines. After 75 seconds, two explosions were heard, which were attributed more to depth-charges than torpedo hits. The submarine went further down, reaching a depth of 120 metres when 40 depth charges exploded, some very close. It was believed Corallo eventually reached a depth of over 140 metres. The precision of the counter-attack led C.C. Albanese to believe that the enemy destroyers were equipped with sonar. These were indeed HMS Illustrious with the battleship HMS Valiant, the light cruisers HMS Liverpool and HMS Gloucester, escorted by five destroyers including HMS Hasty. HMS Kent had actually been torpedoed by an Italian bomber and was being escorted to Alexandria by another group of ships. The torpedoes had missed the destroyer HMS Hasty and she had immediately turned to the attack. Corallo had been damaged by the depth-charges and began surfacing at about 2100 hours. By a freak accident, the air pressure forced the hatch opened at a depth of 10-15 metres, ejecting the First Officer T.V. Alfredo GATTI and he was never found. A rating shot himself after the depth-charging. Perhaps unjustly, C.C. Albanese received a severe reprimand from Admiral Falangola (Head of MARICOSOM) for his actions during the severe depth charging, although his courage was never questioned.
1b	Albanese, Loris	21 Sep 1940	1315	Tobruk	23 Sep 1940	0858	Tripoli	671	Passage Tobruk-Tripoli.
1c	Albanese, Loris	26 Sep 1940	1800	Tripoli	29 Sep 1940	0900	Messina	396	Passage Tripoli-Messina. Uneventful.
	Albanese, Loris	28 Oct 1940	0845	Messina	28 Oct 1940	1645	Messina		Exercises?
	Albanese, Loris	8 Nov 1940	0832	Messina	8 Nov 1940	1730	Messina	67	Exercises.
2	Albanese, Loris	9 Nov 1940	1530	Messina	13 Nov 1940	1530	Messina	568,5	Patrolled southeast of Malta on a line extended 20 miles NE and SW from 35°25' N, 15°45' E.
		11 Nov 1940	0000	(0) SE of Malta.	At 0000 hours, two destroyers were sighted at a range of 6,000 metres, proceeding at 20 knots. Corallo could not get in favourable attack position and disengaged.
3	Albanese, Loris	16 Nov 1940	0930	Messina	19 Nov 1940	1740	Messina	523	Patrolled southeast of Malta within a radius of 20 miles from 35°20' N, 16° E (on a patrol line with Bandiera, 60 miles to the south). Uneventful.
3b	Albanese, Loris	19 Nov 1940	2100	Messina	23 Nov 1940	1340	Messina	470	Patrolled southeast of Malta within a radius of 20 miles from 35°20' N, 16° E (with Bandiera, 60 miles to the south). Uneventful.
	Albanese, Loris	6 Dec 1940	1008	Messina	6 Dec 1940	1730	Messina	59	Trials.
	Albanese, Loris	14 Dec 1940	0830	Messina	14 Dec 1940	1610	Messina	59,5	Trials.
	Albanese, Loris	18 Dec 1940	1212	Messina	19 Dec 1940	1020	Naples	224	Passage Messina-Naples.
	Albanese, Loris	10 Jan 1941	0815	Naples	10 Jan 1941	1430	Naples	33	Trials.
	Albanese, Loris	12 Jan 1941	0800	Naples	12 Jan 1941	1300	Naples	25	Exercises.
	Albanese, Loris	13 Jan 1941	0800	Naples	13 Jan 1941	1230	Naples	24	Exercises.
	Albanese, Loris	14 Jan 1941	0812	Naples	15 Jan 1941	1450	Cagliari	272	Passage Naples-Cagliari.
4	Albanese, Loris	21 Jan 1941	0120	Cagliari	21 Jan 1941	2200	Cagliari	200	Sailed for patrol off Tunisian coast within a radius of 10 miles from 37°40' N, 10°00' E. Early return due to defects.
5	Albanese, Loris	1 Feb 1941	1330	Cagliari	5 Feb 1941	1640	Cagliari	456,5	Patrolled west of Sardinia between 37°25' N and 37°35' N, and between 05°50' E and 06°50' E. Uneventful, except for H.E.
6	Albanese, Loris	8 Feb 1941	2350	Cagliari	9 Feb 1941	1430	Cagliari	89	Sailed for patrol, but returned early because of defects. Albanese was reprimanded as it was felt that repairs could have been carried out at sea.
7	Albanese, Loris	15 Feb 1941	2130	Cagliari	18 Feb 1941	1245	Cagliari	331	Patrolled east of La Galite on a line extending 20 miles north of 37°30' N, 09°50' E. Uneventful. Heard only H.E. probably from a French convoy.
	Albanese, Loris	14 Mar 1941	0800	Cagliari	14 Mar 1941	1250	Cagliari	29	Exercises.
	Andreani, Gino	17 Mar 1941	0800	Cagliari	17 Mar 1941	1210	Cagliari	26	Exercises, escorted by the tug Varo.
	Andreani, Gino	19 Mar 1941	0802	Cagliari	19 Mar 1941	1140	Cagliari	24	Exercises.
	Andreani, Gino	22 Mar 1941	0800	Cagliari	22 Mar 1941	1210	Cagliari	19	Exercises, escorted by the minesweeper R.D.29.
	Andreani, Gino	1 Apr 1941	1330	Cagliari	1 Apr 1941	1800	Cagliari	28	Exercises.
8	Andreani, Gino	3 Apr 1941	1250	Cagliari	9 Apr 1941	1645	Cagliari	629,5	Patrolled north of Tunisian coast on a a line NE/SW from 37°10' N, 08°10' E (with Turchese east of Galite Island). Sighted only French vessels.
	Andreani, Gino	23 Apr 1941	0805	Cagliari	23 Apr 1941	1224	Cagliari	23,7	Exercises with the minesweeper R.D.29.
9	Andreani, Gino	8 May 1941	2217	Cagliari	12 May 1941	1105	Cagliari	360	Patrolled west of La Galite on a line extending 10 miles north and south from 37°40' N, 08°00' E, to intercept a force reported to have sailed from Gibraltar. Uneventful except for H.E. and distant explosions.
	Andreani, Gino	14 May 1941	0804	Cagliari	14 May 1941	1200	Cagliari	31	Exercises with the minesweeper R.D.34.
	Andreani, Gino	17 May 1941	0805	Cagliari	17 May 1941	1225	Cagliari	29	Exercises with the minesweeper R.D.34.
10	Andreani, Gino	21 May 1941	0445	Cagliari	23 May 1941	1040	Cagliari	283	Patrolled west of Galite Island on a line extending 10 miles and 10 miles south from 37°40' N, 08°00' E (patrol line with Diaspro east of Galite Island), to intercept Force H which was reported to have sailed from Gibraltar. Uneventful, heard only H.E.
	Andreani, Gino	27 May 1941	0445	Cagliari	28 May 1941	1040	Naples	273	Passage Cagliari-Naples.
	Andreani, Gino	2 Jun 1941	1425	Naples	2 Jun 1941	1830	Naples	28	Trials.
	Andreani, Gino	5 Jun 1941	0930	Naples	6 Jun 1941	1307	Cagliari	275	Passage Naples-Cagliari.
11	Andreani, Gino	13 Jun 1941	2018	Cagliari	19 Jun 1941	0010	Cagliari	763	Operating against Force H in western Mediterranean on 37°54' N parallel between 06° and 08° E.
		14 Jun 1941	1320	(0) Western Med.	At 1320 hours, fifteen planes flying in an easterly direction, were sighted at a distance of 4,000 metres. These were probably Hurricanes flown off from HMS Ark Royal and HMS Victorious for Malta (operation TRACER). Corallo reported the sighting.
12	Andreani, Gino	22 Jun 1941	0735	Cagliari	22 Jun 1941	1800	Cagliari	63	Hydrographic observation, escorted by the minesweeper R.D.41.
13	Andreani, Gino	2 Jul 1941	2124	Cagliari	12 Jul 1941	1120	Cagliari	1090	Patrolled in the western Mediterranean on a line extending 20 miles NE an SW of 37°50, 02°40' E (patrol line with Diaspro) to intercept an enemy force coming from Gibraltar.
		4 Jul 1941	1610	(0) Probably near Baleares.	At 1610 hours, a submarine similar to Sirena, was sighted at a range of 6,000 metres [Admiral Falangola wrote in his assessment that the submarine was certainly enemy]. This may have been Diaspro, but she did not report any incident. This could not have been HMS P 33 proceeding from Gibraltar to Malta as she was already east of Sardinia at the time.
	Andreani, Gino	16 Jul 1941	0732	Cagliari	17 Jul 1941	1320	Naples	273	Passage Cagliari-Naples.
	Andreani, Gino	3 Sep 1941	0845	Naples	3 Sep 1941	1525	Naples	31	Trials.
	Andreani, Gino	6 Sep 1941	0803	Naples	6 Sep 1941	1435	Naples	26	Trials.
	Andreani, Gino	7 Sep 1941	0835	Naples	7 Sep 1941	1910	Naples	48	Trials.
	Andreani, Gino	9 Sep 1941	0814	Naples	9 Sep 1941	1430	Naples	30	Exercises.
	Andreani, Gino	10 Sep 1941	1906	Naples	11 Sep 1941	0035	Naples	27	Exercises.
	Andreani, Gino	15 Sep 1941	0805	Naples	15 Sep 1941	1900	Naples	61	Exercises with the torpedo boat Cascino.
		15 Sep 1941	1257 (e)		At 1257 hours, the submarine HMS Unique (Lieutenant A.F. Collett, RN) had just come to periscope depth, when a submarine of the DURBO class was sighted bearing 310°, steering 185°, apparently exercising with a GENERALE class destroyer. This was almost certainly Corallo exercising at the time with the torpedo-boat Cascino. The British submarine was unable to gain an attacking position and was thwarted by the presence of the destroyer.
	Andreani, Gino	19 Sep 1941	0815	Naples	19 Sep 1941	1220	Naples	29	Exercises.
	Andreani, Gino	29 Sep 1941	1013	Naples	29 Sep 1941	1800	Naples	32	Exercises.
14	Andreani, Gino	3 Oct 1941	1607	Naples	5 Oct 1941	1630	Naples	439	Sailed for patrol 33 miles north of Ras Zebib on a line 5 miles west from this point (on a barrage line with Ambra 13 miles north, and Ametista 33 miles north of the Cape) via the north coast of Sicily, but then recalled. Uneventful.
	Andreani, Gino	15 Oct 1941	0815	Naples	15 Oct 1941	1507	Naples	30	Exercises.
	Andreani, Gino	17 Oct 1941	0915	Naples	18 Oct 1941	1645	Augusta	292	Passage Naples-Augusta at 9.5 knots.
	Andreani, Gino	23 Oct 1941	1315	Augusta	23 Oct 1941	1650	Augusta	18	Exercises.
	Andreani, Gino	30 Oct 1941	0830	Augusta	30 Oct 1941	1200	Augusta	16,5	Exercises.
15	Andreani, Gino	1 Nov 1941	1030	Augusta	10 Nov 1941	1545	Augusta	947	Patrolled east of Linosa, between 35°40' N and 36°20' N, and between 13°00' E and 13°20' E. Did not sight any ship.
		1 Nov 1941	1610	(0) Off Porri Islet.	At 1610 hours, two enemy fighters or recce aircraft were sighted, one of which made a motion to attack but then desisted. Corallo's gun crew remained at the ready to repel the attack and the submarine proceeded on the surface.
		1 Nov 1941	1630-1643	(0) Off Porri Islet.	At 1630-1643 hours, a derelict mine was fired upon with 210 rounds of 13.2mm rounds but without being able to sink it.
		10 Nov 1941	0805	(0) Near Ragusa.	At 0805 hours, a derelict mine was fired upon, Some 150 rounds of 13.2mm rounds and 150 rounds of 6.5mm were expended and it sank without exploding.
	Andreani, Gino	20 Nov 1941	1458	Augusta	20 Nov 1941	1706	Augusta	20	Exercises.
	Andreani, Gino	25 Nov 1941	0854	Augusta	25 Nov 1941	1700	Messina	74	Passage Augusta-Messina.
16	Andreani, Gino	26 Nov 1941	0125	Messina	4 Dec 1941	1750	Messina	924,8	Patrolled east of Malta, between 35°10' N and 35°50' N, and between 16°20' E and 16°40' E. Uneventful.
	Andreani, Gino	19 Dec 1941	0900	Messina	19 Dec 1941	1130	Messina	11	Trials, escorted by the auxiliary Diversi.
	Andreani, Gino	12 Jan 1942	0915	Messina	12 Jan 1942	1145	Messina	13,5	Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Diversi.
	Andreani, Gino	17 Jan 1942	1305	Messina	17 Jan 1942	1825	Messina	39,5	Exercises.
17	Andreani, Gino	21 Jan 1942	1407	Messina	29 Jan 1942	1115	Augusta	896	Sailed with the submarine Platino for a patrol off Malta between 34°00' N and 34°20' N, and between 15°40' E and 16°00' E. On 26th January, she was ordered to an area between 34°40' N and 35°00' N, and between 14°20' E and 14°40' E. Patrol lines with Platino to protect Italian convoys and intercept enemy traffic. Uneventful.
	Andreani, Gino	4 Feb 1942	0900	Augusta	4 Feb 1942	1740	Messina	70	Passage Augusta-Messina.
	Andreani, Gino	25 Feb 1942	1612	Messina	25 Feb 1942	1901	Messina	15	Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Castiglia.
	Andreani, Gino	26 Feb 1942	1510	Messina	26 Feb 1942	1730	Messina	15	Exercises.
	Andreani, Gino	1 Mar 1942	0850	Messina	1 Mar 1942	1230	Messina	24	Trials, escorted by the auxiliary Marras.
	Andreani, Gino	2 Mar 1942	1000	Messina	2 Mar 1942	1740	Augusta	72	Passage Messina-Augusta.
18	Andreani, Gino	4 Mar 1942	1755	Augusta	14 Mar 1942	1000	Augusta	1068	Patrolled south of Malta between 34°40' N and 35°00' N, and between 14°20' E and 14°40' E. Uneventful. Heard only distant explosions.
	Andreani, Gino	15 Apr 1942	0405	Augusta	16 Apr 1942	1000	Trapani	282	Passage Augusta-Trapani.
	Andreani, Gino	20 Apr 1942	0805	Trapani	20 Apr 1942	1210	Trapani	24	Exercises.
19	Andreani, Gino	20 Apr 1942	1555	Trapani	5 May 1942	1012	Trapani	792,5	Sailed with the submarine Onice, escorted by the torpedo boat Cigno until 2320 hours on the 20th, to patrol from 35°53' N to 36°57' N on meridian 11°12' E, off Cape Bon or zone K, to attack traffic to Malta. On 22nd April, attempted to communicate underwater with Onice, but without result.
		23 Apr 1942	0952	(0) Off Cape Bon.	At 0952 hours, the French steamer Liberia, escorted by the minesweeper Héron, was sighted on a southerly course.
		26 Apr 1942	1105	(0) Off Cape Bon.	At 1105 hours, the French minesweeper Héron was sighted at a distance of 4,000 metres for the second time in four days.
		28 Apr 1942	0212-0320	37° 01'N, 11° 09'E	At 0212 hours, the Tunisian schooner Dar El Salam (A.D. 293, 138.33 GRT), on passage from Djerba to Bone, was stopped with a burst of machine gun fire. The crew of seven Tunisian nationals was ordered to abandon ship and were rescued. The vessel was sunk with fifteen 100mm rounds.
		28 Apr 1942	0345-0400	37° 01'N, 11° 09'E	At 0345 hours, the Tunisian fishing vessel Tunis (41 GRT) was stopped with a burst of machine gun fire. The crew of six were ordered to abandon ship and were rescued. The vessel was sunk with a single 100mm round.
		30 Apr 1942	1825	(0) Near Cape Bon.	At 1825 hours, the Italian ship Apollo (3,177 GRT, built 1905) escorted by an aircraft were sighted.
	Andreani, Gino	22 May 1942	1339	Trapani	22 May 1942	1637	Trapani	21,5	Trials.
20	Andreani, Gino	24 May 1942	2350	Trapani	10 Jun 1942	0030	Trapani	1484	Patrolled near Galite Island between 37°20' N and 37°45' E, and 09°00' E and 09°40' E. Sighted several Italian and French ships.
		7 Jun 1942	0200-0345	37° 24'N, 9° 10'E	At 0145 hours, a faint light was sighted. At 0200 hours, it was identified as a schooner. She was ordered to bring her papers to the submarine. This was the Tunisiam motor vessel Hadj Mohamed (26 GRT) on passage Bizerta-Bone. As the vessel was navigating in a forbidden zone and without regulation lights, she was sunk with seventeen rounds of gunfire after the crew of six was taken on board the submarine.
21	Scandola, Renato	14 Jun 1942	1755	Trapani	17 Jun 1942	1150	Trapani	318	Patrolled west of Malta between 36°20' N and 36°40' N, and between 12°20' E and 13°40' E, to intercept an enemy convoy. Uneventful. Heard only H.E. and distant explosions.
	Andreani, Gino	19 Jun 1942	1800	Trapani	20 Jun 1942	1920	Messina	197	Passage Trapani-Messina.
	Andreani, Gino	22 Jun 1942	0935	Messina	23 Jun 1942	0550	Naples	184,5	Passage Messina-Naples.
	Corio, Serafino	28 Jun 1942		Naples	10 Jul 1942		Naples		At Naples. Change in command.
	Tei, Mario	11 Jul 1942		Naples	14 Aug 1942		Naples		At Naples. Change in command.
	Guidi, Guido	27 Aug 1942	0930	Naples	27 Aug 1942	1800?	Naples	31	Trials.
	Guidi, Guido	28 Aug 1942	1500	Naples	28 Aug 1942	1930	Naples	9	Trials.
	Guidi, Guido	31 Aug 1942	1400	Naples	31 Aug 1942	2330	Naples	32	Trials.
	Guidi, Guido	1 Sep 1942	0835	Naples	1 Sep 1942	1730	Naples	32	Trials and exercises.
	Guidi, Guido	3 Sep 1942	2240	Naples	5 Sep 1942	1135	La Spezia	333	Passage Naples-La Spezia.
	Guidi, Guido	9 Sep 1942	0840	La Spezia	9 Sep 1942	2110	La Spezia	32	Exercises.
	Guidi, Guido	10 Sep 1942	0806	La Spezia	10 Sep 1942	1713	La Spezia	55	Exercises.
	Guidi, Guido	12 Sep 1942	0825	La Spezia	12 Sep 1942	1410	La Spezia	31	Exercises.
	Guidi, Guido	15 Sep 1942	1230	La Spezia	17 Sep 1942	0915	Trapani	402	Passage La Spezia-Trapani.
	Guidi, Guido	19 Sep 1942	0815	Trapani	19 Sep 1942	1400	Trapani	28	Exercises, escorted by the minesweeper R.D.40.
	Guidi, Guido	23 Sep 1942	0815	Trapani	23 Sep 1942	1300	Trapani	19	Exercises.
	Guidi, Guido	3 Oct 1942	1410	Trapani	3 Oct 1942	1845	Trapani	25	Exercises.
	Guidi, Guido	14 Oct 1942	1425	Trapani	14 Oct 1942	1950	Trapani	26,5	Exercises.
22	Guidi, Guido	19 Oct 1942	1325	Trapani	2 Nov 1942	0050	Trapani	1996	Sailed with the submarine Turchese and patrolled in the western Mediterranean, east of Gibraltar, between 38°10' N and 38°40' N, and between 02°20' E and 02°40' E. On 25th October 1942, she was ordered to an area between 38°40' N and 39°00' N, and between 00°20' E and 00°40' E. Sighted several neutral ships.
		19 Oct 1942	1555	(0) 325° - Cape Grosso di Levanzo - 1 mile.	At 1555 hours, a derelict mine was sighted at 400 metres and destroyed by machine gun fire.
		21 Oct 1942	0140		At 0040 hours, a shadow was sighted under the moonlight path. It was sighted again at 0140 hours and believed to be the submarine Turchese steering 270°. She was sighted again at 0250 hours.
		21 Oct 1942	1050	37° 33'N, 5° 04'E	At 1000 hours, a vessel was sighted steering south. At 1050 hours, it was identified as the French Djebel Aurès (2,835 GRT, built 1929) steering 175°.
		22 Oct 1942	1255		At 1245 hours, the hydrophones picked up the noises of a vessel. At 1255 hours, the vessel was sighted at a distance of 10,000 metres and at 1350 hours, she was recognised as an Italian hospital ship of the SATURNIA class.
		23 Oct 1942	0415-0442		At 0415 hours, an illuminated vessel was sighted and, at 0442 hours, a second similar vessel was sighted. It was believed to be the Italian liners Giulio Cesare (21,900 GRT, built 1921) and Duilio (23,635 GRT, built 1934). They had been given a safe conduct to go to Gibraltar for the repatriation of Italians colonists from East Africa.
23	Guidi, Guido	7 Nov 1942	0125	Trapani	14 Nov 1942	1845	Trapani	851	Sailed for a patrol in western Mediterranean between 37°20' N and 37°40' N, and between 06°40' E and 09°55' E. At 1615 hours on the 8th, she was ordered to proceed to an area between 37°00' N and 37°20' N, and between 08°00' E and 08°20' E. At 2215 hours on the 8th, she received new orders to proceed to area between 37°00' N and 37°20' N, and between 06°20' E and 06°40' E, then to position 38°06' N, 07°40' E. On 10th November, she carried out a reconnaissance of Philippeville.
		8 Nov 1942	1615		At 1615 hours, the submarine was ordered to proceed to an area between 37°00' N and 37°20' N, and between 08°00' E and 08°20' E. At 1645 hours, Corallo proceeded to the new area.
		8 Nov 1942	1930		At 1930 hours, two aircraft were sighted at a distance of 2,000 metres.
		8 Nov 1942	2215		At 2215 hours, the submarine received new orders to go to an area between 37°00 and 37°20 N and 06°20 E and 06°40 E. Corallo altered course to the new area.
		9 Nov 1942	0703		At 0703 hours, a ship, believed to be French, was sighted at a distance too far to be identified.
		10 Nov 1942	0120	37° 17'N, 7° 07'E	At 0120 hours, a submarine was sighted that appeared of the MARCELLO class. Corallo turned away to avoid a being the target of a torpedo attack and manned her machine guns (the deck gun could not be manned on account of the heavy seas) then dived. At 0408 hours, the submarine explored the port of Philippeville but sighted nothing. At 1945 hours, the submarine was informed that French traffic on the North African coast had been suspended.
		12 Nov 1942	1305		At 1305 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived.
		12 Nov 1942	1420		At 1420 hours, an aircraft was seen from periscope depth and the submarine went deep.
		13 Nov 1942	0735		At 0735 hours. Corallo was returning to Trapani when the submarine Avorio was encountered and recognition signals exchanged.
		13 Nov 1942	1951	38° 10'N, 10° 30'E	Corallo had been asked by MARICOSOM (1715/13) to report her position and replied she was in 38°10' N, 10°30' E. At 2010 hours, she received a signal (1855/13) that an enemy submarine had been sighted in 38°00' N/38°06' N and 11°50' E/12°00' E [this was HMS Parthian who had carried out an unsuccessful attack on the steamer Sivigliano]. At 2204 hours, a signal from MARICOSM (2025/13) was received, informing her of a possible encounter with the submarine Diaspro. At 2207 hours, a signal from MARICOSM (2020/13) was received, ordering her to stay west of 10°40' E and north of 38°00' N.
		14 Nov 1942	0700		At 0700 hours, the submarine Diaspro was encountered and recognition signals were exchanged.
		14 Nov 1942	1138		At 0833 hours, information was received that the transport Brindisi and four destroyers could be encountered. At 1138 hours, the four destroyers were seen. Corallo altered course to avoid being seen.
	Guidi, Guido	15 Nov 1942	1802	Trapani	16 Nov 1942	2032	Naples	216	Passage Trapani-Naples.
	Guidi, Guido	24 Nov 1942	0802	Naples	24 Nov 1942	1345	Naples	38	Exercises.
	Guidi, Guido	25 Nov 1942	1507	Naples	27 Nov 1942	0947	La Maddalena	229	Passage Naples-La Maddalena.
	Guidi, Guido	30 Nov 1942	1415	La Maddalena	30 Nov 1942	1621	La Maddalena	10,5	Trials.
24	Guidi, Guido	2 Dec 1942	0428	La Maddalena	4 Dec 1942	0330	La Maddalena	279	Defensive patrol off Ajaccio (41°40' N, 08°20' E and 49°55' N (sic, 41°55 N?) and Corsican coast. Uneventful.
	Guidi, Guido	6 Dec 1942	1810	La Maddalena	7 Dec 1942	1510	Cagliari	150	Passage La Maddalena-Cagliari.
25	Guidi, Guido	10 Dec 1942	1735	Cagliari	13 Dec 1942	Night 12/13	Sunk with all hands	720	Sailed with submarine Argento for patrol between 37°00' N and 37°20' N, and between 08°00' E and 08°20' E. She was to explore the Bay of Bougie on 13th December and return to her original area (ca. 14th December). On 18th December, ordered to Italian Grid 7983, off Cape du Fer (zone A and B). Was ordered back on 23rd December, but failed to answer. Depth-charged then rammed by HMS Enchantress, in 36°58' N, 05°07' E (off Bougie). No survivors (six officers and forty-five ratings lost).
		11 Dec 1942	0220	38° 10'N, 8° 45'E (0) 345° - La Galite - 39 miles or Italian Grid 4782/3.	At 0220 hours, a cruiser and two destroyers were sighted steering 240°, 25 knots. Corallo was unable to attack them.
		13 Dec 1942	0500 (e)		At 0500A hours, the sloop HMS Enchantress, sighted three torpedoes on the port bow and she turned to port to comb the tracks. She had been escorting convoy E.T.5.P. with the Canadian corvette HMCS Baddeck. The torpedoes missed astern, the nearest by only 6 feet! The attack had been made by Corallo. At the same time, HMS Enchantress was turning, a radar contact was made at 1,000 yards. It was from a U-boat surfacing. Corallo was moving away at 10 knots and fired two stern torpedoes. They also missed by less than 10 feet. At 0504 hours, HMS Enchantress had increased speed and rammed the submarine. She also dropped a depth charge set at depth of 50 feet. Corallo appeared to have gone deep. At 0506 hours, a second run was made with six depth charges set at depths of 350 and 550 feet. At 0525 hours, this was followed by another pattern of 7 depth charges at the same depths and a final one at 0538 hours with 3 depth charges at 550 feet. An unexplained explosion had been heard and felt at 0529 hours. It is believed that Corallo was lost in this attack, as she disappeared with all hands. T.V. Guido Guidi, five officers and forty-five ratings perished.

126 entries. 103 total patrol entries (25 marked as war patrols) and 34 events.

All Italian submarines

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