Italian submarines in World War Two


Aradam (AR)
Aradam


Aradam (USMM)

TypeCoastal / Sea going 
ClassAdua (23) 
Laid down 14 Feb 1936 Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Monfalcone
Launched18 Oct 1936
Commissioned16 Jan 1937
End service
Stricken
Loss date
Loss position
History Scuttled at Genoa, Italy on 9th September 1943 to prevent her capture by the Germans. Raised and sunk there by bombs from Allied aircraft on 4th September 1944.
Fate

Commands


CommanderDate fromDate toCommand notes
C.C. Giuseppe Bianchini17 Dec 193929 Jul 1941
T.V. Oscar Gran29 Jul 19414 Sep 1942
T.V. Alpinolo Cinti5 Sep 194221 Oct 1942
T.V. Carlo Forni21 Oct 194223 Jul 1943
T.V. Mario TrombaAug 19439 Sep 1943

Ships hit

No ships hit by this submarine.

Patrols and events

 CommanderDateTimePortArr. dateArr. timeArr. portMilesDescription
1Bianchini, Giuseppe9 Jun 19401652Cagliari14 Jun 19401523Cagliari390,5Sailed to form a patrol line (S2) on the Cape Teulada meridian:

Axum - 15 miles south of the Cape.
Turchese - 35 miles south of the Cape.
Adua - 55 miles south of the Cape.
Aradam - 75 miles south of the Cape.


2Bianchini, Giuseppe20 Jun 19401836Cagliari28 Jun 19400805Cagliari847Patrolled between Cape Croisette and Cape Creus (Spain) in 42°40'N, 04°40'E.
  23 Jun 1940091242° 40'N, 4° 25'EAt 0912 hours, a warship with two or three funnels was sighted at a distance of 1,500 metres travelling at high speed. A torpedo (533mm) was fired from a bow tube. It missed.

3Bianchini, Giuseppe3 Jul 19401423Cagliari6 Jul 19400945Cagliari249Sailed with Turchese and patrolled off Cagliari in 38°14'N, 07°40'E. On 4th July, she heard hydrophone noises, which may have been caused by the French battlecruiser Strasbourg, on her way to Toulon after the bombardment of Mers El Kebir.

4Bianchini, Giuseppe16 Jul 19400028Cagliari16 Jul 19400617Cagliari47Sailed for patrol on a line 10 miles from 38°05'N, 08°20'E to intercept a battleship squadron, on a barrage line with Alagi, to intercept a battleship squadron, but recalled quickly.

4bBianchini, Giuseppe22 Jul 19401608Cagliari9 Aug 19401430La Maddalena2118,5Sailed with Alagi for patrol on 36°00'N parallel between 02°10'W and 03°20'W, east of Gibraltar, 17 miles east of Alboran then off Cape Falcon. Witnessed an Italian (or French?) air raid on Gibraltar at 2250 hours on 28th July. Sighted only Spanish vessels.

Bianchini, Giuseppe20 Aug 19401100La Maddalena21 Aug 19401435Naples253,8Passage La Maddalena-Taranto.

Bianchini, Giuseppe8 Oct 19400851Naples8 Oct 19401710Naples47,5Exercises.

Bianchini, Giuseppe11 Oct 19400935Naples11 Oct 19401702Naples44,5Exercises.

Bianchini, Giuseppe13 Oct 19401000Naples13 Oct 19401130NaplesFrom 1000 to 1130 hours, while moored in harbour, there was an accidental fire on board the submarine. There were no casualties.

Bianchini, Giuseppe1 Nov 19400837Naples1 Nov 19401730Naples47Exercises.

Bianchini, Giuseppe5 Nov 19400742Naples5 Nov 19401701Naples48Exercises.

Bianchini, Giuseppe7 Nov 19400402Naples8 Nov 19401238Cagliari349Passage Naples-Cagliari.

5Bianchini, Giuseppe9 Nov 19401836Cagliari12 Nov 19402312Cagliari421Sailed to form a patrol line with Alagi, Axum, Diaspro and Medusa, 315° - La Galite - 80 miles, north of Cape Bougaroni, on a line 120 miles west of that point. Uneventful.

6Bianchini, Giuseppe15 Nov 19401846Cagliari19 Nov 19401645Cagliari364,5Sailed for patrol North of Cape Bougaroni, in 38°10'N, between 07°20'E and 07°40'E, on a barrage line with Diaspro. the bad weather and defects to the port diesel prevented the submarine from reaching the area in time. Heard hydrophone noises but sighted nothing.

7Bianchini, Giuseppe26 Nov 19400137Cagliari2 Dec 19401733Cagliari576Sailed with Diaspro for patrol in 37°40'N, 08°00'E on a line 10 miles south from this point, off Cape de Fer and Cape Bougaroni on a line with Axum, Diaspro and Alagi. On the night of the 27th, she was ordered to 37°20'N, 06°00'E. Uneventful, except for the bad weather (Force 8).
  26 Nov 19400648
(0) Off Cape de Fer.
At 0648 hours, a destroyer of the JAVELIN class was sighted at a distance of 1,000 metres, steering 080°, 20 knots. Aradam dived and took avoiding action, as she was not ready to fire her torpedoes.

Bianchini, Giuseppe13 Dec 19401331Cagliari13 Dec 19401715Cagliari226Exercises.

8Bianchini, Giuseppe7 Jan 19411830Cagliari12 Jan 19411920Cagliari645Patrolled off Sardinia, on a line 20 miles from 37°30'N, 09°50'E.
  9 Jan 19411727
(0) North of Tunis.
At 1727 hours, Aradam was at a depth of 30 metres when she was bombed or depth charged. She escaped damage. Then, from 1741 to 1801 hours, she was hunted by three enemy vessels but went deep to 115 meters to extricate herself.

From 1830 to 1900 hours, noises were heard and interpreted as a large enemy force on an easterly course. Aradam did not carry out an attack as is implied in the Seekriegsleitung diaries.

Bianchini, Giuseppe20 Jan 19411310Cagliari20 Jan 19411500Cagliari9Trials, escorted by MAS 502.

Bianchini, Giuseppe21 Jan 19410810Cagliari21 Jan 19411130Cagliari15Trials.

Bianchini, Giuseppe24 Jan 19410815Cagliari24 Jan 19411020CagliariExercises.

Bianchini, Giuseppe26 Jan 19411312Cagliari26 Jan 19411930Cagliari26,5Exercises.

Bianchini, Giuseppe29 Jan 19410814Cagliari29 Jan 19411136Cagliari26Exercises.

Bianchini, Giuseppe2 Feb 19411451Cagliari3 Feb 19412010Naples264Passage Cagliari-Naples.

Bianchini, Giuseppe28 Feb 19410909Naples28 Feb 19411647Naples27Exercises.

Bianchini, Giuseppe3 Mar 19410714Naples4 Mar 19411432Cagliari265,5Passage Naples-Cagliari.

Bianchini, Giuseppe24 Mar 19410810Cagliari24 Mar 19411340Cagliari42Exercises.

Bianchini, Giuseppe25 Mar 19410719Cagliari26 Mar 19411730Messina336Passage Cagliari-Messina.

9Bianchini, Giuseppe27 Mar 19411056Messina12 Apr 19411300Messina1735Patrolled in Eastern Mediterranean, off Ras Aamer, on an axis NE/SW from 33°00'N, 25°40'E. Heard only hydrophone effect. Bianchini went on to become the leader of the 12th MAS flotilla which operated in Lake Ladoga.
  27 Mar 19411530
(0) Approximately east of Catania.
At 1530 hours, a German bomber, flying in formation, dropped a large bomb. It fell one mile ahead of Aradam.

Bianchini, Giuseppe14 Apr 19411758Messina15 Apr 19411436Naples224Passage Messina-Naples for extensive refit.

Bianchini, Giuseppe5 Jul 19410920Naples5 Jul 19411646Naples29,4Trials.

Bianchini, Giuseppe12 Jul 19410853Naples12 Jul 19411754Naples30Trials.

Bianchini, Giuseppe13 Jul 19410911Naples13 Jul 19411940Naples24Gyrocompass tests.

Bianchini, Giuseppe15 Jul 19410831Naples15 Jul 19411915Naples53,5Trials.

Bianchini, Giuseppe18 Jul 19410730Naples18 Jul 19411900Naples34,5Exercises.

Bianchini, Giuseppe19 Jul 19412008Naples20 Jul 19410120Naples29Exercises.

Bianchini, Giuseppe22 Jul 19410837Naples22 Jul 19411710Naples65Exercises.

Bianchini, Giuseppe25 Jul 19410705Naples25 Jul 19411622Naples19Exercises.

Bianchini, Giuseppe27 Jul 19411510Naples28 Jul 19410058Naples35,2Exercises.

Bianchini, Giuseppe29 Jul 19410720Naples29 Jul 19411522Naples43,3Exercises.

Gran, Oscar1 Aug 19410815Naples1 Aug 19411813Naples39,5Exercises.

Gran, Oscar2 Aug 19410751Naples2 Aug 19411431Naples33,1Exercises.

Gran, Oscar3 Aug 19410551Naples5 Aug 19411105Cagliari283Passage Naples-Cagliari.

Gran, Oscar7 Aug 19410730Cagliari7 Aug 19411231Cagliari16,8Exercises with the submarine Alagi, escorted by the minesweeper Balear.

10Gran, Oscar7 Aug 19412345Cagliari9 Aug 19411447Cagliari331,9Patrolled in 37°50'N, 06°00'E, on the parallel between 05°E and 06°E. Uneventful.

Gran, Oscar15 Aug 19410801Cagliari15 Aug 19411340Cagliari20,4Trials escorted by the minesweeper Balear.

11Gran, Oscar22 Aug 19411648Cagliari27 Aug 19411317Cagliari456,5Patrolled west of Galite Island.
  26 Aug 1941015937° 47'N, 8° 21'EAt 0146 hours, a dark vessel was sighted and appeared to be a large schooner.

At 0159 hours, a single torpedo (533mm) was fired from a bow tube at a range of 500 metres. It missed. Shortly after, an explosion was heard but believed to be from a depth charge. Later, the schooner was identified as Italian.

Gran, Oscar30 Aug 19410754Cagliari30 Aug 19411128Cagliari15,4Exercises.

12Gran, Oscar4 Sep 19410905Cagliari17 Sep 19411246Cagliari820Patrolled off Cape Bon (zone K.1). Uneventful. Sighted only French ships.

13Gran, Oscar25 Sep 19411832Cagliari2 Oct 19410843Cagliari800Sailed with Axum, Diaspro and Serpente for patrol between 39°20'N and 40°00'N, and between 06°20'E and 06°40'E. On 27th September, she was shifted 100 miles to the south. She returned to base by following the North African coast at a distance of 16 miles. NOTE: Gran was criticized for not mentioning the coordinates of the positions of ships encountered at 1405 hours on the 29th and 0020 hours on 1st October.
  29 Sep 19411405
(0) 010° - Cape Bougaroni - 26 miles.
At 0619 hours, two explosions were heard from the direction of Diaspro's patrol area. It was believed she had hit a vessel. This was the attack on HMS Gurkha, which had failed.

Noises were heard on the hydrophones off and on since 1211 hours.

At 1405 hours, five enemy destroyers were sighted at a distance 6-7,000 metres, steering 165°. Aradam attempted to close, but they passed out of range.

At 1649 hours, an explosion was heard and it was believed that Serpente, in the adjacent area, had scored a hit. This attack against HMS Legion had also failed.
  1 Oct 19410020
(0) Off Cape de Fer.
At 0020 hours, flashing lights was seen in heavy rain. It was believed these were perhaps the cruiser and two destroyers reported by MARICOSOM. Aradam steered toward them but visibility was poor. It was later recognised as a French vessel, probably "Toutquenois" (?) on passage from Bone to Marseilles.
  1 Oct 19410820
(0) Between Cape de Fer, Cape Serrat and La Galite.
At 0820 hours, a submarine was sighted. It was believed to be Diaspro who had probably sighted Aradam and submerged.

14Gran, Oscar10 Oct 19411749Cagliari21 Oct 19411039Cagliari1078,1Sailed with Alagi, Serpente, Turchese and Diaspro for a patrol North of Cape Bougaroni, between 37°10'N and 37°30'N, 06°00'E and 06°20'E.
  17 Oct 1941190037° 01'N, 6° 16'EAt 1900 hours, a steamer was sighted at a distance of 12-14,000 metres, steering 280°. Aradam closed submerged and, at 1955 hours, surfaced for gun action at a range of 6,000 meters. The vessel turned away at full speed and disappeared before a shot could be fired.

Gran, Oscar4 Nov 19410815Cagliari4 Nov 19411318Cagliari35,7Trials with the minesweeper Balear.

15Gran, Oscar10 Nov 19412308Cagliari16 Nov 19411129Cagliari648,6Patrolled northwest of Cape Bon, between Zembra and Cani Islands, the parallel of 37°40'N and a line 335° from Zembra. At 2100 hours on the 14th, she was ordered 37°30'N, 08°32'E to search for Empire Pelican.
  14 Nov 1941030437° 16'N, 10° 34'EAt 0304 hours, a submarine was sighted. It was believed to be Turchese. Bandiera of VIII Grupsom was also in the area.
  14 Nov 19412100At 2100 hours, orders were received to attack Empire Pelikan (sic, Empire Pelican) in 37°30' N, 08°32' E. Aradam steered toward the area.
  15 Nov 1941083037° 09'N, 8° 41'E
(0) 11 miles north of Tabarka (Tunisia).
At 0830 hours, a large oil slick was sighted but no signs of Empire Pelican.
  15 Nov 1941092037° 13'N, 8° 34'EAt 0920 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived.
  15 Nov 1941122037° 30'N, 8° 32'E
(0) Approximately.
At 1220 hours, information was received from MARICOSOM that an aircraft had seen at 1010 hours, a derelict vessel believed to be Empire Pelikan (sic Empire Pelican) and ordered her to pick up the survivors. Empire Pelican and Empire Defender had both been sunk by Italian torpedo-bombers.

Aradam looked for the survivors but without success. In fact, the twenty-five survivors of Empire Pelican had taken to four lifeboats and reached Cape Seurat the same afternoon.

Gran, Oscar22 Nov 19411400Cagliari22 Nov 19411650CagliariExercises.

16Gran, Oscar26 Nov 19412250Cagliari8 Dec 19411055Cagliari1040,1Patrolled east of La Galite Island between (A) 37°20'N, 10°10'E (B) 37°40'N, 10°10'E (C) 37°40'N, 10°30'E (D) Zembra Island. Only French ships were sighted.
  28 Nov 19412342At 2342 hours, Aradam was informed of a merchant vessel sighted at 1015 hours, in 37°30' N, 05°30' E (Italian grid 1672/4) on an easterly course.

T.V. Gran estimated that the vessel traveling at a speed of 10-13 knots would cross his patrol area between 0400 and 0800 hours on 29th November.
  29 Nov 19410630At 0630 hours, another report was received which mentioned that a convoy was seen at 1500 hours on the 28th in 37°30' N, 08°50' E. Despite excellent weather conditions, Aradam did not hear or sight anything.

Gran, Oscar18 Dec 19410845Cagliari18 Dec 19411210CagliariExercises.

17Gran, Oscar18 Dec 19412044Cagliari25 Dec 19410835Cagliari482,7Patrolled off Philippeville between 37°30'N and 38°00'N, and between 07°50'E and 08°00'E, on a barrage line with Turchese, Axum and Alagi.
  23 Dec 19412010At 2010 hours, information was received that, at 1715 hours, Turchese had sighted a squadron of two cruisers and four destroyers (in 37°21' N, 06°26' E, off Cape Bougaroni) and Aradam attempted to intercept.

The submarine sighted nothing and, at 2333 hours, gave up the chase and returned to her patrol area.

18Gran, Oscar1 Jan 19421915Cagliari8 Jan 19421825Cagliari1125Patrolled between Malta and Pantelleria between 34°00'N and 34°20'N, and between 14°40'E and 15°20'E, on a barrage line with Axum, Turchese and Aradam to protect Libyan convoys.
  3 Jan 1942140235° 38'N, 12° 38'EAt 1402 hours, an aircraft was sighted at a distance of 3,000 metres, flying at an altitude of about 100 meters. Aradam was at periscope depth and dived to 60 metres.
  3 Jan 1942220535° 38'N, 12° 38'E
(0) Approximately.
At 2205 hours, a submarine was sighted at 2-3,000 metres. It was believed to be Alagi operating in the adjacent area.
  5 Jan 1942062234° 06'N, 14° 37'EAt 0622 hours, a hospital ship was sighted steering 040°.
  6 Jan 1942103035° 14'N, 13° 24'EAt 1030 hours, a floating body was found. Its decomposition state made it difficult to identify it but it was believed to be an airman. Honours were rendered by the personnel on the bridge.
  6 Jan 1942152635° 44'N, 13° 03'EAt 1526 hours, a derelict mine was sighted. Because of the heavy seas, no attempt was made to destroy it.

Gran, Oscar17 Jan 19420910Cagliari17 Jan 19421407Cagliari39,5Exercises escorted by the auxiliary Salvatore.

19Gran, Oscar28 Jan 19421430Cagliari28 Jan 19421908Cagliari41Sailed for patrol between 38°00'N and 38°30'N, and between 07°20'E and 07°30'E, on a barrage line with Alagi, Brin, Turchese and Axum, but quickly recalled.

Gran, Oscar4 Feb 19421302Cagliari4 Feb 19421855Cagliari39Trials, escorted by the auxiliary minesweeper R.D.34.

20Gran, Oscar9 Feb 19421505Cagliari21 Feb 19420855Cagliari1137,4Patrolled north of Cape Bougaroni, between 38°00'N and 38°30'N, and between 06°20'E and 06°30'E, on a barrage line with Axum and Turchese. On 18th February, she was shifted 20 miles to the south.
  10 Feb 19421407At 1407 hours, information was received of an enemy cruiser and destroyer sighted at 1205 hours in Italian Grid 6291 (32 miles NNE of Cape Bengut) , steering 090°, 20 knots. Aradam was too far to intercept, but nevertheless proceeded northward.
  10 Feb 1942163238° 15'N, 7° 10'EAt 1632 hours, a large aircraft believed to be a Dornier was sighted at a distance of 10,000 metres.
  10 Feb 1942204537° 45'N, 7° 35'EAt 2045 hours, hydrophone effects were heard and believed to be from an enemy naval force. Nothing could be seen and, at 2307 hours, Aradam made an enemy report.

21Gran, Oscar27 Feb 19421304Cagliari4 Mar 19421205Cagliari602,8Patrolled southwest of Sardinia, between 37°50'N and 38°00'N, and between 06°20'E and 06°30'E. Uneventful. At 1402 hours on 1st March, she was ordered home, but, at 1949 hours the same day, the order was rescinded and she returned to her patrol area until 1412 hours on 3rd March, when she received a definite order to leave her patrol. At 2000 hours on the 3rd, she obtained a fix which showed she had been out of position by 45 miles.

22Gran, Oscar27 Mar 19422227Cagliari1 Apr 19421200Cagliari486Patrolled north of Cape Bougaroni, between 37°50'N and 38°00'N, 06°20'E and 07°20'E, on a barrage line with Turchese.
  30 Mar 19421418
(0) Off Cape Bougaroni.
At 1418 hours, information was received of an enemy cruiser of 7,000 tons, 10 miles southeast of Galite Island, steering 270°, 20 knots. Aradam surfaced at 1452 hours and proceeded toward the south at maximum speed but sighted nothing.
  1 Apr 19420152
0045 (e)
38° 25'N, 7° 56'EAt 0152 hours, a submarine was sighted at a distance of 1,500 metres, steering 240°. It could have been Italian. Aradam steered away. It was actually the Dutch HrMs O 23 (Luitenant ter zee 1e klasse (Lt. Cdr.) Albertus Marinus Valkenburg), on passage direct from Gibraltar to Alexandria.

23Gran, Oscar4 Apr 19420103Cagliari22 Apr 19421028Cagliari566,5Patrolled in zone Kappa 2 (K 2), off Kelibia (Tunisia), on a barrage line with Turchese (in zone K 1).
  6 Apr 1942031736° 47'N, 11° 05'EAt 0312 hours, the First Officer sighted a wake at a distance of 2,500 metres. It was very quickly recognised to be a destroyer and initially believed to be proceeding at a moderate speed of about 16 knots.

At 0317 hours, it was realised that the vessel was going faster (25 knots) than estimated. One torpedo (533mm, type H) was fired from a bow tube at a distance of 470 metres. The order to fire a second torpedo was not understood as the noise of the "senza bolla" (bubbleless) system covered the voice. The submarine crash-dived immediately and no hit was heard but it was believed that the torpedo may have struck the stern. In fact the torpedo had missed.

The target was the destroyer HMS Havock who was actually doing 28-30 knots. However, at 0358 hours, she ran hard aground in position 020° - Kelibia Light - 2.5 miles (approx. 36°52' N, 11°08' E or about 6 miles from Aradam's attack position). No explanation could be given on how the destroyer had beached herself near Cape Mirh (about 2.5 miles north of Cape Mustafa ) some 39 minutes later (according to the Italians which was accurate enough). The theory was that she was hit and managed 7 knots before beaching herself. In fact, either she was much further south than recorded or, the time was wrong.

At about 1500 hours MAS 563 (T.V. Renato Castello) and MAS 564 (G.M. Francesco Luciano) from Pantelleria arrived on the scene and met the French minesweeper Héron who informed them that the crew of H.43 (HMS Havock) had been interned. The two Italian boats tried to examine the wreck, but when they were only half a mile from her, the forward part exploded and she was broken in two.
  9 Apr 1942051936° 47'N, 11° 07'EAt 2142 hours on 8th April, information was received that a cruiser and destroyer were expected to go through Aradam's zone at about 0100 hours on the 9th.

At 0519 hours on the 9th, the cruiser and destroyer were suddenly sighted at a distance of 1,000 metres. As they steered straight for the submarine, Aradam crash-dived. The two vessels passed so close that an attack with stern torpedoes was impossible.

This was the light cruiser HMS Penelope, proceeding from Malta to Gibraltar. ' HMS Pepper Pot ', as she had been nicknamed, was proceeding unescorted. Despite her damages, she had managed a very credible 29 knots, for a few hours, but was now proceeding at 20 knots as she closed Cape Bon. During, the day she was the subject of several air attacks, but reached her destination at dusk the following day, having averaged 27 knots for most of the journey
  18 Apr 1942150335° 50'N, 11° 08'EAt 1503 hours, a steamer was sighted at a distance of 1,000 metres. An attack was about to be carried out as the vessel had not been announced, when a CANT Z.506 was observed flying close to the steamer, so it was assumed to be Italian.
  19 Apr 19421006
(0) Off Cape Bon.
At 1006 hours, the Italian steamer Nino Claudio (2,571 GRT, built 1941) was sighted at a distance of 1,000 metres. She was due off Cape Bon at 1100 hours.
  20 Apr 1942050635° 45'N, 11° 06'EAt 0506 hours, a large steamer was sighted, followed shortly after by two smaller vessels. Since, the Italian steamer Panuco (7,751 GRT, built 1941), escorted by two destroyers [actually the destroyer Folgore, the torpedo boat Centauro and the tug Instacabile], were expected at 0320 hours, the attack was aborted.

Gran, Oscar30 Apr 19421200Cagliari1 May 19420900Trapani185,5Passage Cagliari-Trapani.

Gran, Oscar21 May 19420820Trapani21 May 19421215Trapani37,5Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary minesweeper R.D.42.

24Gran, Oscar23 May 19422100Trapani9 Jun 19420935Trapani1465,5Patrolled near Cape Blanc and La Galite, between 37°20'N and 37°45'N, and between 09°20'E and 10°20'E. Sighted several Italian and French ships.
  7 Jun 1942205737° 45'N, 9° 37'EAt 2057 hours, an aircraft was sighted at a distance of 7,000 metres and the submarine dived.
  8 Jun 1942212038° 19'N, 10° 58'E
(0) Italian Grid 8701/5.
At 2120 hours, a column of smoke was observed, apparently a vessel hit. An Italian convoy had been sighted earlier, but T.V. Gran did not know if this was the same one. Aradam made an enemy report at 2239 hours, signaling three vessels steering 090°.

Gran, Oscar12 Jun 19421000Trapani12 Jun 19421330Trapani27Exercises, escorted by the torpedo boat Dezza.

25Gran, Oscar13 Jun 19420846Trapani17 Jun 19421559Trapani264Sailed with the submarines Dessié and Onice, escorted by the torpedo boat Dezza until 1810 hours. Patrolled west of Malta, between 36°20'N and 36°20'N, and between 13°00'E and 13°20'E, to intercept an enemy convoy.
  15 Jun 1942100636° 12'N, 13° 13'EAt 1006 hours, an enemy biplane (Swordfish) was observed through the periscope at a distance of 2,000 metres. Aradam went deeper to escape detection.
  16 Jun 1942101635° 57'N, 13° 01'EAt 1016 hours, a submarine was sighted at a distance of 2,000 metres and believed to be Ascianghi.

Gran, Oscar19 Jun 19420900Trapani20 Jun 19420900Messina205Passage Trapani-Naples, but then diverted to Messina.

Gran, Oscar22 Jun 19420943Messina23 Jun 19420609Naples281Passage Messina-Naples.

Gran, Oscar29 Aug 19421340Naples29 Aug 19421750Naples21Exercises.

Gran, Oscar1 Sep 19421430Naples1 Sep 19421915Naples39Trials.

Gran, Oscar2 Sep 19421740Naples2 Sep 19422315Naples47Trials.

Cinti, Alpinolo5 Sep 19420840Naples5 Sep 19421436NaplesExercises.

Cinti, Alpinolo5 Sep 19421925Naples7 Sep 19420710La Spezia340Passage Naples-La Spezia to embark G7e electric torpedoes.

Cinti, Alpinolo10 Sep 19421200La Spezia10 Sep 19421720La Spezia35Exercises.

Cinti, Alpinolo11 Sep 19420819La Spezia11 Sep 19421707La Spezia53Exercises.

Cinti, Alpinolo13 Sep 19420810La Spezia13 Sep 19421322La Spezia4Gyrocompass tests.

Cinti, Alpinolo14 Sep 19421038La Spezia14 Sep 19421152La Spezia2Trials.

Cinti, Alpinolo15 Sep 19421235La Spezia17 Sep 19420915Trapani407,5Passage La Spezia-Trapani.

Cinti, Alpinolo22 Sep 19421325Trapani22 Sep 19421820Trapani12Trials.

Cinti, Alpinolo23 Sep 19421400Trapani23 Sep 19421630Trapani17Trials.

Cinti, Alpinolo24 Sep 19421330Trapani24 Sep 19421725Trapani22Trials.

Cinti, Alpinolo15 Oct 19420820Trapani15 Oct 19421320Trapani32Exercises.

Forni, Carlo23 Oct 19420745Trapani23 Oct 19421236Trapani30Exercises.

26Forni, Carlo7 Nov 19420115Trapani18 Nov 19421440Cagliari1159,5Patrolled off Bone in 37°00'N, 08°00'E.
  14 Nov 1942113236° 59'N, 7° 49'EAt 1132 hours, two MTBs similar to the Italian MAS 60-ton type were sighted and Aradam turned away.
  16 Nov 1942023036° 59'N, 7° 49'EAt 0230 hours, two steamers were sighted on an easterly course, 11 knots. Aradam trailed them, hoping to gain a favourable attack position, but lost them at 0344 hours in a sudden rain squall.
  16 Nov 1942044736° 52'N, 7° 52'EAt 0344 hours, under heavy rain, which had rendered the binoculars useless, a steamer was sighted at a distance of 3,000 metres, steering 210°.

At 0447 hours, the vessel altered course to starboard, offering a good attack angle. Two torpedoes (533mm, G7e type) were fired from bow tubes at a distance of 500 metres. They missed as the vessel had turned to port.

At 0506 hours, another pair of torpedoes (533mm, G7e type) were fired from bow tubes at a distance of 600 metres. They also missed. One torpedo exploded on the coast.

From 0514 to 0544 hours, Aradam opened fire on the vessel, claiming a direct hit on the bridge with the third round. However, a defective round exploded shortly after exiting the barrel, temporarily blinding the gun crew and the personnel on the bridge and the action could not be renewed.

The target has not yet been identified.

Forni, Carlo19 Nov 19421525Cagliari20 Nov 19422155Naples272Passage Cagliari-Naples.
  20 Nov 1942
2010 (e)

(0) 22° - Imperatore Lt° - 9 miles (near Ischia).
At 1930B hours, the submarine HMS P 228 (Lieutenant I.L. Mackay McGeogh, RN) was lurking near Ischia, when hydrophone effect was detected by the ASDIC operator. Shortly after, a submarine of ALAGI or perhaps GIOVANNI DA PROCIDA Class was observed , steering 047°, 13 knots.

At 2010B hours, six torpedoes were fired at 4-second firing intervals, from a distance of about 2,000 yards. They all missed. Twelve minutes later, two explosions were heard, probably torpedoes exploding at the end of their run.

This was almost certainly Aradam, who reached Naples at 2155 hours, but did not notice the attack.

Forni, Carlo1 Dec 19420820Naples1 Dec 19421247Naples21,5Trials.

Forni, Carlo11 Dec 19420801Naples11 Dec 19421255Naples25,5Exercises.

Forni, Carlo12 Dec 19421550Naples12 Dec 19421810Castellammare di Stabia12,5Passage Naples-Castellammare di Stabia.

Forni, Carlo19 Dec 19421407Castellammare di Stabia19 Dec 19421606NaplesPassage Castellammare di Stabia-Naples.

Forni, Carlo19 Dec 19421840Naples20 Dec 19422145Augusta282Passage Naples-Augusta.

27Forni, Carlo22 Dec 19422355Augusta11 Jan 19431045Augusta1784Patrolled off Cyrenaica, between 34°00'N and the Libyan coast, and between 21°30'E and 22°00'E.
  31 Dec 1942230533° 02'N, 21° 51'E
(0) Italian Grid 7672/4.
At 2305 hours, two small patrol vessels were sighted steering 290°. Aradam tried to close in the hope of discovering larger vessels but lost contact.
  2 Jan 1943032033° 17'N, 21° 37'EAt 0320 hours, three small patrol vessels were sighted at a distance of 2,000 metres. Aradam dived at 0325 hours, but gradually lost hydrophone contact.
  2 Jan 1943055533° 17'N, 21° 41'EAt 0555 hours, two escort vessels similar to Italian corvettes were sighted. Aradam dived at 0600 hours but lost contact.

Forni, Carlo11 Jan 19432333Augusta12 Jan 19430930Messina69Passage Augusta-Messina.

Forni, Carlo30 Jan 19430815Messina30 Jan 19431247Messina19Exercises.

Forni, Carlo1 Feb 19431500Messina1 Feb 19432148Augusta69Passage Messina-Augusta with the submarine Topazio.

Forni, Carlo6 Feb 19430813Augusta6 Feb 19431155Augusta19Exercises.

Forni, Carlo10 Feb 19430815Augusta10 Feb 19431235Augusta19Exercises.

Forni, Carlo15 Feb 19431200Augusta15 Feb 19431750Augusta26Exercises.

28Forni, Carlo18 Feb 19431800Augusta5 Mar 19430740Augusta1620Patrolled in Gulf of Sirte, off Misurata, between 32°06'N and 32°20'N, and between 15°50'E and 16°40'E.
  23 Feb 1943014532° 06'N, 16° 22'EAt 0145 hours, a steamer escorted by a small destroyer or corvette with two patrol vessels were sighted at a distance of 4-6,000 metres steering 280° course. Aradam could not gain an attacking position.
  26 Feb 1943204032° 17'N, 16° 07'EAt 2040 hours, a vessel which could not be identified, escorted by a destroyer, were sighted at a distance of 3,000 metres. Aradam could not catch up to gain a favourable position.

Forni, Carlo17 Mar 19431507Augusta18 Mar 19432031Naples274,8Passage Augusta-Naples.

Forni, Carlo28 Mar 19430800Naples28 Mar 19431225Naples15,5Exercises.

Forni, Carlo30 Mar 19430801Naples30 Mar 19431007Naples9Exercises.

Forni, Carlo3 Apr 19430801Naples3 Apr 19431007Pozzuoli20Passage Naples-Pozzuoli.

Forni, Carlo5 Apr 19430045Pozzuoli6 Apr 19430725La Maddalena226,7Passage Naples-La Maddalena with the submarine Sirena.

Forni, Carlo11 Apr 19430910La Maddalena11 Apr 19431205Bonifacio34Passage La Maddalena-Bonifacio.

Forni, Carlo15 Apr 19430815Bonifacio15 Apr 19430955Bonifacio5Exercises.

29Forni, Carlo2 May 19431947Bonifacio16 May 19431327La Maddalena1407,5Sailed with the submarine Diaspro and patrolled in western Mediterranean between 38°40'N and 39°20'N, and between 05°40'E and 06°20'E. Uneventful, except for some defects.

Forni, Carlo17 May 19431455La Maddalena17 May 19431745Bonifacio20Passage La Maddalena-Bonifacio.

Forni, Carlo17 May 19432055Bonifacio19 May 19430610La Spezia173,5Passage Bonifacio-La Spezia, escorted in by MAS 525.

Forni, Carlo20 May 19430810La Spezia20 May 19431355Genoa36,2Passage La Spezia-Genoa for refit, escorted by MAS 525.

Forni, Carlo23 Jul 19431130+Genoa23 Jul 19431200?SunkWhile testing her forward tubes in Genoa harbour, Aradam accidentally sank in about 30 minutes. There were no casualties.
  23 Jul 19431200?
(0) Genoa harbour.
At about noon, Aradam was testing her forward torpedo tubes when, due to an error in drill water flooded the submarine through tube no. 1, causing her to sink. Although T.V. Forli was not directly involved, he received a severe reprimand from an investigating commission presided by Admiral Legnani himself.

Tromba, Mario9 Sep 1943Genoa9 Sep 19430720 or 0830ScuttledShe was being repaired when the Armistice arrived. She was scuttled in Genoa harbour along with the former French submarine Henri Poincaré, FR 113 (ex-French Requin), Colonna and H 6. Refloated and repaired by the Germans, who ceded her to the Republican Navy on 25th January 1944. She was raised and, on 25th March 1944, repairs had started. Reported to have been assigned to the 10th MAS Flotilla on 29th April 1944.

4 Sep 1944Genoa4 Sep 1944GenoaShe was in the process of returning to service and had undergone trials in harbour on 18th August 1944, when she was sunk, along with submarines Grongo, Murena and Sparide, following an air raid by 168 B.17 bombers (USAAF) dropping a total of 1,965 500-lb bombs .

140 entries. 115 total patrol entries (29 marked as war patrols) and 46 events.

All Italian submarines