Italian submarines in World War Two

Italian Commanders


Alberto Crepas

Born  27 Nov 1906Rome
Died  Jul 1943(36)Killed in action

Ranks

  T.V.Tenente di Vascello
  C.C.Capitano di Corvetta

Decorations

  Cavaliere dell'ordine della Corona d'Italia
2 Dec 1941 Medaglia d'argento al valore militare
10 Feb 1942 Croce di guerra al valore militare
31 Dec 1942 Medaglia di bronzo al valore militare
18 Dec 1951 Medaglia d'argento al valore militare (posthumous)

Career information

PIETRO MICCA (T.V. First Officer): from 23.05.1938 to ?
ARGO (T.V. C.O.): from 31.05.1940 to 31.01.1942.
Promoted to C.C. on ?
LUCIANO MANARA (C.C. C.O.): from 25.02.1943 to 30.05.1943.
ROMOLO (C.C. C.O.): From 19.06.1943 to July 1943? (sunk, Crepas was killed).

Commands listed for Alberto Crepas


Submarine Type Rank From To
Argo (AO, I.26)Ocean goingT.V.31 May 194031 Jan 1942
Luciana Manara (MR)Ocean goingC.C.25 Feb 194330 May 1943
Romolo (RO)TransportC.C.19 Jun 1943Jul 1943

Ships hit by Alberto Crepas


DateSubmarineShip hitTypeGRTNat.Loss type
1.1 Dec 1940ArgoHMCS SaguenayDestroyer1,337CanadianDamaged
2.5 Dec 1940ArgoSilverpineCargo ship5,066BritishSunk

War patrols listed for Alberto Crepas

 SubmarineDateTimePortArr. dateArr. timeArr. portMilesDescription
Argo (AO, I.26)17 Jun 19400645La Spezia17 Jun 19401700La Spezia75,6Exercises after long refit.

Argo (AO, I.26)21 Jun 19400532La Spezia21 Jun 19401410La Spezia27,5Exercises.

Argo (AO, I.26)22 Jun 19401420La Spezia22 Jun 19402053Savona72,8Passage La Spezia-Savona.

Argo (AO, I.26)23 Jun 19401410Savona23 Jun 19402145La Spezia72,8Passage Savona-La Spezia.

Argo (AO, I.26)26 Jun 19402235La Spezia27 Jun 19402035La Maddalena228Passage La Spezia-La Maddalena with the submarines Neghelli and Scirè.

1.Argo (AO, I.26)10 Jul 19400050La Maddalena12 Jul 19400952La Maddalena309,6Patrolled in position 310° - Point Asinara Light (Sardinia) - 80 miles. She, was part of a barrage line, 15 miles apart with Iride, Scirè and Diaspro.

Argo (AO, I.26)27 Jul 19401343La Maddalena27 Jul 19402030La Maddalena41,8Hydrophone watch.

2.Argo (AO, I.26)31 Jul 19402225La Maddalena1 Aug 19401518Cagliari175,6Sailed with Scirè and Neghelli for a patrol in 37°40'N, 06°20'E. Made a brief stop at Cagliari, to pick up her sailing orders before proceeding for patrol.

3.Argo (AO, I.26)1 Aug 19401542Cagliari10 Aug 19402237La Maddalena1167Patrolled south of the Balearic Islands in position 37°49'N, 06°20'E. Part of a barrage line involving six other boats: Scirè, Neghelli, Turchese, Medusa, Axum, and Diaspro. MARICOSOM had ordered a screen on two lines (three and four boats respectively) north of Cape Bougaroni (06°20’ E meridian). The two lines were 10 miles apart and each submarine was positioned 20 miles from the next one. The second day into the mission, Medusa had to return to base and was later replaced by Manara. Uneventful.

Argo (AO, I.26)23 Aug 19401330La Maddalena24 Aug 19400930La Spezia41,8Passage La Maddalena-La Spezia on hydrophone watch, then refit.

Argo (AO, I.26)23 Sep 19400835La Spezia23 Sep 19401630La Spezia42Trials after refit.

Argo (AO, I.26)26 Sep 19400805La Spezia26 Sep 19401700La Spezia40Trials after refit.

Argo (AO, I.26)28 Sep 19400800La Spezia28 Sep 19401620La Spezia31Trials after refit.

4.Argo (AO, I.26)2 Oct 19401400La Spezia24 Oct 19401320Bordeaux3038Passage from La Spezia to Bordeaux. Passed Gibraltar on 8th October. Patrolled in area between 36°00'N and 36°30'N, and between 09°04'W and 09°42'W. The submarine experienced defects in two forward tubes and one stern tube. Escorted in by M-9, M-13 and M-21.
  12 Oct 19400940
0800 (e)

(e) 36° 50'N, 10° 00'W
(0) 260° - Cape St. Vincent - 50 miles.
At 0846 hours, a smoke was observed. At 0900 hours, the submarine dived and recognised it as a 4,000-ton armed vessel on a 180° course. At 0940 hours, a single torpedo (533mm, type W) was fired from a bow tube at a distance of 600 metres. It missed. This was the armed trawler HMT Cape Barracouta who reported the attack. Bad weather prevented the submarine from a surface action.
  12 Oct 19401434-154536° 00'N, 9° 30'W
(0) Approximately.
At 1434 hours, the Portuguese trawler Estrella Do Norte (325 GRT, built 1919) was ordered to stop, but was allowed to proceed after examination.

5.Argo (AO, I.26)22 Nov 19401130Bordeaux12 Dec 19401900Le Verdon3075Patrolled in the Atlantic between 53°20'N and 54°20'N, and between 17°00'W and 20°00'W.
  1 Dec 19400449
0355 (e)
54° 05'N, 16° 55'W
(e) 54° 40'N, 15° 20'W
Argo was proceeding on the surface when, at 0449 hours, the officer of the watch sighted a shadow which was at first taken for a submarine. She took an intercepting course and when it was realised that it was a destroyer, a single torpedo (533mm) was fired from a bow tube at distance of 600 metres and scored a hit after 40 seconds. The submarine turned and tried to finish her off with a stern shot (450mm), but missed. A second stern shot (533mm) followed and was claimed to have hit (it had not). This was the destroyer HMCS Saguenay. With HMS Highlander, she had been escorting convoy HG.47 but had temporarily lost contact with the convoy. She had sighted the submarine at 800 yards and fired two rounds which missed before the torpedo hit the forward part on the port side. Twenty-one were killed. At 0700 hours, HMS Highlander arrived on the scene to assist her and took off five officers and eighty-five ratings. The remaining crew (five officers and fifty-three ratings) managed to bring Saguenay to port stern first. The tugs Englishman, Salvonia [she was later diverted to assist the armed merchant cruiser HMS Forfar] and Schelde, and the A/S trawlers HMT Foxtrot, HMT Stella Polaris and HMT Sphene were sailed to her assistance. She managed to reach Barrow in Furness towed by the tug Schelde at 1615 hours on 5th December.
  2 Dec 1940061054° 53'N, 18° 28'WAt 0610 hours, the sound of gunfire was heard followed by what appeared to be a torpedo hit at a distance of 4,000 metres. Possibly the British Dunsley (3,862 GRT, built 1929) from convoy HX.90, damaged by gunfire at 0606 hours in 54°41' N, 18°41' W by U-47 (KK Günther Prien).
  2 Dec 19400825
0932-1350 (e)
54° 36'N, 18° 26'W
(e) 54° 37'N, 18° 26'W
At 0800 hours, a small steamer or perhaps a convoy escort was observed, possibly collecting survivors. The submarine stopped its diesels and proceeded on its electric motors to avoid being heard. At 0825 hours, the submarine fired a torpedo (533mm) from no.4 tube at a range of 500 metres, but it appeared to veer to the right and missed. The submarine dived to a depth of 80 metres. At 0919 hours, "Hastig" was heard (sic, ASDIC), immediately followed by depth charges. From 0912 hours to 1437 hours, Argo was subjected to a systematic hunt by two destroyers and counted 96 depth charges, but suffered practically no damage. At 2045 hours, the submarine surfaced with the gun crew at action station, but the horizon was empty. The target had been the destroyer HMCS St. Laurent and together with HMS Viscount, they had hunted the submarine dropping 81 depth charges. HMCS St. Laurent had indeed picked up survivors from Conch and was looking for those of the armer merchant cruiser HMS Forfar when the attack occurred. Although both destroyer captains doubted the result of their attacks, the U-boat Assessment Committee had concluded the U-boat "probably sunk".
  4 Dec 1940125554° 00'N, 18° 00'W
(0) Very approximately.
At 1255 hours, a Sunderland aircraft was sighted at 2,000 metres. Argo fired six pans of machine gun rounds before diving to a depth of 60 metres. No explosions were reported.
  5 Dec 19400339
0220 (e)
54° 14'N, 18° 08'W
(e) 54° 00'N, 17° 30'W
(0) Z
At 0339 hours, the officer of the watch suddenly sighted a dark shape. A torpedo was immediately fired at a distance of 500 metres at a 12,000-ton two-funnel vessel. The torpedo hit after 35 seconds under the first funnel. A second explosion followed, attributed to a boiler and she sank. This was the steamer Silverpine (5,066 GRT, built 1924) in ballast and detached from convoy OB.252 bound from Glasgow to New York. Thirty-six were killed. Nineteen survivors were picked up by HMS Harvester at 0900 hours in 57°00' N, 17°30' W. The submarine was later hunted by HMS Harvester. Starting at 0412 hours, Argo reported three patterns of eight depth charges each.
  11 Dec 19401545
(0) ?
A big wave covered the bridge and carried over the First Officer T.V. Alessandro de Santis. The submarine turned back and closed to about 20 metres from the unfortunate officer. Sotto Capo Cannoniere [Petty Officer (Gunner)] Lorenzo Ciapetti bravely offered to jump in the water to reach him with a life saver. He closed to about 8-10 metres before De Santis disappeared and was no longer seen. Ciapetti was recovered and the submarine resumed course. For his bravery, Lorenzo Ciapetti was awarded the Medaglia d'Argento al valore militare (Silver Medal).

Argo (AO, I.26)25 Jan 1941Le Verdon?25 Jan 1941Date?Le Verdon?According to the KTB of 2.MSFL, Argo made a sortie on this date, escorted by M-12 and M-21. Italian documents do not show such a sortie. She may have been mistaken for Dandolo who sailed on that day.

Argo (AO, I.26)21 Feb 19411508Bordeaux21 Feb 19411950Le Verdon47Passage Bordeaux-Le Verdon.

Argo (AO, I.26)22 Feb 19411502Bordeaux22 Feb 19411745Le Verdon10Trials.

Argo (AO, I.26)23 Feb 19411200Le Verdon24 Feb 19410030La Pallice62Passage Le Verdon-La Pallice with the submarine Brin escorted by the German minesweepers M-2, M-6 and M-21 and Sperrbrecher 16.

Argo (AO, I.26)25 Feb 19410840La Pallice25 Feb 19411653La Pallice53Exercises.

6.Argo (AO, I.26)28 Feb 19411705La Pallice30 Mar 19411142Bordeaux4270Sailed for patrol between 59°30'N and 53°00'N, and between 13°00'W and 25°00'W. Then went into dry-dock for long refit.
  1 Mar 1941130045° 55'N, 8° 30'WAt 1300 hours, an unidentified aircraft was sighted at 6,000 metres and circled the submarine as close as 1,000 metres. Argo made the recognition signal but was not answered. The aircraft disappeared and the submarine dived.
  5 Mar 1941140047° 10'N, 11° 40'WAt 1400 hours, a submarine of the BIANCHI class was observed on 120° course. Argo turned away.
  7 Mar 19411400
1301 (e)
53° 35'N, 16° 50'W
(e) 53° 20'N, 18° 50'W
At 1400 hours, an aircraft was sighted at 6,000 metres. When it had closed at 1,500 metres, Argo made a recognition signal, receiving the correct counter signal. At a range of 800 metres, the aircraft was identified as a Sunderland and the submarine opened fire with her machine guns. Argo managed to keep the aircraft at bay until she dived at 1415 hours. The aircraft was Sunderland 'H' of 210 Squadron and did not carry out an attack. The presence of HMS Taku in the area probably inhibited the pilot from pressing home an attack.
  10 Mar 1941183057° 37'N, 23° 55'WAt 1830 hours, an antisubmarine vessel was sighted at 4,000 metres, the submarine dived and was not detected.
  11 Mar 1941122057° 15'N, 24° 36'WAt 1220 hours, a 4-5,000-ton vessel was sighted at 6-7,000 metres on a 060° course. The submarine maneuvered around it intending to attack in the evening, but at 1355 hours lost contact.
  27 Mar 1941130047° 20'N, 9° 20'WAt 1300 hours, an aircraft was sighted coming from the south. When the range had dropped to 1,000 metres, the submarine made the recognition signal which was not answered. At a distance of 800 metres, it was recognised as a Sunderland and two rounds were fired and the aircraft disappeared to the north. T.V. Crepas was not satisfied of his antiaircraft armament of two Breda machine guns and suggested that it must be increased to four.

7.Argo (AO, I.26)19 May 19411345Bordeaux14 Jun 19411045Bordeaux3367Patrolled off Portugal and west of the Strait of Gibraltar between 35°40'N and 36°20'N, and between 07°40'E and 06°30'W.
  20 May 1941151044° 18'N, 3° 19'W1510 hours, a German bomber was sighted and recognition signals exchanged.
  21 May 1941172144° 28'N, 8° 15'WAt 1721 hours, an aircraft was sighted at 4,000 metres and came as close as 2,000 meters. It did not respond to recognition signals and flew away in a southerly direction.
  27 May 1941010035° 45'N, 8° 56'WAt 2300 hours on 26th March, Argo was informed by BETASOM (signal of 2215/26) of a battleship, an aircraft carrier and a cruiser sighted at 1600 hours in Italian Grid 0326/22 [Force H], probably proceeding to Gibraltar. Argo, Marconi, Veniero and Mocenigo were ordered to intercept. At 0100 hours, an illuminated vessel was seen on a 200° course. It was apparently neutral and the submarine let her go.
  29 May 19411630+35° 58'N, 6° 48'W
(0) Italian Grid 1510/66.
The submarine heard H.E. at 1630 hours and shortly after sighted a convoy of ten steamers, escorted by three destroyers, steering 240°. The submarine surfaced at 1740 hours and made an enemy report. One diesel had broken down and Argo could not maintain contact.
  30 May 19410730-225235° 58'N, 6° 48'W
(0) Approximately.
From 0730 to 2252 hours, the submarine was subjected to a systematic hunt and counted 91 depth charge explosions. However, Argo was undamaged and surfaced at 2330 hours and escaped to the westward.
  31 May 19411230-154635° 58'N, 6° 48'W
(0) Approximately.
From 1230 to 1546 hours, the submarine was subjected to a systematic hunt by three vessels and counted fifteen depth charge explosions. However, Argo was undamaged.
  4 Jun 1941041536° 32'N, 8° 00'WAt 2310 on 3rd June, the submarine received orders from BETASOM (1950/3) to move to Grid 7562/32 for a period of 48 hours. At 0415 hours, an enemy warship was sighted and perhaps two more. The submarine dived to avoid detection. At 2350 hours on the 5th, the submarine received a signal from BETASOM reporting a convoy at 1830 hours in Grid 8511/11, course 090°, 8 knots. She was ordered to intercept at 1600 hours on the 6th in Grid 8562/13.
  6 Jun 1941075037° 10'N, 9° 25'WAt 0750 hours, a submarine was sighted but she apparently took avoiding action. Between 1255 and 1800 hours, Argo reported being hunted and hearing fifteen depth charges.
  7 Jun 1941123037° 11'N, 10° 22'WAt 1230 hours, a steamer was observed to have sailed from Lisbon and taken a 220° course. This proved to be the Brazilian Bagé (8,235 GRT, built 1912) and she was left alone.
  8 Jun 19411540
(0) Off Lisbon.
At 1540 hours, the submarine was hunted and dived to 60 metres. Nine explosions were heard and Argo went to 80 metres. Four explosions followed at 1630 hours and two more at 1700 hours.
  11 Jun 1941184543° 30'N, 10° 45'WAt 1845 hours, two corvettes were sighted but avoided.
  12 Jun 1941150044° 10'N, 8° 20'WAn unidentified aircraft attempted an attack but was repulsed with the submarine expending four magazines of machine gun rounds.

Argo (AO, I.26)12 Sep 19410905Bordeaux12 Sep 19411330Le VerdonPassage Bordeaux-Le Verdon.

Argo (AO, I.26)12 Sep 19411400Le Verdon12 Sep 19411650Le VerdonGyrocompass tests.

Argo (AO, I.26)13 Sep 19410900Le Verdon13 Sep 19411710La PalliceDiving tests at Le Pertuis d'Antioche. At a depth of 20 metres water infiltration was observed that could not be controlled. The submarine surfaced and a fuel leak was also seen. The submarine proceeded to La Pallice to carry out repairs.

Argo (AO, I.26)15 Sep 19410800La Pallice15 Sep 19411755La PalliceDiving tests to 40 metres. The infiltrations were verified to have stopped.

8.Argo (AO, I.26)16 Sep 19410905La Pallice24 Sep 19411600Bordeaux1895Sailed from Le Verdon for Cagliari. At 1000 hours she had reached in 39°12'N, 13°00'W and dived and several defects were noted including the gyrocompass. The submarine had to navigate with an ordinary compass and At 2200 hours surfaced. T.V. Crepas took the decision to turn back [mileage since Bordeaux on 12th September]. She was under repairs from 25th September to 7th October.

Argo (AO, I.26)8 Oct 19410830Bordeaux10 Oct 1941La PallicePassage Bordeaux-La Pallice.

9.Argo (AO, I.26)11 Oct 19411815La Pallice24 Oct 19411230Cagliari2399Passage La Pallice to Cagliari. Passed Gibraltar on 20th October 1941. Sighted only neutral vessels.
  13 Oct 19411030
0939 (e)
45° 32'N, 8° 08'W
(e) 45° 48'N, 8° 07'W
At 1030 hours, Argo came under attack by a Catalina aircraft. This was actually Hudson 'I' (AM553) of 233 Squadron piloted by Flying Officer Haigh. One bomb was dropped but missed the submarine by 100 metres. The submarine remained on the surface firing 51 100mm rounds and 478 13.2mm rounds to keep the aircraft at bay. Three more bombs were dropped but missed the submarine's bow by 50 metres. At 1330 hours, the aircraft finally flew away and the submarine submerged. BETASOM requested from the BdU that aircraft cover be provided and two Me 110 were promised, but finally did not take off although a German U-boat was sent to her assistance.
  20 Oct 19410255
(0) 153° - Malabata - 6 miles.
At 0255 hours, a submarine chaser was sighted. The submarine submerged and crossed the Strait of Gibraltar without further incidents.

Argo (AO, I.26)28 Oct 19410830Cagliari29 Oct 19411130Naples285Passage Cagliari-Naples for long refit.

Luciana Manara (MR)25 Feb 19431500Fiume25 Feb 19431800Fiume10Trials.

Luciana Manara (MR)27 Feb 19431545Fiume27 Feb 19431850Fiume30Trials.

Luciana Manara (MR)2 Mar 19431300Fiume2 Mar 19431850Fiume29Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)3 Mar 19431355Fiume3 Mar 19431625Sussa (Fiume)20Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)5 Mar 19430805Sussa (Fiume)5 Mar 19432335Sussa (Fiume)75Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)6 Mar 19430805Sussa (Fiume)6 Mar 19431240Sussa (Fiume)21Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)8 Mar 19431230Sussa (Fiume)8 Mar 19431830Sussa (Fiume)26Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)10 Mar 19431200Sussa (Fiume)10 Mar 19432230Sussa (Fiume)70Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)11 Mar 19430820Sussa (Fiume)11 Mar 19431040Sussa (Fiume)22,5Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)12 Mar 19430915Sussa (Fiume)12 Mar 19432300Sussa (Fiume)90Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)15 Mar 19431200Sussa (Fiume)15 Mar 19432315Sussa (Fiume)81Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)16 Mar 19430830Sussa (Fiume)16 Mar 19431115Sussa (Fiume)20,5Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)17 Mar 19431155Sussa (Fiume)18 Mar 19430025Sussa (Fiume)72Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)19 Mar 19430830Sussa (Fiume)19 Mar 19431955Sussa (Fiume)62Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)22 Mar 19430900Sussa (Fiume)22 Mar 19432310Sussa (Fiume)62Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)24 Mar 19430710Sussa (Fiume)24 Mar 19432200Sussa (Fiume)63Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)26 Mar 19430810Sussa (Fiume)26 Mar 19432315Sussa (Fiume)64Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)29 Mar 19431420Sussa (Fiume)29 Mar 19431857Sussa (Fiume)36Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)31 Mar 19431305Sussa (Fiume)31 Mar 19432300Sussa (Fiume)51Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)2 Apr 19431405Sussa (Fiume)2 Apr 19432400Sussa (Fiume)59Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)5 Apr 19431346Sussa (Fiume)5 Apr 19432300Sussa (Fiume)50Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)7 Apr 19431240Sussa (Fiume)7 Apr 19432400Sussa (Fiume)62Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)9 Apr 19431255Sussa (Fiume)9 Apr 19432340Sussa (Fiume)65Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)12 Apr 19431230Sussa (Fiume)12 Apr 19432315Sussa (Fiume)65Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)14 Apr 19431100Sussa (Fiume)14 Apr 19432250Sussa (Fiume)74Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)15 Apr 19431220Sussa (Fiume)15 Apr 19431450Sussa (Fiume)14,7Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)16 Apr 19431403Sussa (Fiume)17 Apr 19430027Sussa (Fiume)55Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)19 Apr 19431212Sussa (Fiume)19 Apr 19432330Sussa (Fiume)52Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)21 Apr 19431400Sussa (Fiume)22 Apr 19430140Sussa (Fiume)71,5Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)23 Apr 19431140Sussa (Fiume)23 Apr 19432400Sussa (Fiume)72Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)26 Apr 19431140Sussa (Fiume)27 Apr 19430115Sussa (Fiume)73Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)28 Apr 19431230Sussa (Fiume)29 Apr 19430100Sussa (Fiume)75Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)30 Apr 19431220Sussa (Fiume)30 Apr 19432400Sussa (Fiume)70Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)3 May 19431525Sussa (Fiume)3 May 19432400Sussa (Fiume)51Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)5 May 19431545Sussa (Fiume)6 May 19430015Sussa (Fiume)31Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)6 May 19431015Sussa (Fiume)6 May 19431135Sussa (Fiume)3,5Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)7 May 19431410Sussa (Fiume)7 May 19431610Sussa (Fiume)12Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)7 May 19432015Sussa (Fiume)7 May 19432345Sussa (Fiume)29,5Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)10 May 19431330Sussa (Fiume)11 May 19430110Sussa (Fiume)54Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)12 May 19431315Sussa (Fiume)13 May 19430100Sussa (Fiume)55Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)14 May 19431023Sussa (Fiume)15 May 19430025Sussa (Fiume)80Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)17 May 19430945Sussa (Fiume)18 May 19430110Sussa (Fiume)94Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)19 May 19431320Sussa (Fiume)19 May 19432400Sussa (Fiume)59Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)21 May 19431315Sussa (Fiume)22 May 19430015Sussa (Fiume)58Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)22 May 19431025Sussa (Fiume)22 May 19431145Sussa (Fiume)4Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)24 May 19431230Sussa (Fiume)25 May 19430057Sussa (Fiume)76Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)26 May 19431245Sussa (Fiume)27 May 19430125Sussa (Fiume)74Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)28 May 19431200Sussa (Fiume)29 May 19430245Sussa (Fiume)76Exercises.

Luciana Manara (MR)31 May 19431210Sussa (Fiume)1 Jun 19430132Sussa (Fiume)72Exercises.

Giuseppe Finzi (FZ, I.2)10 Jun 1943Bordeaux14 Jun 1943BordeauxRefit in Bordeaux (change in command).

Romolo (RO)21 Jun 19430740Taranto21 Jun 19431537Taranto24,5Trials.

Romolo (RO)23 Jun 19431145Taranto23 Jun 19431814Taranto19,5Trials. Sonar exercises with torpedo boats Pegaso and Fabrizi, in 40°26'30'N, 17°02'E.

Romolo (RO)25 Jun 19430610Taranto25 Jun 19431622Taranto27Exercises.

Romolo (RO)26 Jun 19431230Taranto26 Jun 19432030Taranto26Exercises.

Romolo (RO)29 Jun 19430614Taranto29 Jun 19432000Taranto50Trials.

Romolo (RO)1 Jul 19431248Taranto1 Jul 19431953TarantoExercises.

Romolo (RO)2 Jul 19430645Taranto2 Jul 19431155TarantoExercises with the submarine Remo and torpedo boats Pegaso and Partenope.

Romolo (RO)3 Jul 19430646Taranto3 Jul 19431253TarantoExercises.

Romolo (RO)11 Jul 19430654Taranto11 Jul 19431715TarantoExercises.

Romolo (RO)12 Jul 19430531Taranto12 Jul 19431515Taranto200Exercises.

10.Romolo (RO)15 Jul 19431726Taranto18 Jul 19430550Sunk with all handsShe had been ordered to sail at 1400 hours on the 15th but was delayed because of defects. On passage Taranto-Naples (first sortie) through (a) 39°00'N, 17°40'E (b) 37°45'N, 16°12'E (c) 37°45'N, 15°45'E, then to point S1 (Capo Dell'Armi or 37°51'N, 15°41'E) where she was expected at 1310 hours on the 16th. She was to proceed through Point M 1, straight to point B (from Point M 1 submerged even in daylight) and finally to Naples. Her instructions were to travel on the surface at 11 knots until 0730 hours on the 17th and then submerged at 2 knots until 2030 hours on the 17th and then on surface again until Naples.
  15 Jul 1943
1230 (e)
Initially, Romolo was to have been loaded with ammunition on 5th July and sail on 10th July for Catania, but the invasion of Sicily brought a change in plan.

She was ordered to sail at 1400 hours on the 15th, but was delayed because of defects. She was to proceed from Taranto to Naples through:

(1) 39°00' N, 17°40' E
(2) 37°45' N, 16°12' E
(3) 37°45' N, 15°45' E,
(4) Point S1 (Capo Dell'Armi or 37°51' N, 15°41' E) where she was expected at 1310 hours on the 16th.
(5) Point M 1 (Strait of Messina), then submerged in daylight, straight to point B (off Naples) and finally to Naples.

Her instructions were to travel on the surface at 11 knots until 0730 hours on the 17th, then submerged at 2 knots until 2030 hours on the 17th and surfaced again until Naples.

At 1230 hours, in a phone conversation with Comandante Ginocchio, Comandante Rossi of SUPERMARINA suggested that, since air protection could not be assured, Remo and Romolo should proceed submerged when off southwest of Calabria and arrive a day later than initially anticipated.

At 1545 hours, MARICOSOM ordered Romolo to proceed on the surface from 1400 hours on the 15th (she sailed only at 1726 hours) to 0730 hours on the 17th and then submerged until 2030 hours on the 17th. At 2230 hours on the 17th she was to pass through Point B of Naples and then arrive at Naples (surface speed: 11 knots, submerged speed: 2 knots.

At 2005 hours on the 15th, a new order instructed the submarine to travel submerged as necessary, because of the danger of air attack, in order to reach meridian 16°E at 0500 hours on the 17 th and to travel submerged even during night hours in order to be 212° - Reggio - 6 miles (ca. 38°06' N, 15°38' E) at 1900 hours on the 17th. There, she was to meet a VAS boat that would escort her through the Strait of Messina.

At 1330 hours on the 16th, MARICOSOM issued orders to Romolo and Remo to adjust their navigation in order to pass meridian 16°06' E at 0200 hours on the 17th and 0300 hours on the 17th respectively, then to proceed to the position off Reggio already established.
  18 Jul 1943
0320B (e)
Wellington 'B' (HZ.116) of 221 Squadron piloted by Pilot Officer E. Austin made an attack, which was initially credited to have sunk the submarine Romolo, although at the time, she was assessed as "probably slightly damaged". The aircraft had detected the submarine from a range of 6 miles and made an attack by keeping the target in its moonpath. Five 250-lb depth charges set at 25 feet and three A/S 100-lb bombs were released from a height of 200 feet. The submarine was reported to have fired a short burst of machine-gun fire as the aircraft flew away. It was not hit. The aircraft attempted to contact British destroyers known to be operating in the area, without success.

The submarine attacked was actually Ambra (see entry for this submarine).

The mysterious loss of the submarine Romolo still has not been solved.

It is possible that her cargo of ammunition (?) contributed to her loss. There is an outside possibility that she may have been lost on Rorqual's minefield, laid about 2 miles off Punta Stilo (15th May 1943).

Although the minefield was located on 22nd May and mines detonated and another five detached. Six more mines were destroyed on 23rd May while the torpedo boat Orione reported to record mine echoes in 38°35.5' N, 16°39' E and the corvette Driade sank two British mines in 38°35.5' N, 16°41.5' E. It is possible that the minefield had not been completely cleared.

Romolo should have passed some 15 miles off Punta Stilo but C.C. Crepas could have elected to close the coast to make up time (he had left nearly 3.5 hours behind schedule) or to get a bearing and stray into this minefield.

She was a brand new submarine and had not completed her trials and an accidental loss cannot be ruled out.

C.C. Alberto Crepas, six officers, fifty-three ratings and two civilians lost perished.

115 entries. 91 total patrol entries (10 marked as war patrols) and 30 events.

Italian Commanders

Italian Submarines