Italian submarines in World War Two
Italian Commanders
Alberto Gorini
| Born | 16 Sep 1914 | Turbigo (Milan) | |
| Died | 28 Nov 1942 | (28) | Killed in action |
| Ranks
Decorations
|
Career information
OTARIA (T.V. C.O.): from 15.11.1941 to 29.11.1941.OTARIA (T.V. C.O.): from 10.06.1942 to 04.09.1942.
GRANITO (T.V. resp.): from 18.08.1942 to 22.08.1942 (temporary replacement of T.V. Leo Sposito).
DESSIÈ (T.V. C.O.): from 04.09.1942 to 28.11.1942 (sunk, Gorini was killed).
Commands listed for Alberto Gorini
| Submarine | Type | Rank | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otaria (OA, I.25) | Ocean going | T.V. | 15 Nov 1941 | 29 Nov 1941 |
| Otaria (OA, I.25) | Ocean going | T.V. | 10 Jun 1942 | 4 Sep 1942 |
| Otaria (OA, I.25) | Ocean going | T.V. | 22 Aug 1942 | 4 Sep 1942 |
| Dessiè (DE) | Coastal / Sea going | T.V. | 4 Sep 1942 | 28 Nov 1942 |
Ships hit by Alberto Gorini
No ships hit by this Commander.War patrols listed for Alberto Gorini
| Submarine | Date | Time | Port | Arr. date | Arr. time | Arr. port | Miles | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otaria (OA, I.25) | 22 Nov 1941 | 0943 | Naples | 22 Nov 1941 | 1725 | Naples | 32,3 | Exercises. T.V. Pasquale Terra of the submarine Velella was on board as an observer. | ||
| Otaria (OA, I.25) | 24 Nov 1941 | 0920 | Naples | 24 Nov 1941 | 1633 | Naples | 42,9 | Exercises. | ||
| Otaria (OA, I.25) | 11 Jun 1942 | 1620 | Cagliari | 11 Jun 1942 | 1910 | Cagliari | Exercises. | |||
| 1. | Otaria (OA, I.25) | 12 Jun 1942 | 1420 | Cagliari | 18 Jun 1942 | 0815 | Cagliari | 584 | Patrolled in western Mediterranean in Grid 4060. On 14th June, she was ordered to Grid 5854, between 37°40'N and 38°00'N, and between 05°40'E and 06°00'E, on a patrol line with Bronzo, Giada, Acciaio and Uarsciek. | |
| 13 Jun 1942 | 0833 0832 (e) | (e) 39° 17'N, 6° 02'E | The submarine sighted a Sunderland flying boat at a distance of 3,000 metres and opened fire with her machine guns. This was indeed Sunderland 'O' of 202 Squadron piloted by Squadron Leader R.B. Burrage and it dropped seven 250-lb depth-charges which straddled the submarine. The attack was repulsed but one crew member was seriously wounded in the leg by fragments from near-misses and the submarine submerged and escaped. | |||||||
| 16 Jun 1942 | 0510 | An unidentified ship was seen at a distance of 8,000 metres but drew away before the submarine could intercept. | ||||||||
| 2. | Otaria (OA, I.25) | 22 Jun 1942 | 0557 | Cagliari | 23 Jun 1942 | 0030 | Cagliari | 179 | Sailed for patrol off Cape Blanc, but a defect prevented her from being able to use her radio underwater and she was ordered at 1500 hours on the 22nd to turn back. | |
| Otaria (OA, I.25) | 24 Jun 1942 | 1450 | Cagliari | 24 Jun 1942 | 1927 | Cagliari | 30 | Trials. | ||
| 3. | Otaria (OA, I.25) | 27 Jun 1942 | 0800 | Cagliari | 21 Jul 1942 | 0810 | Cagliari | 2114 | Patrolled in Western Mediterranean north of Cape Bengut between 37°00'N and 37°40'N, and between 03°40'E and 04°00'E. On 14th July, was moved to an area between 37°00'N and 37°20'N, and between 02°20'E and 02°40'E. | |
| 15 Jul 1942 | 1025 | 37° 04'N, 2° 27'E | Hydrophone effect on a 347° bearing were heard from a long distance. Otaria had been informed of a naval force sailing from Gibraltar. This was probably the presumed force, but at 1105 hours Otaria was informed that the enemy had reverted course and was returning to Gibraltar. | |||||||
| 17 Jul 1942 | 1414 | 37° 00'N, 2° 30'E (0) Approximately. | An unknown aircraft was sighted at a distance of 7,000 metres and the submarine dived. | |||||||
| 19 Jul 1942 | 1630-1700 | 37° 00'N, 2° 36'E | H.E. on a 50° bearing was heard. Otaria had been informed at 1111 hours, of an enemy cruiser, sighted at 0920 hours on the 19th, some 200 miles east of her position on a westward course and she altered course at full speed. The presumed enemy vessel passed to the northward and at 1700 hours contact was lost. | |||||||
| 4. | Otaria (OA, I.25) | 11 Aug 1942 | 1759 | Cagliari | 15 Aug 1942 | 0950 | Cagliari | 399 | Patrolled north of Tunisia, between 37°20'N and 38°00'N, 09°20'E and 09°40'E, on a patrol line with Emo and Dandolo to intercept a convoy to Malta. | |
| 12 Aug 1942 | 0533 | An unknown submarine was sighted to the west and Otaria turned away. | ||||||||
| 12 Aug 1942 | 1628 | 37° 46'N, 9° 30'E | An enemy squadron consisting of an aircraft carrier, several cruisers and destroyers was observed at 15-20,000 metres, but Otaria was unable to close and they disappeared over the horizon. | |||||||
| 12 Aug 1942 | 2045 | 37° 44'N, 9° 30'E | Steamers with escorts on westerly course were observed at a distance of 20,000 metres. Otaria could not close to attack. One of the escorts turned toward her and she submerged. | |||||||
| 14 Aug 1942 | 1930 | 38° 06'N, 9° 42'E | An unknown ship was sighted on the horizon. The submarine attempted to close but was hampered by engine defects and the chase was abandoned. | |||||||
| 5. | Granito (GR) | 18 Aug 1942 | 0500 | Cagliari | 19 Aug 1942 | 1540 | Trapani | 264 | Patrolled north coast of Tunisia to intercept enemy convoy between 37°20'N and 37°50'N, and between 09°20'E and 10°20'E, but then recalled. | |
| 18 Aug 1942 | 0900 | (0) Off Cavoli Island (Sardinia). | At 0900 hours, an Italian tanker was sighted on a northerly course [this was Perseo proceeding from Tunisia to Cagliari]. At 0915 hours, two torpedo hits were heard and a long column of smoke was sighted and it was assumed that the tanker had been hit [she had been torpedoed by HMS P 211]. | |||||||
| Granito (GR) | 21 Aug 1942 | 2250 | Trapani | 22 Aug 1942 | 1650 | Cagliari | 220 | Passage Trapani-Cagliari. | ||
| Otaria (OA, I.25) | 22 Aug 1942 | Naples | 4 Sep 1942 | Naples | 399 | Refit in Naples. T.V. Gorini resumed command. | ||||
| Dessiè (DE) | 13 Sep 1942 | 1515 | Messina | 13 Sep 1942 | 1915 | Messina | 7,5 | Trials. | ||
| Dessiè (DE) | 27 Sep 1942 | 1330 | Messina | 27 Sep 1942 | 1741 | Messina | 7,5 | Trials. | ||
| Dessiè (DE) | 28 Sep 1942 | 1510 | Messina | 28 Sep 1942 | 1810 | Messina | 16 | Trials. | ||
| Dessiè (DE) | 29 Sep 1942 | 0813 | Messina | 29 Sep 1942 | 0905 | Messina | 3 | Trials. | ||
| Dessiè (DE) | 30 Sep 1942 | 0736 | Messina | 30 Sep 1942 | 1145 | Messina | 13 | Exercises. | ||
| Dessiè (DE) | 4 Oct 1942 | 0745 | Messina | 4 Oct 1942 | 1124 | Messina | 16 | Exercises. | ||
| Dessiè (DE) | 14 Oct 1942 | 0808 | Messina | 14 Oct 1942 | 1130 | Messina | 16 | Exercises. | ||
| Dessiè (DE) | 16 Oct 1942 | 1335 | Messina | 16 Oct 1942 | 1620 | Messina | 12 | Exercises. | ||
| Dessiè (DE) | 23 Oct 1942 | 0757 | Messina | 23 Oct 1942 | 1210 | Messina | 18 | Exercises. | ||
| Dessiè (DE) | 1 Nov 1942 | 1400 | Messina | 1 Nov 1942 | 1610 | Messina | Exercises. | |||
| 6. | Dessiè (DE) | 2 Nov 1942 | 2115 | Messina | 6 Nov 1942 | 0800 | Tobruk | Supply mission to Tobruk (19.5 tons of boxed ammunition). At 0430 hours on the 5th, she was to pass through 34°02'N, 22°12'E. | ||
| 4 Nov 1942 | 0752 | 35° 55'N, 21° 00'E | At 0752 hours, an aircraft was sighted at a distance of 5,000 metres and the submarine dived. | |||||||
| 4 Nov 1942 | 1220 | 35° 50'N, 21° 10'E | At 1220 hours, an aircraft was sighted at a distance of 8,000 metres and the submarine dived. | |||||||
| 7. | Dessiè (DE) | 6 Nov 1942 | 1738 | Tobruk | 11 Nov 1942 | 0720 | Messina | Return trip from supply mission to Tobruk, via 34°30'N, 22°20'E at 1200/7 then on course 297° through 36°36'N, 17°20'E. | ||
| 8 Nov 1942 | 0855 | 34° 40'N, 21° 40'E | At 0855 hours, an aircraft was sighted at a distance of 8,000 metres and the submarine dived. | |||||||
| Dessiè (DE) | 14 Nov 1942 | 1200 | Messina | 14 Nov 1942 | 1620 | Messina | Exercises. | |||
| 8. | Dessiè (DE) | 18 Nov 1942 | 0730 | Messina | 28 Nov 1942 | 1400 | Sunk with all hands | Sailed for patrol off Philippeville via (1) 39°00'N, 15°15'E (Point M2) (2) 38°50'N, 13°10'E (3) 39°00'N, 10°20'E to area between 37°00'N and 37°20'N, and between 07°40'E and 08°00'E then orderered to investigate Bougie. She acknowledged reception of a message at 1912 hours on the 27th. She had been advised, on 1st December 1942, to attack the French Eleonore Fresnel (150 GRT, lighthouse supply vessel) with naval personnel who had escaped from Toulon but she reached Algiers ca. 3rd December. On 30th November, she was to leave her patrol at 1800 hours on the 30th, to return to Naples via (1) 37°20'N, 08°00'E at 1830/30 (2) 39°00'N, 10°20'E at 1100/1 (3) 40°00'N, 11°20'E at 1800/1 (4) Point C (Naples) at 0700/2. Sunk off Bone by the destroyers HMAS Quiberon and HMS Quentin in 37°04'N, 07°49'E (five officers and forty-two other ranks lost, no survivors). | ||
| 28 Nov 1942 | 1254-1533 (e) | (e) 37° 05'N, 7° 55'E | At 1212 hours, the destroyer HMS Quentin sailed from Bône, following a report from an aircraft that a submarine was sighted in the vicinity at 1145 hours. She was later joined by the destroyer HMAS Quiberon who sailed at 1318 hours. At 1250 hours, the destroyer picked up an ASDIC contact at 2,000 yards. At 1254 hours, ten depth charges were dropped, set from 100 and 225 feet. At 1308 hours, ten depth charges were dropped, set from 150 and 385 feet. At 1330 hours, ten depth charges were dropped, set from 350 and 550 feet (bubbles and oil were sighted). At 1359 hours, ten depth charges were dropped, set from 50 and 140 feet. At 1407 hours, ten depth charges were dropped, set from 150 and 385 feet. At 1525 hours, HMAS Quiberon joined in the attack by dropping five depth charges set at 385 feet (more bubbles and a black object were seen). At 1533 hours, HMS Quentin dropped a final pattern of ten depth charges set at 350 and 550 feet. At 1356 hours, the U-boat broke surface, the bow emerging vertically. The bow disappeared and reappeared until the entire boat was visible on the surface. This lasted only a minute and a half before the submarine slid underwater, stern first, with the bow disappearing vertically. The destroyers had opened fire with 4,7" guns and smaller weapons, without scoring a hit. None of the submarine's crew appeared on deck or on the bridge. There is little doubt that this was Dessié. There were no survivors. T.V. Alberto Gorini, four officers and forty-two other ranks perished. | |||||||
32 entries. 25 total patrol entries (8 marked as war patrols) and 14 events.