Italian submarines in World War Two
Italian Commanders
Mario Patanè
| Born | 11 May 1914 | Acireale (Catania) | |
| Died | 7 Sep 1943 | (29) | Killed in action |
| Ranks
Decorations
|
Career information
MOCENIGO (S.T.V. officer): from 15.11.1939 to ?Promoted to T.V. on ?
TOPAZIO: (T.V. C.O.): from 21.06.1942 to 29.06.1943.
VELELLA: (T.V. C.O.): from 09.06.1943 to 07.09.1943 (sunk, Patané was killed).
Commands listed for Mario Patanè
| Submarine | Type | Rank | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topazio (TP) | Coastal / Sea going | T.V. | 21 Jun 1942 | 29 Jun 1943 |
| Velella (VL, I.27) | Ocean going | T.V. | 9 Jun 1943 | 7 Sep 1943 |
Ships hit by Mario Patanè
No ships hit by this Commander.War patrols listed for Mario Patanè
| Submarine | Date | Time | Port | Arr. date | Arr. time | Arr. port | Miles | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topazio (TP) | 24 Jun 1942 | 0840 | Fiume | 24 Jun 1942 | 1923 | Fiume | 66 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 26 Jun 1942 | 0630 | Fiume | 26 Jun 1942 | 1612 | Fiume | 44 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 28 Jun 1942 | 1008 | Fiume | 28 Jun 1942 | 1508 | Fiume | 8 | Trials with auxiliary Trau. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 1 Jul 1942 | 0805 | Fiume | 1 Jul 1942 | 1555 | Fiume | 26 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 2 Jul 1942 | 0958 | Fiume | 3 Jul 1942 | 0005 | Fiume | 23 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 3 Jul 1942 | 1020 | Fiume | 4 Jul 1942 | 0310 | Fiume | 42 | Exercises. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 4 Jul 1942 | 1400 | Fiume | 4 Jul 1942 | 1812 | Fiume | 18 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 6 Jul 1942 | 1010 | Fiume | 6 Jul 1942 | 1930 | Fiume | 7 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 7 Jul 1942 | 0832 | Fiume | 7 Jul 1942 | 1542 | Fiume | 25 | Exercises. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 10 Jul 1942 | 0812 | Fiume | 10 Jul 1942 | 1600 | Fiume | 17 | Exercises. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 11 Jul 1942 | 0500 | Fiume | 11 Jul 1942 | 1848 | Venice | 132 | Passage Fiume-Venice. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 16 Jul 1942 | 0910 | Venice | 16 Jul 1942 | 1230 | Venice | 12 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 19 Jul 1942 | 0450 | Venice | 19 Jul 1942 | 1820 | Fiume | 132 | Passage Venice-Fiume. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 23 Jul 1942 | 0630 | Fiume | 23 Jul 1942 | 0953 | Fiume | 6,5 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 25 Jul 1942 | 1335 | Fiume | 25 Jul 1942 | 1925 | Fiume | 20 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 28 Jul 1942 | 0710 | Fiume | 28 Jul 1942 | 1245 | Fiume | 34 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 29 Jul 1942 | 0840 | Fiume | 29 Jul 1942 | 1645 | Fiume | 43 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 30 Jul 1942 | 0740 | Fiume | 3 Aug 1942 | 0748 | Naples | 918 | Passage Fiume-Naples. Sighted only Italian ships. Topazio was sighted by HMS Traveller at 1930C hours on the 30th in 43°50'N, 14°55'E but out of attacking range. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 4 Aug 1942 | 0425 | Naples | 4 Aug 1942 | 1350 | Naples | 58 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 6 Aug 1942 | 0835 | Naples | 6 Aug 1942 | 1610 | Naples | 36 | Exercises. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 7 Aug 1942 | 0806 | Naples | 7 Aug 1942 | 1600 | Naples | 39 | Exercises. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 8 Aug 1942 | 0825 | Naples | 8 Aug 1942 | 1606 | Naples | 44 | Exercises. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 9 Aug 1942 | 0812 | Naples | 9 Aug 1942 | 1620 | Naples | 35 | Exercises. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 16 Aug 1942 | 0635 | Naples | 16 Aug 1942 | 1245 | Naples | 33 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 20 Aug 1942 | 0707 | Naples | 20 Aug 1942 | 1200 | Naples | 24 | Exercises. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 29 Aug 1942 | 1540 | Naples | 29 Aug 1942 | 1735 | Naples | 19 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 1 Sep 1942 | 0810 | Naples | 1 Sep 1942 | 1240 | Naples | 14 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 2 Sep 1942 | 0800 | Naples | 2 Sep 1942 | 1612 | Naples | Exercises. | |||
| Topazio (TP) | 2 Sep 1942 | 1849 | Naples | 2 Sep 1942 | 2315 | Naples | 59 | Exercises. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 8 Sep 1942 | 1130 | Naples | 8 Sep 1942 | 1615 | Naples | 24 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 9 Sep 1942 | 1152 | Naples | 9 Sep 1942 | 2320 | Naples | 61 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 10 Sep 1942 | 1530 | Naples | 11 Sep 1942 | 1050 | Messina | 173 | Passage Naples-Messina. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 17 Sep 1942 | 1315 | Messina | 17 Sep 1942 | 1750 | Messina | 15 | Exercises, escorted by AS.17. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 22 Sep 1942 | 0730 | Messina | 22 Sep 1942 | 1223 | Messina | 28 | Exercises. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 24 Sep 1942 | 0730 | Messina | 24 Sep 1942 | 1210 | Messina | 15 | Exercises. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 30 Sep 1942 | 1310 | Messina | 30 Sep 1942 | 1745 | Messina | 22 | Exercises. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 1 Oct 1942 | 0816 | Messina | 1 Oct 1942 | 1020 | Messina | 12 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 3 Oct 1942 | 0802 | Messina | 3 Oct 1942 | 1012 | Messina | 10 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 14 Oct 1942 | 1335 | Messina | 14 Oct 1942 | 1745 | Messina | 21 | Exercises. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 20 Oct 1942 | 1300 | Messina | 20 Oct 1942 | 1725 | Messina | 23 | Exercises. | ||
| 1. | Topazio (TP) | 24 Oct 1942 | 1410 | Messina | 11 Nov 1942 | 1342 | Messina | 2172,5 | Patrolled south of Balearic islands, between 37°40'N and 38°10'N, and between 02°20'E and 02°40'E. At 2201 hours on 6th November, patrol was shifted 20 miles south (to German Grid CH 8352, 8362, 8388 and 8398). | |
| 27 Oct 1942 | 2400 | At 2400 hours, a hospital ship was sighted. | ||||||||
| 7 Nov 1942 | 1016 | 37° 02'N, 2° 23'E | At 1016 hours, as the submarine was listening to the radio, suddenly aircraft bombs were heard and Topazio was taken deep. | |||||||
| 7 Nov 1942 | 2105 | 37° 05'N, 2° 41'E | At 2105 hours, a convoy of two steamers escorted by four destroyers proceeding to Algiers was sighted. Topazio fired one torpedo from a stern tube aimed at a destroyer from a distance of 1,100 metres. Another destroyer turned suddenly toward the submarine who escaped by going down to 70 metres. Depth charges were heard at 2110 and 2124 hours. | |||||||
| 9 Nov 1942 | 1225 | 38° 10'N, 6° 49'E | At 1225 hours, an aircraft was seen at 5,000 metres and the submarine dived. | |||||||
| 9 Nov 1942 | 1435 | 38° 15'N, 6° 58'E | At 1435 hours, an aircraft was seen at 7,000 metres and the submarine dived. | |||||||
| 10 Nov 1942 | 0925 | 38° 43'N, 10° 32'E | At 0925 hours, an aircraft was seen at a distance of 6,000 metres and the submarine dived. | |||||||
| 10 Nov 1942 | 1232 | 39° 06'N, 11° 13'E | At 1232 hours, an aircraft was seen very distant and the submarine dived. | |||||||
| 10 Nov 1942 | 1558 | 39° 08'N, 11° 45'E | At 1558 hours, an aircraft was seen at a distance of 7,000 metres and the submarine dived. | |||||||
| 11 Nov 1942 | 0735 | At 0735 hours, a German four-engine aircraft was seen and exchanged recognition signals. | ||||||||
| Topazio (TP) | 17 Nov 1942 | 1305 | Messina | 17 Nov 1942 | 1635 | Messina | 20 | Trials. | ||
| 2. | Topazio (TP) | 19 Nov 1942 | 0735 | Messina | 20 Nov 1942 | 1130 | Messina | 219 | Sailed for patrol east of Malta then recalled at 2130 hours on the 19th. | |
| Topazio (TP) | 26 Nov 1942 | 0110 | Messina | 26 Nov 1942 | 2115 | Naples | 190 | Passage Messina-Naples. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 28 Nov 1942 | 0810 | Naples | 28 Nov 1942 | 1155 | Naples | 19 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 29 Nov 1942 | 0830 | Naples | 29 Nov 1942 | 1150 | Naples | 19 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 7 Dec 1942 | 0820 | Naples | 7 Dec 1942 | 1150 | Naples | 17 | Exercises. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 8 Dec 1942 | 1704 | Naples | 9 Dec 1942 | 1910 | Augusta | 252 | Passage Napoli-Augusta. | ||
| 3. | Topazio (TP) | 11 Dec 1942 | 1700 | Augusta | 17 Dec 1942 | 0730 | Augusta | 592 | Patrolled between 34°40'N and 35°00'N, and between 14°20'E and 14°40'E [or 35°00'N and 35°10'N, and between 14°30'E and 14°50'E?] to cover, with the submarine Uarsciek, the passage of a convoy from Naples to Tripoli. This was Foscolo escorted by the destroyer Freccia. | |
| 14 Dec 1942 | 0140 | 34° 49'N, 14° 35'E | At 0117 hours, a shadow was sighted. Ten minutes later, three cruisers in single file escorted by destroyers could be made out. At 0140 hours, T.V. Mario Patanè ordered two bow torpedoes fired but inadvertently a third torpedo was fired as well at a range of 1,500 metres aimed at a destroyer. They all missed. | |||||||
| Topazio (TP) | 17 Dec 1942 | 1530 | Augusta | 17 Dec 1942 | 2228 | Messina | 70,5 | Passage Augusta-Messina. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 8 Jan 1943 | 0805 | Messina | 8 Jan 1943 | 1208 | Messina | 16 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 16 Jan 1943 | 0810 | Messina | 16 Jan 1943 | 1345 | Messina | 18 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 24 Jan 1943 | 0820 | Messina | 24 Jan 1943 | 1306 | Messina | 17 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 25 Jan 1943 | 0804 | Messina | 25 Jan 1943 | 1229 | Messina | 15 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 27 Jan 1943 | 0842 | Messina | 27 Jan 1943 | 1258 | Messina | 21 | Exercises. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 29 Jan 1943 | 0905 | Messina | 29 Jan 1943 | 1250 | Messina | 15 | Exercises. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 30 Jan 1943 | 1323 | Messina | 30 Jan 1943 | 1850 | Messina | 21 | Exercises. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 1 Feb 1943 | 1440 | Messina | 1 Feb 1943 | 2205 | Augusta | 70,5 | Passage Messina-Augusta. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 4 Feb 1943 | 1421 | Augusta | 4 Feb 1943 | 1820 | Augusta | 18 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 11 Feb 1943 | 0830 | Augusta | 11 Feb 1943 | 1206 | Augusta | 13 | Exercises. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 15 Feb 1943 | 1205 | Augusta | 15 Feb 1943 | 1755 | Augusta | 41 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 18 Feb 1943 | 1030 | Augusta | 18 Feb 1943 | 1155 | Augusta | 1 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 20 Feb 1943 | 0910 | Augusta | 20 Feb 1943 | 1205 | Augusta | 9 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 1 Mar 1943 | 0827 | Augusta | 1 Mar 1943 | 1205 | Augusta | 21 | Exercises. | ||
| 4. | Topazio (TP) | 2 Mar 1943 | 1905 | Augusta | 17 Mar 1943 | 0700 | Augusta | 1373 | Patrolled in Central Mediterranean between 31°54'N and 32°20'N, and between 15°50'E and 16°40'E. Uneventful. | |
| Topazio (TP) | 25 Mar 1943 | 0130 | Augusta | 26 Mar 1943 | 0904 | Naples | 303 | Passage Augusta-Naples. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 27 Mar 1943 | 1353 | Naples | 27 Mar 1943 | 1607 | Naples | 16 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 30 Mar 1943 | 1505 | Naples | 30 Mar 1943 | 1732 | Naples | 8 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 1 Apr 1943 | 0915 | Naples | 1 Apr 1943 | 1317 | Naples | 15 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 2 Apr 1943 | 1502 | Naples | 2 Apr 1943 | 1800 | Naples | 13 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 6 Apr 1943 | 0032 | Naples | 7 Apr 1943 | 1040 | La Maddalena | 235 | Passage Naples-La Maddalena. | ||
| 6 Apr 1943 | 0052 | (0) Naples harbour. | At 0052 hours, Topazio had a slight collision with the torpedo boat Sagittario and suffered superficial damage. | |||||||
| Topazio (TP) | 11 Apr 1943 | 0830 | La Maddalena | 11 Apr 1943 | 1350 | La Maddalena | 5 | Trials. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 12 Apr 1943 | 1330 | La Maddalena | 12 Apr 1943 | 1820 | La Maddalena | 7 | Trials. | ||
| 5. | Topazio (TP) | 15 Apr 1943 | 1710 | La Maddalena | 4 May 1943 | 1620 | La Maddalena | 1067 | Patrolled in Western Mediterranean, between 39°00'N and 39°40'N, and between 05°00'E and 05°40'E. On 16 April 1943, in 40°06'N, 06°24'E, proceeding to patrol area. Uneventful. Sirena should have gone on this patrol, but Topazio replaced her, perhaps because she had developed defects. | |
| 29 Apr 1943 | 0600 | 39° 23'N, 5° 39'E | At 0600 hours, the submarine Dandolo was sighted submerging. Topazio turned away. | |||||||
| Topazio (TP) | 14 May 1943 | 1850 | La Maddalena | 16 May 1943 | 0753 | Pozzuoli | 261,2 | Passage La Maddalena-Pozzuoli for refit. | ||
| Topazio (TP) | 20 May 1943 | 0805 | Pozzuoli | 20 May 1943 | 1510 | Castellammare di Stabia | 26 | Passage Pozzuoli-Castellammare di Stabia. | ||
| Velella (VL, I.27) | 10 Jun 1943 | 0555 | Bonifacio | 10 Jun 1943 | 0820 | La Maddalena | 21 | Passage Bonifacio-La Maddalena. | ||
| Velella (VL, I.27) | 14 Jun 1943 | 0750 | La Maddalena | 14 Jun 1943 | 1150 | La Maddalena | 11 | Exercises. | ||
| Velella (VL, I.27) | 16 Jun 1943 | 0713 | La Maddalena | 16 Jun 1943 | 1020 | La Maddalena | 10,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Velella (VL, I.27) | 17 Jun 1943 | 0800 | La Maddalena | 17 Jun 1943 | 1320 | La Maddalena | 17 | Exercises. | ||
| 6. | Velella (VL, I.27) | 18 Jun 1943 | 0614 | La Maddalena | 21 Jun 1943 | 0850 | La Maddalena | 673 | Sailed for patrol west of Sardinia from 40°18'N, 06°49'E to 34°35'N, 06°10'E (replacing Diaspro), then ordered off Bone between 37°20'N and Algerian coast, and between 05°40'E and 06°20'E, On a patrol line with Bronzo, but then recalled. | |
| 18 Jun 1943 | 1600 | 41° 07'N, 8° 09'E | At 1600 hours, an aircraft was seen approaching the submarine head on. Initially, it was mistaken as Italian. At a distance of 4,000 metres the submarine flashed a recognition signal which was not answered. The aircraft then turned to come from the stern and was identified as a Blenheim bomber (it was in fact a B.26 Marauder, one of two on a anti-shipping strike). Velella opened fire with her machine guns at a range of 1,500 metres as the bomber strafed her, making two runs. The submarine suffered only minor damage and the aircraft then flew toward the east. | |||||||
| 21 Jun 1943 | 0025 | 41° 03'N, 7° 37'E | At 0025 hours, an unknown submarine was sighted at a distance of 7,000 metres. It appeared to suddenly reverse course and dived. | |||||||
| 21 Jun 1943 | 0100 | 41° 04'N, 7° 45'E | At 0100 hours, a submarine was sighted at a distance of 5,000 metres on a parallel course. Velella made the recognition signal and was not answered but refrained from attack as Argo was known to be in the area. | |||||||
| Topazio (TP) | 21 Jun 1943 | 0600 | Castellammare di Stabia | 21 Jun 1943 | 0830 | Naples | 12 | Passage Castellammare di Stabia-Naples. | ||
| Velella (VL, I.27) | 25 Jun 1943 | 0508 | La Maddalena | 25 Jun 1943 | 1230 | Ajaccio | 71 | Passage La Maddalena-Ajaccio. | ||
| Velella (VL, I.27) | 29 Jun 1943 | 0740 | Ajaccio | 29 Jun 1943 | 1210 | Ajaccio | 17,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Velella (VL, I.27) | 5 Jul 1943 | 1355 | Ajaccio | 5 Jul 1943 | 2010 | La Maddalena | Passage Ajaccio-La Maddalena. | |||
| 7. | Velella (VL, I.27) | 10 Jul 1943 | 0240 | La Maddalena | 13 Jul 1943 | 0715 | Taranto | 885 | Initially sailed to patrol in zone 172 [between 38°25'N and 38°35'N, and between 12°20'E and 12°40'E], the order was quickly altered and she was sent to zones 82 [between 37°00'N and 37°10'N, and between 15°20'E and 15°40'E] and 83 [between 36°50'N and 37°00'N, and between 15°20'E and 15°40'E] (east coast of Sicily), but a few hours later she was ordered to the northern half of zone 81 to stop the Allied landings ("Z" order). At 2022 hours on the 11th, she was ordered to go to zone 83. At 0525 hours on the 12th, she was ordered to proceed to Taranto for repairs through 39°00'N, 17°40'E and Point A.2, then ordered at 1120 hours on the 12th to 40°14'N, 17°05'E. | |
| 10 Jul 1943 | 0838 | 40° 36'N, 10° 22'E | A drifting mine was seen. | |||||||
| 10 Jul 1943 | 1625 | 39° 58'N, 12° 10'E | At 1625 hours, an aircraft, believed to be a Blenheim bomber, was seen at a distance of 1,500 metres. It appeared to try making a stern attack but altered away at 800 meters as Velella opened fire with her machine guns. | |||||||
| 11 Jul 1943 | 1225 | 38° 09'N, 15° 34'E (0) 210° - Cape Peloro - 7 miles | A periscope was sighted at 1,500 metres and range was closed to 400 metres. Velella took avoiding action and made an enemy report. This was probably HMS Ultor. | |||||||
| 11 Jul 1943 | 1225 | (0) 210° - Cape Peloro - 7 miles. | At 1225 hours, a periscope was sighted at 1,500 metres. Velella took avoiding action and made an enemy report at 1242 hours. | |||||||
| 11 Jul 1943 | 2045 | 38° 15'N, 15° 30'E (0) Approximately. | At 2045 hours, Velella was proceeding at a depth of 30 metres, when two very close explosions were heard . The submarine was undamaged and went down to 40-50 metres. Another pattern of depth-charges was heard at 2055 hours and the submarine went deeper to 100-120 meters. The A/S hunt went on until 0043 hours on the 13th. When she later surfaced,Velella appeared to have been leaking oil and the decision was made to abort the mission. | |||||||
| 12 Jul 1943 | 0335 | At 0335 hours, a submarine was sighted at 1,200 metres and Velella turned away. | ||||||||
| 12 Jul 1943 | 1735 | 38° 44'N, 17° 26'E | At 1735 hours, five survivors of a Savoia 79 torpedo bomber (41 Gruppo) were rescued. | |||||||
| 8. | Velella (VL, I.27) | 20 Jul 1943 | 2110 | Taranto | 2 Aug 1943 | 0834 | La Maddalena | ? | Patrolled off Syracuse and Augusta ("Z" order) between 36°30'N and 36°50'N, 15°07'E and 15°50'E. | |
| 23 Jul 1943 | 1416-1615 | 36° 50'N, 15° 55'E | From 1416 to 1615 hours, Velella was depth charged by two corvettes but escaped damage. | |||||||
| 23 Jul 1943 | 2214 | 36° 47'N, 15° 55'E | At 2214 hours, an aircraft dropped flares over Velella and she dived. | |||||||
| 24 Jul 1943 | 0155 | 36° 41'N, 15° 44'E | An unidentified aircraft was seen and the submarine dived. | |||||||
| 24 Jul 1943 | 0326 0200Z approx. (e) | 36° 45'N, 15° 25'E (e) 36° 48'N, 16° 23'E | The submarine sighted three flares at about 2,500 metres and dived. This was Hudson HZ.114 of 221 Squadron (Flying Officer E. Austin) which had detected a surfaced submarine, but the attack failed as "moonpath was insufficient". | |||||||
| 26 Jul 1943 | 1835-2025 | 36° 04'N, 16° 00'E | The submarine was hunted by two MGBs from 1835 to 2113 hours and reported that 90 depth-charges were dropped. Some explosions were very close to the submarine and later, it was realised that she was leaking fuel. | |||||||
| 26 Jul 1943 | 2220 | 35° 45'N, 16° 08'E | At 2150 hours, Velella surfaced. Half an hour later a corvette was sighted at a distance of 5,000 metres and she had to submerge again. | |||||||
| 29 Jul 1943 | 2055 | 36° 03'N, 13° 12'E | An lluminated hospital ship was observed at a distance of 6-7,000 metres. | |||||||
| 30 Jul 1943 | 0230 0230B (e) | 36° 10'N, 12° 28'E (e) 36° 40'N, 12° 28'E | At 0230 hours, Velella observed a Very light a some distance ahead and closed to attack. Two rounds fell near the submarine, which had to crash-dive to 80 metres. This was a convoy consisting of USS LST-307, USS LST-325, USS LST-335, USS LST-337, USS LST-338 and USS LST-400) escorted by USS PC-624 (Lt. Cdr. R.D. Lowther, USNR) and a disabled submarine chaser. They had sailed from Licata (Sicily) at 1530 hours on the 29th for Tunis carrying 1,700 PoWs. Earlier, Lowther had complained that his gyrocompass was unreliable. PC-624 had sighted the U-boat at 0205B hours and rushed to the attack. Lowther claimed the submarine had fired a torpedo before diving, but this is not confirmed by her patrol report. The submarine chaser now dropped five depth charges forcing the submarine and claimed it sunk. For a long time, PC-624 was attributed the loss of U-375, which disappeared with all hands at that time. The German submarine was probably mined in the Gela area. The convoy reached Tunis at 1630 hours on the 30th without further incident. | |||||||
| 1 Aug 1943 | 1030 | 39° 10'N, 10° 46'E | The submarine was shaken by a bomb while proceeding at a depth of 60 meters. When she later surfaced, it was realised she was leaking fuel . | |||||||
| 2 Aug 1943 | 0103 | 40° 33'N, 10° 13'E | The submarine was illuminated by an aircraft (apparently using a Leigh light) and dived. The submarine later surfaced and it was realised that she was leaking fuel. | |||||||
| 2 Aug 1943 | 0210 | 40° 33'N, 10° 08'E | Flares were sighted at about 4,000 metres and Velella prudently dived. | |||||||
| Velella (VL, I.27) | 20 Aug 1943 | 0717 | La Maddalena | 20 Aug 1943 | 1201 | La Maddalena | Exercises. | |||
| Velella (VL, I.27) | 28 Aug 1943 | 0350 | La Maddalena | 28 Aug 1943 | 1025 | Ajaccio | Passage La Maddalena-Ajaccio. | |||
| Velella (VL, I.27) | 29 Aug 1943 | 1910 | Ajaccio | 31 Aug 1943 | 0900 | Naples | Passage Ajaccio-Naples. | |||
| 9. | Velella (VL, I.27) | 7 Sep 1943 | 1500 | Naples | 7 Sep 1943 | 2000 | Sunk with all hands | Sailed to attack allied landings in Salerno. Torpedoed and sunk by HMS Shakespeare on 7th September off Punta Licosa, in 40°15'N, 14°30'E. No survivors, six officers and forty-six ratings killed. | ||
| 7 Sep 1943 | 2003 (e) | (e) 40° 15'N, 14° 30'E | At 1953 hours, HMS Shakespeare was patrolling off Licosa, when the ASDIC revealed the presence of two U-boats. At 2003 hours, they were observed to be steering 135° at 10 knots and the British submarine fired a salvo of six torpedoes from a distance of 1,200 yards, claiming four hits. These were Velella and Brin and the latter observed her unfortunate companion disintegrated after three explosions. Velella had left Naples at 1500 hours on 7th September for a patrol off Salerno. There were no survivors, six officers and forty-six ratings were killed. The loss was particularly tragic as in a few hours the Italian Armistice would come into effect. | |||||||
117 entries. 91 total patrol entries (9 marked as war patrols) and 34 events.