Italian submarines in World War Two
Italian Commanders
Enrico Bertarelli
| Born | 1 Mar 1906 | Susa (Turin) | |
| Died | 30 Jan 1942 | (35) | Killed in action |
| Ranks
Decorations
|
Career information
MAGGIORE BARACCA (C.C. C.O.): from 10.07.1940 to 07.1941.MEDUSA (C.C. C.O.): from 25.08.1941 to 30.01.1942 (sunk, Bertarelli was killed).
Commands listed for Enrico Bertarelli
| Submarine | Type | Rank | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | Ocean going | C.C. | 10 Jul 1940 | 31 Jul 1941 |
| Medusa (MU) | Coastal / Sea going | C.C. | 25 Aug 1941 | 30 Jan 1942 |
Ships hit by Enrico Bertarelli
| Date | Submarine | Ship hit | Type | GRT | Nat. | Loss type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 1 Oct 1940 | Maggiore Francesco Baracca | Aghios Nicolaos | Cargo ship | 3,687 |  | Sunk |
| 2. | 18 Nov 1940 | Maggiore Francesco Baracca | Lilian Moller | Cargo ship | 5,285 |  | Sunk |
War patrols listed for Enrico Bertarelli
| Submarine | Date | Time | Port | Arr. date | Arr. time | Arr. port | Miles | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 20 Jul 1940 | 0915 | La Spezia | 20 Jul 1940 | 1615 | La Spezia | 30 | Trials. | ||
| Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 25 Jul 1940 | 0624 | La Spezia | 25 Jul 1940 | 1820 | La Spezia | 96 | Trials. | ||
| Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 28 Jul 1940 | 0752 | La Spezia | 28 Jul 1940 | 1820 | La Spezia | 59 | Trials. | ||
| Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 29 Jul 1940 | 0805 | La Spezia | 29 Jul 1940 | 1646 | La Spezia | 59 | Trials. | ||
| Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 31 Jul 1940 | 0725 | La Spezia | 31 Jul 1940 | 1641 | La Spezia | 61 | Trials. | ||
| Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 5 Aug 1940 | 0854 | La Spezia | 5 Aug 1940 | 1540 | La Spezia | 3 | Gyrocompass tests. | ||
| Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 6 Aug 1940 | 0820 | La Spezia | 6 Aug 1940 | 1805 | La Spezia | 58 | Exercises. | ||
| Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 7 Aug 1940 | 0805 | La Spezia | 7 Aug 1940 | 1310 | La Spezia | 29 | Exercises. | ||
| Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 8 Aug 1940 | 0804 | La Spezia | 8 Aug 1940 | 1740 | La Spezia | 52 | Exercises. | ||
| Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 13 Aug 1940 | 0805 | La Spezia | 13 Aug 1940 | 1730 | La Spezia | 52 | Exercises. | ||
| Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 14 Aug 1940 | 0708 | La Spezia | 14 Aug 1940 | 1335 | La Spezia | 53 | Exercises. | ||
| Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 16 Aug 1940 | 0845 | La Spezia | 16 Aug 1940 | 1335 | La Spezia | 34 | Exercises. | ||
| Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 24 Aug 1940 | 1002 | La Spezia | 24 Aug 1940 | 1930 | La Spezia | 72 | Exercises. | ||
| Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 27 Aug 1940 | 0733 | La Spezia | 27 Aug 1940 | 1245 | La Spezia | 26 | Exercises. | ||
| Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 29 Aug 1940 | 0845 | La Spezia | 29 Aug 1940 | 1325 | La Spezia | 31 | Exercises. | ||
| 1. | Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 31 Aug 1940 | 0130 | La Spezia | 5 Oct 1940 | Evening | Talais (Pauillac) | Passage La Spezia-Bordeaux. Passed Gibraltar on 7th September 1940. Patrolled off Madeira in area between 33°40'N / 35°20'N and 16°50'W and 30°05'W from 12th to 30th September 1940. Met Giuliani and escorted by M-9 and M-13. | ||
| 1 Oct 1940 | 1615-1955 | 40° 04'N, 17° 10'W | At 1615 hours, a steamer was observed at a distance of 15,000 metres on an easterly course. Baracca increased speed to give chase,which was made difficult by the heavy seas (Force 5). The vessel was finally stopped with a warning burst of machine gun fire. She was ordered to send a boat with her papers. This was the Greek Aghios Nicolaos (3,687 GRT, 1915) on passage from Santa Fé to Belfast carrying 2,200 tons of zinc and 3,982 tons of wood. C.C. Bertarelli briefly considered capturing her, but this would prove too difficult. He gave the crew 30 minutes to abandon ship. When the time had elapsed, the submarine opened fire with about 40 rounds and she sank at 1955 hours. The survivors were later rescued by Spanish vessels. | |||||||
| 5 Oct 1940 | 0815 0716 (e) | 45° 39'N, 1° 41'W | At 0815 hours, Maggiore Baracca was proceeding in company of Reginaldo Giuliani, escorted by the German minesweepers M-9 and M-13 and by the Sperrbrecher Cap Hadid, when three torpedo wakes were sighted. They apparently missed Baracca 300 metres astern and exploded at the end of their run. The attack had been by the submarine HMS Tigris (Lt. Cdr. H.F. Bone, RN). She had sighted what was believed to be three U-boats (only two were present), escorted by two ELAN class boats and had fired a salvo of four torpedoes from 2,500 yards range. Two explosions were heard after 124 and 131 seconds and then only two U-boats were sighted, leading Lt. Cdr. Bone to believe that a U-boat had been sunk. | |||||||
| 2. | Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 5 Oct 1940 | Time | Talais | 5 Oct 1940 | Evening | Pauillac | Passage Talais-Pauillac. | ||
| 5 Oct 1940 | 0815 0716 (e) | 45° 39'N, 1° 41'W | At 0815 hours, Maggiore Baracca was proceeding in company of Reginaldo Giuliani, escorted by the German minesweepers M-9 and M-13 and by the Sperrbrecher Cap Hadid, when three torpedo wakes were sighted. They apparently missed Baracca 300 metres astern and exploded at the end of their run. The attack had been by the submarine HMS Tigris (Lt. Cdr. H.F. Bone, RN). She had sighted what was believed to be three U-boats (only two were present), escorted by two ELAN class boats and had fired a salvo of four torpedoes from 2,500 yards range. Two explosions were heard after 124 and 131 seconds and then only two U-boats were sighted, leading Lt. Cdr. Bone to believe that a U-boat had been sunk. | |||||||
| 3. | Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 6 Oct 1940 | Time? | Pauillac | 6 Oct 1940 | 1132 | Bordeaux | 5376 | Passage Pauillac-Bordeaux. | |
| 4. | Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 24 Oct 1940 | 1105 | Bordeaux | 24 Nov 1940 | 1145 | Le Verdon | 4822 | Patrolled west of British Isles in (1) between 56°20 N and 57°20'N, and between 15°10'W and 17°10'W, (2) between 57°20 N and 58°20'N, and between 15°10'W and 20°10'W (3) between 56°20'N and 57°20'N, between 17°10'W and 20°10'W [between Grids 5570 and 5502]. On 28th October took 5 tons of water through the hatch. | |
| 27 Oct 1940 | 1505 1800 (e) | 47° 03'N, 15° 55'W (0) German Grid BE 6441. | At 1505 hours, the German raider Schiff 21 (Widder) was encountered on her way to Brest, course 090°, 5 knots. Baracca exchanged recognition signals with her. | |||||||
| 28 Oct 1940 | During the day, heavy weather was encountered (Force 9) and 5 tons of water were embarked through the conning tower hatch. Baracca had to heave to and during the night managed to resume her course. | |||||||||
| 31 Oct 1940 | 2109 | 55° 40'N, 16° 23'W | At 1935 hours, a 3-4,000 ton steamer was sighted in rough weather (Force 5) at 8,000 metres, steering 270°. At 2109, Baracca took advantage of a rain squall to close to 800 metres and fire a single torpedo (533mm, S.I.H. type) from a range of 800 metres. It apparently missed under the bow. The vessel apparently turned toward the submarine and attempted to ram, but was avoided by going full astern. It managed to escape as Baracca had trouble making more than 8 knots. An attempt to chase her was given up at 0020 hours on 1st November. The identity of this target has not been established. | |||||||
| 1 Nov 1940 | 1820-1705/2 | 56° 45'N, 17° 55'W | At 1820 hours, a convoy of three to five unescorted ships was sighted at a distance of 6,000 metres on an easterly course. Baracca made an enemy report and trailed it. By darkness, it disppeared from view. Repeated attempts were made to regain contact and some were picked up with the hydrophones, but no visual contact was obtained. At 1705 hours on 2nd November, the chase was abandoned. | |||||||
| 9 Nov 1940 | 0945 | 55° 00'N, 18° 00'W (0) Approximately. | At 0945 hours, an armed tanker was sighted at 5,000 metres, steering east. Baracca attempted a submerged attack, but the vessel altered course away. She was zigzagging at 15 knots. The submarine surfaced to try to close the range, but had trouble gaining on her and lost sight. An attempt to regain contact was made until 1645 hours when it was given up. | |||||||
| 10 Nov 1940 | 1117 1100 (e) | 55° 00'N, 18° 00'W (0) Approximately. | At 1117 hours, two destroyers were sighted at a distance of 5,000 metres. Baracca dived to intercept, but had difficulty in staying at periscope depth and finally went down to 80 meters. She heard three depth-charges at a distance. At 1100 hours, an Italian submarine was reported damaged in 49°50' N, 11°13' W. It is not clear if this referred to Baracca. The destroyers HMS Jaguar (D.5), HMS Jackal and HMS Jupiter were sailed from the Eddystone area to hunt the submarine and a section of Blenheim bombers was to escort them. | |||||||
| 18 Nov 1940 | 2147 | 52° 57'N, 18° 03'W | On 16th November, Baracca had been informed of the presence of a convoy. At 1200 hours on the 17th, only a German aircraft was seen, apparently looking for the convoy. At 1130 hours on the 18th, Baracca turned back as she had only enough fuel for the trip home. At 1740 hours, a smoke was sighted. The submarine proceeded at high speed to intercept, but a fire in her starboard diesel forced her to slow down. At 2147 hours, a large steamer was sighted at 800 metres steering to the east at 12 knots and Baracca fired a torpedo (533mm, S.I.H. type) from a bow tube. It missed ahead. This was the British Lilian Moller (5,285 GRT, built 1915), a straggler from convoy SLS.53D. She was on a voyage from Calcutta and Table Bay with a cargo of pig iron for the UK. C.C. Bertarelli intended to fire another torpedo from 600 metres but was thwarted by a sudden alteration of course from the freighter. Baracca crossed her wake, 200 metres astern and attempted a stern shot but, by this time, the distance of 800 metres was judged too great. A third attempt was equally nullified. The submarine now moved ahead to obtain a more favourable position. At 2303 hours, a second torpedo was fired (533mm, S.I.H. type) from a bow tube at 500 metres. She was hit astern and sank at 2347 hours. A lifeboat was seen and the submarine closed. Shots were heard. It was not clear if the target was the submarine of if some of the survivors were committing suicide and the submarine broke off its attempt. This lifeboat was never found. There were no survivors. Forty-nine were killed, forty-two of them were Chinese nationals. | |||||||
| 5. | Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 26 Nov 1940 | Time? | Le Verdon | 26 Nov 1940 | 1735 | Bordeaux | Passage Le Verdon-Bordeaux. | ||
| 6. | Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 18 Jan 1941 | 0950 | Bordeaux | 18 Feb 1941 | 1303 | Pauillac | 4235 | Sailed, escorted out by the German minesweeper M-9, for patrol west of British Isles. Initially ordered to area (1) between 55°00'N and 56°00'N, and between 17°00'W and 21°00'W then (2) between 40°00'N and 42°00'N, and between 17°00'W and 21°00'W, (3) 35°00'N, between 20°00'W and 21°00'W (4) between Cape St Vincent and Cape Silleiro and between Iberic coast and 11°00'W. As she returned, was met by M-6, M-9 and M-21 and Sperrbrecher 16 and escorted in. | |
| 19 Jan 1941 | 1105 | 45° 17'N, 3° 06'W | At 1105 hours, a German aircraft was seen and recognition signals were exchanged. | |||||||
| 29 Jan 1941 | 0909 | At 0909 hours, a destroyer was sighted at a distance of 10,000 metres. Baracca dived. | ||||||||
| 30 Jan 1941 | 1112 | At 1112 hours, the submarine Morosini was encountered and exchanged recognition signals. | ||||||||
| 2 Feb 1941 | 1316 | 55° 18'N, 17° 30'W | At 1316 hours, a smoke was sighted on the horizon. Baracca vainly tried to close. At 1540 hours, a destroyer was sighted at 10,000 metres and the submarine turned away, still intent on catching up the vessel sighted at 1316 hours. At 1910 hours, the vessel first sighted at 1316 hours was closed enough to identify her as a 600-ton escort vessel and Baracca turned away. | |||||||
| 4 Feb 1941 | 1000 | 55° 49'N, 19° 29'W | At 1000 hours, in poor visibility, an escort vessel was sighted at a distance of 1,000 metres. Baracca dived immediately. At 1100 hours, the same escort vessel was apparently sighted again as the submarine surfaced. Baracca dived again immediately and had reached a depth of 40 metres when she was shaken by the explosions of eight to ten depth charges. However there was no apparent damage. | |||||||
| 5 Feb 1941 | 1115 | 55° 09'N, 21° 24'W | At 1115 hours, a German submarine was sighted steering east. | |||||||
| 7. | Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 19 Feb 1941 | 0945 | Pauillac | 19 Feb 1941 | 1305 | Bordeaux | 23 | Passage Pauillac-Bordeaux. | |
| Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 1 Mar 1941 | 0940 | Bordeaux | 1 Mar 1941 | 1030 | Bordeaux | Changed moorings. | |||
| Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 22 Mar 1941 | 1703 | Bordeaux | 22 Mar 1941 | 1747 | Bordeaux | Changed moorings. | |||
| Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 28 Mar 1941 | 1600 | Bordeaux | 28 Mar 1941 | 1650 | Bordeaux | Changed moorings. | |||
| Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 5 Apr 1941 | 1000 | Bordeaux | 5 Apr 1941 | 1600 | Bordeaux | Demagnetization. | |||
| 8. | Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 7 Apr 1941 | 1500 | Bordeaux | 7 Apr 1941 | 1813 | Pauillac | 23 | Passage Bordeaux-Pauillac. | |
| 9. | Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 9 Apr 1941 | 1303 | Pauillac | 9 Apr 1941 | 2029 | Le Verdon | 31 | Passage Pauillac-Le Verdon. | |
| 10. | Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 10 Apr 1941 | 1500 | Le Verdon | 4 May 1941 | 1345 | Bordeaux | 4191 | Patrolled off Gibraltar between 36°00'N and 37°00'N, and between 06°40'W and 12°00'W. Bertarelli was criticised by Admiral Parona for lacking determination. | |
| 14 Apr 1941 | 1240-2300 2230/13 (e) | 37° 40'N, 11° 35'W | At 1240 hours, Baracca was proceeding at a depth of 45 meters when she was suddenly bombed whereas no sounds were heard with her hydrophones. At 2230 hours, H.E. were heard and these were followed by three series of five depth-charges each. It has been suggested that the corvette HMS Fleur de Lys may have been her attacker. However, the time and position do not match, unless one of the vessels made an error in recording them. At 2230Z hours on 13th April, HMS Fleur de Lys, in company with HMS Azalea, was returning to Gibraltar, after escorting convoy H.G. 58 when she obtained an ASDIC contact. She carried out attacks at 2240 hours (5 DCs), 2247 hours (4 DCs), 2257 hours (5 DCs), 2305 hours (3 DCs), 2315 hours (4 DCs), 2325 hours (4 DCs), 2340 hours (4 DCs) and 2350 hours (5 DCs). Contact was then lost. HMS Azalea did not understand the signals and did not take part in these attacks. Baracca did not record hearing any depth charge at this time. At 1116 hours on 14th April, HMS Fleur de Lys observed a small patch of oil and shortly after got an ASDIC contact. At 1116 hours, five depth charges were dropped. Single depth charges followed at 1132, 1145, 1204 and 1209 hours. The corvette had expended 38 depth charges and had none left. She sailed away. Again, Baracca did not record hearing any depth charge at this time except at 1240 hours when a single explosion was heard. It is curious that no more depth charges were heard during the midday attacks. | |||||||
| 17 Apr 1941 | 0833 | 35° 55'N, 11° 30'W | Baracca was patrolling in a position to intercept a convoy from Gibraltar reported the previous day (this was convoy HG.59 of nineteen merchant ships escorted by five vessels, including the Dutch submarine HrMs O 24, who had sailed on 15th April). At 0833 hours, a ship was sighted and the submarine submerged to attack. Having closed to 600 metres, she was identified as Spanish. Baracca resumed the search for the convoy as far west as 18°28' W, before turning back on 19th April to her patrol area off Gibraltar. | |||||||
| 22 Apr 1941 | 2300 | 35° 58'N, 8° 35'W | At 2300 hours, a light was seen coming from a ship believed to be an A/S vessel. | |||||||
| 23 Apr 1941 | 0430 | 35° 58'N, 9° 35'W | At 0430 hours, a light was seen coming from a ship believed to be an A/S vessel, perhaps the same as encountered a few hours before. | |||||||
| 24 Apr 1941 | 1150 | 35° 58'N, 11° 55'W | At 1150 hours, a 4,000-ton vessel was sighted proceeding toward Lisbon. As it was likely the vessel was neutral and the great distance would have forced the submarine for a surface run to intercept, C.C. Bertarelli decided to abandon the chase. | |||||||
| 25 Apr 1941 | 1830 | (0) West of Gibraltar. | At 1830 hours, Baracca received notice that a convoy had sailed from Gibraltar the previous day (this was HG.60 of sixteen merchant ships with six escorts including the Dutch submarine HrMs O 23). She altered course to the west at 8 knots to intercept. Only distant explosions were heard at 1900 hours on the 26th, but nothing was sighted. On 28th April the bad weather forced the submarine to submerge and abandon the attempt. | |||||||
| Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 12 Jun 1941 | 0904 | Bordeaux | 12 Jun 1941 | 0950 | Garonne River | 1 | Passage Bordeaux-Garonne River. | ||
| Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 12 Jun 1941 | 1025 | Bordeaux | 12 Jun 1941 | Le Verdon | Passage Bordeaux-Le Verdon. | ||||
| Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 12 Jun 1941 | 1400? | Le Verdon | 12 Jun 1941 | 1947 | Bordeaux | 119 | Passage Le Verdon-Bordeaux [mileage from Bordeaux]. | ||
| Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 14 Jun 1941 | 0943 | Bordeaux | 14 Jun 1941 | Le Verdon | Passage Bordeaux-Le Verdon. | ||||
| Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 14 Jun 1941 | 1400? | Le Verdon | 14 Jun 1941 | 1800 | Bordeaux | 115 | Passage Le Verdon-Bordeaux [mileage from Bordeaux]. | ||
| Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 18 Jun 1941 | 1226 | Bordeaux | 18 Jun 1941 | 1835 | Le Verdon | 62 | Passage Bordeaux-Le Verdon. | ||
| Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 18 Jun 1941 | 1844 | Le Verdon | 18 Jun 1941 | 1922 | Le Verdon | 2 | Gyrocompass tests. | ||
| 11. | Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10) | 18 Jun 1941 | 2047 | Bordeaux | 17 Jul 1941 | 1320 | Bordeaux | 5888 | Sailed for Atlantic patrol in 34°38'N, 10°17'W or between 34°00'N and 38°00'N, and between 10°00'W and 17°00'W. | |
| 20 Jun 1941 | 2030 | 44° 49'N, 9° 46'W | At 2030 hours, two minesweepers were sighted. Baracca turned away to avoid detection. | |||||||
| 23 Jun 1941 | 2100 | 43° 20'N, 23° 08'W (0) Approximately. | At 2100 hours, Baracca was ordered to proceed to 41°35' N, 13°45' W to search for survivors of the German supply ship Alstertor (3,039 GRT, built 1938) sunk the same day by the Ocean Boarding Vessel HMS Marsdale actually in 41°12' N, 13°10' W. She proceeded at 14 knots. The area was reached at midnight on 24th June but nothing was sighted. | |||||||
| 25 Jun 1941 | 0102 | 41° 30'N, 14° 30'W | At 0102 hours, Baracca was informed that a convoy had sailed from Gibraltar and was ordered to intercept in position 35°30' N, 11°30' W. The submarine proceeded toward the position without sighting anything. | |||||||
| 26 Jun 1941 | 1000 | 35° 51'N, 11° 32'W | At 1000 hours, a vessel was sighted proceeding toward Cape St. Vincent. Baracca chased her for two hours without being able to catch up and turned back to resume the search for the Gibraltar convoy. | |||||||
| 27 Jun 1941 | 0958 | 35° 10'N, 12° 40'W | At 0958 hours, a destroyer was sighted coming straight at the submarine. Because of the heavy seas the submarine had trouble remaining at periscope depth and C.C. Bertarelli elected to dive to 80 meters but was not attacked. At 1102 hours, Baracca returned to periscope depth but this time eight depth-charges exploded near by forcing the submarine to return to a depth of 80 meters, this was followed by five more depth-charges which were closer. More followed until 1715 hours, when a total of 50 were counted, mostly exploding above the submarine which was undamaged. This was actually the attack that sank Glauco. | |||||||
| 28 Jun 1941 | 1505 | 34° 18'N, 12° 00'W | At 1505 hours, a Spanish vessel was observed steering toward Cape St. Vincent. | |||||||
| 29 Jun 1941 | 1229 | 34° 26'N, 15° 10'W | At 1140 hours, BETASOM ordered Baracca to patrol in 34°30' N, 16°30' W Grid 9668). Da Vinci was to proceed to 33°20' N, 16°30' W (Grid 3968). At 1229 hours, a Portuguese vessel was sighted proceeding toward Madeira. At 0630 hours on 30th June, Baracca reached her assigned position. | |||||||
| 30 Jun 1941 | 1045 | At 1045/30 BETASOM had ordered the submarines to the following positions: Torelli in 2533/36 (36°58'N, 12°30'W) Morosini in 2511/33 (36°30'N, 13°20'W) Cappellini in 8511/66 (35°58'N, 14°00'W) Da Vinci in 8511/33 (35°30'N, 13°20'W) Baracca in 8533/31 (35°10'N, 12°30'W) Malaspina in 3972/51 (33°00'N, 11°45'W). Baracca proceeded. | ||||||||
| 1 Jul 1941 | 1600 | 34° 30'N, 16° 30'W (0) Approximately. | At 1600 hours, Baracca received BETASOM's order (1045/30) to form a patrol line at dusk on 3rd July: Baracca in 8533/31 (35°05'N, 12°25'W) Torelli in 2533/36 (36°35'N, 12°25'W) Morosini in 2511/33 (36°25'N, 13°25'W) Cappellini in 8511/66 (35°55'N, 13°55'W) Da Vinci in 8511/33 (35°25'N, 13°25'W) Malaspina in 3972/31 (33°05'N, 11°45'W) (3972/31). Baracca proceeded at 10 knots and reached it at 1700 hours on 2nd July. | |||||||
| 5 Jul 1941 | 1620 | 35° 34'N, 12° 24'W | At 1620 hours, a Spanish 7-8,000-ton tanker of the CAMPO class was sighted, steering 250°. Shortly after a passenger ship believed to be the Portuguese Monsinho (?) came into view. | |||||||
| 6 Jul 1941 | 1120 | At 1120 hours, BETASOM ordered the submarine to form a barrage line: Torelli in 9697/16 (34°55' N, 10°05' W) Morosini in 8597/16 (35°55' N, 10°05' W) via 2597/13 Cappellini in 8597/13 (35°25' N, 10°05' W) Da Vinci in 9697/56 (34°55' N, 10°45' W) Malaspina in 3997/16 (33°55' N, 10°05' W) Baracca in 9697/13 (34°25' N, 10°05' W) Baracca proceeded to the new position. | ||||||||
| 7 Jul 1941 | 1320+ | 34° 38'N, 10° 16'W | At about 1320 hours, Baracca sighted two shells falling at about 1,000 meters from Malaspina [the submarine was probably Torelli], a destroyer and a gunboat were then seen. The submarine dived and attempted to gain an attacking position without success. | |||||||
| 7 Jul 1941 | 1613 | 34° 38'N, 10° 16'W (0) Approximately. | At 1613 hours, the submarine Malaspina was encountered. Baracca exchanged signals and requested a comparison of positions as C.C. Bertarelli was uncertain of his position. | |||||||
| 7 Jul 1941 | 1715 | At 1715 hours, BETASOM had reported a convoy in Italian Grid 8597/32, course 205°, 9 knots and ordered the submarines to assume the following positions unless they were already in contact with the convoy: Torelli in 9672/32 (34°15'N , 11°25' W) Da Vinci in 9672/34 (34°35' N, 11°25' W) Baracca in 9672/12 (34°15' N, 11°05' W) Malaspina in 9697/42 (34°15' N, 10°35' W). | ||||||||
| 8 Jul 1941 | 1100 | At 1100 hours, BETASOM ordered the submarines to the following positions: Bianchi in 2772/11 (36°05' N, 11°05' W) Torelli in 8597/61 (35°05' N, 10°55' W) Morosini in 8597/34 (35°35' N, 10°25' W) Baracca in 9697/11 (34°05' N, 10°05' W) Malaspina in 3997/54 (33°35' N, 10°45' W) Da Vinci in 9697/25 (34°15' N, 10°45' W) (the BETASOM diaries give the position as 35°55' N, 19°15' W but this is a typographical error). | ||||||||
| 9 Jul 1941 | 2123 | 34° 34'N, 11° 10'W | At 2123 hours, a German aircraft was seen. On 10th July, Baracca went to 37°25' N, 12°45' W, then on 11th July to 36°25' N, 14°55' W, but failed to locate the convoy. At 0200 hours on 12th July, she left her patrol. | |||||||
| Medusa (MU) | 25 Aug 1941 | 0746 | Pola | 26 Aug 1941 | 1750 | Pola | 59,2 | Exercises. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 28 Aug 1941 | 0730 | Pola | 28 Aug 1941 | 1645 | Pola | 54 | Sailed with the submarine Bausan for exercises with the auxiliary Morrhua and the torpedo boat Insidioso. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 30 Aug 1941 | 1030 | Pola | 31 Aug 1941 | 0300 | Pola | 72 | Exercises. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 2 Sep 1941 | 0747 | Pola | 2 Sep 1941 | 1910 | Pola | 55 | Exercises. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 3 Sep 1941 | 2211 | Pola | 4 Sep 1941 | 0645 | Pola | 48 | Exercises with the light cruiser Da Barbiano and the torpedo boat Audace. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 6 Sep 1941 | 1908 | Pola | 7 Sep 1941 | 0245 | Pola | 50 | Exercises. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 10 Sep 1941 | 0745 | Pola | 10 Sep 1941 | 1740 | Pola | 54 | Exercises. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 11 Sep 1941 | 1035 | Pola | 11 Sep 1941 | 1906 | Pola | 54,5 | Exercises with the submarine Speri, escorted by the auxiliary Jadera and torpedo firing exercise on the torpedo boat Audace. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 13 Sep 1941 | 0745 | Pola | 13 Sep 1941 | 1700 | Pola | 51 | Exercises with the submarines Bausan, Jalea and Pisani, escorted by the torpedo boat Insidioso and the auxiliaries Morrhua and Jadera. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 15 Sep 1941 | 0742 | Pola | 15 Sep 1941 | 1830 | Pola | 59 | Exercises with the submarine Jalea, escorted by the torpedo boat Audace and the auxiliary San Giorgio. | ||
| 12. | Medusa (MU) | 25 Sep 1941 | 1800 | Pola | 28 Sep 1941 | 1140 | Pola | 310 | A/S patrol between 43°54.5'N and 44°47'N and 13°32'E and the Western Adriatic coast. Uneventful. | |
| Medusa (MU) | 1 Oct 1941 | 1320 | Pola | 1 Oct 1941 | 0007 | Pola | 51 | Exercises with the submarine Jalea, escorted by the auxiliary Jadera. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 3 Oct 1941 | 1017 | Pola | 3 Oct 1941 | 1830 | Pola | 47 | Exercises. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 4 Oct 1941 | 1000 | Pola | 4 Oct 1941 | 1805 | Pola | 51 | Exercises. | ||
| 13. | Medusa (MU) | 9 Oct 1941 | 1622 | Pola | 11 Oct 1941 | 0355 | Pola | 307,5 | Defensive patrol. | |
| Medusa (MU) | 14 Oct 1941 | 1030 | Pola | 14 Oct 1941 | 1902 | Pola | 54 | Exercises. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 17 Oct 1941 | 1300 | Pola | 17 Oct 1941 | 2335 | Pola | 64 | Exercises with the submarine Bausan, escorted by the auxiliary Grado. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 21 Oct 1941 | 1300 | Pola | 22 Oct 1941 | 0112 | Pola | 57 | Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Salvatore. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 23 Oct 1941 | 0735 | Pola | 24 Oct 1941 | 1755 | Pola | 64 | Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Grado. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 25 Oct 1941 | 0800 | Pola | 25 Oct 1941 | 1644 | Pola | 51 | Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Morrhua. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 28 Oct 1941 | 1310 | Pola | 28 Oct 1941 | 2356 | Pola | 67 | Exercises. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 30 Oct 1941 | 0800 | Pola | 30 Oct 1941 | 1735 | Pola | 52 | Exercises with the submarine Mameli, escorted by the torpedo boat Audace. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 1 Nov 1941 | 0842 | Pola | 1 Nov 1941 | 1652 | Pola | 46 | Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Grado. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 17 Nov 1941 | 0810 | Pola | 17 Nov 1941 | 1701 | Pola | 53,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 21 Nov 1941 | 0803 | Pola | 21 Nov 1941 | 1650 | Pola | 53,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 24 Nov 1941 | 0803 | Pola | 24 Nov 1941 | 1650 | Pola | 52 | Exercises. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 26 Nov 1941 | 0803 | Pola | 26 Nov 1941 | 1652 | Pola | 54,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 29 Nov 1941 | 0803 | Pola | 29 Nov 1941 | 1723 | Pola | 53 | Exercises with the submarines Pisani, Toti and Emo, escorted by the auxiliaries Jadera and Trau. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 1 Dec 1941 | 0805 | Pola | 1 Dec 1941 | 1650 | Pola | 53 | Exercise, escorted by the auxiliaries San Giorgio and Jadera. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 3 Dec 1941 | 0800 | Pola | 3 Dec 1941 | 1640 | Pola | 55,5 | Exercises, escorted by the torpedo boat Audace and the auxiliaries Trau, Jadera and San Giorgio. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 9 Dec 1941 | 1620 | Pola | 9 Dec 1941 | 2343 | Pola | 70 | Exercises with the submarine Jalea, escorted by the torpedo boat Insidioso. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 15 Dec 1941 | 0800 | Pola | 15 Dec 1941 | 1609 | Pola | 55 | Exercises with the submarine Speri, escorted by the auxiliary San Giorgio. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 16 Dec 1941 | 0805 | Pola | 16 Dec 1941 | 1720 | Pola | 57,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 20 Dec 1941 | 0828 | Pola | 20 Dec 1941 | 1720 | Pola | 58 | Exercises. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 23 Dec 1941 | 0826 | Pola | 23 Dec 1941 | 1725 | Pola | 59,5 | Exercises. | ||
| 14. | Medusa (MU) | 26 Dec 1941 | 1655 | Pola | 27 Dec 1941 | 1415 | Pola | 146 | Hydrophone watch and exercises with the destroyer Mitragliere, in 044° - Ancona Light - 17 miles and then 040°- Cape Pesaro - 23 miles. Uneventful. | |
| Medusa (MU) | 30 Dec 1941 | 0805 | Pola | 30 Dec 1941 | 1730 | Pola | 61,5 | Gunfire exercises with the submarines Speri and Toti, escorted by the auxiliaries Jadera, Grado and Trau. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 4 Jan 1942 | 0910 | Pola | 4 Jan 1942 | 1650 | Pola | ? | Exercises with the submarines Jalea, Des Geneys and Toti, escorted by the auxiliaries Jadera and San Giorgio and the torpedo boat Audace. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 5 Jan 1942 | 0835 | Pola | 5 Jan 1942 | 1825 | Pola | ? | Exercises with the submarines Jalea, Des Geneys, Speri and Ondina, escorted by the torpedo boat Audace and the auxiliaries Jadera, San Giorgio and Trau. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 7 Jan 1942 | 0920 | Pola | 7 Jan 1942 | 1120 | Pola | ? | Exercises. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 13 Jan 1942 | 0850 | Pola | 13 Jan 1942 | 1620 | Pola | ? | Exercises with the submarine Pisani, escorted by the auxiliary Grado. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 16 Jan 1942 | 0825 | Pola | 16 Jan 1942 | 1815 | Pola | ? | Exercises. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 21 Jan 1942 | 1635 | Pola | 22 Jan 1942 | 0120 | Pola | ? | Exercises with the submarine Pisani, escorted by the auxiliary Jadera. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 24 Jan 1942 | 0950 | Pola | 24 Jan 1942 | 1830 | Pola | ? | Exercises. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 28 Jan 1942 | 1625 | Pola | 28 Jan 1942 | 1835 | Pola | ? | Exercises with the submarine Jalea, escorted by the auxiliary San Giorgio. | ||
| Medusa (MU) | 30 Jan 1942 | Time? | Pola | 30 Jan 1942 | 1410 | Sunk | Exercising off Pola. Sunk by the British submarine HMS Thorn. Fifty-eight killed (including her commanding officer), two survivors. | |||
| 30 Jan 1942 | 1520 1402 (e) | 44° 45'N, 13° 56'E | At 0955 hours, the submarine HMS Thorn (Lieutenant Commander R.G. Norfolk, RN) sighted a SIRENA class submarine, steering 080°, 8 knots. This was Medusa or perhaps Mameli, exercising but the British submarine could not intercept. At 1354 hours, HMS Thorn again sighted a SIRENA class submarine at a distance of 5,000 yards, steering 240° at 13 knots. At 1402 hours, she fired four torpedoes at a range of 3,500 yards. One explosion was heard after 165 seconds, giving a running range of 3,600 yards. This again was Medusa returning from exercises. One torpedo track coming from the port side was sighted by the First Officer T.V. Gastone Guida, followed by two more and they missed ahead. C.C. Bertarelli had immediately put the helm full to port but it was too late. She was hit by a fourth torpedo and sank in 35 metres of water. There were also four men on the bridge: the navigation officer G.M. Arturo Fei and three students of MARISCUOLASOM (Submarine School), T.V. Gaetano Arezzo Della Targia, S.T.V. Luigi del Monte and G.M. G. Batta Firpo. All six men were thrown in the water and were now struggling to stay afloat. The steamer Carlo Zeno (Master Umberto Curci) was following her a mile behind and observed the explosion. She rushed to the scene and found only three wounded survivors. They were Arezzo Della Targia, Firpo and Fei. Fei, who had two broken legs, testified that he had survived thanks to CC Bertarelli who had grabbed him by the hairs to keep him afloat and had whispered to him words of encouragement. Fei died in the hospital. Bertarelli, himself with a head wound and bleeding profusely, drowned. Help was immediately organised by XII GRUPPOSOM. Three MAS boats sailed from Pola, followed in quick succession by the torpedo boat Insidioso and the auxiliary Grado. They were joined by the submarine Mameli, returning from exercises in the same area and then the torpedo boats Audace and Calatafimi and the submarine Otaria. Guida was picked up by Insidioso but expired shortly after. Later, the body of rating Alberto Cusenza was recovered. The wreck was located and eight divers were used. At one point, it was considered to attempt raising the submarine with the help of the pontoons G.A. 141 and G.A. 146 but finally they were not used. The divers managed to communicate with fourteen men trapped in the aft compartment. It was hoped that they could be rescued but the bad weather would finally force the rescue operation to be given up on 3rd February. In all there were fifty-eight victims (seven officers and fifty-one ratings). T.V. Gaetano Arezzo Della Targia would go on to take command of the submarine Uarsciek and would be lost with her in December 1942. | |||||||
115 entries. 83 total patrol entries (14 marked as war patrols) and 39 events.