Italian submarines in World War Two
Italian Commanders
Francesco Caprile
| Born | 1 Jan 1912 | Chiavari (Genoa) | |
| Died | 11 Jul 1943 | (31) | Killed in action |
| Ranks
Decorations |
Career information
BENEDETTO BRIN (S.T.V. officer): from 15.01.1939 to July 1940+.AMETISTA (S.T.V. officer): from 14.10.1940 to November 1940+.
Promoted T.V. on ?
AMETISTA (T.V. officer): from 21.11.1941 to March 1943+.
AMETISTA (T.V. C.O.): from 05.07.1942 to 15.03.1943.
ANTONIO BAJAMONTI (T.V. C.O.): from 25.04.1943 to 11.06.1943.
FLUTTO (T.V. C.O.): from 17.06.1943 to 11.07.1943 (sunk, Caprile was killed).
Commands listed for Francesco Caprile
| Submarine | Type | Rank | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ametista (AA) | Coastal / Sea going | T.V. | 6 Jul 1942 | 15 Mar 1943 |
| Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM) | T.V. | 25 Apr 1943 | 11 Jun 1943 | |
| Flutto (FL) | Sea going | T.V. | 17 Jun 1943 | 11 Jul 1943 |
Ships hit by Francesco Caprile
No ships hit by this Commander.War patrols listed for Francesco Caprile
| Submarine | Date | Time | Port | Arr. date | Arr. time | Arr. port | Miles | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ametista (AA) | 7 Jul 1942 | 0852 | Naples | 7 Jul 1942 | 1830 | Naples | 47 | Trials. | ||
| Ametista (AA) | 8 Jul 1942 | 1503 | Naples | 8 Jul 1942 | 2330 | Naples | 38,7 | Exercises. | ||
| Ametista (AA) | 11 Jul 1942 | 0917 | Naples | 11 Jul 1942 | 1051 | Naples | 6 | Trials. | ||
| Ametista (AA) | 11 Jul 1942 | 1424 | Naples | 11 Jul 1942 | 1925 | Naples | 16,5 | Trials. | ||
| Ametista (AA) | 13 Jul 1942 | 1015 | Naples | 13 Jul 1942 | 1035 | Naples | 0,1 | Immersion in dock. | ||
| Ametista (AA) | 14 Jul 1942 | 0945 | Naples | 14 Jul 1942 | 1225 | Naples | 5,2 | Trials. | ||
| Ametista (AA) | 15 Jul 1942 | 0700 | Naples | 15 Jul 1942 | 0740 | Naples | 1,6 | Changed moorings. | ||
| Ametista (AA) | 18 Jul 1942 | 1403 | Naples | 18 Jul 1942 | 1605 | Naples | 6,3 | Trials. | ||
| Ametista (AA) | 18 Jul 1942 | 1800 | Naples | 18 Jul 1942 | 1835 | Naples | 1,6 | Changed moorings. | ||
| Ametista (AA) | 21 Jul 1942 | 1525 | Naples | 21 Jul 1942 | 1717 | Naples | 8,8 | Trials. | ||
| Ametista (AA) | 21 Jul 1942 | 2130 | Naples | 26 Jul 1942 | 1600 | Portolago (Leros) | 1044,2 | Passage Naples-Portolago (Leros). Escorted by a MAS until 0100 hours on 22nd, then from 1400 to 2040 hours by the patrol boat A.S.51 (to Capo Dell'Armi). From 0530 hours on the 26th, escorted to Leros by the auxiliary Orsini. | ||
| 24 Jul 1942 | 1006 | At 1006 hours, a transport escorted by two destroyers was sighted at 16,000 metres. This was the steamer Unione (6,070 GRT, built 1942) escorted by the destroyers Pigafetta and Premuda and were proceeding from Benghazi to Taranto. Pigafetta closed to a thousand meters of Ametista and exchanged recognition signals. Shortly after, a German aircraft was sighted and they also exchanged recognition signals. | ||||||||
| 24 Jul 1942 | 1525 | At 1525 hours, an Italian convoy was sighted at 20,000 metres. Ametista dived to 35 meters to avoid an incident and to test her hydrophones but heard nothing. Before midnight the submarine intercepted two signals from the torpedo boat Lince reporting a convoy under attack. | ||||||||
| Ametista (AA) | 6 Aug 1942 | 1413 | Portolago (Leros) | 6 Aug 1942 | 1820 | Portolago (Leros) | 10,8 | Trials. | ||
| Ametista (AA) | 11 Aug 1942 | 0807 | Portolago (Leros) | 11 Aug 1942 | 1215 | Portolago (Leros) | 14,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Ametista (AA) | 14 Aug 1942 | 1030 | Portolago (Leros) | 14 Aug 1942 | 1124 | Portolago (Leros) | 0,7 | Trials. | ||
| Ametista (AA) | 18 Aug 1942 | 0800 | Portolago (Leros) | 18 Aug 1942 | 1200 | Portolago (Leros) | 13 | Exercises. | ||
| Ametista (AA) | 23 Aug 1942 | 0635 | Portolago (Leros) | 23 Aug 1942 | 0854 | Portolago (Leros) | 20,3 | Exercises. | ||
| Ametista (AA) | 5 Sep 1942 | 0740 | Portolago (Leros) | 5 Sep 1942 | 1123 | Portolago (Leros) | 14 | Exercises. | ||
| Ametista (AA) | 15 Sep 1942 | 0711 | Portolago (Leros) | 15 Sep 1942 | 1115 | Portolago (Leros) | 16,5 | Exercises. | ||
| 1. | Ametista (AA) | 23 Sep 1942 | 0610 | Portolago (Leros) | 11 Oct 1942 | 1615 | Portolago (Leros) | 1658,4 | Sailed with the submarine Nereide and escorted by destroyer Sella 1840 hours on the 23rd. Patrolled south of Crete, 90 miles south of Kaso Island, between 33°40'N and 34°00'N, and between 26°35'E and 26°50'E. On her return, she was escorted by MAS 542 then by MAS 555, which took over until Leros. | |
| 29 Sep 1942 | 0340 | 33° 47'N, 26° 42'E | At 0340 hours, an aircraft was seen at 500 metres and the submarine dived. | |||||||
| 3 Oct 1942 | 2330 | 33° 41'N, 26° 44'E | At 2330 hours, an aircraft was seen at 600 metres and the submarine dived. | |||||||
| Ametista (AA) | 16 Oct 1942 | 0900 | Portolago (Leros) | 16 Oct 1942 | 0920 | Portolago (Leros) | 0,2 | Changed moorings? | ||
| Ametista (AA) | 21 Oct 1942 | 0925 | Portolago (Leros) | 21 Oct 1942 | 0940 | Portolago (Leros) | 0,2 | Changed moorings? | ||
| Ametista (AA) | 28 Oct 1942 | 0825 | Portolago (Leros) | 28 Oct 1942 | 1200 | Portolago (Leros) | 12 | Trials. | ||
| Ametista (AA) | 29 Oct 1942 | 0735 | Portolago (Leros) | 29 Oct 1942 | 1110 | Portolago (Leros) | 8 | Trials. | ||
| Ametista (AA) | 30 Oct 1942 | 0948 | Portolago (Leros) | 30 Oct 1942 | 0956 | Portolago (Leros) | 4 | Trials. | ||
| Ametista (AA) | 5 Nov 1942 | 0850 | Portolago (Leros) | 5 Nov 1942 | 1146 | Portolago (Leros) | 13 | Trials. | ||
| Ametista (AA) | 6 Nov 1942 | 1400 | Portolago (Leros) | 6 Nov 1942 | 1415 | Portolago (Leros) | 0,5 | Changed moorings? | ||
| Ametista (AA) | 10 Nov 1942 | 0800 | Portolago (Leros) | 10 Nov 1942 | 1145 | Portolago (Leros) | 16 | Trials. | ||
| Ametista (AA) | 11 Nov 1942 | 1347 | Portolago (Leros) | 11 Nov 1942 | 1715 | Portolago (Leros) | 15 | Trials. | ||
| Ametista (AA) | 14 Nov 1942 | 0634 | Portolago (Leros) | 14 Nov 1942 | 1305 | Portolago (Leros) | 24 | Trials. | ||
| Ametista (AA) | 15 Nov 1942 | 0920 | Portolago (Leros) | 15 Nov 1942 | 1128 | Portolago (Leros) | 11 | Trials. | ||
| Ametista (AA) | 20 Nov 1942 | 0917 | Portolago (Leros) | 20 Nov 1942 | 1215 | Portolago (Leros) | 14 | Trials. | ||
| Ametista (AA) | 3 Dec 1942 | 0848 | Portolago (Leros) | 3 Dec 1942 | 1200 | Portolago (Leros) | 11 | Trials. | ||
| Ametista (AA) | 22 Dec 1942 | 0848 | Portolago (Leros) | 22 Dec 1942 | 1200 | Portolago (Leros) | 11,5 | Trials. | ||
| 2. | Ametista (AA) | 26 Dec 1942 | 0806 | Portolago (Leros) | 10 Jan 1943 | 1820 | Portolago (Leros) | 1183 | Patrolled west of Cyprus, relieving Nereide in Grids 8389, between 35°20'N and 36°00'N, and between 30°00'E and 30°40'E. Departure known to British Intelligence through ULTRA. Uneventful patrol in very poor visibility marred by the death of one of the crew. | |
| 2 Jan 1943 | 0825 | At 0825 hours, tragedy struck the submarine when Sergeant R.T. Carmine Cantone, who had developed a high fever, passed away. His body was confined to the deep at 1745 hours. Ametista was disinfected upon arrival at Leros. | ||||||||
| 3. | Ametista (AA) | 12 Feb 1943 | 0805 | Portolago (Leros) | 27 Feb 1943 | 1332 | Portolago (Leros) | 1475 | Patrolled west of Cyprus, between 35°20'N and 36°00'N, and between 30°00'E and 30°40'E. Uneventful. | |
| Ametista (AA) | 12 Mar 1943 | 0835 | Portolago (Leros) | 12 Mar 1943 | 1130 | Portolago (Leros) | 7,5 | Trials. | ||
| Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM) | 26 Apr 1943 | 0900 | Genoa | 26 Apr 1943 | 1610 | La Spezia | 46 | Passage Genoa-La Spezia. | ||
| Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM) | 30 Apr 1943 | 1305 | La Spezia | 30 Apr 1943 | 1905 | La Spezia | 28 | Exercises. | ||
| Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM) | 30 Apr 1943 | 1305 | La Spezia | 30 Apr 1943 | 1905 | La Spezia | 28 | Exercises. | ||
| Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM) | 3 May 1943 | 0840 | La Spezia | 3 May 1943 | 1150 | La Spezia | 17 | Trials. | ||
| Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM) | 5 May 1943 | 1110 | La Spezia | 5 May 1943 | 1553 | La Spezia | 16 | Trials. | ||
| Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM) | 6 May 1943 | 0835 | La Spezia | 6 May 1943 | 1030 | La Spezia | 6 | Trials. | ||
| Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM) | 7 May 1943 | 0850 | La Spezia | 7 May 1943 | 1610 | La Spezia | 58 | Trials. | ||
| Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM) | 8 May 1943 | 1945 | La Spezia | 8 May 1943 | 2015 | La Spezia | 2,5 | Trials. | ||
| Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM) | 9 May 1943 | 0850 | La Spezia | 9 May 1943 | 1525 | La Spezia | 10 | Trials. | ||
| Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM) | 10 May 1943 | 0700 | La Spezia | 10 May 1943 | 0830 | La Spezia | 5 | Trials. | ||
| Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM) | 11 May 1943 | 0835 | La Spezia | 11 May 1943 | 1755 | La Spezia | 65 | Trials. | ||
| Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM) | 12 May 1943 | 0930 | La Spezia | 12 May 1943 | 1120 | La Spezia | 5 | Trials. | ||
| Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM) | 14 May 1943 | 0710 | La Spezia | 14 May 1943 | 1430 | La Spezia | 43 | Exercises. | ||
| Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM) | 16 May 1943 | 1005 | La Spezia | 16 May 1943 | 1130 | La Spezia | 9 | Trials. | ||
| Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM) | 27 May 1943 | 2010 | La Spezia | 27 May 1943 | 2030 | La Spezia | 1,5 | Trials. | ||
| Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM) | 29 May 1943 | 0715 | La Spezia | 29 May 1943 | 0730 | La Spezia | 1,5 | Trials. | ||
| Flutto (FL) | 17 Jun 1943 | 1415 | Castellammare di Stabia | 17 Jun 1943 | 1750 | Castellammare di Stabia | 19 | Exercises. | ||
| Flutto (FL) | 18 Jun 1943 | 1433 | Castellammare di Stabia | 18 Jun 1943 | 1753 | Castellammare di Stabia | 18 | Exercises. | ||
| Flutto (FL) | 19 Jun 1943 | 0834 | Castellammare di Stabia | 19 Jun 1943 | 2122 | Castellammare di Stabia | 29 | Exercises. | ||
| Flutto (FL) | 29 Jun 1943 | 0816 | Castellammare di Stabia | 29 Jun 1943 | 1705 | Castellammare di Stabia | 29 | Exercises. | ||
| Flutto (FL) | 4 Jul 1943 | 0000 | Naples | 5 Jul 1943 | 0600 | La Maddalena | Passage Naples-La Maddalena at 13 knots via 40°20'N, 11°40'E. | |||
| Flutto (FL) | 7 Jul 1943 | 0509 | Porto Palma (La Maddalena) | 7 Jul 1943 | 0805 | Bonifacio | 21 | Passage Porto Palma (La Maddalena)-Bonifacio. | ||
| 4. | Flutto (FL) | 10 Jul 1943 | 0500 | Bonifacio | 11 Jul 1943 | 2130 | Sunk with all hands | Sailed via Cape Figari (ca. 41°00'N, 10°00'E) for patrol in area 171 [between 38°15'N and 38°25'N, and between 12°00'E and 12°20'E] [Velella and Argo were to patrol next to her in 172 and 173]. However, the same evening, she was ordered to proceed via 39°00'N, 15°00'E and Point M3 to area 84 [between 36°40'N and 36°50'N, and between 15°20'E and 15°40'E]. She was reported to have crossed the Strait of Messina at 1705 hours on the 11th. She had done about 400 miles in 40.5 hours. Probably sunk off off Catania by British motor torpedo boats MTB 640, MTB 651 and MTB 670 in 37°34'N, 15°43'E (six officers and forty-three ratings killed, no survivors). At 0007 hours on the 14th, MARICOSOM, unaware of her loss, ordered her to occupy the southern half of zone 81 [between 37°10'N and 37°15'N, and between 15°20'E and 15°40'E]. On 16th July, she was ordered to an area between 37°20 and 37°40'N, and between 15°40'E and the Sicilian coast. On 20th July, she was ordered to return to La Maddalena via the Strait of Messina with an ETA of 23rd July but failed to show up. | ||
| 11 Jul 1943 | 2130 (e) | (e) 34° 34'N, 15° 43'E | At 2130 hours, the British motor torpedo boats MTB 640 (Lt. R.R. Smith, RN), MTB 651 (Kenneth Horlock) and MTB 670 of the 32nd MTB Flotilla were carrying an offensive patrol off Catania, when a surfaced submarine was attacked. The submarine tried to fight off the attack and, according to the British eyewitnesses, she returned very effective fire with a machine gun on the conning tower before diving. She inflicted seventeen casualties on the MTBs. MTB-651 had one wounded (the coxwain), the distribution of casualties on the other two boats is not known. The MTBs fired torpedoes which missed and dropped depth charges. The submarine was believed to have been seriously damaged. Our thanks to Ken Gadsdon who served on MTB-651 and provided an eyewitness account to the action. This submarine could only be Flutto. She may have been sunk in this encounter as no subsequent news were received from her. T.V. Francesco Caprile, five officers and forty-three ratings perished, there were no survivors. | |||||||
| 11 Jul 1943 | 1510 1445 (e) | (0) 24° - Cape Peloro - 11 miles | At 1510 hours, a submarine was sighted and reported to MARICOSOM. This was HMS Ultor (Lieutenant G.E. Hunt, DSC, RN). She had sighted the Italian submarine, unescorted and steering 180° at 10 knots. The British submarine had instructions to reserve her torpedoes for cruisers and battleships in case the Italian Battle Fleet sailed to interfere with the landings in Sicily. She could only carry out a dummy attack on Flutto. For the Italian submarine, this was a reprieve of only a few hours. | |||||||
62 entries. 59 total patrol entries (4 marked as war patrols) and 7 events.