Italian submarines in World War Two

Italian Commanders

Claudio Celli

Born	1 Oct 1917		Venice
Died	10 Dec 1986	(69)	Leghorn

Ranks

		S.T.V.	Sottotenente di Vascello
		T.V.	Tenente di Vascello

Decorations

30 Mar 1942		Medaglia di bronzo al valore militare
17 Aug 1942		Medaglia di bronzo al valore militare
2 Jun 1944		Medaglia d'argento al valore militare
8 Feb 1946		Croce di guerra al valore militare
12 Apr 1946		Medaglia di bronzo al valore militare
5 May 1946		Medaglia di bronzo al valore militare
21 Mar 1947		Medaglia di bronzo al valore militare

Career information

ENRICO TAZZOLI (S.T.V. Armament then First Officer): from 05.02.1941 to February 1943+.
Promoted to T.V. on ?
NICHELIO (T.V. C.O.): From 23.06.1943 to 22.12.1943.
TITO SPERI (T.V. C.O.): From 22.12.1943 to end of war.

Commands listed for Claudio Celli

Submarine	Type	Rank	From	To
Nichelio (NC)	Coastal / Sea going	T.V.	23 Jun 1943	22 Dec 1943
Tito Speri (TS)	Ocean going	T.V.	22 Dec 1943	Aug 1945

Ships hit by Claudio Celli

	Date	Submarine	Ship hit	Type	GRT	Nat.	Loss type
1.	14 Jul 1943	Nichelio	HMS MGB-641	Gunboat	90		Sunk?

War patrols listed for Claudio Celli

	Submarine	Date	Time	Port	Arr. date	Arr. time	Arr. port	Miles	Description
	Nichelio (NC)	25 Jun 1943	0443	Pozzuoli	25 Jun 1943	2115	Pozzuoli	70	Exercises.

	Nichelio (NC)	26 Jun 1943	1330	Pozzuoli	26 Jun 1943	1520	Naples	14	Passage Pozzuoli-Naples.

	Nichelio (NC)	28 Jun 1943	0930	Naples	28 Jun 1943	1300	Pozzuoli	22	Passage Naples-Pozzuoli and exercises.

	Nichelio (NC)	1 Jul 1943	0217	Pozzuoli	2 Jul 1943	1015	Portoferraio	232	Passage Pozzuoli-Portoferraio.

1.	Nichelio (NC)	7 Jul 1943	0100	Portoferraio	23 Jul 1943	0800	Naples	1513	Sailed via Point C of La Maddalena, Point B of Cape Scorno (41°07'N, 08°20'E) then south of Sardinia for operation ZETA between 37°00'N and 37°40'N and 08°00'E and 08°40'E. Off Trapani on 11st July. From 12th July, in area between 38°20'N and 38°30'N, and between 12°40'E and 13°00'E and finally from 16th to 22nd July in area between 36°30'N and 37°00'N, and between 15°10'E and 15°50'E.
		10 Jul 1943	1230	(0) Off Southern Sardinia?	At 1230 hours, an aircraft was seen at a distance of 12,000 metres and the submarine dived to 50 metres. Three bombs were heard.
		11 Jul 1943	0625	(0) North of Sicily.	At 0625 hours, an aircraft was seen at a distance of 12,000 metres and the submarine dived.
		11 Jul 1943	1327	(0) West of Trapani?	At 1327 hours, a four-engine aircraft was seen at a distance of 13,000 metres and the submarine dived.
		11 Jul 1943	1740	(0) West of Trapani?	At 1740 hours, an aircraft was seen at a distance of 8,000 metres and the submarine dived.
		12 Jul 1943	0414	(0) East of Trapani?	At 0414 hours, a large enemy bomber was seen at a distance of 8,000 metres and the submarine dived.
		14 Jul 1943	2220-0415/15 2239 (e)	37° 55'N, 15° 36'E	At 2220 hours, Nichelio had just surfaced when she sighted three small vessels previously detected with the hydrophones. Initially, it was believed that they were German or Italian F-lighters, as several had been seen in the Strait of Messina. The submarine made a recognition signals as soon as the machine gun crews had joined their action stations. The three vessels opened fire and the submarine immediately replied first with the aft twin Breda and followed shortly by the forward machine gun. Nichelio had a few superficial holes to the conning tower but no casualties. It claimed to have hit one of the enemy vessel before submerging. These were MGB-643 (Lt G.M. Hobday RNVR with Lt MacIlraith, RNVR, s.o.), MGB-646 (Lt. J.A. 'Tufty' Forbes, RNVR), and MGB-641 (Lt P. Hughes, SANF [V]) of the 19th MGB Flotilla and they attacked the submarine with six pounders and oerlikons. Some sources have mentioned that MGB-641 was sunk by the submarine. It is doubtful that Nichelio's machine guns could have inflicted lethal damage to an MGB. It appears that MGB-641 was crippled shortly after by Italian coastal batteries, the crew was picked up by the other MGBs.
		16 Jul 1943	0131	(0) Off Syracuse.	At 0131 hours, a corvette was sighted and the submarine was forced to dive.
		16 Jul 1943	0410	36° 53'N, 15° 32'E	At 0345 hours, three small merchant vessels escorted by two destroyers, were sighted at a distance of 2,500 metres. The submarine prepared for a surface attack. At 0410 hours, two torpedoes (533mm, G7e type) were fired at a range of 1,200 metres at the vessels observed to be on course 326° at 16 knots. Both torpedoes were seen to porpoise and deviate sharply to the right. They missed.
		16 Jul 1943	0515	(0) Off Syracuse.	At 0515 hours, a vessel was sighted and an attack started when, at 0545 hours, the Red Cross markings were visible and the submarine moved away.
		16 Jul 1943	0702	(0) Off Syracuse.	At 0702 hours, four corvettes were observed at a distance of 5,000 metres. The submarine remained at periscope depth.
		16 Jul 1943	0735	(0) Off Syracuse.	At 0735 hours, four medium-sized merchant vessels escorted by four antisubmarine craft were sighted at a distance of 10,000 metres. The submarine attempted to intercept, but could not gain a favourable position and at 0910 hours, gave up the attack. From 1025 to 1215 hours, Nichelio was hunted by three corvettes.
		17 Jul 1943	1402	36° 42'N, 15° 24'E	At 1402 hours, a steamer was sighted on a southerly course. The submarine could not get into a favourable position and, at 1545 hours, abandoned the attack. During the chase, another steamer was also sighted on a southerly course but there was no chance to intercept it.
		17 Jul 1943	1630	36° 42'N, 15° 24'E (0) Approximate position.	At 1630 hours, a submarine chaser was observed through the periscope. The submarine moved away.
		18 Jul 1943	0325	36° 42'N, 15° 24'E (0) Approximate position.	At 0325 hours, an aircraft was seen at a distance of 2,000 metres, flying at an altitude of 1,000 metres. The submarine dived.
		18 Jul 1943	1700	36° 42'N, 15° 24'E (0) Approximate position.	At 0120 hours, an aircraft was seen at a distance of 2,000 metres, flying at a height of 300 metres. The submarine dived.
		18 Jul 1943	1700	36° 42'N, 15° 24'E (0) Approximate position.	At 0120 hours, an aircraft was seen at a distance of 2,000 metres, flying at an altitude of 300 metres. The submarine dived.
		18 Jul 1943	1700	36° 42'N, 15° 24'E (0) Approximate position.	At 1700 hours, a submarine chaser was observed through the periscope. The submarine moved away.
		19 Jul 1943	0058	36° 42'N, 15° 24'E (0) Approximate position.	At 0058 hours, an aircraft firing rockets was seen directly above the submarine. The submarine dived.
		19 Jul 1943	0310	36° 42'N, 15° 24'E (0) Approximate position.	At 0310 hours, an aircraft firing rockets was seen directly above the submarine. The submarine dived.
		19 Jul 1943	1130	36° 42'N, 15° 24'E (0) Approximate position.	From 1130 to 1150 hours, the submarine was subject to an A/S hunt and heard fifteen depth charges.
		19 Jul 1943	1354	36° 40'N, 15° 13'E	At 1258 hours, an 8,000-ton merchant vessel escorted by two corvettes was sighted at a distance of 12,000 metres. The submarine altered course to intercept. At 1354 hours, one torpedo (533mm, G7e type) was fired at a range of 600 metres (a second misfired). A hit was heard after 42 seconds and the vessel was claimed to have been sunk. T.V. Celio claimed he observed, through the periscope, the two corvettes picking up the survivors. The result has not been confirmed.
		19 Jul 1943	2209	36° 38'N, 15° 37'E	At 2209 hours, three cruisers (no escort could be seen) were observed steering 205° at 16 knots. The submarine could not gain an attacking position. At 0330 hours on 20th January, Nichelio made an enemy report.
		20 Jul 1943	0216		At 0216 hours, an aircraft was seen at a distance of 1,000 metres and the submarine dived.
		20 Jul 1943	1259		At 1259 hours, the submarine had just surfaced when it was forced to dive by an aircraft.
		20 Jul 1943	1310		At 1310 hours, three corvettes were sighted at a distance of 5,000 metres.
		20 Jul 1943	2320		At 2320 hours, the submarine was forced to dive by a flare dropped very closely by an aircraft.
		21 Jul 1943	0255		At 0255 hours, the submarine was forced to dive by flares dropped by an aircraft. Two bombs were dropped when the submarine was already deep.
		21 Jul 1943	1429		At 1429 hours, an aircraft was seen at a distance of 5,000 metres and the submarine dived.
		21 Jul 1943	1450		At 1450 hours, six MTBs were sighted through the periscope.
		22 Jul 1943	0055		At 0055 hours, three submarine chasers were sighted. Nichelio turned away but could not distance them so she dived.
		22 Jul 1943	0700		At 0700 hours, three aircraft were seen at a distance of 5,000 metres and the submarine dived.
		22 Jul 1943	1215	(0) Strait of Messina.	From 1515-1645 hours, a MAS boat escorted the submarine through the Strait of Messina.

	Nichelio (NC)	12 Aug 1943	0930	Naples	12 Aug 1943	1430	Naples	17	Trials.

2.	Nichelio (NC)	15 Aug 1943	0844	Naples	23 Aug 1943	0800	Naples	382	Patrolled in lower Tyrrhenian Sea between 38°24'N and 38°40'N, and betweeen 15°46'E and the Calabrian coast.
		16 Aug 1943	0200	39° 28'N, 15° 05'E	At 0200 hours, an illuminated ship was sighted. At 0300 hours, the submarine was close enough to identify her as a hospital ship.
		16 Aug 1943	2050	39° 02'N, 15° 28'E	At 2050 hours, another hospital ship was sighted at a distance of 4,000 metres.
		16 Aug 1943	2140	39° 02'N, 15° 32'E	At 2140 hours, a light was seen. The submarine closed to 4,000 metres to identify yet another hospital ship. Nichelio dived at 2230 hours to avoid being seen.
		17 Aug 1943	0240		At 0240 hours, an aircraft was seen at a distance of 3,000 metres and the submarine dived.
		17 Aug 1943	0350	38° 42'N, 15° 50'E	At 0350 hours, two MTBs were sighted at a distance of 4,000 metres. Ten minutes later, Nichelio dived to avoid being seen.
		17 Aug 1943	0830	38° 42'N, 15° 50'E (0) Approximately.	At 0830 hours, Nichelio was proceeding submerged when three bombs fell near her. Three more bombs fell at 0850 hours, but the submarine did not see anything through the periscope.
		17 Aug 1943	1630	38° 31'N, 15° 48'E	At 1630 hours, an Italian hospital ship believed to be *Toscana* was sighted at a distance of 5,000 metres.
		18 Aug 1943	0030-0200		From 0030 to 0200 hours, Nichelio was hunted and depth-charged by two vessels only detected by hydrophones. She managed to escape.
		18 Aug 1943	1630	38° 31'N, 15° 48'E (0) Approximately.	At 1630 hours, Nichelio was bombed by an aircraft as she was coming to periscope depth. The bomb fell 30 meters from the submarine without causing any damage.

	Nichelio (NC)	22 Aug 1943	0800	Pozzuoli	22 Aug 1943	1100	Pozzuoli	11	Exercises.

	Nichelio (NC)	22 Aug 1943	0930	Naples	22 Aug 1943	1100	Pozzuoli	11	Passage Naples-Pozzuoli.

3.	Nichelio (NC)	7 Sep 1943	1430	Pozzuoli	9 Sep 1943	0800	Salerno		Sailed for patrol off Salerno. Upon learning of the Armistice, she followed the orders of MARICOSOM and proceeded North to 42° parallel. On the way, then sighted two British MLs and surrendered. Escorted by British M.L.444 to Salerno where, for security reasons, her radio was disabled so she could not report on the landing. She was to have sailed to Bone in convoy but then was diverted to Palermo. She anchored in Salerno near the Command Ship USS Ancon (AGC-4).

	Nichelio (NC)	11 Sep 1943	1035	Salerno	12 Sep 1943	1135 (ETA)	Palermo		Passage Salerno-Palermo in an Allied convoy [monitor HMS Abercrombie, damaged by contact mine, escort destroyer HMS Oakley and the submarine chasers SC-915 (?) (this vessel did not exist, signal was garbled), USS SC-977 (?)] and perhaps HMS Blencathra and HMS Eggesford. Lt (jg) Carty, USN and three enlisted men from the Command Ship USS Ancon (AGC-4) were put on board the submarine to act as liaison. She was to have sailed to Bone in convoy but was then diverted to Palermo.

	Nichelio (NC)	19 Sep 1943		Palermo	21 Sep 1943	1830 (or 20/9?)	Malta	535	Passage Palermo-Malta [mileage from 7/9].

	Nichelio (NC)	6 Oct 1943	1230	Malta	8 Oct 1943	0000	Taranto	386	Passage Malta-Taranto.

	Nichelio (NC)	4 Nov 1943	0650	Taranto	4 Nov 1943	1620	Taranto	25	Exercises.

	Nichelio (NC)	19 Nov 1943	0810	Taranto	19 Nov 1943	1409	Taranto	23,5	Exercises.

	Nichelio (NC)	21 Nov 1943	1710	Taranto	22 Nov 1943	1050	Brindisi	159	Passage Taranto-Brindisi.

4.	Nichelio (NC)	26 Nov 1943	1630	Brindisi	3 Dec 1943	1010	Brindisi	768	Special operation HEADLAMP. Landed two groups of men on Italian coast in Northern Adriatic. No details on the two landings in the patrol report.
		27 Nov 1943	0507	(0) Northern Adriatic.	At 0507 hours, an MTB was sighted at a range of 800 metres proceeding at 30 knots. Nichelio turned away then submerged.
		28 Nov 1943	0344	(0) Northern Adriatic.	At 0344 hours, an MTB was sighted at a range of 500 metres proceeding at 40 knots. Nichelio turned away then submerged.
		29 Nov 1943	0344	(0) Northern Adriatic.	At 0344 hours, Nichelio reported sighting a torpedo track. The torpedo missed the submarine by two meters and she dived to 60 meters.
		30 Nov 1943	1510	(0) Northern Adriatic.	At 1510 hours, an armed schooner was sighted.
		30 Nov 1943	night 30/1	(0) South of Chioggia.	During the night of 30 November/1st December, Nichelio landed seven agents (partly trained by SOE and ISLD) for special operation HEADLAMP.
		2 Dec 1943	2030	(0) Northern Adriatic.	At 2030 hours, an aircraft was seen, which made a signal that was not recognised. The submarine dived.

	Tito Speri (TS)	3 Jan 1944	1210	Taranto	5 Jan 1944	1510	Pantelleria		Passage Taranto-Pantelleria with the submarines Dandolo, Marea, Vortice and Mameli, escorted by the destroyer Grecale.

	Tito Speri (TS)	8 Jan 1944	0645	Pantelleria	9 Jan 1944	1645	Algiers		Passage Pantelleria-Algiers with the submarines Dandolo, Marea, Vortice and Mameli, escorted by the destroyer Grecale.
		9 Jan 1944	1105 1124 (e)	36° 47'N, 5° 37'E (e) 37° 21'N, 4° 42'E (0) German Grid CH 9525.	The submarine sighted an explosion followed at 1107 hours by another at distance of 200 meters. The escorting destroyer, Grecale, signalled that they were under air attack but these were actually premature explosions from torpedoes fired by U-616 (OL Siegfried Koitschka). The Italians vessels were unaware that they had been under attack from a U-boat and for security reasons were diverted to Algiers.

	Tito Speri (TS)	11 Jan 1944	0655	Algiers	13 Jan 1944	1300	Gibraltar	1841	Passage Algiers-Gibraltar with the submarines Dandolo, Marea, Vortice and Mameli, escorted by the destroyer Grecale. Tito Speri, had her port main motor armatures burnt out and she could only use her starboard motor when dived, but both her diesels were available [mileage is from 3rd January].

	Tito Speri (TS)	27 Jan 1944	0800	Gibraltar	27 Jan 1944	1015	Gibraltar		Passage Gibraltar-Bermuda with the submarines Dandolo, Marea, Vortice and Mameli, escorted by the escort destroyer USS Neunzer (DE-150), but turned back because of defects.

	Tito Speri (TS)	29 Jan 1944	0800	Gibraltar	13 Feb 1944	1610	Port Hamilton (Bermuda)	3382	Passage Gibraltar-Bermuda with the submarines Dandolo, Marea, Vortice and Mameli, escorted by the destroyer escort USS Neunzer (DE-150). Refuelled by Neunzer on 6th February. Escorted in by the tug USS Cherokee (AT-66). Then refit in Bermuda [mileage is from 27th January].

	Tito Speri (TS)	3 Jul 1944	1310	Port Royal	7 Jul 1944	1015	Portsmouth (NH)	752	Passage Port Royal-Portsmouth (NH) for major overhaul, escorted by the destroyer escort USS Lawrence C. Taylor (DE-415). Note: the submarine tested her armament (102/45 cannon and 13.2 mm machine-guns).

	Tito Speri (TS)	14 Sep 1944	0620	Portsmouth (NH)	14 Sep 1944	1840	Portsmouth (NH)	83	Trials.

	Tito Speri (TS)	19 Sep 1944	0910	Portsmouth (NH)	19 Sep 1944	1532	Portsmouth (NH)	38	Trials.

	Tito Speri (TS)	21 Sep 1944	1515	Portsmouth (NH)	24 Sep 1944	1156	Port Royal	850	Passage Portsmouth (New Hampshire)-Port Royal with the submarines Atropo and Dandolo, escorted by the frigate HMS Papua.

	Tito Speri (TS)	26 Sep 1944	0705	Port Royal	26 Sep 1944	1715	Port Royal	44	Exercises with the destroyer escorts USS Woodson (DE-359) and USS Bray (DE-709).

	Tito Speri (TS)	27 Sep 1944	0700	Port Royal	27 Sep 1944	1800	Port Royal	49	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	28 Sep 1944	0655	Port Royal	28 Sep 1944	1815	Port Royal	64,5	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	29 Sep 1944	0650	Port Royal	29 Sep 1944	1710	Port Royal	49	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	30 Sep 1944	0650	Port Royal	30 Sep 1944	1800	Port Royal	54	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	1 Oct 1944	0650	Port Royal	1 Oct 1944	1720	Port Royal	75,5	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	2 Oct 1944	0650	Port Royal	2 Oct 1944	1837	Port Royal	64,5	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	3 Oct 1944	0655	Port Royal	3 Oct 1944	1830	Port Royal	61	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	9 Oct 1944	1800	Port Royal	9 Oct 1944	1833	Port Royal	11	Change anchorage. Time or mileage apparently incorrect.

	Tito Speri (TS)	10 Oct 1944	0650	Port Royal	10 Oct 1944	1800	Port Royal	79,5	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	11 Oct 1944	0630	Port Royal	11 Oct 1944	1700	Port Royal	81	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	12 Oct 1944	0645	Port Royal	12 Oct 1944	1858	Port Royal	104,5	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	13 Oct 1944	0645	Port Royal	13 Oct 1944	1729	Port Royal	61	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	14 Oct 1944	0650	Port Royal	14 Oct 1944	1442	St. George	41	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	15 Oct 1944	0810	St. George	15 Oct 1944	2005	St. George	60	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	16 Oct 1944	0800	St. George	16 Oct 1944	1933	Port Royal	72	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	17 Oct 1944	0650	Port Royal	17 Oct 1944	1820	Port Royal	77,5	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	18 Oct 1944	0700	Port Royal	21 Oct 1944	1015	Port Royal	368,8	A/S exercises with the patrol vessel USS PCE-847, escort carrier USS Croatan (CVE-25) [TG 22.5], and her escort destroyers USS Frost (DE-144), USS Huse (DE-145), USS Inch (DE-146), USS Snowden (DE-246) on 18th October, with Frost, Huse and USS Swasey (DE-248) on 19th October, with Frost, Inch, Huse and Swasey on 20th October, with Frost, Huse and Swasey on 21st October.

	Tito Speri (TS)	23 Oct 1944	0655	Port Royal	23 Oct 1944	1830	Port Royal	57	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	24 Oct 1944	0655	Port Royal	24 Oct 1944	1555	Greet Sound (Bermuda)	47	A/S exercises. Possibly with the USS Bogue (CVE-9) group.

	Tito Speri (TS)	25 Oct 1944	1200	Greet Sound (Bermuda)	25 Oct 1944	1305	Greet Sound (Bermuda)	8	Changed anchorage.

	Tito Speri (TS)	26 Oct 1944	0655	Greet Sound (Bermuda)	26 Oct 1944	0935	Port Royal	9,5	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	27 Oct 1944	0655	Port Royal	29 Oct 1944	1100	Port Royal	261	A/S exercises with the escort carrier USS Bogue (CVE-9) and the destroyer escorts USS Haverfield (DE-393), USS Swenning (DE-394), USS Willis (DE-395), USS Janssen (DE-396), USS Wilhoite (DE-397) and USS Cockrill (DE-398). Speri was escorted by the minesweeper USS Method (AM-264) and was equipped with a mock-up Schnorkel (Snorkel).

	Tito Speri (TS)	30 Oct 1944	1405	Port Royal	31 Oct 1944	1543	Port Royal	134	A/S exercises with escort carrier USS Croatan (CVE-25) [TG 22.5], escort destroyers USS Huse (DE-145), USS Inch (DE-146), USS Snowden (DE-246) [and two other escort destroyers?], minesweeper USS Method (AM-264) and patrol vessel USS PCE-847.

	Tito Speri (TS)	2 Nov 1944	0700	Port Royal	2 Nov 1944	1850	Port Royal	108,5	A/S exercises with the destroyer escort USS Rombach (DE-364).

	Tito Speri (TS)	4 Nov 1944	0740	Port Royal	4 Nov 1944	1740	Port Royal	67,5	A/S exercises with the destroyer esorts USS Haverfield (DE-393), USS Janssen (DE-396) and USS Wilhoite (DE-397).

	Tito Speri (TS)	5 Nov 1944	0545	Port Royal	5 Nov 1944	1735	Port Royal	86	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	6 Nov 1944	0610	Port Royal	6 Nov 1944	1720	Port Royal	79,5	A/S exercises with the destroyer esorts USS Haverfield (DE-393), USS Janssen (DE-396) and USS Wilhoite (DE-397).

	Tito Speri (TS)	7 Nov 1944	0935	Port Royal	7 Nov 1944	1115	St. George	15,5	Passage Port Royal-St George for refit.

	Tito Speri (TS)	14 Nov 1944	0725	St. George	14 Nov 1944	1650	Port Royal	62	Passage St George-Port Royal.

	Tito Speri (TS)	15 Nov 1944	0610	Port Royal	15 Nov 1944	1650	Port Royal	76,5	A/S exercises with the fleet tug USS Kiowa (ATF-72).

	Tito Speri (TS)	16 Nov 1944	0620	Port Royal	16 Nov 1944	1045	Port Royal	42	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	17 Nov 1944	0625	Port Royal	17 Nov 1944	1615	Port Royal	59	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	20 Nov 1944	0615	Port Royal	23 Nov 1944	2123	St. George	557	A/S exercises with the escort carrier USS Core (CVE-13) and probably the destroyer escorts USS Moore (DE-240), USS Keith (DE-241), USS Tomich (DE-242), USS J. Richard Ward (DE-243), USS Ottersetter (DE-244), USS Sloat (DE-245) and the patrol vessel USS PCE-846. Exercises on 20th November and in the morning of 21st but interrupted in the afternoon due to heavy seas. Then again on 22nd November but one aircraft crashed in the sea while taxiing for take off, but the crew of two was picked up. Exercises again interrupted due to weather conditions.

	Tito Speri (TS)	24 Nov 1944	0610	St. George	24 Nov 1944	0814	Port Royal	15,5	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	25 Nov 1944	0635	Port Royal	25 Nov 1944	1645	Port Royal	43	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	27 Nov 1944	0635	Port Royal	27 Nov 1944	1635	Port Royal	64	A/S exercises with the high speed transports USS Kinzer (APD-91), USS Raymon W. Herndon (APD-121) and the frigate USS Sheboygan (PF-57).

	Tito Speri (TS)	29 Nov 1944	0615	Port Royal	29 Nov 1944	1640	Port Royal	55	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	2 Dec 1944	0640	Port Royal	2 Dec 1944	1725	Port Royal	71	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	3 Dec 1944	0630	Port Royal	5 Dec 1944	1140	Port Royal	434	A/S exercises with the escort carrier USS Card (CVE-11), and the destroyer escorts USS Thomas (DE-102), USS Bostwick (DE-103), USS Breeman (DE-104), USS Bronstein (DE-189), USS Baker (DE-190) and USS Coffman (DE-191) of TG 22.2. Speri was escorted out by the minesweeper USS Indicative (AM-250), which briefly had to turn back to land a case of appendicitis.

	Tito Speri (TS)	13 Dec 1944	0635	Port Royal	13 Dec 1944	1615	Port Royal	68	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	14 Dec 1944	0630	Port Royal	14 Dec 1944	1700	Port Royal	59	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	16 Dec 1944	0640	Port Royal	16 Dec 1944	1650	Port Royal	52	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	17 Dec 1944	0707	Port Royal	19 Dec 1944	1620	Port Royal	335	A/S exercises with the escort carrier USS Card (CVE-11) and the escort destroyers USS Bostwick (DE-103), USS Baker (DE-190) [and possibly USS Thomas (DE-102), USS Breeman (DE-104), Coffman (DE-191), USS Bronstein (DE-189) and USS Coffman (DE-191)].

	Tito Speri (TS)	22 Dec 1944	0705	Port Royal	22 Dec 1944	1625	Port Royal	68	A/S exercises with the destroyers USS Compton (DD-705).

	Tito Speri (TS)	23 Dec 1944	0655	Port Royal	24 Dec 1944	0525	St. George	135	A/S exercises with the destroyer escort [and possibly the remainder of the USS Card (CVE-11) group as well].

	Tito Speri (TS)	24 Dec 1944	1215	St. George	24 Dec 1944	1355	Port Royal	16	Passage St. George-Port Royal.

	Tito Speri (TS)	28 Dec 1944	0705	Port Royal	28 Dec 1944	1730	Port Royal	78	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	29 Dec 1944	0710	Port Royal	29 Dec 1944	1644	St. George	63	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	30 Dec 1944	0745	St. George	30 Dec 1944	1640	St. George	69	A/S exercises with the minesweeper USS Prime (AM-279) and a Killer Group (one destroyer and two frigates).

	Tito Speri (TS)	11 Jan 1945	0700	Port Royal	11 Jan 1945	1530	Port Royal	57	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	12 Jan 1945	0700	Port Royal	12 Jan 1945	1617	Port Royal	74	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	13 Jan 1945	0719	Port Royal	16 Jan 1945	1421	Port Royal	592,3	A/S exercises with the escort carrier USS Bogue (CVE-9) and the escort destroyers USS Haverfield (DE-393), USS Wilhoite (DE-397), USS Cockrill (DE-398) of TG 22.3, USS Frost (DE-144), USS Huse (DE-145), USS Snowden (DE-246), USS Stanton (DE-247) and USS Swasey (DE-248) of TG 22.5 USS Croatan (CVE-25) group) and also with the patrol vessel USS PCE-847.

	Tito Speri (TS)	20 Jan 1945	0650	Port Royal	20 Jan 1945	1623	Port Royal	70	A/S exercises. Possibly with the USS Croatan (CVE-25) hunter killer group.

	Tito Speri (TS)	21 Jan 1945	0705	Port Royal	21 Jan 1945	1531	St. George	56	A/S exercises. Possibly with the USS Croatan (CVE-25) hunter killer group.

	Tito Speri (TS)	22 Jan 1945	0803	St. George	22 Jan 1945	1740	Port Royal	62	A/S exercises. Possibly with the high speed transport USS Gosselin (APD-126). and also possibly with the USS Croatan (CVE-25) hunter killer group.

	Tito Speri (TS)	23 Jan 1945	0645	Port Royal	23 Jan 1945	1626	Port Royal	69	A/S exercises, possibly with the USS Croatan (CVE-25) hunter killer group.

	Tito Speri (TS)	25 Jan 1945	0700	Port Royal	25 Jan 1945	1632	Port Royal	66	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	26 Jan 1945	0702	Port Royal	26 Jan 1945	1113	Port Royal	34	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	27 Jan 1945	0703	Port Royal	27 Jan 1945	1734	Port Royal	72	A/S exercises. Possibly with the high speed transports USS Pavlic (APD-70) and USS Gosselin (APD-126).

	Tito Speri (TS)	28 Jan 1945	0702	Port Royal	28 Jan 1945	1725	Port Royal	68	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	30 Jan 1945	0703	Port Royal	30 Jan 1945	1740	Port Royal	64	A/S exercises. Possibly exercising with the destroyer USS Soley (DD-707). and the high speed transport USS Gosselin (APD-126).

	Tito Speri (TS)	1 Feb 1945	0705	Port Royal	1 Feb 1945	1713	Port Royal	59	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	2 Feb 1945	0650	Port Royal	2 Feb 1945	1600	St. George	49	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	9 Feb 1945	0817	Port Royal	9 Feb 1945	1740	St. George	53,5	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	9 Feb 1945	0817	St. George	9 Feb 1945	1740	Port Royal	53,5	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	13 Feb 1945	0645	Port Royal	13 Feb 1945	1627	Port Royal	58	A/S exercises with the escort destroyer USS Cross (DE-448) and the frigate USS Lorain (PF-93).

	Tito Speri (TS)	14 Feb 1945	0644	Port Royal	14 Feb 1945	1719	Port Royal	59	A/S exercises with the frigate USS Racine (PF-100).

	Tito Speri (TS)	15 Feb 1945	0637	Port Royal	15 Feb 1945	1734	Port Royal	65	A/S exercises, escorted out by the minesweeper YMS 306

	Tito Speri (TS)	18 Feb 1945	0635	Port Royal	18 Feb 1945	1654	Port Royal	49	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	22 Feb 1945	0652	Port Royal	22 Feb 1945	1553	Port Royal	53	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	23 Feb 1945	0644	Port Royal	23 Feb 1945	1722	Port Royal	55	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	27 Feb 1945	1552	Port Royal	3 Mar 1945	0846	Guantanamo (Cuba)	1012	Passage Port Royal-Guantanamo, escorted by the frigate USS Lorain (PF-93) partly in company with submarine Da Procida.

	Tito Speri (TS)	7 Mar 1945	0735	Guantanamo	7 Mar 1945	1558	Guantanamo	41	A/S exercises. Possibly exercised with the frigate USS Davenport (PF-69).

	Tito Speri (TS)	9 Mar 1945	0724	Guantanamo	9 Mar 1945	1730	Guantanamo	41	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	19 Mar 1945	0729	Guantanamo	19 Mar 1945	1545	Guantanamo	29	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	20 Mar 1945	0720	Guantanamo	20 Mar 1945	1551	Guantanamo	41	A/S exercises with the minesweeper USS Dour (AM-223).

	Tito Speri (TS)	21 Mar 1945	0716	Guantanamo	21 Mar 1945	1440	Guantanamo	26,5	A/S exercises with the submarine USS R-9 (SS-86) and the destroyers USS Harlan R. Dickson (DD-708) and USS Duncan (DD-874).

	Tito Speri (TS)	24 Mar 1945	0718	Guantanamo	24 Mar 1945	1437	Guantanamo	32,5	A/S exercises. Probably with the minesweeper USS Eager (AM-224).

	Tito Speri (TS)	25 Mar 1945	0716	Guantanamo	25 Mar 1945	0945	Guantanamo	13	A/S exercises with the high speed transport USS William J. Pattison (APD-104).

	Tito Speri (TS)	26 Mar 1945	0948	Guantanamo	26 Mar 1945	1255	Guantanamo	6	Gyrocompass tests.

	Tito Speri (TS)	27 Mar 1945	0710	Guantanamo	27 Mar 1945	1735	Guantanamo	32	A/S exercises. the high speed transport USS William J. Pattison (APD-104) exercised with an Italian submarine, either Atropo, Da Procida or Speri.

	Tito Speri (TS)	28 Mar 1945	0712	Guantanamo	28 Mar 1945	1700	Guantanamo	32	A/S exercises with the destroyer USS John A. Bole (DD-755).

	Tito Speri (TS)	31 Mar 1945	0708	Guantanamo	31 Mar 1945	1727	Guantanamo	38	A/S exercises. The high speed transport USS William J. Pattison (APD-104) exercised with an Italian submarine, either Atropo, Da Procida or Speri.

	Tito Speri (TS)	1 Apr 1945	0712	Guantanamo	1 Apr 1945	1507	Guantanamo	43	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	2 Apr 1945	0708	Guantanamo	2 Apr 1945	1525	Guantanamo	38	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	4 Apr 1945	0718	Guantanamo	4 Apr 1945	1730	Guantanamo	42	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	5 Apr 1945	0720	Guantanamo	5 Apr 1945	1455	Guantanamo	58	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	7 Apr 1945	0720	Guantanamo	7 Apr 1945	1625	Guantanamo	42	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	16 Apr 1945	0711	Guantanamo	16 Apr 1945	1543	Guantanamo	42	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	17 Apr 1945	0715	Guantanamo	17 Apr 1945	1629	Guantanamo	47	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	18 Apr 1945	0716	Guantanamo	18 Apr 1945	1633	Guantanamo	42	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	20 Apr 1945	0708	Guantanamo	20 Apr 1945	1422	Guantanamo	26	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	22 Apr 1945	0713	Guantanamo	22 Apr 1945	1450	Guantanamo	41	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	23 Apr 1945	0805	Guantanamo	23 Apr 1945	1720	Guantanamo	51	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	25 Apr 1945	0704	Guantanamo	25 Apr 1945	1532	Guantanamo	30	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	1 May 1945	0712	Guantanamo	1 May 1945	1615	Guantanamo	34	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	4 May 1945	0710	Guantanamo	4 May 1945	1612	Guantanamo	37	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	5 May 1945	0710	Guantanamo	5 May 1945	1515	Guantanamo	32	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	9 May 1945	0630	Guantanamo	9 May 1945	1631	Guantanamo	44	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	14 May 1945	0545	Guantanamo	16 May 1945	1519	Guantanamo	620	Passage Guantanamo-Key West, escorted by the patrol vessel USS PCS-1430 for refit. Passage through (E) 22°06'N, 77°22'W at 1154 hours on the 15th (F) 22°37'N, 78°00'W at 1609 hours on the 15th (G) 23°00'N, 79°00'W (H) 23°43'N, 81°00'W (I) 24°10'N, 81°30'W [all times EWT], ETA 1500 EWT 16th May. Then undergoing repairs.

	Tito Speri (TS)	21 Jun 1945	0741	Key West (FL)	21 Jun 1945	1502	Key West (FL)	53	Trials.

	Tito Speri (TS)	24 Jun 1945	0750	Key West (FL)	26 Jun 1945	0937	Guantanamo (Cuba)	578	Passage Key West-Guantanamo.

	Tito Speri (TS)	28 Jun 1945	0709	Guantanamo	28 Jun 1945	1530	Guantanamo	41	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	29 Jun 1945	0932	Guantanamo	29 Jun 1945	1746	Guantanamo	34	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	30 Jun 1945	1003	Guantanamo	30 Jun 1945	1736	Guantanamo	40	A/S exercises with the destroyer escorts USS Edsall (DE-129) and USS Stewart (DE-238).

	Tito Speri (TS)	1 Jul 1945	0711	Guantanamo	1 Jul 1945	1435	Guantanamo	40	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	2 Jul 1945	0639	Guantanamo	2 Jul 1945	1510	Guantanamo	39	A/S exercises with the destroyer USS Bordelon (DD-881).

	Tito Speri (TS)	3 Jul 1945	0952	Guantanamo	3 Jul 1945	1716	Guantanamo	31	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	4 Jul 1945	0944	Guantanamo	4 Jul 1945	1716	Guantanamo	32	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	10 Jul 1945	0925	Guantanamo	10 Jul 1945	1741	Guantanamo	34	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	26 Jul 1945	0655	Guantanamo	26 Jul 1945	1543	Guantanamo	42	A/S exercises with the high speed transport USS Weiss (APD-135).

	Tito Speri (TS)	27 Jul 1945	0633	Guantanamo	27 Jul 1945	1323	Guantanamo	32	A/S exercises with the destroyer USS Harold J. Ellison (DD-864) and the high speed transport USS Weiss (APD-135).

	Tito Speri (TS)	28 Jul 1945	0641	Guantanamo	28 Jul 1945	1514	Guantanamo	47	A/S exercises with the destroyer USS Eugene A. Greene (DD-711) and high speed transport USS Weiss (APD-135).

	Tito Speri (TS)	30 Jul 1945	0928	Guantanamo	30 Jul 1945	1801	Guantanamo	34	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	31 Jul 1945	0630	Guantanamo	31 Jul 1945	1557	Guantanamo	38	A/S exercises. On that day the destroyers USS Eugene A. Greene (DD-711) and USS Herbert J. Thomas (DD-833) exercised with an Italian submarine, probably Da Procida but it could also have been Speri.

	Tito Speri (TS)	1 Aug 1945	0900	Guantanamo	1 Aug 1945	1545	Guantanamo	22	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	2 Aug 1945	0652	Guantanamo	2 Aug 1945	1438	Guantanamo	30	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	3 Aug 1945	0640	Guantanamo	3 Aug 1945	1416	Guantanamo	27	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	14 Aug 1945	0615	Guantanamo	14 Aug 1945	1438	Guantanamo	35	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	20 Aug 1945	0639	Guantanamo	20 Aug 1945	1438	Guantanamo	26	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	22 Aug 1945	0651	Guantanamo	22 Aug 1945	1601	Guantanamo	37	A/S exercises with the destroyer USS Floyd B. Parks (DD-884).

	Tito Speri (TS)	23 Aug 1945	0725	Guantanamo	23 Aug 1945	1523	Guantanamo	37	A/S exercises.

	Tito Speri (TS)	25 Aug 1945	0640	Guantanamo	25 Aug 1945	1529	Guantanamo	32	A/S exercises with the high speed transport USS Upham (APD-99).

	Tito Speri (TS)	26 Aug 1945	0825	Guantanamo	26 Aug 1945	1403	Guantanamo	32	A/S exercises with the high speed transport USS Upham (APD-99).

	Tito Speri (TS)	27 Aug 1945	0807	Guantanamo	27 Aug 1945	1556	Guantanamo	38,3	A/S exercises with the high speed transport USS Upham (APD-99).

	Tito Speri (TS)	19 Sep 1945	0815	Guantanamo	19 Sep 1945	1336	Guantanamo	30	Trials.

	Tito Speri (TS)	24 Sep 1945	1300	Guantanamo	30 Sep 1945	1248	Guantanamo	1017	Passage Guantanamo-Bermuda with submarines Atropo and Dandolo, escorted by the patrol vessel USS PC-1192. On 29th September, they met the tug USS Kiowa (ATF-72), which took Speri in tow. The submarine had a number of defects and had to be docked in Bermuda.

	Tito Speri (TS)	5 Oct 1945	1240	Bermuda	16 Oct 1945	0900	Ponto Delgada	1974	Passage Bermuda-Ponto Delgada with submarines Dandolo, Onice, Atropo, Vortice, Marea and Da Procida, escorted by the salvage vessel USS Chain (ARS-20). On 8th October, Speri reported burst to high pressure lines and was assisted by Chain. On 9th October, a cracked cylinder head on cylinder liner required her to be towed by the American vessel. The towing cable broke on 10th October, a new cable had to be passed and the submarine was towed to the Azores.

	Tito Speri (TS)	21 Oct 1945	1150	Ponto Delgada	26 Oct 1945	0745	Gibraltar	1000	Passage Bermuda-Ponto Delgada with the submarines Dandolo, Onice, Atropo, Vortice, Marea and Da Procida, escorted by the salvage vessel USS Chain (ARS-20).

	Tito Speri (TS)	28 Oct 1945	1329	Gibraltar	3 Nov 1945	1057	Taranto	1337	Passage Gibraltar-Taranto with submarines Dandolo, Onice, Atropo, Vortice, Marea and Da Procida, escorted by the salvage vessel USS Chain (ARS-20). Met off Taranto by Italian destroyers Libra (LB), Ariete (AE) and Cassiopea (CS).

201 entries. 157 total patrol entries (4 marked as war patrols) and 48 events.

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Claudio Celli

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