Tembien (TE)
Tembien

Type	Coastal / Sea going
Class	Adua (23)
Laid down	6 Feb 1937	Odero-Terni-Orlando, Muggiano
Launched	6 Feb 1938
Commissioned	1 Jul 1938
End service
Stricken
Loss date	2 Aug 1941
Loss position	36° 21'N, 12° 40'E
History
Fate	Rammed and sunk south-east of Pantelleria in position 36°21'N,12°40'E by the light cruiser HMS Hermione.

Commands

Commander	Date from	Date to	Command notes
C.C. Luca Goretti de Flamini	29 Dec 1939	25 Jul 1940
T.V. Pietro Notarbartolo di Villarosa	26 Jul 1940	25 Oct 1940
T.V. Guido Gozzi	26 Oct 1940	2 Aug 1941

Ships hit

No ships hit by this submarine.

Patrols and events

	Commander	Date	Time	Port	Arr. date	Arr. time	Arr. port	Miles	Description
	Goretti de Flamini, Luca	11 May 1940	0945	Leros	13 May 1940	1800	Messina	65	Exercises.
	Goretti de Flamini, Luca	19 Jun 1940	1005	Messina	19 Jun 1940	1945	Messina	65	Exercises.
	Goretti de Flamini, Luca	21 Jun 1940	0800	Messina	21 Jun 1940	1545	Messina	60	Exercises.
1	Goretti de Flamini, Luca	25 Jun 1940	1935	Messina	6 Jul 1940	1750	Messina	883	Patrolled west of Malta in 36°00'N, 13°30'E.
		29 Jun 1940	2130	(0) About 30 miles NW of Malta.	At 2130 hours, a fire started in the battery but was quickly extinguished. The battery had been damaged and Tembien proceeded to Linosa to make temporary repairs on the lee side of the island and managed to resume her patrol.
2	Goretti de Flamini, Luca	12 Jul 1940	1940	Messina	14 Jul 1940	1540	Messina	328	Patrolled west of Malta, patrolled interrupted because of defects. C.C. de Flamini was severely reprimanded for this interruption, which could have been repaired.
	Goretti de Flamini, Luca	20 Jul 1940	1300	Messina	20 Jul 1940	2035	Messina	56,5	Exercises.
3	Notarbartolo di Villarosa, Pietro	28 Jul 1940	0915	Messina	10 Aug 1940	1820	Messina	1674	Patrolled between 32°10'N and 32°50'N, and between 24°30'E and 25°30'E. Uneventful, except for sighting a Sunderland at 10,000 meters on 28th July. Some members of the crew suffered from intoxication due to the air conditioning system's methyl chloride or chlorine fumes from the batteries.
	Notarbartolo di Villarosa, Pietro	12 Aug 1940	0830	Messina	12 Aug 1940	1540	Augusta	71	Passage Messina-Augusta.
	Notarbartolo di Villarosa, Pietro	2 Sep 1940	0807	Augusta	2 Sep 1940	1230	Augusta	3,5	Exercises.
	Notarbartolo di Villarosa, Pietro	4 Sep 1940	0805	Augusta	4 Sep 1940	1120	Augusta	5,5	Exercises.
	Notarbartolo di Villarosa, Pietro	9 Sep 1940	1002	Augusta	9 Sep 1940	1100	Augusta	5	Exercises.
	Notarbartolo di Villarosa, Pietro	20 Sep 1940	1255	Augusta	20 Sep 1940	1610	Augusta	3,7	Exercises.
4	Notarbartolo di Villarosa, Pietro	21 Sep 1940	0603	Augusta	8 Oct 1940	1206	Augusta	1742	Patrolled between Ras El Tin (Libya) and Tolmeita, between 33°05'N and 33°45'N, and between 20°50'E and 21°40'E on a patrol line with Mameli.
	Notarbartolo di Villarosa, Pietro	10 Oct 1940	1640	Augusta	10 Oct 1940	1925	Augusta	6	Exercises.
	Notarbartolo di Villarosa, Pietro	11 Oct 1940	0540	Augusta	12 Oct 1940	1103	Naples	297	Passage Augusta-Naples.
	Gozzi, Guido	1 Nov 1940	1007	Naples	1 Nov 1940	1705	Naples	32,7	Exercises.
	Gozzi, Guido	5 Nov 1940	0740	Naples	5 Nov 1940	1604	Naples	34	Exercises.
	Gozzi, Guido	13 Nov 1940	0820	Naples	13 Nov 1940	1605	Naples	31,5	Exercises.
	Gozzi, Guido	17 Nov 1940	0820	Naples	18 Nov 1940	1625	Augusta	297	Passage Naples-Augusta.
5	Gozzi, Guido	19 Nov 1940	2045	Augusta	23 Nov 1940	0756	Augusta	488	Patrolled within 20 miles from 36°00'N, 13°20'E (west of Malta). Uneventful.
6	Gozzi, Guido	26 Nov 1940	0835	Augusta	2 Dec 1940	0834	Augusta	564,5	Patrolled on a line 15 miles east from 36°00'N, 13°30'E with Dessiè, northwest of Malta.
		27 Nov 1940	2328 2334 (e)	36° 00'N, 13° 47'E	At 2324 hours, the starboard lookout spotted a warship at a distance of 2,000 metres, a little forward on the starboard beam. Tembien immediately steered toward it and now three warships in single file could be made out, steering 320° at a little under 9 knots. At 2328 hours, a pair of torpedoes (533mm) were fired from bow tubes at a distance of 1,500 metres. The submarine remained on the surface, still steering toward them at reduced speed to observe the result. The torpedoes missed. These were the light cruisers HMS Gloucester (C.S.3) and HMS Glasgow and the heavy cruiser HMS York, steering 302° at 15 knots. At 2330 hours, a second pair (one 533mm and one 450mm) was fired from bow tubes at a distance of 1,000 metres. A hit was heard after 45 seconds. In fact both missed. Tembien was hunted by a destroyer with depth-charges. Gloucester reported underwater explosions at 2334 and at 2338 hours.
	Gozzi, Guido	6 Dec 1940	0800	Augusta	6 Dec 1940	1935	Messina	75	Passage Augusta-Messina.
	Gozzi, Guido	26 Dec 1940	0825	Messina	26 Dec 1940	1735	Messina		Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Cotugno.
7	Gozzi, Guido	1 Jan 1941	1400	Messina	12 Jan 1941	1050	Augusta	1193	Patrolled from 32°55'N, 22°50'E on course 108° for 190 miles then course 360° for 30 miles, off Derna and Gulf of Sollum and off Bardia.
		8 Jan 1941	0041	31° 46'N, 25° 10'E	At 0005 hours, a 10,000-ton freighter was sighted zigzagging. At 0041 hours, a pair of torpedoes (533mm, W.270 type G) was fired from bow tubes at a range of 1,500 metres. They briefly broke surface after a 40-50 metres run and deviated to the left. They missed. At 0046 hours, a second pair (533mm, W.270 type G, and 450mm, W.200 type) was fired from bow tubes at a range of 1,100 metres. The 533mm torpedo also briefly broke surface but then disappeared from view. The 450mm had a straight run, but missed astern. They also missed. At 0054 hours, the submarine turned to port and presented her stern to fire a third pair (533mm, W.270 type H, and 450mm, W.200 type). The 533mm broke surface after 80 metres, deviating from its course, while the 450mm had a normal course, but missed astern. T.V. Guido Gozzi decided not to continue the action with the gun because of the proximity of Bardia (now in British hands). He was criticised by Admiral Falangola for his excessive prudence.
	Gozzi, Guido	27 Jan 1941	0858	Augusta	27 Jan 1941	1148	Augusta	4,8	Exercises.
8	Gozzi, Guido	2 Feb 1941	1120	Augusta	13 Feb 1941	1015	Augusta	815	Patrolled east of Malta within 15 miles from 35°30'N, 16°10'E. Uneventful, except for sighting two Ju 88 bombers, hearing H.E. and attempt to sink a derelict mine.
		12 Feb 1941	0355	35° 33'N, 16° 06'E	At 0355 hours, a derelict mine was sighted at a distance of 200 metres. 60 rounds of machine-gun fire failed to hit it. Tembien proceeded on.
	Gozzi, Guido	10 Mar 1941	0700	Augusta	12 Mar 1941	1710	La Spezia	542	Passage Augusta-La Spezia. Uneventful.
	Gozzi, Guido	21 Mar 1941	1358	La Spezia	21 Mar 1941	1731	La Spezia	28	Exercises. Docked on 1 April 1941 for repairs and refit.
	Gozzi, Guido	11 May 1941	0848	La Spezia	11 May 1941	1737	La Spezia	58,5	Exercises.
	Gozzi, Guido	15 May 1941	0840	La Spezia	15 May 1941	1553	La Spezia	21	Exercises.
	Gozzi, Guido	30 May 1941	0930	La Spezia	30 May 1941	1210	La Spezia	5,5	Exercises.
	Gozzi, Guido	30 May 1941	1342	La Spezia	30 May 1941	1752	La Spezia	25	Exercises.
	Gozzi, Guido	31 May 1941	0804	La Spezia	31 May 1941	1317	La Spezia	8,6	Exercises.
	Gozzi, Guido	2 Jun 1941	1338	La Spezia	2 Jun 1941	1459	La Spezia	6,5	Exercises.
	Gozzi, Guido	15 Jun 1941	0904	La Spezia	15 Jun 1941	1907	La Spezia	38,3	Exercises.
	Gozzi, Guido	18 Jun 1941	0658	La Spezia	20 Jun 1941	1820	Augusta	650	Passage La Spezia-Augusta. Uneventful.
	Gozzi, Guido	22 Jun 1941	1412	Augusta	22 Jun 1941	1807	Augusta	26,5	Exercises.
9	Gozzi, Guido	23 Jun 1941	2030	Augusta	11 Jul 1941	0912	Augusta	2058	Patrolled between 32°00'N and 32°15'N, and between 25°00 and 25°20'E and the coast, northeast of Ras Azzaz.
		24 Jun 1941	2020	35° 02'N, 19° 16'E	At 2020 hours, a derelict mine was sighted at a distance of 300 metres. Tembien failed to destroy it with machine-gun fire.
		25 Jun 1941	1025		At 1025 hours, an aircraft was seen at a distance of 5,000 metres, making a straight line for the submarine. Tembien dived but was not attacked.
		29 Jun 1941	0437	32° 08'N, 25° 12'E	At 0437 hours, two silhouettes were sighted on the horizon. The submarine lost contact with them in the mist.
		29 Jun 1941	2041 2142 (e)	32° 14'N, 25° 00'E	At 1940 hours, Tembien surfaced and a silhouette was sighted over the horizon at a distance of 10,000 metres. The submarine steered straight toward it. At 2000 hours, the range had closed to 3,000 metres and the silhouette could be recognised as a warship, probably a large destroyer. It was proceeding slowly on a 060° course, leading T.V. Guido Gozzi to believe that she was damaged. The enemy was thought to be of the JERVIS class. At 2041 hours, a pair of torpedoes were fired from the stern tubes (probably 533mm and 450mm) at a range of 500-600 metres. T.V. Gozzi had intended to fire only one torpedo and follow up with a second, but due to an error in drill two were simultaneously fired. As the torpedoes were racing toward the target, Gozzi suddenly noticed a second destroyer next to the first one. This vessel immediately opened fire with her stern guns forcing the submarine to crash-dive. The torpedoes missed. This was the destroyer HMS Waterhen. She had been seriously damaged by a bomb at 2005 hours in 32°15' N, 25°20' E and abandoned. Waterhen was returning from a supply run to Tobruk. The crew was picked up by HMS Defender (there were no casualties) who returned and attempted to take her in tow. The two torpedoes passed under Defender. HMS Defender had sighted the submarine and opened fire, forcing her to dive. Two loud explosions were heard. HMAS Waterhen later capsized and sank. There were no casualties.
		1 Jul 1941	0255-0428	32° 13'N, 25° 19'E	At 0255 hours, two shadows were sighted to northward. Tembien steered toward them. At 0332 hours, these could be identified as destroyers but, by 0428 hours, the submarine could not close to less than 4,000 metres and the attack was given up.
		1 Jul 1941	1947	32° 07'N, 25° 08'E	At 1947 hours, a destroyer was sighted at a range of 6,000 metres, steering 120°. They passed out of range.
		4 Jul 1941	0342+	32° 14'N, 25° 00'E	At 0342 hours, information was received from MARICOSOM indicating the presence of an enemy unit in 32°20' N, 24°30' E. Tembien proceeded at fast speed toward the northern part of her zone to intercept. A destroyer was sighted in 32°14' N, 25°00' E, steering 120° and doing at least 20 knots, coming straight at the submarine. Tembien turned away and by the time a torpedo attack could be mounted, the range had increased to 3,000 metres and the opportunity was missed.
		7 Jul 1941	1836	32° 14'N, 25° 00'E	At 1828 hours, a vessel was detected with the hydrophones. At 1836 hours, the vessel apparently dropped a depth charge on Tembien who was at a depth of 34 metres and she was slightly damaged.
		8 Jul 1941	0020	(0) East of Tobruk.	At 0020 hours, a submarine was sighted. Tembien turned away as she had orders not to attack any submarine encountered. It was later believed to have been Malachite.
10	Gozzi, Guido	31 Jul 1941	1340	Augusta	2 Aug 1941	AM	Sunk with all hands		Sailed for patrol west of Malta within 8 miles from 36°12'N, 12°35'E. Rammed in the Sicilian narrows by the British light cruiser HMS Hermione at 28 knots in 36°21'N, 12°40'E (five officers and thirty-eight ratings lost, no survivors). On 3 August, she was ordered to proceed to a new position off Ras Mustafa (Tunisia) but did not acknowledge.
		2 Aug 1941	0512B (e)	(e) 36° 21'N, 12° 40'E	In the early hours of 2nd August, Force "X" was proceeding toward Malta with troops and stores (operation STYLE). It consisted of the light cruisers HMS Hermione and HMS Arethusa, the fast minelayer HMS Manxman and the destroyers HMS HMS Sikh and HMS Lightning. At 0510B hours, Lieutenant (N) J.B.E. Wainwight, RN of HMS Hermione sighted on the port bow a surfaced U-boat apparently stopped at a distance of 1,400 yards. He at once gave port wheel to ram. Within two minutes, the cruiser racing at 28 knots had rammed the submarine. HMS Lightning and HMS Sikh were detached to search but found nothing. The cruiser was only slightly damaged and took 20 tons of water. Parts of the submarine were later removed from the lower stern. There is little doubt that this was Tembien who failed to return from patrol. T.V. Guido, four officers and thirty-eight ratings perished.

47 entries. 39 total patrol entries (10 marked as war patrols) and 14 events.

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