Italian submarines in World War Two
Gorgo (GG)
Gorgo
Type | Sea going | |
Class | Tritone (type I) (26) | |
Laid down | 12 May 1941 | Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Monfalcone |
Launched | 31 Jan 1942 | |
Commissioned | 11 Nov 1942 | |
End service | ||
Stricken | ||
Loss date | 21 May 1943 | |
Loss position | ||
History | It was suggested that she was sunk on 21st May 1943 off Oran, Algeria by depth charges from the destroyer USS Nields but this is doubtful. The cause of her loss is a mystery to this day. | |
Fate |
Commands
Commander | Date from | Date to | Command notes |
---|---|---|---|
C.C. Innocenzo Ragusa | 11 Nov 1942 | 2 Jun 1943 |
Ships hit
No ships hit by this submarine.Patrols and events
Commander | Date | Time | Port | Arr. date | Arr. time | Arr. port | Miles | Description | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
31 Jul 1942 | 0830 | Monfalcone | 31 Jul 1942 | 1615 | Monfalcone | Exercises. | ||||
18 Aug 1942 | 0900 | Monfalcone | 18 Aug 1942 | 1210 | Monfalcone | Exercises. | ||||
31 Aug 1942 | 0830 | Monfalcone | 31 Aug 1942 | 1850 | Pola | Passage Monfalcone-Pola. | ||||
1 Sep 1942 | 0900 | Pola | 1 Sep 1942 | 1800 | Pola | Exercises. | ||||
3 Sep 1942 | 0930 | Pola | 3 Sep 1942 | 1625 | Pola | Exercises. | ||||
4 Sep 1942 | 0915 | Pola | 4 Sep 1942 | 1740 | Pola | Exercises. | ||||
14 Sep 1942 | 0910 | Pola | 14 Sep 1942 | 1435 | Pola | Exercises. | ||||
15 Sep 1942 | 0710 | Pola | 15 Sep 1942 | 1945 | Pola | Exercises. | ||||
16 Sep 1942 | 1000 | Pola | 16 Sep 1942 | 1800 | Monfalcone | Passage Pola-Monfalcone. | ||||
4 Nov 1942 | 0900 | Monfalcone | 4 Nov 1942 | 1430 | Monfalcone | Exercises. | ||||
9 Nov 1942 | 0900 | Monfalcone | 9 Nov 1942 | 1200 | Monfalcone | Exercises. | ||||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 11 Nov 1942 | 0930 | Monfalcone | 11 Nov 1942 | 1200 | Monfalcone | Exercises. | |||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 12 Nov 1942 | 0850 | Monfalcone | 12 Nov 1942 | 1350 | Monfalcone | 28 | Trials. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 16 Nov 1942 | 0830 | Monfalcone | 16 Nov 1942 | 1415 | Venice | 64 | Passage Monfalcone-Venice. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 18 Nov 1942 | 0915 | Venice | 18 Nov 1942 | 1250 | Venice | 11 | Trials with electric torpedoes. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 23 Nov 1942 | 0900 | Venice | 23 Nov 1942 | 1545 | Pola | 77 | Passage Venice-Pola. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 27 Nov 1942 | 0825 | Pola | 27 Nov 1942 | 1345 | Pola | 29 | Exercises. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 29 Nov 1942 | 0810 | Pola | 29 Nov 1942 | 1405 | Pola | 33 | Exercises. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 30 Nov 1942 | 0812 | Pola | 30 Nov 1942 | 0915 | Pola | 2 | Changed anchorage. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 7 Dec 1942 | 0800 | Pola | 7 Dec 1942 | 1300 | Monfalcone | 67 | Passage Pola-Monfalcone. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 10 Dec 1942 | 0900 | Monfalcone | 10 Dec 1942 | 1650 | Pola | 76 | Passage Monfalcone-Pola. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 11 Dec 1942 | 0750 | Pola | 11 Dec 1942 | 1630 | Pola | 85 | Exercises. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 12 Dec 1942 | 0745 | Pola | 12 Dec 1942 | 1114 | Pola | 19 | Exercises. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 14 Dec 1942 | 0615 | Pola | 14 Dec 1942 | 1555 | Pola | 81 | Exercises. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 15 Dec 1942 | 0800 | Pola | 15 Dec 1942 | 1635 | Pola | 88 | Exercises. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 16 Dec 1942 | 1840 | Pola | 18 Dec 1942 | 1342 | Taranto | 560 | Passage Pola-Taranto. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 22 Dec 1942 | 0725 | Taranto | 22 Dec 1942 | 1413 | Taranto | 32 | Exercises. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 24 Dec 1942 | 1123 | Taranto | 24 Dec 1942 | 1548 | Taranto | 32 | Exercises. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 27 Dec 1942 | 2040 | Taranto | 30 Dec 1942 | 0045 | Naples | 559 | Passage Taranto-Naples. Uneventful. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 3 Jan 1943 | 0830 | Naples | 3 Jan 1943 | 1600 | Naples | 40 | Exercises. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 5 Jan 1943 | 0810 | Naples | 5 Jan 1943 | 1515 | Castellammare di Stabia | 23 | Exercises and passage Naples-Castellammare di Stabia. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 6 Jan 1943 | 0815 | Castellammare di Stabia | 6 Jan 1943 | 1500 | Castellammare di Stabia | 19 | Exercises. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 7 Jan 1943 | 0845 | Castellammare di Stabia | 7 Jan 1943 | 1610 | Naples | 34 | Exercises and passage Castellammare di Stabia-Naples. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 9 Jan 1943 | 0916 | Naples | 9 Jan 1943 | 1525 | Naples | 27 | Exercises. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 10 Jan 1943 | 1029 | Naples | 10 Jan 1943 | 1422 | Naples | 23 | Exercises. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 12 Jan 1943 | 1325 | Naples | 12 Jan 1943 | 1710 | Naples | 17 | Exercises. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 14 Jan 1943 | 1306 | Naples | 14 Jan 1943 | 1650 | Naples | 18 | Exercises. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 15 Jan 1943 | 0814 | Naples | 15 Jan 1943 | 1446 | Naples | 23 | Exercises. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 17 Jan 1943 | 0832 | Naples | 17 Jan 1943 | 1530 | Naples | 21 | Exercises. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 18 Jan 1943 | 0825 | Naples | 18 Jan 1943 | 1510 | Naples | 24 | Exercises. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 19 Jan 1943 | 1720 | Naples | 19 Jan 1943 | 2135 | Naples | 21 | Exercises. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 21 Jan 1943 | 0712 | Naples | 21 Jan 1943 | 1600 | Naples | 23 | Exercises. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 23 Jan 1943 | 1052 | Naples | 23 Jan 1943 | 2015 | Naples | 20 | Exercises. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 30 Jan 1943 | 1440 | Naples | 30 Jan 1943 | 1707 | Naples | 18 | Exercises. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 2 Feb 1943 | 1900 | Naples | 3 Feb 1943 | 2330 | Cagliari | 274 | Passage Naples-Cagliari. | ||
1 | Ragusa, Innocenzo | 6 Feb 1943 | 1335 | Cagliari | 14 Feb 1943 | 1310 | Cagliari | 869,5 | Sailed for patrol between 37°20'N and the African coast and between 05°40'E and 06°00'E, off Cape Carbon. | |
7 Feb 1943 | 1725 | 36° 54'N, 5° 26'E | At 1725 hours, four minesweepers with an MTB were sighted at a distance of 6 miles. Gorgo went deep. | |||||||
8 Feb 1943 | 0222 | 36° 53'N, 5° 25'E | At 0206 hours, a large shadow was sighted through the periscope at a distance of 6,000 metres. It was identified as a 15,000-ton vessel in convoy. Gorgo surfaced and proceeded on the electric motors to intercept. This was probably the same ship attacked earlier by Platino. At 0222 hours, four torpedoes (533mm, G7e type) were fired from the bow tubes at a distance of 1,000 metres. The electric torpedoes had a speed of 28.5 knots. They left a very visible phosphorescent track and all four had an irregular course. The torpedo from tube 1 veered 9 degrees to the right and missed ahead. The vessel was observed to increase speed and the torpedo from tube 4 veered 9 degrees to the left and missed astern. Torpedo no. 3 veered 3 degrees to the right and narrowly missed the stern. Torpedo no. 2 had an irregular course and missed astern. At 0225 hours, Gorgo turned to port to fire her stern tubes, when an escort vessel dicovered her and began firing with 20mm guns, straddling her near the conning tower. At 0228 hours, the submarine crash-dived and reached a depth of 90 metres. Three depth charges were heard. At 0424 hours, Gorgo surfaced and made an enemy report. At 0935 hours, the submarine proceeded to load the two reserve torpedoes in the forward tubes. This was one of the rare instances, when an Italian submarine in the Mediterranean is known to have been equipped with reserve torpedoes. The reason for this exception is not known but at this time the use of G7e torpedoes was standard and perhaps their production had reached acceptable levels. However, the practice not to carry reserve torpedoes appears to have resumed by the time of the invasion of Sicily. | |||||||
13 Feb 1943 | 0051 | 37° 01'N, 5° 35'E | At 0051 hours, a convoy of two steamers with a corvette was sighted at a distance of 4,000 metres. Gorgo closed to 3,000 meters, but the corvette turned toward her and she was forced to go deep at 0105 hours. The corvette accurately dropped four depth-charges which damaged the submarine, causing leaks. At 0135 hours, four depth charges caused more damage. The submarine had to abandon her patrol. | |||||||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 20 Feb 1943 | 0955 | Cagliari | 21 Feb 1943 | 1000 | Naples | 294 | Passage Cagliari-Naples. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 6 Mar 1943 | 0800 | Naples | 6 Mar 1943 | 1618 | Naples | 38 | Exercises. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 8 Mar 1943 | 0924 | Naples | 8 Mar 1943 | 1150 | Naples | 14 | Exercises. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 10 Mar 1943 | 1358 | Naples | 10 Mar 1943 | 1635 | Naples | 14 | Exercises. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 13 Mar 1943 | 1336 | Naples | 13 Mar 1943 | 1522 | Naples | 5 | Exercises. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 15 Mar 1943 | 0820 | Naples | 16 Mar 1943 | 0655 | La Maddalena | 254 | Passage Naples-La Maddalena. | ||
2 | Ragusa, Innocenzo | 18 Mar 1943 | 0105 | La Maddalena | 4 Apr 1943 | 0939 | La Maddalena | 1499 | Patrolled between 37°10'N and 37°30'N, and between 04°50'E and 05°20'E. | |
26 Mar 1943 | 1400 | 37° 20'N, 5° 08'E | At 1400 hours, a convoy of three steamers and three patrol vessels was sighted on a westerly course. Gorgo tried to close for an attack and but gave up at 1445 hours. | |||||||
26 Mar 1943 | 2000 | 37° 14'N, 4° 57'E | At 2000 hours, information was received from SUPERMARINA of a convoy of thirty ships sighted at midnight on 25th March 14 miles north of Cape Ténès steering 090°. Gorgo altered course to 180° to intercept but sighted nothing. | |||||||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 5 Apr 1943 | 1255 | La Maddalena | 6 Apr 1943 | 0919 | Naples | 131 | Passage La Maddalena-Naples. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 6 Apr 1943 | 1105 | Naples | 6 Apr 1943 | 1235 | Naples | 18 | Exercises. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 13 Apr 1943 | 1557 | Naples | 13 Apr 1943 | 1921 | Pozzuoli | 24 | Passage Naples-Pozzuoli. | ||
Ragusa, Innocenzo | 1 May 1943 | 0125 | Pozzuoli | 2 May 1943 | 0825 | Cagliari | 276 | Passage Pozzuoli-Cagliari. | ||
3 | Ragusa, Innocenzo | 14 May 1943 | 2200 | Cagliari | 2 Jun 1943 | Sunk with all hands | Patrolled east of the Balearic Islands. She had sailed south until 38°30'N, proceeded on an easterly course until 05°20'E and then to patrol between 38°40'N and 39°20'N, and between 05°00'E and 05°40'E, with Nichelio in an adjacent area. On 2nd June 1943, she was ordered to return home through Point Y (41°00'N, 07°00'E) and told to acknowledge as soon as 40°30'N was reached, but made no answer. Reported sunk off Algerian coast by the destroyer USS Nields (DD-616) in 36°01'N, 00°34'W at 1730-1930 hours on 21st May, but this is doubtful. Disappeared without a trace. On 29th May, Nichelio and Gorgo were ordered to leave their patrol at 1400 hours on 30th and return to La Maddalena through Point B (Cape Scorno, Island of Asinara). At 2045 hours on 30th, Gorgo was ordered to turn back and returned to her patrol. At 2025 hours on 31st, she was ordered home. At 1850 hours on 2nd June, the order was repeated and she was asked to acknowledge reception when she had crossed 40°30'N but she failed to answer. |
61 entries. 58 total patrol entries (3 marked as war patrols) and 5 events.