Pietro Micca (MC)
Micca

Type	Minelaying
Class	Micca (31)
Laid down	15 Oct 1931	Cantieri Navale Tosi di Taranto, Taranto
Launched	31 Mar 1935
Commissioned	1 Oct 1935
End service
Stricken
Loss date	29 Jul 1943
Loss position	39° 45'N, 18° 17'E
History
Fate	Torpedoed and sunk on 29th July 1943 at the entrance to Adriatic, south of the Strait of Otranto in position 39°48'N, 18°43'E (39°45.5'N, 18°17.5'E according Italian sources) by the submarine HMS Trooper.

Commands

Commander	Date from	Date to	Command notes
C.F. Vittorio Meneghini	12 May 1940	3 Aug 1940
C.F. Alberto Ginocchio	4 Aug 1940	13 Sep 1940
T.V. Giulio Contreas	14 Sep 1940	30 Sep 1940
C.C. Guido D'Alterio	1 Oct 1940	30 Dec 1942
T.V. Serafino Giorgini	31 Dec 1940	31 Jan 1941
C.C. Guido D'Alterio	1 Feb 1941	24 Jun 1941
T.V. Serafino Giorgini	25 Jun 1941	4 Aug 1941
C.C. Guido D'Alterio	5 Aug 1941	1 Jan 1942
T.V. Alberto Campanella	1 Jan 1942	3 Feb 1942
C.C. Mario Spano	4 Feb 1942	9 Mar 1942
C.C. Mario Paolo Pollina	10 Mar 1942	31 Mar 1942
C.C. Giovanni Cunsolo	31 Mar 1942	8 Apr 1942
C.C. Loris Albanese	8 Apr 1942	23 Apr 1942
T.V. Alberto Galeazzi	23 Apr 1942	20 Mar 1943
C.C. Pietro Abate	21 Mar 1943	7 Jun 1943
T.V. Paolo Scrobogna	8 Jun 1943	29 Jul 1943

Ships hit

No ships hit by this submarine.

Patrols and events

	Commander	Date	Time	Port	Arr. date	Arr. time	Arr. port	Miles	Description
	Meneghini, Vittorio	1 Jun 1940	1058	La Spezia	3 Jun 1940	2131	Taranto		Passage La Spezia-Taranto.
1	Meneghini, Vittorio	5 Jun 1940	0245	Taranto	20 Jun 1940	2125	Crotone	2118	Laid 40 mines off Alexandria, from 31°17.15'N, 29°32°55'E to 31°18.45'N, 29°33.45'E . Meneghini (born 11th June 1900) was awarded the Medaglia d'argento.
		8 Jun 1940	2100	33° 20'N, 22° 40'E	At 2100 hours, an escorted steamer was sighted. The escort vessel turned toward the submarine as if she attempted to ram. Pietro Micca dived immediately and the vessel passed just above her.
		12 Jun 1940	0330-0356	31° 17'N, 29° 32'E	Between 0330 and 0356 hours, a minefield of 40 mines was laid from 31°17.15' N, 29°32°55' E to 31°18.45' N, 29°33.45' E. The initial mine was laid at a depth of 299 metres. At 1940 hours on the same day, the destroyer HMAS Stuart sighted a mine 17 miles from Ras El Tin (Alexandria) lighthouse and detected more with her ASDIC. In all, 11 mines laid in 130 fathoms were destroyed the same day. These mines were cleared by the minesweepers HMS Abingdon and HMS Bagshot of the 2nd Minesweeping Flotilla on the next day. Mines were located in: 31°20' N, 29°34.5' E 31°17.5' N, 29°28' E 31°24.5' N, 29°36.5' E 31°32.5' N, 29°46.5' E. It is possible that a mine from this field survived the minesweeping and damaged the destroyer HMS Janus at 1724 hours on 4th June 1942 in 31°15.5' N, 29°44' E. The mine detonated in her wake and the ship required three weeks repairs. The consequence of this minefield was that British naval forces, and in particular submarines, were instructed to keep outside the 200-fathom line from enemy coast.
		12 Jun 1940	0730	31° 30'N, 29° 40'E	Between 0730 and 1100 hours, depth charges were heard in the distance and it was believed that Micca was the object of a hunt.
		13 Jun 1940	1923-1940 1953 (e)	(e) 31° 33'N, 29° 50'E (0) About 25 miles NW of Alexandria.	Distant explosions were heard in groups of four and were probably those from the destroyers HMAS Voyager and HMS Decoy which were hunting a U-boat contact (it was bogus).
1b	Meneghini, Vittorio	22 Jun 1940	0605	Crotone	22 Jun 1940	1622	Taranto	113	Passage Crotone-Taranto.
	Meneghini, Vittorio	20 Jul 1940	0739	Taranto	20 Jul 1940	1517	Taranto	32	Exercises.
2	Meneghini, Vittorio	24 Jul 1940	2155	Taranto	25 Jul 1940	1055	Taranto	74,2	Defensive patrol in Gulf of Taranto.
	Meneghini, Vittorio	28 Jul 1940	0600	Taranto	28 Jul 1940	1140	Taranto	53	Exercises.
3	Ginocchio, Alberto	4 Aug 1940	1700	Taranto	21 Aug 1940	1325	Taranto	2123	Laid 40 mines from 31°22'N, 29°27'E, northwest of Alexandria, then patrolled in area between 32°00'N and 32°40'N and 28°20'E and 29°20'E.
		12 Aug 1940	0025	31° 22'N, 29° 42'E (0) Approximately.	Between 0025 and 0055 hours, Micca laid 40 mines on a line 3.6 km in length eastward from 31°22' N, 29°42' E at a depth of 322 fathoms. Eight mines were swept on 12th August in 320° - Ras-El-Tin (Alexandria) -14 miles, seven on 13th August and four on 14th August. Admiral Cunningham reported that a mine was recovered on 13th August 1940, which showed a sinker with 51 fathoms of mooring wire and another 207 fathoms when she was laid. Another 26 mines were destroyed (two were floating and two were found ashore) from this field between 12-14th August 1940, in time when the Mediterranean Fleet sailed on 16th August for operation M.B.2 (bombardment of Bardia) and crossed this area. On 21st August, a mine was recovered with 250 fathoms of 3/4" mooring rope. The next day, at 1415 hours, HMS Loch Melfort believed she was in contact with a submarine, which was later thought to be one of the mines from this field, as the position was 320° - Ras El Tin - 13 miles. Four mines were found in 220 fathoms on 3rd September 1940. On 16th May 1941, Loch Melfort destroyed a mine, perhaps belonging to this field in 31°55' N, 29°31' E (which was much farther north than position reported). There also were mines laid from the air, but usually these were ground mines. Following the discovery of this minefield, British submarines were usually ordered to remain outside the 200 fathom line in Italian-controlled waters. The order remained in effect at least until December 1940, greatly reducing their effectiveness.
		14 Aug 1940	1358 1500 (e)	31° 59'N, 28° 32'E	Toward noon, the hydrophones picked up noises believed to be from a destroyer. At 1340 hours, a destroyer was sighted and shortly after, a second one. At 1358 hours, a single torpedo (533mm, S.I. H type) was fired from a stern tube at a distance of 800 metres, aimed at the first of the two destroyers. A violent explosion was heard after 40 seconds. The torpedo actually missed. This was a squadron consisting of the light cruisers HMAS Sydney and HMS Neptune, escorted by the destroyers HMS Nubian, HMS Mohawk, HMS Hostile and HMS Imperial. HMS Nubian sighted a torpedo approaching and avoided it. Nubian and Hostile were left behind to hunt the submarine, but made no ASDIC contact.
	Contreas, Giulio	14 Sep 1940		Taranto	30 Sep 1940		Taranto		Refit.
	D'Alterio, Guido	1 Oct 1940		Taranto	11 Nov 1940		Taranto		Refit.
	D'Alterio, Guido	12 Nov 1940	0910	Taranto	12 Nov 1940	1805	Taranto	8	Exercises.
	D'Alterio, Guido	13 Nov 1940	1120	Taranto	13 Nov 1940	1755	Taranto	8	Exercises.
	D'Alterio, Guido	15 Nov 1940	0900	Taranto	15 Nov 1940	1645	Taranto	81,2	Exercises.
	D'Alterio, Guido	16 Nov 1940	0821	Taranto	16 Nov 1940	1830	Taranto	87,6	Exercises.
	Giorgini, Serafino	31 Dec 1940		Taranto	3 Feb 1941		Taranto		Change of command during refit at Taranto.
	D'Alterio, Guido	4 Feb 1941	1022	Taranto	4 Feb 1941	1655	Taranto	33	Exercises.
4	D'Alterio, Guido	28 Feb 1941	0834	Taranto	4 Mar 1941	1055	Leros		Supply mission to Leros (105 tons of cooking oil, 70 ton of ammunition including 600 rounds of 152mm/53 ).
4b	D'Alterio, Guido	11 Mar 1941	1520	Leros	15 Mar 1941	1730	Taranto	1372	Return trip from supply mission to Leros [mileage is for round trip].
		13 Mar 1941	0355	(0) 40 miles SW of Cape Matapan.	At 0327 hours, the Officer of the Watch sighted four shadows on the starboard bow, which proved to destroyers at a distance of 13-14,000 metres, steering 100°, followed shortly after by three other destroyers and more. The submarine closed on the surface, but visibility was excellent and she had to submerge at 0335 hours to avoid being seen. At 0355 hours, one torpedo was fired from a bow tube aimed at one of the destroyers. It was fired at the limit of the weapon's range (probably 4,000 metres) and T.V. Guido D'Alterio's view through the periscope was continuously hampered by continuous drops of oil leaking from the Calzoni system. The torpedo missed. At 0400 hours, the submarine was turned for a stern shot. D'Alterio intended to fire a 533mm as it could be angled (the 450mm could not) but at the critical moment the torpedo misfired as the launching valve failed to open. He gave up the attack and brought down his submarine to a depth of 40 metres. The targets may have been HMS Nubian, HMS Mohawk and other destroyers.
5	D'Alterio, Guido	30 Mar 1941	0800	Taranto	5 Apr 1941	0850	Leros	930	Supply mission to Leros carrying passengers and material for the Royal Italian Army and 140 tons of benzine for the Italian Navy. Stern damaged following the explosion of a torpedo which was accidentally discharged while entering Leros.
		3 Apr 1941	0400	34° 10'N, 25° 24'E	At 0353 hours, a lookout spotted a shadow on the port bow. Shortly after, a single-funnel cruiser could be discerned, followed by a number of merchantmen, steering 320°. At 0400 hours, four torpedoes were ordered fired from the bow tubes at a range of 1,500-2,500 metres, two aimed at the cruiser and two at merchantmen. Only two left the tubes, the others misfired. Two loud explosions were heard. Actually both torpedoes missed.
		5 Apr 1941	0518	(0) Near Porto Lago.	At 0518 hours, as the submarine arrived at the entrance of Leros, a torpedo was accidentally fired from a stern tube and exploded shortly after, causing serious damage to her stern. Pietro Micca was towed to Leros and temporarily patched up, then sailed for Taranto for repairs. The claim that she was attacked by an enemy submarine is not substantiated.
	D'Alterio, Guido	13 Jun 1941	1450	Leros	14 Jun 1941	0112	Syra	97	Passage Leros-Syra.
	D'Alterio, Guido	14 Jun 1941	2313	Syra	15 Jun 1941	0648	Piraeus	88,5	Passage Syra-Piraeus escorted by the sloop Diana.
	D'Alterio, Guido	15 Jun 1941	1045	Piraeus	15 Jun 1941	2055	Patras	103,5	Passage Piraeus-Patras via Corinth Canal.
	D'Alterio, Guido	16 Jun 1941	1135	Patras	17 Jun 1941	1320	Taranto	306,5	Passage Patras-Taranto escorted by the sloop Diana until 2030 hours on the 16th. Then repairs to her stern.
	Giorgini, Serafino	25 Jun 1941		Taranto	4 Aug 1941		Taranto		Change of command during refit at Taranto.
	D'Alterio, Guido	3 Nov 1941	0900	Taranto	3 Nov 1941	1715	Taranto	48	Trials.
	D'Alterio, Guido	7 Nov 1941	1217	Taranto	7 Nov 1941	1810	Taranto	32	Trials.
	D'Alterio, Guido	20 Nov 1941	0930	Taranto	20 Nov 1941	1858	Taranto	66	Torpedo firing exercises with H 8 and torpedo boat Aretusa.
	D'Alterio, Guido	24 Nov 1941	0919	Taranto	24 Nov 1941	1820	Taranto	45	Trials.
6	D'Alterio, Guido	28 Nov 1941	1100	Taranto	2 Dec 1941	0915	Benghazi	542	Supply mission to Benghazi via 32°17'N, 19°50'E (176 tons of petrol in cans, 3.4 tons of ammunition). Was damaged by depth-charges and could not proceed to Derna as intended.
		30 Nov 1941	1220	36° 52'N, 19° 09'E	At 1220 hours, in poor visibility, an Italian squadron was encountered and it apparently included a destroyer of the SOLDATO class. Pietro Micca was mistaken for enemy and attacked with depth-charges. She was damaged but escaped by diving to 85-90 meters and was forced to go to Benghazi instead of Derna. This was probably the Italian 7th Cruiser Squadron, which had made a sortie in the Central Ionian Sea. It consisted of the light cruiers Emanuele Filiberto Duca D'Aosta, Raimondo Montecuccoli, and Muzio Attendolo escorted by the destroyers Aviere, Geniere and Granatiere.
6b	D'Alterio, Guido	2 Dec 1941	1903	Benghazi	3 Dec 1941	0743	Benghazi	50	After partially unloading her cargo, for security reasons, she was ordered by Marina Bengasi to sail south and return the next morning.
6c	D'Alterio, Guido	3 Dec 1941	1820	Benghazi	4 Dec 1941	0817	Benghazi	24	After partial unloading of her cargo, for security reasons, she was ordered by Marina Bengasi to sail for a point 10 miles from the harbour and she bottomed there in 27 meters.
6d	D'Alterio, Guido	4 Dec 1941	2010	Benghazi	7 Dec 1941	1500	Taranto	555	Return trip from mission to Benghazi with twenty British officers PoWs. Uneventful.
	D'Alterio, Guido	8 Dec 1941	1315	Taranto	8 Dec 1941	1845	Taranto	35	Trials.
7	D'Alterio, Guido	15 Dec 1941	1120	Taranto	18 Dec 1941	0845	Benghazi	577	Supply mission to Benghazi (154 tons of petrol, 15 tons of ammunition). Uneventful.
7b	D'Alterio, Guido	18 Dec 1941	1920	Benghazi	19 Dec 1941	0800	Benghazi	50	Sailed on a southerly course before turning back.
7c	D'Alterio, Guido	19 Dec 1941	1725	Benghazi	22 Dec 1941	1425	Taranto	565	Return trip from supply mission to Benghazi with twenty-seven passengers (Italian naval ratings). Uneventful.
	Campanella, Alberto	12 Jan 1942	0838	Taranto	12 Jan 1942	1432	Taranto	42	Exercises.
8	Campanella, Alberto	18 Jan 1942	1158	Taranto	22 Jan 1942	1230	Tripoli	648	Supply mission to Tripoli (156.4 tons of stores distributed as such: 78 tons of petrol, 15.7 tons of weapons and ammunition, 18.7 tons of foodstuff).
		19 Jan 1942	0935	(0) Ca. 140 miles South of Santa Maria di Leuca.	At 0935 hours, three aircraft were seen and Micca dived. Bomb explosions were heard but the submarine escaped damage.
8b	Campanella, Alberto	25 Jan 1942	1348	Tripoli	30 Jan 1942	1400	Taranto	750,5	Return from supply mission to Tripoli and hydrophone watch on 26-27th January, in area between 33°20'N and 34°00'N and 17°20'E and 18°00'E. Uneventful.
		25 Jan 1942	1200	(0) Tripoli harbour.	At noon, the submarine was visited by Generals Cavallero (Head of Comando Supremo) and Bastico (Head of Axis Forces in North Africa).
	Spano, Mario	4 Feb 1942		Taranto	9 Mar 1942		Taranto		Refit. Change in command.
	Pollina, Mario Paolo	10 Mar 1942		Taranto	31 Mar 1942		Taranto		Refit. Change in command.
	Cunsolo, Giovanni	1 Apr 1942	or 31/3?	Taranto	8 Apr 1942		Taranto		Refit. Change in command.
	Albanese, Loris	8 Apr 1942		Taranto	23 Apr 1942		Taranto		Refit. Change in command.
	Galeazzi, Alberto	26 Apr 1942	0610	Taranto	26 Apr 1942	1323	Taranto	35	Trials and exercises.
	Galeazzi, Alberto	30 Apr 1942	0830	Taranto	30 Apr 1942	1504	Taranto	38,5	Exercises with Bronzo, escorted by Audace.
	Galeazzi, Alberto	3 May 1942	1300	Taranto	3 May 1942	1748	Taranto	37	Exercises.
	Galeazzi, Alberto	4 May 1942	1310	Taranto	4 May 1942	1830	Taranto	35,5	Exercises.
	Galeazzi, Alberto	19 May 1942	0942	Taranto	19 May 1942	1857	Taranto	33,5	Exercises.
	Galeazzi, Alberto	21 May 1942	1320	Taranto	21 May 1942	1810	Taranto	27,5	Exercises, escorted back by the minesweeper R.D.13.
	Galeazzi, Alberto	25 May 1942	0830	Taranto	25 May 1942	1730	Taranto	71	Trials.
	Galeazzi, Alberto	30 May 1942	1320	Taranto	30 May 1942	1803	Taranto	24	Exercises, escorted back by R.D.30.
	Galeazzi, Alberto	5 Jun 1942	1323	Taranto	5 Jun 1942	1820	Taranto	26	Exercises.
9	Galeazzi, Alberto	14 Jun 1942	0815	Taranto	19 Jun 1942	1438	Taranto	911	Patrolled southeast of Malta, between 34°20'N and 34°40'N, and between 14°40'E and 15°00'E.
		15 Jun 1942	0530	37° 26'N, 17° 16'E	At 0530 hours, a Sunderland was seen at a distance of 5000 metres and attacked the submarine. Micca crash-dived and, at 0533 hours, she was shaken by four explosions but escaped without damage by going to 80 meters. More explosions followed but at a distance.
	Galeazzi, Alberto	20 Jun 1942	1020	Taranto	20 Jun 1942	1740	Taranto	80	Sailed for patrol toward Crotone, but then ordered back.
10	Galeazzi, Alberto	24 Jun 1942	1045	Taranto	28 Jun 1942	0900	Benghazi	1053	Supply mission to Benghazi (185 tons: 181.5 tons of petrol and 3.5 tons of foodstuff). Uneventful. ULTRA sigint had learnt that Micca was going to Benghazi passing through 33°14’ N, 18°30’ E (see DEFE3/759/554 & 563, TNA) [mileage is for round trip].
		26 Jun 1942	1001C (e)	(e) 35° 07'N, 18° 09'E	A RAF aircraft sighted a submarine steering 172 degrees at 10 knots. This was most probably Pietro Micca proceeding to Benghazi.
10b	Galeazzi, Alberto	28 Jun 1942	2015	Benghazi	2 Jul 1942	1650	Taranto		Return trip from supply mission to Benghazi.
		1 Jul 1942	0448	37° 12'N, 17° 48'E	At 0448 hours, a Sunderland was seen at a distance of 3000 metres and the submarine dived.
11	Galeazzi, Alberto	8 Jul 1942	1100	Taranto	12 Jul 1942	0815	Benghazi		Supply mission to Benghazi (176.6 tons: 169.6 tons of petrol and 7 tons of ammunition). Uneventful.
	Galeazzi, Alberto	12 Jul 1942	1800	Benghazi	12 Jul 1942	2215	Benghazi		Changed anchorage.
	Galeazzi, Alberto	13 Jul 1942	0600	Benghazi	13 Jul 1942	0900	Benghazi		Changed anchorage to continue unloading.
11b	Galeazzi, Alberto	13 Jul 1942	1143	Benghazi	16 Jul 1942	1600	Taranto	1044	Return trip from supply mission to Benghazi. Uneventful [mileage is for round trip].
12	Galeazzi, Alberto	27 Jul 1942	1215	Taranto	31 Jul 1942	0800	Benghazi		Supply mission to Benghazi via 39°20'N, 17°40'E and 38°30'N, 17°40'E (170.3 tons: 166.8 tons of petrol, 3.5 tons of provisions).
		31 Jul 1942	0500	(0) Point C of Benghazi.	At 0500 hours, the Italian hospital ship Arno (8,024 GRT, built 1926) was observed arriving at Benghazi.
		31 Jul 1942	0520	(0) Point C of Benghazi.	At 0520 hours, a German aircraft was seen and exchanged recognition signals.
12b	Galeazzi, Alberto	31 Jul 1942	1515	Benghazi	3 Aug 1942	1628	Taranto	1067	Return trip from supply mission to Benghazi. Uneventful. Heard only H.E. without sighting anything.
		31 Jul 1942	0500	(0) Point C of Benghazi.	At 0500 hours, the Italian hospital ship Arno (8,024 GRT, built 1926) was observed arriving at Benghazi.
		31 Jul 1942	0520	(0) Point C of Benghazi.	At 0520 hours, a German aircraft was seen and exchanged recognition signals.
	Galeazzi, Alberto	4 Aug 1942	1630	Taranto	4 Aug 1942	1920	Taranto	20	Trials.
13	Galeazzi, Alberto	21 Aug 1942	1130	Taranto	24 Aug 1942	1212	Benghazi	1050	Supply mission to Benghazi (123.4 tons: 102 tons of petrol and 21.4 tons of mineral water) [mileage is for round trip].
		23 Aug 1942	0915	35° 00'N, 18° 00'E	At 0915 hours, a large aircraft was seen and the submarine dived. However, at 1100 hours, petrol fumes forced Micca to continue her passage on the surface to ventilate the submarine.
		23 Aug 1942	1420	34° 34'N, 18° 20'E	At 1420 hours, a large white buoy, surmounted by a flag post 6 meters tall flying a black flag, was observed at a distance of 700 metres. Shortly after, a periscope was sighted at a distance of 500 meters.
13b	Galeazzi, Alberto	24 Aug 1942	2330	Benghazi	28 Aug 1942	1630	Taranto	1187,5	Return trip from supply mission to Benghazi. Uneventful.
	Galeazzi, Alberto	29 Aug 1942	1455	Taranto	29 Aug 1942	1630	Taranto	9	Trials.
14	Galeazzi, Alberto	12 Sep 1942	1125	Taranto	16 Sep 1942	0930	Tripoli		Supply mission to Tripoli (170.9 tons of petrol). Uneventful.
14b	Galeazzi, Alberto	17 Sep 1942	1400	Tripoli	21 Sep 1942	1345	Taranto	1414	Return trip from supply mission to Tripoli. Uneventful [mileage is for round trip].
15	Galeazzi, Alberto	30 Sep 1942	1530	Taranto	4 Oct 1942	0820	Benghazi		Supply mission to Benghazi (169 tons: 168.5 tons of petrol, 0.5 ton of various stores). Uneventful.
15b	Galeazzi, Alberto	4 Oct 1942	1505	Benghazi	7 Oct 1942	1415	Taranto	1066	Return trip from supply mission to Benghazi [mileage is for round trip].
		7 Oct 1942	0513	39° 42'N, 18° 19'E (0) 180° - Santa Maria di Leuca - 5 miles.	At 0513 hours, an enemy submarine was sighted at a distance of 700 metres, A stern torpedo misfired and the attack was finally aborted as Micca could not get into a favourable position and the second stern tube was not ready for firing. No Allied submarine operated in the area. The sighting must have been bogus.
16	Galeazzi, Alberto	15 Oct 1942	1100	Taranto	17 Oct 1942	1220	Taranto	430	Supply mission to Benghazi carrying 176 tons of stores (172 tons petrol and 4 of foodstuff), aborted when damaged by storm, lost one rating overboard.
		16 Oct 1942	0550	37° 40'N, 17° 30'E	At 0550 hours, extremely heavy weather was encountered. Two giant waves engulfed the submarine and 20 tons of water entered through the hatch. The rating Giuseppe Canta, was thrown overboard and drowned. Micca had to abort her mission due to weather damage.
	Galeazzi, Alberto	7 Nov 1942	0800	Taranto	7 Nov 1942	1424	Taranto	35	Exercises.
17	Galeazzi, Alberto	14 Nov 1942	1120	Taranto	17 Nov 1942	1239	Tripoli		Supply mission to Tripoli (173 tons of petrol) [15th November: ULTRA reported her as due in Tripoli on 17th November].
		17 Nov 1942	0600 0555-0623 (e)	32° 55'N, 14° 08'E	At 0600 hours, an enemy submarine proceeding on the surface, was sighted at a distance of 3,000 metres. Micca turned away. This was HMS Porpoise (Lieutenant L.A.W. Bennington, DSC, RN). She had sighted the Italian submarine at a distance of 5-6 miles and dived. At 0612 hours, Micca was observed through the periscope at a distance 3 miles, zigzagging between 250 and 300°. At 0623 hours, contact was lost. An ULTRA signal had revealed the expected arrival of the Italian submarine at Tripoli on this day.
17b	Galeazzi, Alberto	18 Nov 1942	1500	Taranto	22 Nov 1942	1930	Tripoli	1158	Return trip from supply mission to Tripoli [mileage is for round trip].
		22 Nov 1942	1050	(0) 082° - Cape Trionto - 2 miles and 070° - Cape Trionto - 4 miles.	At 1050 hours, two derelict mines were sighted.
	Galeazzi, Alberto	10 Dec 1942	0940	Taranto	10 Dec 1942	1540	Taranto	39,5	Trials.
	Galeazzi, Alberto	19 Dec 1942	0845	Taranto	19 Dec 1942	1033	Taranto	9	Trials.
18	Galeazzi, Alberto	21 Dec 1942	2330	Taranto	24 Dec 1942	0512	Messina		Supply mission to Tripoli, but diverted to Messina because of a defective water pump.
18b	Galeazzi, Alberto	25 Dec 1942	0855	Messina	27 Dec 1942	1622	Tripoli		Supply mission to Tripoli [175.4 tons: 174.5 tons of petrol and 0.9 of various stores] , via 37°20'N, 16°40'E and 35°22'N, 16°44'E (instead of 34°00'N, 16°50'E as ordered, because the submarine was late on her schedule) and Point B of Tripoli. The importance of the mission was emphasized by a personal message from Admiral Riccardi.
		26 Dec 1942	0745	(0) 120 miles SE of Malta.	At 0745 hours, an aircraft was seen at a distance of 5,000 metres. The submarine dived and four explosions were heard.
		26 Dec 1942	1245		At 1245 hours, two Italian aircraft were seen and exchanged recognition signals.
18c	Galeazzi, Alberto	28 Dec 1942	0020	Tripoli	31 Dec 1942	1230	Taranto	1461	Return trip from supply mission to Tripoli [mileage is for round trip].
		28 Dec 1942	0720	(0) 55 miles NE of Tripoli.	At 0720 hours, a Sunderland was seen at a distance of 4,000 metres and the submarine dived.
	Scrobogna, Paolo	12 Mar 1943	0830	Taranto	12 Mar 1943	1440	Taranto	47	Trials.
	Abate, Pietro	16 Apr 1943	0720	Taranto	16 Apr 1943	1235	Taranto	27	Exercises.
	Abate, Pietro	18 Apr 1943	0630	Taranto	18 Apr 1943	1220	Taranto	37	Exercises with torpedo boat Mosto.
	Abate, Pietro	21 Apr 1943	0730	Taranto	21 Apr 1943	1035	Taranto	16,5	Exercises.
	Abate, Pietro	24 Apr 1943	0800	Taranto	24 Apr 1943	1236	Taranto	27,5	Sonar exercises with Gino Nais.
	Abate, Pietro	9 May 1943	1130	Taranto	11 May 1943	0730	Augusta	354	Passage Taranto-Augusta.
	Abate, Pietro	15 May 1943	2200	Augusta	16 May 1943	0137	Augusta	28,5	Passage Augusta-Taranto, but turned back because of defects.
	Abate, Pietro	17 May 1943	2345	Augusta	20 May 1943	1030	Taranto	347	Passage Augusta-Taranto. Uneventful.
	Scrobogna, Paolo	13 Jun 1943	0809	Taranto	13 Jun 1943	1200	Taranto	27,7	Exercises.
	Scrobogna, Paolo	14 Jun 1943	1744	Taranto	14 Jun 1943	2050	Taranto	29,5	Exercises.
	Scrobogna, Paolo	16 Jun 1943	1316	Taranto	16 Jun 1943	1811	Taranto	39,9	Exercises.
	Scrobogna, Paolo	6 Jul 1943	0648	Taranto	6 Jul 1943	1005	Taranto		Exercises.
	Scrobogna, Paolo	14 Jul 1943	0540	Taranto	14 Jul 1943	1016	Taranto		Exercises with the torpedo boats Partenope and Pallade.
19	Scrobogna, Paolo	19 Jul 1943	0345	Taranto	20 Jul 1943	1415	Taranto	147	Hydrophone watch in 39°49'N, 17°36'E, on a patrol line with Zoea.
		19 Jul 1943	0933		At 0933 hours, a derelict mine was sighted and sunk by machine gun fire.
		19 Jul 1943	1015		At 1015 hours, a derelict mine was sighted and sunk by machine gun fire.
20	Scrobogna, Paolo	21 Jul 1943	0644	Taranto	23 Jul 1943	0658	Taranto		Sailed with Zoea for hydrophone watch in 39°40'N, 17°30'E, east of Punta Alice (Gulf of Taranto). Uneventful.
21	Scrobogna, Paolo	24 Jul 1943	1855	Taranto	29 Jul 1943	0605	Sunk		Micca sailed from Taranto for Naples around Sicily. Due to defects she was forced to return to Taranto.At 0605 hours, on 29th July 1943, when 3 miles southwest of Cape Santa Maria di Leuca, she was torpedoed by HMS Trooper and sunk.
		29 Jul 1943	0605 0654.5 (e)	39° 45'N, 18° 17'E	At 0605 hours, Pietro Micca was returning to Taranto when two torpedo tracks were sighted. The first was avoided, but the second hit just aft of the conning tower and the submarine sank very quickly. The culprit was the submarine HMS Trooper (Lieutenant G.S.C. Clarabut, RN). Two objects had been sighted at 0638C hours, in poor visibility. At 0645 hours, this was identified as a MARCELLO class submarine at a distance of 4,800 yards, steering 330° at 11-15 knots. The British submarine was handicapped because her ASDIC was out of action and enemy speed had to be estimated. The Italian submarine was then observed to alter course to 275°. At 0654.5 hours, six torpedoes were fired at range of 4,600 yards and one hit was heard. A torpedo was a circler and missed the British submarine by passing over her stern so the result of the attack could not be observed. Eighteen survivors (including T.V. Paolo Scrobogna) were picked up by the pilot vessel Vincenzo Dormio (F.81, 217 tons, built 1917), sent to escort her in, which arrived on the scene just after the attack. Two officers and fifty-two ratings perished. A number of vessels were immediately dispatched to attempt a rescue as it was believed that some survivors were in the forward section. These were the corvettes Sfinge, Pomona, Scimitarra and Driade and the auxiliary Monella (A.S.200). The submarine Onice was also sailed but was eventually diverted to Gallipoli. Sfinge sailed from Taranto at 1125 hours, bringing several specialists with her, including Capitano G.N. Galbo (who had served on Micca) and five deep sea divers. The corvette reached the spot at 1600 hours, where she found Bormio, the auxiliary Monella and two minesweepers already there to give any assistance. The soundings by Sfinge revealed that the wreck was at a depth of 84 metres. The divers declared that this was beyond their capabilities and, reluctantly, the effort was abandoned. In 1995, the wreck of Pietro Micca was located 2.5 miles - 241 ° from Santa Maria di Leuca or approximately 39°47' N, 18°18' E in 82-84 meters of water.

104 entries. 94 total patrol entries (21 marked as war patrols) and 31 events.

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