Italian submarines in World War Two


CB 1
CB 1

TypeMidget 
ClassCB (42) 
Laid down Caproni-Taliedo, Milan
Launched
Commissioned27 Jan 1941
End service
Stricken
Loss date25 Aug 1944
Loss position44° 07'N, 28° 40'E
History Transferred to the Black Sea. Transferred to Romania after the armistice. Scuttled by the Romanians on 25th August 1944. Raised by the Soviets and commissioned as TM-4. Scrapped in 1945.
Fate

Commands


CommanderDate fromDate toCommand notes
T.V. Enrico Lesen d'Aston10 May 194131 Dec 1941
S.T.V. Alberto FarolfiAug 1942Oct 1942
G.M. Giovanni ReAug 1943Sep 1943

Ships hit

No ships hit by this submarine.

Patrols and events

 CommanderDateTimePortArr. dateArr. timeArr. portMilesDescription
19 Oct 19400910La Spezia19 Oct 1940La SpeziaExercises.

30 Oct 19400905La Spezia30 Oct 19401000La SpeziaExercises.

22 Nov 19400945La Spezia22 Nov 19401245La SpeziaExercises.

23 Nov 19400955La Spezia23 Nov 19401315La SpeziaExercises.

26 Nov 19401525La Spezia26 Nov 1940La SpeziaTrials or exercises?

6 Dec 19400930La Spezia6 Dec 19401035La SpeziaExercises.

16 Dec 19401020La Spezia16 Dec 19401155La SpeziaExercises.

20 Dec 19401055La Spezia20 Dec 19401425La SpeziaExercises.

7 Feb 19411525La Spezia7 Feb 1941La SpeziaExercises, escorted by the torpedo boat Monzabano.

19 Feb 19411450La Spezia19 Feb 1941La SpeziaExercises.

26 Feb 19410950La Spezia26 Feb 19411130La SpeziaExercises.

1 Mar 19411040La Spezia1 Mar 19411150La SpeziaTrials?

6 Mar 19411440La Spezia6 Mar 19411530La Spezia3Exercises.

15 Mar 19411500 or 14/3?La Spezia15 Mar 19411605La Spezia3Exercises.

20 Mar 19411430La Spezia20 Mar 19411600La Spezia3Exercises.

21 Mar 19411550La Spezia21 Mar 1941Date?La Spezia3Exercises.

27 Mar 19411530La Spezia27 Mar 19411645La Spezia3Exercises.

11 Apr 19411527La Spezia11 Apr 1941La Spezia3Exercises.

22 Apr 19410830La Spezia22 Apr 19411815La SpeziaExercises with the submarine Scirè and the tugs Torre Annunziata, Capodistria and Crotone.

23 Apr 19410750La Spezia23 Apr 19411825La SpeziaExercises with the tug Meloria.

6 May 19411820La Spezia7 May 1941La SpeziaExercises.

8 May 19410725La Spezia8 May 19411155La Spezia12Exercises.

10 May 1941La Spezia10 May 19411155La SpeziaEntered service.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico12 May 19410725La Spezia12 May 19410945La Spezia7Exercises.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico16 May 19410800La Spezia16 May 19411600La Spezia40Exercises.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico27 May 19411330La Spezia27 May 19411900La Spezia28Exercises.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico28 May 19411330La Spezia28 May 19411800La Spezia22Exercises.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico29 May 19411330La Spezia29 May 19411900La Spezia24Exercises.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico30 May 19411400La Spezia30 May 19411900La Spezia23Exercises.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico4 Jun 19410900La Spezia4 Jun 19411200La Spezia15Exercises.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico4 Jun 19411400La Spezia4 Jun 19411700La Spezia10Exercises.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico20 Jun 19411500La Spezia20 Jun 19411700La Spezia9Exercises.

1Lesen d'Aston, Enrico25 Jun 19410600La Spezia27 Jun 19410831La Spezia153Patrol to test the possibilities of the CB-boats. Uneventful. Sighted only Italian vessels.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico15 Jul 19411535La Spezia15 Jul 19411815La Spezia9,8Exercises.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico19 Jul 19410820La Spezia19 Jul 19411215La Spezia19Exercises.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico22 Jul 19411430La Spezia22 Jul 19411800La Spezia19,3Exercises.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico26 Jul 19412045La Spezia27 Jul 19410230La Spezia23Exercises.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico28 Jul 19411600La Spezia28 Jul 19411830La Spezia3Exercises.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico29 Jul 19410900La Spezia29 Jul 19411130La Spezia5Exercises.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico4 Aug 19410930La Spezia4 Aug 19411150La Spezia14Exercises.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico7 Aug 19410925La Spezia7 Aug 19411110La Spezia9Exercises.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico9 Aug 19412135La Spezia10 Aug 19410145La Spezia14Exercises.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico11 Aug 19410912La Spezia11 Aug 19411350La Spezia13Exercises.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico12 Aug 19412025La Spezia12 Aug 19412400La Spezia14Exercises, escorted by the tug Porto Sdoba.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico2 Sep 19411020La Spezia2 Sep 19411210La Spezia3Exercises or changed anchorage.

2Lesen d'Aston, Enrico9 Sep 19410525Naples9 Sep 19411300Salerno40Antisubmarine patrol.

3Lesen d'Aston, Enrico20 Sep 19411600Salerno21 Sep 19411545Salerno106Antisubmarine patrol. Sighted only Italian fishing vessels.

4Lesen d'Aston, Enrico14 Oct 19411710Salerno15 Oct 19411200Salerno77,5Antisubmarine patrol with CB 5 Uneventful.
  14 Oct 19412006
(0) Off Salerno.
At 2006 hours, the midget submarine CB 5 was sighted at a distance of 300-400 metres.

5Lesen d'Aston, Enrico22 Oct 19411800Salerno23 Oct 19410700Salerno57,5Antisubmarine surface patrol. Uneventful.

6Lesen d'Aston, Enrico26 Oct 19411800Salerno27 Oct 19410841Salerno66Antisubmarine patrol on the surface with CB 5. Uneventful.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico17 Nov 19410915Salerno17 Nov 19411518Salerno20Exercises.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico18 Nov 19410830Salerno18 Nov 19411535Salerno25Exercises.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico19 Nov 19410900La Spezia19 Nov 19411255La Spezia?Exercises.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico23 Dec 19411030Salerno23 Dec 19411200Salerno?Exercises.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico4 Jan 19420825Salernoa4 Jan 19421440Naples40Passage Salerno-Naples on the surface at 6 knots, then to La Spezia by train (the date of the transfer by train is not known).

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico24 Feb 19421300La Spezia24 Feb 19421705La Spezia20Exercises, escorted by the torpedo boat Carini.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico26 Feb 19420955La Spezia26 Feb 19421415La Spezia15Exercises with the submarine H 4, escorted by MAS 505 and MAS 525.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico16 Mar 19420920La Spezia16 Mar 19421420La Spezia18Exercises.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico21 Mar 19421430La Spezia21 Mar 19421900La Spezia15Exercises, escorted by the auxiliaries San Marco and Santantioco. In April 1942, moved by train from La Spezia to Costanza.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico22 May 19420945Costanza22 May 19421400CostanzaExercises.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico2 Jun 19422330Costanza5 Jun 19421055Yalta280Passage Costanza-Yalta with CB 2 and CB 3.
  3 Jun 19420558At 0558 hours, a German aircraft was sighted and exchanged recognition signals.
  5 Jun 19420310
(0) 191° - Cape Sarytch - 25 miles.
At 0310 hours, a Soviet destroyer was sighted at a distance of 7,000 metres, steering 140° at 18 knots. The midget submarine CB 2 was within voice range and was informed, but neither submarine was in a position to intercept.

7Lesen d'Aston, Enrico7 Jun 19421900Yalta8 Jun 19420710Yalta68Patrolled south of Sevastopol between 44°10'N and 43°50'N, and between 33°10'E and 33°24'E. Uneventful.

8Lesen d'Aston, Enrico12 Jun 19421400Yalta14 Jun 19420920Yalta111Patrolled south of Sevastopol, on the meridian of Cape Sarych, 25 miles from the cape, then at dawn of the 13th 173° - Cape Chersonese - 23 miles. Uneventful.
  13 Jun 19420640
(0) Off Yalta.
At 0640 hours, the midget submarine CB 3 was sighted returning to Yalta.

9Lesen d'Aston, Enrico16 Jun 19421800Yalta18 Jun 19421110Yalta191Patrolled south of Cape Sarych and south of Sevastopol. According to sailing orders, was to have patrolled in 43°44'N, 33°33'E and 44°15'N, 33°33'E (probably patrolled only latter position as she sailed one day later than ordered).
  17 Jun 19421020
(0) South of Sevastopol.
At 1020 hours, the midget submarine CB 2. was sighted.
  17 Jun 19421505
(0) South of Sevastopol.
At 1505 hours, a Soviet submarine was seen emerging from the fog at a distance of 5,000 metres. CB 1 attempted to attack, but closed only to 4,000 meters before the enemy submarine turned away and disappeared into the fog.
  17 Jun 19421843
(0) About 12 miles east of Cape Chersonese.
At 1843 hours, two Soviet bombers were sighted at a distance of 2,000 metres. CB 1 dived.
  17 Jun 19422025
(0) South of Cape Chersonese.
At 2025 hours, three Soviet MTBs exchanging signals were sighted at distances of 400, 800 and 2,000 metres. CB 1 dived.
  17 Jun 19422105
(0) South of Cape Chersonese.
At 2105 hours, a small Soviet torpedo boat was sighted at a distance of 1,000 metres. CB 1 could not attack as its two torpedoes were set for a depth of three meters.
  17 Jun 19422231-0100/18
(0) South of Cape Chersonese.
From 2231 hours on 17th June to 0100 hours on the 18th, CB 1 was subject to a depth charge attack, apparently by two MTBs. The submarine could not dive below 30 meters because of a leak and counted 17 depth-charges, but was not damaged. The submarine surfaced at 0120 hours on the 18th and sighted nothing but, at 0335 hours, the two MTBS were seen again at a distance of 3,000 meters.

10Lesen d'Aston, Enrico24 Jun 19421800Yalta26 Jun 19421000Yalta120Patrolled south of Cape Sarych and south of Sevastopol in 44°05'N, 34°00'E.
  24 Jun 19422210
(0) Near Yalta.
At 2210 hours, two Soviet MTBs exchanging signals, were sighted at a distance of 3,000 metres.
  25 Jun 19420822At 0822 hours, an aircraft was seen at a distance of 2,000 metres and CB 1dived.

At 1943 hours, information was received of an enemy destroyer 14 miles to the south of midget position. Because of the heavy seas, CB 1 was unable to intercept.

11Lesen d'Aston, Enrico29 Jun 19421800Yalta1 Jul 19421123Yalta93Patrolled south of Cape Sarych or 30 miles south of Yalta.
  29 Jun 19422105
(0) Near Yalta.
At 2105, a Soviet MTB was sighted.
  30 Jun 19420755At 0755 hours, a Soviet submarine was sighted at a distance of 4 miles and dived shortly after. CB 1 attempted to close using her hydrophones, but lost contact at 1105 hours.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico7 Jul 19421400Yalta9 Jul 19422000Costanza289Passage Yalta-Costanza with CB 4. Marred by defects.

Lesen d'Aston, Enrico20 Aug 1942Time?Costanza20 Aug 1942Time?Costanza10Exercises?.

Farolfi, Alberto29 Aug 19421830Costanza30 Aug 19421330Sulina30Passage Costanza-Sulina with CB 6.

12Farolfi, Alberto31 Aug 19421315Sulina2 Sep 19421020CostanzaPatrolled north of Sulina between (a) 45°42'15'N, 30°09'E (b) 45°34'N, 30°18'E (C) 45°33'N, 29°54'E (D) 45°25'N, 30°03.5'E. Uneventful.

Farolfi, Alberto4 Sep 19421400Sulina5 Sep 19420715Costanza248Passage Sulina-Costanza with CB 6.

Farolfi, Alberto13 Sep 19421835Costanza14 Sep 19421330SulinaPassage Costanza-Sulina with CB 4 and CB 6.

Farolfi, Alberto16 Sep 19421900Sulina17 Sep 19420900SulinaPassage Sulina-Costanza with CB 4 and CB 6 and a convoy led by a Rumanian gunboat, but then all vessels turned back on account of the bad weather.

Farolfi, Alberto19 Sep 19421810Sulina20 Sep 19421640CostanzaPassage Sulina-Costanza with CB 4 and CB 6 and a convoy led by a Rumanian gunboat.

Farolfi, Alberto25 Sep 19421210Costanza26 Sep 19421720Ak MetschetPassage Costanza-Ak Metschet, part of the time in tow of the German lighter F-534, with CB 4 and CB 6 and a convoy.

Farolfi, Alberto28 Sep 19421000Ak Metschet28 Sep 19421822SkadowskPassage Ak Metschet-Skadowsk with with CB 4 and CB 6. Uneventful.

Farolfi, Alberto15 Oct 19420907Skadowsk15 Oct 19421745Ak MetschetPassage Skadowsk-Ak Metschet with with CB 4 and CB 6.

Farolfi, Alberto15 Oct 19422045Ak Metschet16 Oct 19421455Sevastopol608,85Passage Ak Metschet-Sevastopol with with CB 4 and CB 6 [mileage from 13th September 1942].

24 Oct 19420700Sevastopol24 Oct 19421630YaltaPassage Sevastopol-Yalta with CB 4.

1327 Oct 19421500Yalta29 Oct 19420900YaltaAntisubmarine patrol off Yalta with CB 4.

1430 Oct 19421900Yalta31 Oct 19421230SevastopolPassage Yalta-Sevastopol and antisubmarine patrol with CB 4.

1522 Nov 19420630Sevastopol23 Nov 19421400C. Tendra (anchored)Passage Sevastopol-Costanza with CB 2, CB 4 and CB 6 including antisubmarine patrol and stops at Cape Tendra (due to bad weather), Odessa, Bugaz and Sulina.

24 Nov 19420600C. Tendra24 Nov 19421630OtchakovPassage Cape Tendra-Otchakov with CB 2, CB 4 and CB 6.

26 Nov 19420630Otchakov26 Nov 19421200OtchakovPassage Otchakov-Odessa with CB 2, CB 4 and CB 6 but then turned back because of the bad weather.

27 Nov 19420600Otchakov27 Nov 19421400OdessaPassage Otchakov-Odessa with CB 2, CB 4 and CB 6.

28 Nov 19420600Odessa28 Nov 19421500BugazPassage Odessa-Bugaz with CB 2, CB 4 and CB 6.

30 Nov 19420600Bugaz30 Nov 19422000SulinaPassage Bugaz-Sulina with CB 2, CB 4 and CB 6.

1 Dec 19421100Sulina1 Dec 1942Time?SulinaTrials. CB 1 and CB 6 remained in Sulina, while CB 2 and CB 4 were ordered to Costanza.

15 Jun 19430700Costanza15 Jun 19431200CostanzaExercises.

16 Jun 19430700Costanza16 Jun 19431200CostanzaExercises.

17 Jun 19430730Costanza17 Jun 19431200CostanzaExercises.

19 Jun 19430730Costanza19 Jun 19431130CostanzaExercises.

23 Jun 19430730Costanza23 Jun 19431200CostanzaExercises.

25 Jun 19430800Costanza25 Jun 19431130CostanzaExercises.

163 Jul 19430900Costanza5 Jul 19431500CostanzaSailed with CB 4 and patrolled 20 miles West of Kaliakra. Uneventful.

1710 Jul 19430800 (s.o.)Costanza12 Jul 19431430CostanzaSailed with CB 4 for exercises and A/S patrol via Point CS 4 and CS 1 to point "Hamburg" (eastward of Kaliakra). Uneventul.

17 Jul 19430730Costanza17 Jul 19431100CostanzaExercises.

17 Jul 19430730Costanza17 Jul 19431100CostanzaExercises.

22 Jul 19430700Costanza23 Jul 19430000SulinaPassage Costanza-Sulina with CB 6 towed by the German tug Stralsund. Escorted by the submarine chaser UJ-2305 as far as 31°30'E, proceeded alone to SN 3 (Sevastopol) to escort two F-lighters and two HS-boats.

24 Jul 19432225Sulina26 Jul 19431230SevastopolPassage Sulina-Sevastopol with CB 6, the German submarine chaser UJ-2305 and the tugs Gastein and Stralsund; then escorted the lighters F-301 and F-304.

182 Aug 19430610Sevastopol4 Aug 19431900Sevastopol172Antisubmarine patrol.

Re, Giovanni7 Aug 19430500Sevastopol7 Aug 19431500YaltaPassage Sevastopol-Yalta with CB 6.

Re, Giovanni7 Aug 19430500Sevastopol7 Aug 19431500YaltaPassage Sevastopol-Yalta with CB 6.

19Re, Giovanni7 Aug 19431800Yalta10 Aug 19431230Sevastopol248Hydrophone patrol off Yalta with CB 6.

20Re, Giovanni16 Aug 19430600Sevastopol18 Aug 19431445SevastopolA/S patrol between (a) 44°15'N, 33°45'E (b) 44°00N, 33°45'E (c) 44°15'N, 34°15'E (d) 44°15'N, 34°45'E. Only sailing orders have survived.

21Re, Giovanni22 Aug 19430510Sevastopol23 Aug 19432230SevastopolPatrolled between 45°00'N and 45°30'N, and between 32°00'E and 32°30'E.
  23 Aug 1943030045° 12'N, 32° 30'E
(0) Approximately.
At 0300 hours, a torpedo missed CB 1. It was probably fired by the same submarine (SC-203) attacked and sunk by CB 4 a half hour later. In 1949, the wreck of SC-203 was located. Her no. 1 and no. 4 tubes were found empty and speculation was made that she fired them at CB 1.
  23 Aug 19430326
0328 (e)

(0) 35 miles west of Eupatoria or near Luft Quadrat 2681.
At 0326 hours, CB 1 fired two torpedoes at a Soviet submarine. The torpedoes deviated from their course and missed.

The target was probably SC-203 (Captain 3rd rank Vladimir Innokentyevich Nemchinov) who would be sunk three days later by CB 4.

22Re, Giovanni30 Aug 19430645Sevastopol1 Sep 19431545SevastopolPatrolled in Evapatoria Bay.

Re, Giovanni9 Sep 1943Yalta9 Sep 1943YaltaSeized at Yalta.

23Re, Giovanni15 Sep 1943Yalta or Sevastopol (DEU)?16 Sep 19430045YaltaParticipated in Operation MAINTLAND.
  15 Sep 1943
2145 (e)

(0) South of Cape Sarych.
At 2145 hours, three enemy vessels were sighted at a range of about 1,000 meters, steering west, speed 6-7 knots. One was a barge or very flat vessel, about 20 metres in length without any superstructure and believed to be carrying ammunition. Four men in rubber suits could be observed on board. The other two vessels seemed to be escorting gunboats. CB 1 fired a single torpedo at a very close range aimed at the barge. It was claimed sunk but the proximity of the explosion of the midget's own torpedo damaged her, causing the breakdown of the engine and a leak aft.

Both the gunboats made off, dropping a few depth charges. Apparently the purpose of the Soviet operation was to land agents behind enemy lines.

3 Dec 19433 Dec 1943According to an ULTRA signal, she flew the Rumanian flag on 3 December 1943.

30 Jan 194430 Jan 1944Returned to the Italian Fascist Republic.

25 Aug 1944Costanza25 Aug 1944ScuttledSunk to avoid falling into Soviet hands.

121 entries. 112 total patrol entries (23 marked as war patrols) and 17 events.

All Italian submarines