Italian submarines in World War Two
Ondina (ON)
Ondina
Type | Coastal / Sea going | |
Class | Sirena (21) | |
Laid down | 25 Jul 1931 | Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Monfalcone |
Launched | 2 Dec 1933 | |
Commissioned | 19 Sep 1934 | |
End service | ||
Stricken | ||
Loss date | 11 Jul 1942 | |
Loss position | 34° 30'N, 34° 48'E | |
History | ||
Fate | Sunk on 11th July 1942 to the north-west of Beirut in position 34°30'N, 34°48'E by depth charges from the South African A/S whalers HMSAS Southern Maid and HMSAS Protea and a Walrus aircraft from 700 Squadron (RAF). |
Commands
Commander | Date from | Date to | Command notes |
---|---|---|---|
T.V. Vincenzo D'Amato | 5 Apr 1940 | 18 Nov 1940 | |
T.V. Corrado Dal Pozzo | 18 Nov 1940 | 28 Feb 1942 | |
T.V. Gabriele Andolfi | 28 Feb 1942 | 11 Jul 1942 |
Ships hit
Date | Commander | Ship hit | Type | GRT | Nat. | Loss type | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 23 Jun 1941 | T.V. Corrado Dal Pozzo | Refah | Cargo ship | 3,512 | Sunk |
Patrols and events
Commander | Date | Time | Port | Arr. date | Arr. time | Arr. port | Miles | Description | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D'Amato, Vincenzo | 8 Jun 1940 | 1238 | Brindisi | 8 Jun 1940 | 1604 | Brindisi | Exercises (16.7 miles). | |||
1 | D'Amato, Vincenzo | 27 Jun 1940 | 0900 | Brindisi | 5 Jul 1940 | 0705 | Augusta | 865,5 | Sailed for patrol in 34°16'N, 23°24'E as part of patrol line with Anfitrite, Salpa and Uebi Scebeli from a point 15 miles southwest of Gaudo to a point 40 miles northeast of Derna. | |
28 Jun 1940 | 1412 1405 (e) | At 1135 hours, a tall column of water was observed at 10,000 metres. An aircraft then was sighted in the same direction (this was probably the first attack on Anfitrite). Ondina dived to a depth of 40 metres. From 1230 to 1250 hours, six distant explosions were heard. At 1400 hours, the submarine was back at periscope depth when an aircraft was sighted and she was taken back down to 40 metres. At 1412 hours, she was at a depth of 35 metres, when a loud explosion was felt near her starboard side. T.V. D'Amato took his submarine to 60 metres and was no more disturbed. This was almost certainly Sunderland 'S' (L.5804) of 230 Squadron, piloted by Flight Lieutenant W.W. Campbell, attacking the submarine Anfitrite who was in the vicinity. | ||||||||
28 Jun 1940 | 2315 | 37° 21'N, 19° 51'E (0) Approximately. | At 2315 hours, a submarine, believed to be enemy, was sighted at 200 metres, bearing 020° to port. Ondina turned to starboard in an attempt to fire a stern shot and the sterns of the two submarines missed each other by about 30 meters, Ondina dived immediately to 30 meters and attempted to detect the submarine with hydrophones, but all contact was lost at 0052 hours on the 29th. This was possibly Rubino who was lost the next day. | |||||||
29 Jun 1940 | 0615 0430 or 0630 (e) | 38° 24'N, 18° 39'E | At 0615 hours, Ondina was proceeding at a depth of 40 meters when she was shaken by a violent explosion (probably an aircraft bomb as hydrophones had not picked up a contact). The submarine went down to 65 meters and escaped damage. This was Sunderland 5806 'Q' of 228 Squadron attacking Sirena. | |||||||
29 Jun 1940 | 0640-0650 | 38° 24'N, 18° 39'E (0) Approximately. | Between 0640 and 0650 hours, Ondina was attacked by a destroyer with fifteen depth-charges. The submarine was shaken but escaped serious damage. | |||||||
29 Jun 1940 | 0700-0805 | 38° 24'N, 18° 39'E (0) Approximately. | Between 0700 and 0805 hours, Ondina was attacked by a destroyer who dropped eighteen depth-charges. The submarine was shaken but escaped briefly to 86 meters but could not maintain silent running below 40 meters. She finally escaped without further damage. | |||||||
29 Jun 1940 | 1445 | 38° 24'N, 18° 39'E (0) Approximately. | At 1445, Ondina was attacked by a destroyer who dropped two depth-charges. The submarine escaped damage. | |||||||
30 Jun 1940 | 1400-1550 | 36° 37'N, 20° 50'E (0) Approximately. | At 1400 hours, Ondina Ondina was attacked by an aircraft which dropped two bombs. Two more bombs fell at 1550 hours. The submarine escaped damage. | |||||||
1 Jul 1940 | 1037-1047 | 35° 13'N, 20° 44'E | At 1037, 1045 and 1047 hours, Ondina reported being bombed by an aircraft. This probably refers to the attack on Bragadino at this time. | |||||||
1 Jul 1940 | 1325 | 36° 37'N, 20° 50'E (0) Approximately. | At 1325 hours, Ondina was attacked by a destroyer with five depth-charges. The submarine was shaken but escaped damage. | |||||||
1 Jul 1940 | 2003 | 34° 45'N, 21° 42'E | At 2003 hours, two vessels were observed moving at high speed at a distance of 3,500 metre. One of them was described as similar to Principessa Maria. Ondina fired three warning shots, followed by seven rounds. These were the Italians Principessa Giovanna and Piemonte, on passage from Tobruk to Bari and mistaken for enemy vessels. They reported attacked at 1952 hours. AT 2050 hours, Ondina had to break off the action because of the heavy seas. She had also developed defects, which would force her to abort patrol the next day. | |||||||
D'Amato, Vincenzo | 14 Jul 1940 | 0440 | Augusta | 15 Jul 1940 | 1226 | Taranto | 316 | Passage Augusta-Taranto. | ||
D'Amato, Vincenzo | 31 Aug 1940 | 0722 | Taranto | 31 Aug 1940 | 1720 | Taranto | 67 | Exercises. | ||
D'Amato, Vincenzo | 3 Sep 1940 | 0851 | Taranto | 3 Sep 1940 | 1831 | Taranto | 56 | Exercises. | ||
D'Amato, Vincenzo | 4 Sep 1940 | 1400 | Taranto | 4 Sep 1940 | 1910 | Taranto | 33 | Exercises. | ||
2 | D'Amato, Vincenzo | 6 Sep 1940 | 2321 | Taranto | 25 Sep 1940 | 1815 | Taranto | 2068,1 | Patrolled north of Mersa Matruh between 32°10'N and Egyptian coast, and between 27°00'E and 27°40'E, on a patrol line with Uarsciek. | |
13 Sep 1940 | 1134 | (0) Off Marsa Matruh. | At 1134 hours, Ondina was attacked by an aircraft with three bombs. The submarine was violently shaken but did not suffer significant damage. She heard more explosions at 1541 hours. | |||||||
17 Sep 1940 | 0530-0535 | (0) Off Marsa Matruh. | At 0530 hours, Ondina was bombed by an aircraft and again at 0535 hours. The submarine was undamaged. | |||||||
17 Sep 1940 | 0632 | (0) Off Marsa Matruh. | At 0632 hours, Ondina was depth charged by an enemy vessel. The submarine stopped her engines at 60-70 meters and, at 0833 hours, the vessel abandoned the hunt. | |||||||
17 Sep 1940 | 1420 | (0) Off Marsa Matruh. | At 1420 hours, Ondina was proceeding submerged when she was suddenly bombed by an aircraft. A heavy bomb exploded very near the bow shaking the submarine violently, another bomb was dropped at 1450 hours and, yet another at 1540 hours. | |||||||
17 Sep 1940 | 1849-1858 | (0) Off Marsa Matruh. | Between 1849 and 1858 hours, Ondina was depth charged by three enemy vessels. The submarine escaped despite the vessels using ASDIC as they passed over her. | |||||||
17 Sep 1940 | 2210 | (0) Off Marsa Matruh. | At 2210 hours, Ondina attempted to attack one of the three vessels hunting her, but the vessel turned towards her and dropped depth-charges. The submarine escaped by diving to 60 meters. | |||||||
18 Sep 1940 | 0507 | (0) Off Marsa Matruh. | At 0507 hours, Ondina was proceeding at a depth of 50 metres when bombs(apparently from an aircraft) exploded near her. Another salvo fell at 0535 hours. At 0632-0634 hours, the submarine was depth-charged by a surface craft, the submarine had stopped all machines and remained at a depth of 60-70 metres. At 0833 hours, the vessel dropped more bombs and was gone. | |||||||
D'Amato, Vincenzo | 24 Oct 1940 | 1330 | Taranto | 24 Oct 1940 | 1810 | Taranto | 24,9 | Exercises. | ||
D'Amato, Vincenzo | 26 Oct 1940 | 0836 | Taranto | 26 Oct 1940 | 1350 | Taranto | 43,7 | Exercises. | ||
D'Amato, Vincenzo | 28 Oct 1940 | 0830 | Taranto | 28 Oct 1940 | 1222 | Taranto | 23,9 | Exercises. | ||
3 | D'Amato, Vincenzo | 3 Nov 1940 | 2124 | Taranto | 4 Nov 1940 | 1051 | Taranto | 72,3 | Defensive patrol in Gulf of Taranto (hydrophone watch). Uneventful. | |
4 | D'Amato, Vincenzo | 5 Nov 1940 | 2115 | Taranto | 6 Nov 1940 | 1246 | Taranto | 84,5 | Defensive patrol off Taranto in point A. At 0550 hours on the 6th sighted intense AA barrage from Taranto. | |
5 | D'Amato, Vincenzo | 12 Nov 1940 | 0410 | Taranto | 13 Nov 1940 | 1726 | Taranto | 170 | Defensive patrol in 232° - Torre Ovo - 16'. At 1950 hours on the 12th, she sighted an intense AA barrage from Taranto. | |
6 | D'Amato, Vincenzo | 15 Nov 1940 | 0240 | Taranto | 15 Nov 1940 | 1055 | Taranto | 49,2 | Defensive patrol off Taranto. Uneventful. | |
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 1 Jan 1941 | 1410 | Taranto | 1 Jan 1941 | 1752 | Taranto | 23 | Exercises. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 2 Jan 1941 | 1025 | Taranto | 2 Jan 1941 | 1825 | Taranto | 44 | Exercises. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 5 Jan 1941 | 1243 | Taranto | 5 Jan 1941 | 1919 | Taranto | 23,5 | Exercises. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 7 Jan 1941 | 1115 | Taranto | 7 Jan 1941 | 1532 | Taranto | 26 | Exercises. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 9 Jan 1941 | 0852 | Taranto | 9 Jan 1941 | 1618 | Taranto | 21,8 | Exercises with submarine chaser Vieste. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 10 Jan 1941 | 0807 | Taranto | 10 Jan 1941 | 1520 | Taranto | 53,6 | Exercises with the submarines Millelire and Speri. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 12 Jan 1941 | 0729 | Taranto | 12 Jan 1941 | 1600 | Taranto | 42,5 | Exercises. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 13 Jan 1941 | 0839 | Taranto | 13 Jan 1941 | 1031 | Taranto | 5 | Exercises with the torpedo boat Polluce. | ||
7 | Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 20 Jan 1941 | 2115 | Taranto | 21 Jan 1941 | 1110 | Taranto | 75 | A/S patrol in 40°00'N, 17°20'E. Uneventful. | |
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 23 Jan 1941 | 0916 | Taranto | 27 Jan 1941 | 0845 | Leros | 683 | Passage Taranto-Leros. Uneventful, except for the bad weather. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 5 Mar 1941 | 0850 | Leros | 5 Mar 1941 | 1637 | Leros | 34 | Exercises. | ||
8 | Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 8 Mar 1941 | 0340 | Leros | 19 Mar 1941 | 0715 | Leros | 1040 | Patrolled SSE of Scarpanto within 20 miles from 34°20'N, 27°40'E on a NE-SW axis. | |
13 Mar 1941 | 1420-1735 | (0) Near Kasos Strait. | At 1420 hours, smokes were sighted on the horizon. At 1450 hours, the upper works of a destroyer could be discerned at 15,000 metres. Later, the convoy could be seen, consisting of eight merchant ships, escorted by a light cruiser of the CERES or CALEDON class and two destroyers, on a NNW course. This was most likely convoy AN.19 escorted by the antiaircraft cruiser HMS Coventry and the Greek destroyers Spetsai and Hydra. Ondina vainly attempted to close, but gave up at 1735 hours as the distance was now 10 miles and she just made an enemy report. | |||||||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 3 Apr 1941 | 2157 | Leros | 4 Apr 1941 | 0206 | Leros | 36 | Exercises. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 19 Apr 1941 | 0730 | Leros | 19 Apr 1941 | 1205 | Leros | 29 | Exercises. | ||
9 | Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 19 Apr 1941 | 2226 | Leros | 28 Apr 1941 | 1530 | Leros | 804,5 | Patrolled in 35°30'N, 36°20'E then, from 24th April, in 33°20'N, 26°00'E, off Cape Plaka on Alexandria-Cape Sidero route and Kasos Straits. | |
25 Apr 1941 | 1956 | (0) Near Cape Plaka (or near Cape Kaso). | Several hydrophone effects had been heard since 1518 hours. At 1956 hours, Ondina had just surfaced when a large MTB was sighted at a distance of 500 metres. The submarine dived immediately, but the hatch could not be properly closed until a rating managed to unblock it and the submarine dived to 85 meters. Depth-charges exploded but high above the submarine. Other patterns of depth charges followed at 2023, 2024 and 2025 and a last one at 2320 hours, which caused some damage forcing the submarine to 130 meters. H.E. continued to be heard and oxygen was running out. At 1830 hours on 26th April, Ondina finally surfaced with the gun crews at the ready, but fortunately the horizon was clear of enemy vessels. The damage inflicted by the depth-charging and S.T.V. Galletti who had been very sick with high fever since 22nd April forced the abandonment of the patrol. | |||||||
10 | Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 11 May 1941 | Leros | 11 May 1941 | 1517 | Leros | Onice was to have sailed during the day (or in the evening) for the "Dario" area (or area D, Kaso Strait) but apparently was recalled. | |||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 9 Jun 1941 | 1643 | Portolago (Leros) | 9 Jun 1941 | 1304 | Portolago (Leros) | 24 | Exercises. | ||
11 | Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 13 Jun 1941 | 1643 | Leros | 27 Jun 1941 | 1304 | Leros | 1066 | Patrolled between Alexandretta and Cape Andreas, Cyprus. | |
23 Jun 1941 | 2130 | 36° 08'N, 34° 44'E | At about 2000 hours, a vessel was sighted coming from the direction of Mersin (Turkey). At 2100 hours, Ondina began closing for the attack. The vessel was flying the Turkish flag and estimated at about 9,000 GRT. At 2130 hours, two torpedoes (533mm) were fired from the bow tubes at a range of 1,000 metres, They missed ahead. This was the Turkish Refah (3,512 GRT, built 1901) on her way from Mersin to Alexandria (or Port Said) carrying Turkish naval officers destined to England for a submarine course. Ondina turned sharply to port to revert course and fired a stern torpedo (533mm) from 1,000 metres. It squarely hit the vessel, followed 30 or 40 seconds later by a secondary explosion, believed to be from boilers exploding. She sank at 2200 hours. The sinking could have proven an embarrassment to the Italian government, as Turkey was sought as an ally in the war against the Soviet Union. The Italians were ready to deny their involvement. Dal Pozzo had refrained from using his gun so as not to reveal that the vessel had been sunk by a submarine and this was justified as British authorities attributed the sinking to a mine. Captain Christopher Michael Cadogan of SOE was travelling on this ship (he was drowned). Of some 200 passengers and crew, 168 were missing and 32 survived. | |||||||
12 | Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 4 Aug 1941 | 2305 | Leros | 17 Aug 1941 | 1110 | Brindisi | 881,5 | Patrolled between 36°00'N and 36°40'N, and between 25°00'E and 25°40'E, off Island of Thera and passage to Brindisi. Uneventful. | |
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 22 Aug 1941 | 1800 | Brindisi | 24 Aug 1941 | 0635 | Pola | 360 | Passage Brindisi-Pola. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 26 Aug 1941 | 0511 | Pola | 26 Aug 1941 | 1125 | Monfalcone | 70 | Passage Pola-Monfalcone for repairs. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 11 Dec 1941 | 1007 | Monfalcone | 11 Dec 1941 | 1800 | Monfalcone | 29 | Exercises. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 15 Dec 1941 | 1045 | Monfalcone | 15 Dec 1941 | 1348 | Monfalcone | 10,5 | Exercises. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 17 Dec 1941 | 0940 | Monfalcone | 17 Dec 1941 | 1430 | Monfalcone | 7 | Exercises. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 18 Dec 1941 | 1015 | Monfalcone | 18 Dec 1941 | 1528 | Monfalcone | 14,5 | Exercises. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 20 Dec 1941 | 1031 | Monfalcone | 20 Dec 1941 | 1658 | Pola | 79 | Passage Monfalcone-Pola. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 23 Dec 1941 | 0907 | Pola | 23 Dec 1941 | 1710 | Pola | 24 | Diving trials, escorted by auxiliary San Giorgio. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 24 Dec 1941 | 0745 | Pola | 24 Dec 1941 | 1748 | Pola | 109,6 | Exercises. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 28 Dec 1941 | 1502 | Pola | 29 Dec 1941 | 1702 | Pola | 125,5 | Diving trials to 80 metres, escorted by the auxiliary Jadera. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 31 Dec 1941 | 0855 | Pola | 31 Dec 1941 | 1516 | Pola | 10 | Gyrocompass test. The following days were used for battery maintenance. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 4 Jan 1942 | 0819 | Pola | 4 Jan 1942 | 1650 | Pola | 57 | Exercises. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 5 Jan 1942 | 0811 | Pola | 5 Jan 1942 | 1626 | Pola | 37,5 | Exercises with the submarines Jalea, Des Geneys, Medusa and Speri, escorted by the torpedo boat Audace and the auxiliaries Jadera, San Giorgio and Trau. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 7 Jan 1942 | 0846 | Pola | 7 Jan 1942 | 1749 | Pola | 52 | Exercises. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 8 Jan 1942 | 0920 | Pola | 8 Jan 1942 | 1510 | Pola | 19 | Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary San Giorgio. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 12 Jan 1942 | 0840 | Pola | 12 Jan 1942 | 1428 | Pola | 12 | Exercises. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 13 Jan 1942 | 1621 | Pola | 14 Jan 1942 | 0114 | Pola | 58 | Exercises with the submarine Otaria, escorted by the auxiliaries San Giorgio and Jadera. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 14 Jan 1942 | 0909 | Pola | 14 Jan 1942 | 1545 | Pola | 41,5 | Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Trau. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 15 Jan 1942 | 0838 | Pola | 15 Jan 1942 | 1520 | Pola | 51,1 | Exercises with the submarine Jalea, escorted by the auxiliary Jadera. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 16 Jan 1942 | 1603 | Pola | 16 Jan 1942 | 2235 | Pola | 59 | Exercises with the submarine Des Geneys, escorted by the auxiliary San Giorgio. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 19 Jan 1942 | 1649 | Pola | 20 Jan 1942 | 0130 | Pola | 47 | Exercises (night firing) with the auxiliary Grado. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 21 Jan 1942 | 0847 | Pola | 21 Jan 1942 | 1700 | Pola | 50,7 | Exercises. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 24 Jan 1942 | 2311 | Pola | 26 Jan 1942 | 1020 | Brindisi | 362 | Passage Pola-Brindisi. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 30 Jan 1942 | 0832 | Brindisi | 30 Jan 1942 | 1540 | Brindisi | 31,5 | Exercises. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 5 Feb 1942 | 0955 | Brindisi | 5 Feb 1942 | 1529 | Brindisi | 22 | Exercises. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 6 Feb 1942 | 0902 | Brindisi | 6 Feb 1942 | 1531 | Brindisi | 20 | Exercises. | ||
Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 7 Feb 1942 | 0912 | Brindisi | 7 Feb 1942 | 1454 | Brindisi | 20 | Exercises. | ||
13 | Dal Pozzo, Corrado | 8 Feb 1942 | 1430 | Brindisi | 18 Feb 1942 | 1630 | Brindisi | 1114 | Patrolled off Cyrenaica, within 8 miles on the meridian from 34°30'N, 21°10'E, on a patrol line with Sirena. On the evening of 13th February, she was shifted 20 miles to the south then back to her original position. Due to defects to her diesels, she had to interrupt her patrol. | |
10 Feb 1942 | 1156-1235 | At 1156 hours, a derelict mine was sighted. It was an occasion for some firing exercises with light machine guns and rifles. It finally was exploded from a distance of 250 metres at 1235 hours. | ||||||||
13 Feb 1942 | 2058 | At 2058 hours, a submarine was sighted on an opposite course. Ondina had just been ordered to change her patrol position to the south. Ondina turned away. | ||||||||
14 Feb 1942 | 0854 | 34° 11'N, 21° 10'E | At 0648 hours, hydrophones noises were heard but, when the submarine rose to periscope depth, nothing could be seen. At 0854 hours, explosions were heard, believed to be from aircraft bombs. Ondina went down deep. At 1115 hours, another loud explosion occurred, but this time the hydrophones detected an antisubmarine vessel. More depth-charges followed at 1355, 1720 and 1830 hours. | |||||||
14 Feb 1942 | 2242 | At 2242 hours, information was received of a large convoy on easterly course. Ondina steered 231° to intercept. Hydrophone effects were heard without sighting anything and defects finally forced her to return home. | ||||||||
Andolfi, Gabriele | 17 Mar 1942 | 0850 | Brindisi | 17 Mar 1942 | 1528 | Brindisi | 44 | Exercises. | ||
Andolfi, Gabriele | 18 Mar 1942 | 1110 | Brindisi | 18 Mar 1942 | 1622 | Brindisi | 36,5 | Exercises. | ||
18 Mar 1942 | 1536 (e) | At 1535 hours, Ondina was returning from exercises when she was sighted by HMS Upholder (Lieutenant Commander M.D. Wanklyn, VC, RN). The famous British submarine could not close to less than 5,000 yards and gave up her attack. Two hours later, Tricheco would not be so fortunate. In less than a month, HMS Upholder would disappear with all hands. | ||||||||
Andolfi, Gabriele | 3 Apr 1942 | 1130 | Brindisi | 7 Apr 1942 | 1615 | Leros | 1059 | Passage Brindisi-Leros. Off Leros met the torpedo boat Lira who escorted her in. | ||
4 Apr 1942 | 0642 | At 0642 hours, a German aircraft was seen and exchanged recognition signals. | ||||||||
4 Apr 1942 | 0930 | At 0930 hours, two German aircraft were seen and exchanged recognition signals. | ||||||||
5 Apr 1942 | 1650 | At 1650 hours, several aircraft were seen flying northward at a distance of 12,000 metres. Five minutes later, Ondina dived | ||||||||
6 Apr 1942 | 1130 | At 1130 hours, an object thought to be a periscope was seen at 1,000 metres and Ondina turned away. | ||||||||
14 | Andolfi, Gabriele | 17 Apr 1942 | 2030 | Leros | 4 May 1942 | 0635 | Leros | 1284,5 | Patrolled between 33°40'N and 34°00'N, and between 22°20'E and 23°20'E, in Grids 7224, 7248, 7232, off Cyrenaica then in 6581, 6523, 6571. Dived several times because of aircraft, but was not attacked. | |
24 Apr 1942 | 1440 | At 1440 hours, an aircraft was seen at 3,000 metres and the submarine dived. | ||||||||
Andolfi, Gabriele | 21 May 1942 | 0900 | Leros | 21 May 1942 | 1237 | Leros | 16 | Exercises. | ||
15 | Andolfi, Gabriele | 23 May 1942 | 1318 | Leros | 11 Jun 1942 | 0600 | Leros | 1469 | Sailed with the submarine Beilul and outward escort by the destroyer Sella and patrolled off Mersa Matruh and Ras Kenayis between 32°00'N and the Egyptian coast, and between 26°40'E and 27°20'E. | |
26 May 1942 | 2200 | At 2200 hours, four aircraft were seen and the submarine dived. | ||||||||
27 May 1942 | 0130 | At 0130 hours, two aircraft were seen and the submarine dived. | ||||||||
4 Jun 1942 | 0325 | At 0325 hours, two aircraft were seen and the submarine dived. | ||||||||
Andolfi, Gabriele | 30 Jun 1942 | 0910 | Leros | 30 Jun 1942 | 1250 | Leros | 19 | Exercises. | ||
16 | Andolfi, Gabriele | 3 Jul 1942 | 0100 | Leros | 11 Jul 1942 | 1645 | Sunk | 450 | Sailed with the submarine Nereide (parted company at 1200 hours on the 4th) for patrol off Cyprus, between 33°40'N and 36°00'N, and between 32°00'E and the Syrian coast. On 7th July 1942, was ordered with other submarines to intercept the Norwegian Invapaten (sic) of about 6,000 GRT with a cargo of 4,500 tons of nickel, who had sailed on the night of 6/7th July from Mersina probably heading for Limassol and Port Said. This was actually the Norwegian Inviken (4,171 GRT, built 1925) who had sailed from Mersin on 6th July for Iskanderun and Port Said. Sunk by South African armed trawlers HMSAS Protea and HMSAS Southern Maid and a Walrus RAF aircraft (five killed, forty-one survivors). | |
11 Jul 1942 | 1400-1600 (e) | (e) 34° 30'N, 34° 48'E | At 1400 hours, two warships were seen steering westward. Ondina submerged immediately. These were the armed whalers HMSAS Protea ((Lt. Gordon Burn Wood, RSAN) and HMSAS Southern Maid (Lt. J. Bangley, RSAN). They were proceeding from Beirut to Famagusta when, at 1500C hours, they sighted a submarine at a distance of 2-3 miles. At 1610C hours, Southern Maid obtained a contact but, on the first run, the submarine passed very quickly under her, before depth charges could be dropped. Protea was then directed to the attack and she released a pattern of six depth charges but without result. At 1635C hours, Protea was directed by Southern Maid for a second attack, again without result. A Walrus (W.2709) of 700 Squadron arrived on the scene. It was piloted by Sub-Lieutenant P.A. Jordan, under Lieutenant Cook who acted as an observer. At 1650 hours, Protea dropped a third pattern and, two minutes later, the submarine surfaced about 1,200 yards from Southern Maid. The Walrus immediately dived and attacked with two 250" bombs. At the same time, the two vessels opened fire on Ondina. Southern Maid fired eleven 4" rounds and scored two direct hits, which put her gun out of action. At 1700C hours, the submarine sank. Five officers and thirty-six ratings were picked up by Southern Maid and Protea. Five ratings were killed. |
92 entries. 69 total patrol entries (16 marked as war patrols) and 34 events.