Topazio (TP)
Topazio

Type	Coastal / Sea going
Class	Sirena (21)
Laid down	26 Sep 1931	Cantieri Navale del Quanaro, Fiume
Launched	15 May 1933
Commissioned	26 Apr 1934
End service
Stricken
Loss date	12 Sep 1943
Loss position	38° 39'N, 9° 22'E
History
Fate	Sunk on 12th September 1943 south of Sardinia in position 38°39'N, 09°22'E by a Bisley aircraft (Sq. 13/J RAF) having failed to identify herself.

Commands

Commander	Date from	Date to	Command notes
T.V. Emilio Berengan	2 May 1940	29 Nov 1941
T.V. Gaetano Di Meglio	30 Nov 1941	3 Feb 1942
C.C. Bruno Zelik	9 Feb 1942	28 Feb 1942
T.V. Adriano Pini	28 Feb 1942	17 Mar 1942
S.T.V. Carlo Carbone	18 Mar 1942	23 Apr 1942
G.M. Francesco Niccoli	23 Apr 1942	21 Jun 1942
T.V. Mario Patanè	21 Jun 1942	29 Jun 1943
T.V. Pier Vittorio Casarini	2 Jul 1943	12 Sep 1943

Ships hit

	Date	Commander	Ship hit	Type	GRT	Nat.	Loss type
1.	10 Sep 1941	C.C. Emilio Berengan	Murefte	Cargo ship	691		Sunk

Patrols and events

	Commander	Date	Time	Port	Arr. date	Arr. time	Arr. port	Miles	Description
1	Berengan, Emilio	9 Jun 1940	1500	Tobruk	14 Jun 1940	1410	Tobruk	262,3	Patrolled off Sollum (Egypt), 30° - Ras Azzaz - 70 miles [or 60 miles?] (on a line with Lafolè, Diamante and Nereide, 20 miles apart).
2	Berengan, Emilio	28 Jun 1940	2000	Tobruk	14 Jul 1940	0742	Taranto	1202,4	Patrolled off Sollum (area S 15) between (1) 32°00'N, 25°18'E (2) 32°10'N, 25°02'E (3) 32°34'N, 25°24'E (4) 32°24'N, 25°38'E until 9 July, then went to Taranto for refit. On 10th July she picked up six survivors of the destroyer Espero which had sunk twelve days earlier 120 miles southwest of Matapan (a total of thirty-five survived).
		10 Jul 1940	1847	(0) 000° - Ras El Hilal - 46 miles.	At 1847 hours, Topazio was returning home when a lifeboat was sighted. It had six survivors from the destroyer Espero. Twelve days before, the Italian destroyer had been sunk after a desperate fight against five British cruisers. She had sacrificed herself to enable her two sister-ships Ostro and Zeffiro to escape and had succumbed after an action that had lasted over two hours. Her captain, C.V. Enrico Baroni, had gone down with his ship. For his gallantry, he was awarded the Medaglia d'Oro. Forty-seven survivors were picked up by the British ships. Thirty-six men had drifted in a lifeboat and raft but after twelve days at sea, only six were alive when found by Topazio.
	Berengan, Emilio	21 Aug 1940	0923	Taranto	21 Aug 1940	1724	Taranto	27,5	Exercises.
	Berengan, Emilio	23 Aug 1940	0725	Taranto	23 Aug 1940	1430	Taranto	36,6	Exercises.
3	Berengan, Emilio	4 Sep 1940	2120	Taranto	5 Sep 1940	1015	Taranto	69,5	Hydrophone watch in Gulf of Taranto.
	Berengan, Emilio	18 Sep 1940	0610	Taranto	18 Sep 1940	1256	Taranto	40	Exercises.
	Berengan, Emilio	23 Sep 1940	2118	Taranto	24 Sep 1940	0308	Taranto	5	Exercises.
	Berengan, Emilio	7 Oct 1940	0800	Taranto	7 Oct 1940	1500	Taranto	36	Exercises.
4	Berengan, Emilio	11 Oct 1940	1510	Taranto	28 Oct 1940	0900	Augusta	1848,2	Patrolled northeast of Mersa Matruh, between 32°30'N and 14 miles from the coast, 27°10'N and 28°20'E.
		16 Oct 1940	2124 2129 (e)	(0) 034° - Ras El Tin - 53 miles	At 2124 hours, a submarine was sighted. Aware that Ascianghi was also in the area, C.C. Berengan was reluctant in taking action. Topazio turned away and presented her stern, torpedo tubes ready just in case then Berengan thought he had recognised the shape of a 600-ton Italian submarine. He disengaged. The submarine was actually HMS Pandora. At 2130 hours, she had sighted two U-boats in line ahead 1,500 yards apart. She had fired two torpedoes at the leading submarine (Topazio, the other was Ascianghi) from a distance of 2,500 yards. They missed. Berengan does not seem to be aware that he had been the object of an attack and that Ascianghi was behind him.
5	Berengan, Emilio	8 Nov 1940	1830	Augusta	13 Nov 1940	1000	Augusta	507,5	Patrolled southeast of Malta within 20 miles from 34°40'N, 16°00'E, on a line with Bandiera, Santarosa and Capponi on a NE-SW axis. She returned early because of engine defects.
		9 Nov 1940	0635	35° 23'N, 15° 54'E	At 0635 hours, an enemy destroyer was sighted at a range of 2,000 metres, steering on an opposite course. The submarine was about to attack when she was illuminated by a star shell and had to crash dive.
		9 Nov 1940	2110	34° 57'N, 15° 50'E	At 2110 hours, a squadron of four light cruisers in single file with two destroyers on one flank, was sighted at a range of 4,000 metres, steering 045°. This was very probably the Mediterranean Fleet. Either (1) the 3rd cruiser Squadron, (2) the 7th cruiser Squadron or (3) the main battlefleet, consisting of battleships HMS Warspite and HMS Valiant with the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, escorted by the destroyers HMS Decoy and HMS Defender. Topazio was unable to gain a suitable attacking position.
		11 Nov 1940	0133 0135 (e)	34° 32'N, 16° 17'E	At 0105 hours, a convoy of four 6-8,000-ton merchant ships, screened by two light cruisers of the LEANDER class and four destroyers, was sighted steering 090° at 8 knots. At 0133 hours, two torpedoes (533mm) were fired from bow tubes at a distance less than 3,000 metres. Topazio heard two explosions after two minutes and 50 seconds and claimed to have hit two vessels. This was battleship HMS Ramillies with convoy ME.3, the transports Memnon, Lanarkshire, Clan Macaulay and Clan Ferguson also escorted by the antiaircraft cruiser HMS Coventry and the destroyers HMS Decoy, HMS Defender, HMS Voyager, HMAS Vampire and HMS Waterhen on a trip from Malta to Alexandria. Ramillies heard three loud explosions.
	Berengan, Emilio	19 Nov 1940	1430	Augusta	20 Nov 1940	1710	Taranto	280	Passage on the surface Augusta-Taranto. Uneventful.
	Berengan, Emilio	24 Jan 1941	0845	Taranto	24 Jan 1941	1530	Taranto	26	Exercises, escorted by the minesweeper R.D.2.
	Berengan, Emilio	27 Jan 1941	0800	Taranto	27 Jan 1941	1330	Taranto	32	Exercises.
6	Berengan, Emilio	28 Jan 1941	2100	Taranto	29 Jan 1941	0930	Taranto	69,5	Hydrophone watch.
7	Berengan, Emilio	10 Feb 1941	0925	Taranto	21 Feb 1941	1630	Taranto	717,6	Patrolled south of Otranto Straits within 10 miles from 39°10'N, 19°20'E. Uneventful except for H.E.
8	Berengan, Emilio	4 Mar 1941	1430	Taranto	15 Mar 1941	1600	Taranto	742,4	Patrolled south of Otranto Straits within 10 miles from 39°10'N, 19°20'E. Uneventful except for H.E.
	Berengan, Emilio	27 Mar 1941	1300	Taranto	27 Mar 1941	1600	Taranto	21	Trials.
9	Berengan, Emilio	10 Apr 1941	0850	Taranto	26 Apr 1941	1250	Leros	1590,3	Passage Taranto-Leros and patrolled within 20 miles from 33°00'N, 26°40'E on a NE/SW axis.
		16 Apr 1941	2000	33° 21'N, 26° 57'E	At 2000 hours, Topazio was informed of a convoy by MARICOSOM but it was too far to intercept.
		17 Apr 1941	2100	32° 48'N, 26° 45'E	At 2100 hours, information was received of a new position for the convoy of the previous day. Topazio was now 150 miles away and proceeded at full speed to intercept off Gaudo Island on 25° E meridian, but the convoy passed some 40 miles further south than anticipated.
		20 Apr 1941	1410	32° 56'N, 27° 00'E	At 1410 hours, propeller noises were heard from a vessel on an A/S hunt. At 1615 hours, they intensified and two explosions were heard. At 1626 hours, Topazio went down to 80 meters and escaped detection.
10	Berengan, Emilio	15 May 1941	0830	Leros	1 Jun 1941	1220	Taranto	1526	Passage Leros-Taranto and patrol in Cerigotto Channel and Bay of Messara, between 35°20'N and 35°40'N, 23°00'E and 23°30'E.
		20 May 1941	0035	(0) Near Cerigotto Channel.	At 2315 hours on 19th May, a vessel was detected with hydrophones. At 0035 hours, Topazio was attacked by the vessel with three depth-charges. At 0047 hours, the enemy warship dropped another seven depth-charges and at 0247 hours another thirteen depth-charges but the submarine escaped damage.
	Berengan, Emilio	28 Jul 1941	0600	Taranto	28 Jul 1941	1302	Taranto	23	Exercises.
	Berengan, Emilio	1 Aug 1941	0830	Taranto	1 Aug 1941	1605	Taranto	32	Exercises, escorted by the pilot vessel Limbara.
	Berengan, Emilio	5 Aug 1941	1400	Taranto	5 Aug 1941	1738	Taranto	21,5	Exercises.
	Berengan, Emilio	15 Aug 1941	1100	Taranto	15 Aug 1941	1655	Taranto	28	Exercises with the destroyer Sella.
	Berengan, Emilio	16 Aug 1941	1900	Taranto	17 Aug 1941	0010	Taranto	26	Exercises with the submarine Topazio and the torpedo boat Altair.
	Berengan, Emilio	19 Aug 1941	1230	Taranto	20 Aug 1941	1715	Augusta	292,2	Passage Taranto-Augusta.
11	Berengan, Emilio	23 Aug 1941	1210	Augusta	27 Aug 1941	1400	Augusta	492,3	Patrolled between Malta and Pantelleria, within 10 miles from 36°31'N, 12°52'E on a E-W axis.
		26 Aug 1941	1955	36° 27'N, 12° 59'E	At 1955 hours, a 3,000-ton steamer was sighted at a range of 10,000 metres, steering 340°. Later it appeared to be a patrol vessel. Topazio tried to close but lost the target in the darkness.
12	Berengan, Emilio	2 Sep 1941	1950	Augusta	17 Sep 1941	0700	Rhodes	1635,5	Patrolled between Cyprus and the Levant coast and off Beirut, between 32°20'N and 34°40'N, and between 34°00'N and the Syrian coast.
		5 Sep 1941	0930-0938 1040 (e)	34° 06'N, 25° 10'E	At 0930 hours, a twin-engined bomber of the Blackburn type attacked Topazio from an altitude of 600 meters and dropped five bombs. The submarine put up antiaircraft fire with her machine guns. The bombs missed her by about 60 metres. This was Blenheim 'Y' (Z.6445) of 203 Squadron piloted by Flying Officer Duke-Woolley. It sighted a large Italian submarine steering 020° at 10 knots and first attacked with a shallow dive from 1,500 feet, but the bombs failed to release. On the second run, four bombs were dropped and claimed to have missed the submarine by 10-20 yards. The submarine was described as having two guns (Topazio had only one). Two other Blenheims were in the area but failed to locate the submarine. After the second bombing run, C.C. Benrengan took the opportunity to crash-dive. The report does not directly register any damage, but later stated that four hydrophone receivers were damaged and a cylinder head of the port diesel engine was cracked (and was replaced by a spare) since this is attributed to “water concussions”, these could only have come during this attack.
		10 Sep 1941	2129-2142 2220 (e)	33° 27'N, 34° 54'E	At 2055 hours, a steamer was sighted at 7,000 metres, steering 090°, 9 knots, toward Beirut. The lights of the city could be seen in the distance. At 2127 hours, the range had closed to 2,000 metres. The vessel must have noticed the submarine as she made an SOS, but gave her position 33°54 E instead of 34°54' E. Topazio fired a burst of machine gun as a warning shot. The vessel replied weakly with a light machine gun. This was the Turkish steamer Murefte (691 GRT, built 1941) on a trip from Port Said to Mersin, carrying two 6" guns and three 4" guns and ammunition (from the UK). At 2129 hours, the submarine opened fire with her deck gun, scoring a direct hit aft. Firing was joined with the machine guns and the crew began to abandon ship. At 2140 hours, two torpedoes were fired from bow tubes at a distance of 500 metres. They both missed. At 2142 hours, fire was resumed with the 100mm guns with 15 rounds, all of which hit but the vessel was still afloat. At 2148 hours, Topazio fired a stern shot. This time the torpedo hit and the vessel sank. One was killed. The seventeen survivors (including one wounded) were rescued by the Egyptian steamer Talodi (1,585 GRT, built 1928). Four Blenheims from 55 Squadron (Palestine) and six destroyers searched for the submarine without success.
12b	Berengan, Emilio	18 Sep 1941	2000	Rhodes	19 Sep 1941	0650	Leros	99,5	Passage Rhodes-Leros.
	Berengan, Emilio	5 Oct 1941	1610	Leros	5 Oct 1941	1710	Leros	7	Exercises.
	Berengan, Emilio	6 Oct 1941	0835	Leros	6 Oct 1941	1315	Leros	25	Exercises.
	Berengan, Emilio	9 Oct 1941	0820	Leros	9 Oct 1941	1223	Leros	20	Exercises.
13	Berengan, Emilio	11 Oct 1941	0730	Leros	27 Oct 1941	1030	Augusta	1964	Patrolled between 35°00'N and 35°40'N, between Cyprus (Famagusta) and the Syrian coast, which was uneventful, then passage to Augusta.
		27 Oct 1941	0643 (e)		At 0633 hours, HMS HMS Unbeaten (Lieutenant Commander E.A. Woodward, RN) sighted a GEMMA class submarine at a distance of 6,000 yards, steering 340°, 12 knots. At 0643 hours, she fired four torpedoes at a range of 3,500 yards, they missed. This was Topazio returning to Augusta. She did not observe the attack.
	Berengan, Emilio	24 Nov 1941	1430?	Augusta	24 Nov 1941	1645	Augusta	11,5	Exercises.
	Berengan, Emilio	26 Nov 1941	0845	Augusta	26 Nov 1941	1720	Messina	74,5	Passage Augusta-Messina.
	Di Meglio, Gaetano	3 Dec 1941	0907	Messina	3 Dec 1941	1600	Messina	32	Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Diversi.
	Di Meglio, Gaetano	5 Dec 1941	0810	Messina	5 Dec 1941	1130	Messina	33	Exercises, escorted by the auxiliaries Marras and Diversi.
	Di Meglio, Gaetano	6 Dec 1941	0950	Messina	6 Dec 1941	1650	Augusta	74,5	Passage Messina-Augusta.
	Di Meglio, Gaetano	11 Dec 1941	0837	Augusta	11 Dec 1941	1137	Augusta	21	Exercises.
14	Di Meglio, Gaetano	12 Dec 1941	1430	Augusta	22 Dec 1941	1050	Augusta	799,5	Patrolled SSE of Malta between 34°00'N and 34°40'N, and between 15°20'E and 16°00'E. From 16th December was moved to area between 34°20'N and 35°00'N, and between 15°40'E and 16°20'E and finally on 20th December to area between 34°40'N and 35°20'N, and between 16°00'E and 16°40'E.
	Di Meglio, Gaetano	8 Jan 1942	0900	Augusta	8 Jan 1942	1210	Augusta	15,5	Exercises.
	Di Meglio, Gaetano	20 Jan 1942	0915	Augusta	20 Jan 1942	1210	Augusta	15	Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary minesweeper Tea.
15	Di Meglio, Gaetano	21 Jan 1942	2115	Augusta	25 Jan 1942	1055	Augusta	317	Patrolled southeast of Cape Passaro between 36°00'N and 36°20'N, and between 15°20'E and 15°40'E. Uneventful.
	Di Meglio, Gaetano	26 Jan 1942	0857	Augusta	26 Jan 1942	1815	Messina	70,5	Passage Augusta-Messina.
	Di Meglio, Gaetano	7 Feb 1942	1435	Messina	7 Feb 1942	1638	Messina	15	Exercises.
16	Zelik, Bruno	9 Feb 1942	1727	Messina	25 Feb 1942	1320	Messina	1552	Patrolled within 8 miles from 34°40'N, 20°00'E. On the evening of 13th February was moved 20 miles south, then returned to her original position. On the evening of 15th February, she was ordered to shift 098° - 148 miles. Note: Zelik was the commanding officer of Onice, who was undergoing repairs, and took temporary command of Topazio.
		14 Feb 1942	2120	34° 58'N, 19° 54'E	At 2118 hours, a large two-funnel destroyer was sighted at 1,500 metres, proceeding at 18 knots. At 2120 hours. a single torpedo was fired from a stern tube at a range of 1,000 metres. It missed. T.V. Zelik believed his submarine had been sighted and took her down to 40 meters but no counter-attack ensued.
	Pini, Adriano	2 Mar 1942	0903	Messina	5 Mar 1942	1140	Pola	676	Passage Messina-Pola. Sighted only Italian vessels.
	Pini, Adriano	7 Mar 1942	0849	Pola	7 Mar 1942	1425	Fiume	58	Passage Pola-Fiume.
	Carbone, Carlo	18 Mar 1942		Fiume	23 Apr 1942		Fiume		Long refit in Fiume.
	Niccoli, Francesco	23 Apr 1942		Fiume	21 Jun 1942		Fiume		Long refit in Fiume.
	Patanè, Mario	24 Jun 1942	0840	Fiume	24 Jun 1942	1923	Fiume	66	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	26 Jun 1942	0630	Fiume	26 Jun 1942	1612	Fiume	44	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	28 Jun 1942	1008	Fiume	28 Jun 1942	1508	Fiume	8	Trials with auxiliary Trau.
	Patanè, Mario	1 Jul 1942	0805	Fiume	1 Jul 1942	1555	Fiume	26	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	2 Jul 1942	0958	Fiume	3 Jul 1942	0005	Fiume	23	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	3 Jul 1942	1020	Fiume	4 Jul 1942	0310	Fiume	42	Exercises.
	Patanè, Mario	4 Jul 1942	1400	Fiume	4 Jul 1942	1812	Fiume	18	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	6 Jul 1942	1010	Fiume	6 Jul 1942	1930	Fiume	7	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	7 Jul 1942	0832	Fiume	7 Jul 1942	1542	Fiume	25	Exercises.
	Patanè, Mario	10 Jul 1942	0812	Fiume	10 Jul 1942	1600	Fiume	17	Exercises.
	Patanè, Mario	11 Jul 1942	0500	Fiume	11 Jul 1942	1848	Venice	132	Passage Fiume-Venice.
	Patanè, Mario	16 Jul 1942	0910	Venice	16 Jul 1942	1230	Venice	12	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	19 Jul 1942	0450	Venice	19 Jul 1942	1820	Fiume	132	Passage Venice-Fiume.
	Patanè, Mario	23 Jul 1942	0630	Fiume	23 Jul 1942	0953	Fiume	6,5	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	25 Jul 1942	1335	Fiume	25 Jul 1942	1925	Fiume	20	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	28 Jul 1942	0710	Fiume	28 Jul 1942	1245	Fiume	34	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	29 Jul 1942	0840	Fiume	29 Jul 1942	1645	Fiume	43	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	30 Jul 1942	0740	Fiume	3 Aug 1942	0748	Naples	918	Passage Fiume-Naples. Sighted only Italian ships. Topazio was sighted by HMS Traveller at 1930C hours on the 30th in 43°50'N, 14°55'E but out of attacking range.
	Patanè, Mario	4 Aug 1942	0425	Naples	4 Aug 1942	1350	Naples	58	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	6 Aug 1942	0835	Naples	6 Aug 1942	1610	Naples	36	Exercises.
	Patanè, Mario	7 Aug 1942	0806	Naples	7 Aug 1942	1600	Naples	39	Exercises.
	Patanè, Mario	8 Aug 1942	0825	Naples	8 Aug 1942	1606	Naples	44	Exercises.
	Patanè, Mario	9 Aug 1942	0812	Naples	9 Aug 1942	1620	Naples	35	Exercises.
	Patanè, Mario	16 Aug 1942	0635	Naples	16 Aug 1942	1245	Naples	33	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	20 Aug 1942	0707	Naples	20 Aug 1942	1200	Naples	24	Exercises.
	Patanè, Mario	29 Aug 1942	1540	Naples	29 Aug 1942	1735	Naples	19	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	1 Sep 1942	0810	Naples	1 Sep 1942	1240	Naples	14	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	2 Sep 1942	0800	Naples	2 Sep 1942	1612	Naples		Exercises.
	Patanè, Mario	2 Sep 1942	1849	Naples	2 Sep 1942	2315	Naples	59	Exercises.
	Patanè, Mario	8 Sep 1942	1130	Naples	8 Sep 1942	1615	Naples	24	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	9 Sep 1942	1152	Naples	9 Sep 1942	2320	Naples	61	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	10 Sep 1942	1530	Naples	11 Sep 1942	1050	Messina	173	Passage Naples-Messina.
	Patanè, Mario	17 Sep 1942	1315	Messina	17 Sep 1942	1750	Messina	15	Exercises, escorted by AS.17.
	Patanè, Mario	22 Sep 1942	0730	Messina	22 Sep 1942	1223	Messina	28	Exercises.
	Patanè, Mario	24 Sep 1942	0730	Messina	24 Sep 1942	1210	Messina	15	Exercises.
	Patanè, Mario	30 Sep 1942	1310	Messina	30 Sep 1942	1745	Messina	22	Exercises.
	Patanè, Mario	1 Oct 1942	0816	Messina	1 Oct 1942	1020	Messina	12	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	3 Oct 1942	0802	Messina	3 Oct 1942	1012	Messina	10	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	14 Oct 1942	1335	Messina	14 Oct 1942	1745	Messina	21	Exercises.
	Patanè, Mario	20 Oct 1942	1300	Messina	20 Oct 1942	1725	Messina	23	Exercises.
17	Patanè, Mario	24 Oct 1942	1410	Messina	11 Nov 1942	1342	Messina	2172,5	Patrolled south of Balearic islands, between 37°40'N and 38°10'N, and between 02°20'E and 02°40'E. At 2201 hours on 6th November, patrol was shifted 20 miles south (to German Grid CH 8352, 8362, 8388 and 8398).
		27 Oct 1942	2400		At 2400 hours, a hospital ship was sighted.
		7 Nov 1942	1016	37° 02'N, 2° 23'E	At 1016 hours, as the submarine was listening to the radio, suddenly aircraft bombs were heard and Topazio was taken deep.
		7 Nov 1942	2105	37° 05'N, 2° 41'E	At 2105 hours, a convoy of two steamers escorted by four destroyers proceeding to Algiers was sighted. Topazio fired one torpedo from a stern tube aimed at a destroyer from a distance of 1,100 metres. Another destroyer turned suddenly toward the submarine who escaped by going down to 70 metres. Depth charges were heard at 2110 and 2124 hours.
		9 Nov 1942	1225	38° 10'N, 6° 49'E	At 1225 hours, an aircraft was seen at 5,000 metres and the submarine dived.
		9 Nov 1942	1435	38° 15'N, 6° 58'E	At 1435 hours, an aircraft was seen at 7,000 metres and the submarine dived.
		10 Nov 1942	0925	38° 43'N, 10° 32'E	At 0925 hours, an aircraft was seen at a distance of 6,000 metres and the submarine dived.
		10 Nov 1942	1232	39° 06'N, 11° 13'E	At 1232 hours, an aircraft was seen very distant and the submarine dived.
		10 Nov 1942	1558	39° 08'N, 11° 45'E	At 1558 hours, an aircraft was seen at a distance of 7,000 metres and the submarine dived.
		11 Nov 1942	0735		At 0735 hours, a German four-engine aircraft was seen and exchanged recognition signals.
	Patanè, Mario	17 Nov 1942	1305	Messina	17 Nov 1942	1635	Messina	20	Trials.
18	Patanè, Mario	19 Nov 1942	0735	Messina	20 Nov 1942	1130	Messina	219	Sailed for patrol east of Malta then recalled at 2130 hours on the 19th.
	Patanè, Mario	26 Nov 1942	0110	Messina	26 Nov 1942	2115	Naples	190	Passage Messina-Naples.
	Patanè, Mario	28 Nov 1942	0810	Naples	28 Nov 1942	1155	Naples	19	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	29 Nov 1942	0830	Naples	29 Nov 1942	1150	Naples	19	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	7 Dec 1942	0820	Naples	7 Dec 1942	1150	Naples	17	Exercises.
	Patanè, Mario	8 Dec 1942	1704	Naples	9 Dec 1942	1910	Augusta	252	Passage Napoli-Augusta.
19	Patanè, Mario	11 Dec 1942	1700	Augusta	17 Dec 1942	0730	Augusta	592	Patrolled between 34°40'N and 35°00'N, and between 14°20'E and 14°40'E [or 35°00'N and 35°10'N, and between 14°30'E and 14°50'E?] to cover, with the submarine Uarsciek, the passage of a convoy from Naples to Tripoli. This was Foscolo escorted by the destroyer Freccia.
		14 Dec 1942	0140	34° 49'N, 14° 35'E	At 0117 hours, a shadow was sighted. Ten minutes later, three cruisers in single file escorted by destroyers could be made out. At 0140 hours, T.V. Mario Patanè ordered two bow torpedoes fired but inadvertently a third torpedo was fired as well at a range of 1,500 metres aimed at a destroyer. They all missed.
	Patanè, Mario	17 Dec 1942	1530	Augusta	17 Dec 1942	2228	Messina	70,5	Passage Augusta-Messina.
	Patanè, Mario	8 Jan 1943	0805	Messina	8 Jan 1943	1208	Messina	16	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	16 Jan 1943	0810	Messina	16 Jan 1943	1345	Messina	18	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	24 Jan 1943	0820	Messina	24 Jan 1943	1306	Messina	17	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	25 Jan 1943	0804	Messina	25 Jan 1943	1229	Messina	15	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	27 Jan 1943	0842	Messina	27 Jan 1943	1258	Messina	21	Exercises.
	Patanè, Mario	29 Jan 1943	0905	Messina	29 Jan 1943	1250	Messina	15	Exercises.
	Patanè, Mario	30 Jan 1943	1323	Messina	30 Jan 1943	1850	Messina	21	Exercises.
	Patanè, Mario	1 Feb 1943	1440	Messina	1 Feb 1943	2205	Augusta	70,5	Passage Messina-Augusta.
	Patanè, Mario	4 Feb 1943	1421	Augusta	4 Feb 1943	1820	Augusta	18	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	11 Feb 1943	0830	Augusta	11 Feb 1943	1206	Augusta	13	Exercises.
	Patanè, Mario	15 Feb 1943	1205	Augusta	15 Feb 1943	1755	Augusta	41	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	18 Feb 1943	1030	Augusta	18 Feb 1943	1155	Augusta	1	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	20 Feb 1943	0910	Augusta	20 Feb 1943	1205	Augusta	9	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	1 Mar 1943	0827	Augusta	1 Mar 1943	1205	Augusta	21	Exercises.
20	Patanè, Mario	2 Mar 1943	1905	Augusta	17 Mar 1943	0700	Augusta	1373	Patrolled in Central Mediterranean between 31°54'N and 32°20'N, and between 15°50'E and 16°40'E. Uneventful.
	Patanè, Mario	25 Mar 1943	0130	Augusta	26 Mar 1943	0904	Naples	303	Passage Augusta-Naples.
	Patanè, Mario	27 Mar 1943	1353	Naples	27 Mar 1943	1607	Naples	16	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	30 Mar 1943	1505	Naples	30 Mar 1943	1732	Naples	8	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	1 Apr 1943	0915	Naples	1 Apr 1943	1317	Naples	15	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	2 Apr 1943	1502	Naples	2 Apr 1943	1800	Naples	13	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	6 Apr 1943	0032	Naples	7 Apr 1943	1040	La Maddalena	235	Passage Naples-La Maddalena.
		6 Apr 1943	0052	(0) Naples harbour.	At 0052 hours, Topazio had a slight collision with the torpedo boat Sagittario and suffered superficial damage.
	Patanè, Mario	11 Apr 1943	0830	La Maddalena	11 Apr 1943	1350	La Maddalena	5	Trials.
	Patanè, Mario	12 Apr 1943	1330	La Maddalena	12 Apr 1943	1820	La Maddalena	7	Trials.
21	Patanè, Mario	15 Apr 1943	1710	La Maddalena	4 May 1943	1620	La Maddalena	1067	Patrolled in Western Mediterranean, between 39°00'N and 39°40'N, and between 05°00'E and 05°40'E. On 16 April 1943, in 40°06'N, 06°24'E, proceeding to patrol area. Uneventful. Sirena should have gone on this patrol, but Topazio replaced her, perhaps because she had developed defects.
		29 Apr 1943	0600	39° 23'N, 5° 39'E	At 0600 hours, the submarine Dandolo was sighted submerging. Topazio turned away.
	Patanè, Mario	14 May 1943	1850	La Maddalena	16 May 1943	0753	Pozzuoli	261,2	Passage La Maddalena-Pozzuoli for refit.
	Patanè, Mario	20 May 1943	0805	Pozzuoli	20 May 1943	1510	Castellammare di Stabia	26	Passage Pozzuoli-Castellammare di Stabia.
	Patanè, Mario	21 Jun 1943	0600	Castellammare di Stabia	21 Jun 1943	0830	Naples	12	Passage Castellammare di Stabia-Naples.
	Casarini, Pier Vittorio	29 Jul 1943	1320	Castellammare di Stabia	29 Jul 1943	1858	Castellammare di Stabia	26	Trials and exercises.
	Casarini, Pier Vittorio	1 Aug 1943	0918	Castellammare di Stabia	1 Aug 1943	1635	Castellammare di Stabia	38	Exercises.
	Casarini, Pier Vittorio	3 Aug 1943	1528	Castellammare di Stabia	3 Aug 1943	1751	Naples	12	Passage Castellammare di Stabia-Naples.
	Casarini, Pier Vittorio	5 Aug 1943	1005	Naples	5 Aug 1943	1821	Naples	48	Exercises.
	Casarini, Pier Vittorio	6 Aug 1943	0702	Naples	6 Aug 1943	0900	Pozzuoli	12	Passage Naples-Pozzuoli.
	Casarini, Pier Vittorio	12 Aug 1943	0838	Pozzuoli	12 Aug 1943	1702	Pozzuoli	46	Exercises.
	Casarini, Pier Vittorio	18 Aug 1943	0645	Pozzuoli	18 Aug 1943	2038	Pozzuoli	24	Docked briefly in Naples and returned to Pozzuoli.
	Casarini, Pier Vittorio	19 Aug 1943	0645	Pozzuoli	19 Aug 1943	1920	Naples	15	Docked in Naples.
	Casarini, Pier Vittorio	19 Aug 1943	2345	Naples	21 Aug 1943	1002	La Maddalena	250	Passage Naples-La Maddalena.
	Casarini, Pier Vittorio	30 Aug 1943	1402	La Maddalena	30 Aug 1943	1752	Porto Palino	16	Passage La Maddalena-Porto Palino.
22	Casarini, Pier Vittorio	7 Sep 1943	1612	La Maddalena	12 Sep 1943		Sunk with all hands		Sailed with Turchese until she parted on 10th September (she was also seen by Diaspro on the previous day), when on Anzio parallel, slightly east of 11°E. Part of a barrage line with Diaspro, Turchese and Marea in the Gulf of Salerno. On 8th September, she was ordered along with all other submarines, to dive to 80 meters then to surface only at 0800 hours on the 9th and display the Italian flag with a black flag of surrender. Then to proceed to Bone. At 1117 hours on the 12th, an RAF bomber (Bisley "J" of 13 Squadron) reported attacking a surfaced submarine. This was most likely Topazio. It is not clear if she was on her way to surrender. She disappeared without a trace (six officers, forty-three ratings missing).
		12 Sep 1943	1117 (e)	(e) 38° 39'N, 9° 22'E	At 1117 hours, a Bisley from 13 Squadron piloted by Flying Officer G.H. Finch when a submarine was seen slightly down by the stern and making less than 10 knots. Using the cloud cover, the aircraft surprised the submarine with a stick of four depth charges from 50 feet. One of the them exploded within 10 yards of the conning tower. The submarine attempted to make a recognition signal and was completely obscured by plumes and, when they cleared, she was gone. A growing oil slick was visible and some 15-20 men in the water were photographed by the aircraft. This submarine was initially believed to have been Turchese, who arrived later in Bone, but it was most probably Topazio. T.V. Pier Vittorio Casarini, five officers, and forty-three ratings perished. It was a tragedy that could have been avoided.

150 entries. 137 total patrol entries (22 marked as war patrols) and 27 events.

All Italian submarines

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