Ambra (AM)
Ambra

Type	Coastal / Sea going
Class	Perla (22)
Laid down	28 Aug 1935	Odero-Terni-Orlando, Muggiano
Launched	28 May 1936
Commissioned	4 Aug 1936
End service
Stricken
Loss date
Loss position
History	Scuttled at La Spezia on 9th September 1943, to prevent her capture by the Germans.
Fate

Commands

Commander	Date from	Date to	Command notes
T.V. Adriano Pini	22 Dec 1938	24 Jun 1940
T.V. Giovanni Tarabini Castellani	25 Jun 1940	9 Aug 1940
T.V. Teucle Meneghini	7 Aug 1940	27 Oct 1940
T.V. Leone Monteleoni	27 Oct 1940	25 Jan 1941
T.V. Mario Arillo	20 Jan 1941	21 May 1943
C.C. Renato Ferrini	21 May 1943	9 Sep 1943

Ships hit

	Date	Commander	Ship hit	Type	GRT	Nat.	Loss type
1.	31 Mar 1941	T.V. Mario Arillo	HMS Bonaventure	Light Cruiser	5,450		Sunk

Patrols and events

	Commander	Date	Time	Port	Arr. date	Arr. time	Arr. port	Miles	Description
	Pini, Adriano	10 Jun 1940		Taranto	10 Jun 1940		Taranto		At Taranto refitting.
	Tarabini Castellani, Giovanni	25 Jun 1940		Taranto	9 Aug 1940		Taranto		Refit.
	Meneghini, Teucle	9 Aug 1940	0817	Taranto	9 Aug 1940	1908	Taranto	37	Trials.
	Meneghini, Teucle	10 Aug 1940	0857	Taranto	10 Aug 1940	1047	Taranto	1	Trials.
	Meneghini, Teucle	11 Aug 1940	0627	Taranto	11 Aug 1940	1447	Taranto	42,5	Exercises.
	Meneghini, Teucle	12 Aug 1940	0835	Taranto	12 Aug 1940	1708	Taranto	38	Exercises.
	Meneghini, Teucle	18 Aug 1940	1145	Taranto	18 Aug 1940	1716	Taranto	31,5	Exercises.
	Meneghini, Teucle	19 Aug 1940	2140	Taranto	20 Aug 1940	1022	Taranto	81,62	Hydrophone watch.
	Meneghini, Teucle	21 Aug 1940	2126	Taranto	22 Aug 1940	1120	Taranto	83,5	Hydrophone watch.
	Meneghini, Teucle	24 Aug 1940	2126	Taranto	25 Aug 1940	1030	Taranto	81,52	Hydrophone watch.
	Meneghini, Teucle	27 Aug 1940	2140	Taranto	28 Aug 1940	0933	Taranto	82,6	Hydrophone watch.
	Meneghini, Teucle	28 Aug 1940	2400	Taranto	29 Aug 1940	1027	Taranto	68,8	Hydrophone watch.
	Meneghini, Teucle	30 Aug 1940	1305	Taranto	30 Aug 1940	1500	Taranto	3	Trials.
	Meneghini, Teucle	13 Sep 1940	0617	Taranto	13 Sep 1940	1100	Taranto	29,5	Exercises.
1	Meneghini, Teucle	18 Sep 1940	1115	Taranto	13 Oct 1940	1610	Taranto	2229	Patrolled southeast of Crete, between 34°10'N and 34°50'N, and between 25°35'E and 26°45'E, on a barrage line with Serpente.
		29 Sep 1940	1420	32° 50'N, 26° 20'E (0) Approximately.	At 1420 hours, Ambra was proceeding at a depth of 55 meters when a metallic object hit her (possibly an unexploded depth-charge?). The submarine went down to 65 meters, then to 75 meters. At 1548 hours, two depth-charges exploded near her and four more at 1553 hours. The enemy vessel abandoned the chase at 1725 hours.
		5 Oct 1940	0615-0655	32° 50'N, 26° 20'E (0) Approximately.	Between 0615 and 0655 hours, five bombs were heard to explode. Ambra was not damaged.
		9 Oct 1940	1930	(0) West of Crete.	At 1930 hours, a submarine was sighted at a range of 4,000 metres. She apparently sighted Ambra as she immediately dived. At this time, Ambra was returning home, steering 320°. The other submarine may have been Zoea as there were no British or Hellenic submarines in the vicinity.
	Monteleoni, Leone	10 Nov 1940	0942	Taranto	10 Nov 1940	1418	Taranto	34,5	Exercises.
	Monteleoni, Leone	17 Nov 1940	0940	Taranto	17 Nov 1940	1656	Taranto	28	Exercises.
	Monteleoni, Leone	22 Nov 1940	1330	Taranto	22 Nov 1940	1415	Taranto	0,3	Exercises or change moorings?
	Monteleoni, Leone	29 Nov 1940	1700	Taranto	29 Nov 1940	1745	Taranto	0,1	Exercises or change moorings?
	Monteleoni, Leone	2 Dec 1940	0931	Taranto	2 Dec 1940	1128	Taranto	4	Exercises.
2	Monteleoni, Leone	12 Dec 1940	0705	Taranto	21 Dec 1940	1758	Taranto	886,6	Patrolled southwest of Corfu, within 10° miles on the parallel from 39°20'N, 19°30'E, on a barrage line with Sciesa. On 2nd October, the patrol was shifted 10 miles to the south.
		16 Dec 1940	0346	39° 20'N, 19° 44'E	At 0346 hours, two destroyers were sighted at a range of 2,500 metres, steering 120°. The leading one turned toward Ambra and apparently dropped depth-charges at a distance. The submarine submerged and escaped.
3	Monteleoni, Leone	30 Dec 1940	0710	Taranto	11 Jan 1941	1738	Taranto	832	Patrolled south of the Otranto Straits on a line 090° - 10 miles from 39°00'N, 19°40'E. Uneventful.
	Arillo, Mario	25 Jan 1941	1130	Taranto	25 Jan 1941	1155	Taranto	2	Changed moorings?
	Arillo, Mario	1 Feb 1941	1031	Taranto	1 Feb 1941	1642	Taranto	12	Gyrocompass tests.
	Arillo, Mario	4 Feb 1941	0815	Taranto	4 Feb 1941	1045	Taranto	13	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	6 Feb 1941	0715	Taranto	6 Feb 1941	1438	Taranto	40,5	Exercises.
4	Arillo, Mario	8 Feb 1941	2120	Taranto	9 Feb 1941	1000	Taranto	78	Hydrophone watch.
	Arillo, Mario	10 Feb 1941	1100	Taranto	11 Feb 1941	0109	Taranto	53	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	12 Feb 1941	0012	Taranto	12 Feb 1941	1845	Taranto	59	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	13 Feb 1941	0807	Taranto	13 Feb 1941	1705	Taranto	61	Exercises.
5	Arillo, Mario	15 Feb 1941	0938	Taranto	27 Feb 1941	1247	Augusta	1130	Patrolled between 39°20'N and Libyan coast, and between the meridians of Tolmeita (20°57'E) and Ras El Tin, Libya (23°07'E).
		19 Feb 1941	1200	32° 44'N, 21° 03'E (0) Approximately.	At 1042 hours, noises were detected with hydrophones. At 1200 hours, an unidentified warship, perhaps an auxiliary, was sighted at a distance of 5,000 metres. Ambra tried to move to the attack but lost sight at 1220 hours.
		20 Feb 1941	0952	32° 44'N, 21° 03'E (0) Approximately.	At 0952 hours, a destroyer was sighted at a distance of 4,000 metres. It appeared to be French, similar to the LE FIER class.
		21 Feb 1941	2010	32° 44'N, 21° 03'E (0) Approximately.	At 2010 hours, Ambra was informed of a convoy off Cyrenaica. The submarine attempted to intercept but heard only distant H.E. effects.
	Arillo, Mario	16 Mar 1941	0850	Augusta	16 Mar 1941	1300	Augusta	15	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	19 Mar 1941	0857	Augusta	19 Mar 1941	1120	Augusta	7	Exercises.
6	Arillo, Mario	21 Mar 1941	1910	Augusta	6 Apr 1941	0850	Augusta	1553	Patrolled in 32°50'N, 26°20'E on a line 035° - 215°, 20 miles in each direction.
		31 Mar 1941	0244 0250 (e)		From 23rd to 30th March, Ambra had detected noises with her hydrophones, but without being able to sight anything. At 0030 hours on the 31st, she received a signal ordering her home and steered accordingly. At 0237 hours, Ambra was proceeding on the surface when, from the bridge, S.T.V. Ignazio Spinale observed a shadow in the mist at a distance of 2,000 metres, followed by another at about 1,000 metres. At 0244 hours, three torpedoes were fired from bow tubes at 4-second intervals. After a lapse of time, T.V. Arillo thought the torpedoes had missed. He was about to order the firing of more torpedoes when a double explosion was observed. He immediately gave orders to crash-dive. ASDIC pings (described as "Hastings" in the Italian report) were heard and many depth charges followed but the submarine escaped. The target had been the light cruiser HMS Bonaventure, who was indeed struck by two torpedoes and sank. She was stationed astern of convoy GA. 8, consisting of HMS Breconshire and the steamer Cameronia escorted by destroyers HMAS Stuart, HMS Griffin and HMS Hereward, proceeding from Piraeus to Alexandria and steering 131° at 16.5 knots. Twenty-three officers and 115 ratings were killed. HMAS Stuart was missed by a torpedo and carried out a heavy counter attack, dropping 29 depth-charges in seven deliberate runs. HMS Hereward carried out two attacks, the submarine breaking surface after the second attack, but then contact was lost. HMS Hereward picked up 310 survivors and brought them to Alexandria. Following this attack, British vessels were ordered to zig-zag day or night unless the weather was such that a submarine attack was unlikely. Ambra had at least partially avenged the battle of Matapan.
	Arillo, Mario	19 Apr 1941	0915	Augusta	19 Apr 1941	1155	Augusta	7	Exercises.
7	Arillo, Mario	25 Apr 1941	2020	Augusta	26 Apr 1941	0935	Augusta	109	Hydrophone watch in 37°05' N, 15°30' E with the submarine Settimo.
8	Arillo, Mario	1 May 1941	1858	Augusta	7 May 1941	0800	Augusta	?	Sailed for patrol off Alexandria, between 31°40'N and 33°00'N, and between 28°00'E and 29°20'E. Early return due to a leak in one of the torpedo tubes. Arillo and his chief engineer were reprimanded as Admiral Falangola judged that the defect was not serious enough.
9	Arillo, Mario	13 May 1941	1810	Augusta	21 May 1941	0905	Augusta	617	Patrolled southeast of Malta on an NE-SW axis within 15 miles from 35°15'N, 15°25'E. Uneventful.
	Arillo, Mario	31 May 1941	0400	Augusta	2 Jun 1941	1630	La Spezia	631	Passage Augusta-La Spezia, then long refit.
		1 Jun 1941	2155		At 2155 hours, the destroyer Libeccio, towed by two tugs and escorted by the torpedo-boat Curtatone, was encountered and recognition signals exchanged.
		2 Jun 1941	1433	(0) 8 miles SE of Palmaria.	At 1433 hours, a derelict mine was sighted.
	Arillo, Mario	5 Aug 1941	0826	La Spezia	5 Aug 1941	1747	La Spezia	26	Trials.
	Arillo, Mario	7 Aug 1941	0818	La Spezia	7 Aug 1941	1711	La Spezia	40	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	10 Aug 1941	0739	La Spezia	10 Aug 1941	1345	La Spezia	34	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	11 Aug 1941	0830	La Spezia	11 Aug 1941	1958	La Spezia	57	Exercises, escorted by auxiliary S. Antioco.
	Arillo, Mario	13 Aug 1941	0845	La Spezia	13 Aug 1941	1242	La Spezia	39	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	15 Aug 1941	2015	La Spezia	16 Aug 1941	0425	La Spezia	42	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	17 Aug 1941	0811	La Spezia	17 Aug 1941	1339	La Spezia	24	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	18 Aug 1941	Date1308	La Spezia	18 Aug 1941	1736	La Spezia	23,3	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	19 Aug 1941	0809	La Spezia	19 Aug 1941	1548	La Spezia	12	Gyrocompass trials.
	Arillo, Mario	20 Aug 1941	0713	La Spezia	20 Aug 1941	0930	La Spezia	16	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	21 Aug 1941	0520	La Spezia	23 Aug 1941	2002	Augusta	638	Passage La Spezia-Augusta.
		23 Aug 1941	1100-1125	(0) Gulf of Policastro.	At 1100 hours, an Italian squadron of four cruisers and four destroyers was sighted on opposite course. At 1125 hours, at a distance of 6-7,000 metres, one of the destroyers appeared to have sighted an enemy submarine and dropped depth-charges. Ambra continued on her course.
	Arillo, Mario	5 Sep 1941	0815	Augusta	5 Sep 1941	1236	Augusta		Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	6 Sep 1941	1052	Augusta	6 Sep 1941	1820	Messina	73	Passage Augusta-Messina.
10	Arillo, Mario	8 Sep 1941	1352	Messina	9 Sep 1941	1145	Messina	?	Anti-submarine patrol off Cape Orlando with the auxiliaries Marras and Castiglia.
10b	Arillo, Mario	12 Sep 1941	1302	Messina	14 Sep 1941	1445	Messina	?	Anti-submarine patrol with MAS 563 and MAS 564 in zone delimited by (a) Punta Stilo, (b) 130° - Punta Stilo - 9 miles, (c) 191° - Punta Stilo - 17 miles (d) Siderno Marina. Uneventful. The combination of a MAS/submarine was viewed favourably at the time, the submarine providing better hydrophones and the MAS providing the speed to intercept.
10c	Arillo, Mario	18 Sep 1941	1915	Messina	19 Sep 1941	0850	Messina	59	Anti-submarine patrol south of 38°30'N, between 15°20'E and 15°50'E with the auxiliaries Castiglia and Diversi. Uneventful. Heard hydrophone noises but sighted nothing.
11	Arillo, Mario	23 Sep 1941	1209	Messina	24 Sep 1941	0958	Messina	165	Antisubmarine patrol with the torpedo boat Albatros, in 38°02.5'N, 16°14'E, 38°11.5'N, 16°19.5'E, 38°18'N, 16°29.5'E and 38°12'N, 16°40'E. Uneventful.
12	Arillo, Mario	2 Oct 1941	1828	Messina	3 Oct 1941	0920	Messina	57	Anti-submarine patrol north of the Strait of Messina. Heard five depth-charges at 1925 hours on 2nd October (this was torpedo boat Pilo hunting a bogus contact), otherwise uneventful.
13	Arillo, Mario	3 Oct 1941	1758	Messina	5 Oct 1941	1845	Messina	450	Sailed for patrol 13 miles north of Ras Zebib on a line 5 miles west from this point (on a barrage line with Ametista 23 miles north, and Corallo 33 miles north of the Cape) via the north coast of Sicily, but then recalled. Uneventful.
	Arillo, Mario	18 Oct 1941	0940	Messina	20 Oct 1941	1840	La Spezia	561	Passage Messina-La Spezia. Surfaced at 10 knots.
		20 Oct 1941	0430	42° 18'N, 11° 22'E	At 0430 hours, four unidentified steamers were sighted. Ambra made the recognition signal but was not answered.
		20 Oct 1941	1351	(0) 1 mile NW of the Melaria Lightship.	At 1351 hours, a derelict mine was sighted. Ambra attempted to sink it without success and finally just reported it.
	Arillo, Mario	9 Dec 1941	0845	La Spezia	9 Dec 1941	1645	La Spezia	20	Exercises with the submarine Acciaio, escorted by the auxiliaries Taormina, Capodistria and Crotone.
	Arillo, Mario	12 Dec 1941	0835	La Spezia	12 Dec 1941	1800	La Spezia	37	Exercises with the submarine Colonna, escorted by the destroyer Premuda, MAS 507 and the auxiliaries Santantioco, Capodistria, Crotone and Favignana.
	Arillo, Mario	15 Dec 1941	0820	La Spezia	15 Dec 1941	1640	La Spezia	54	Exercises, escorted back by the torpedo boat Carini and auxiliaries Crotone, Capodistria, Favignana and Rimini.
	Arillo, Mario	17 Dec 1941	0828	La Spezia	17 Dec 1941	1225	La Spezia	28	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	19 Dec 1941	0805	La Spezia	19 Dec 1941	1645	La Spezia	22	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	20 Dec 1941	0830	La Spezia	20 Dec 1941	1730	La Spezia	8	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	7 Jan 1942	0845	La Spezia	7 Jan 1942	1715	La Spezia	41,3	Exercises, escorted by the auxiliaries Crotone and Capodistria. Escorted back by the auxiliaries Porto Sdobba, Crotone, Capodistria, Giasone and Favignana.
	Arillo, Mario	12 Jan 1942	0847	La Spezia	12 Jan 1942	1740	La Spezia	39,5	Exercises. Escorted by the auxiliaries Crotone and Rimini.
	Arillo, Mario	16 Jan 1942	0838	La Spezia	16 Jan 1942	2135	La Spezia	60,8	Exercises with the German submarine U-453 escorted by MAS 510.
	Arillo, Mario	21 Jan 1942	0815	La Spezia	21 Jan 1942	1657	La Spezia	44,1	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	23 Jan 1942	0819	La Spezia	23 Jan 1942	1731	La Spezia	35,9	Exercises, escorted by the auxiliaries Favignana and Capodistria.
	Arillo, Mario	5 Feb 1942	1005	La Spezia	5 Feb 1942	1641	La Spezia	33,7	Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Torre Annunziata.
	Arillo, Mario	13 Feb 1942	0830	La Spezia	13 Feb 1942	1630	La Spezia	8	Trials.
	Arillo, Mario	14 Feb 1942	0830	La Spezia	14 Feb 1942	1123	La Spezia	24,5	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	16 Feb 1942	0826	La Spezia	16 Feb 1942	1755	La Spezia	76,1	Exercises with the torpedo boat Libra.
	Arillo, Mario	17 Feb 1942	0835	La Spezia	17 Feb 1942	1845	La Spezia	38,8	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	19 Feb 1942	0830	La Spezia	19 Feb 1942	1915	La Spezia	32,6	Exercises with the submarines Acciaio and Rismondo, escorted by the auxiliaries Crotone and Porto Sdobba.
	Arillo, Mario	20 Feb 1942	1310	La Spezia	20 Feb 1942	1740	La Spezia	32,8	Trials.
	Arillo, Mario	21 Feb 1942	0830	La Spezia	21 Feb 1942	1430	La Spezia	3,8	Gyrocompass tests.
	Arillo, Mario	23 Feb 1942	0837	La Spezia	23 Feb 1942	1755	La Spezia	32,5	Exercises with the submarine H.6, escorted by the auxiliaries Crotone and Santantioco.
	Arillo, Mario	25 Feb 1942	0829	La Spezia	25 Feb 1942	1535	La Spezia	3,6	Gyrocompass tests.
	Arillo, Mario	3 Mar 1942	0855	La Spezia	3 Mar 1942	1905	La Spezia	41,4	Exercises with the submarine H.6, escorted by the torpedo boat Carini and the auxiliaries Favignana and Crotone.
	Arillo, Mario	4 Mar 1942	1520	La Spezia	4 Mar 1942	1920	La Spezia	28,8	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	11 Mar 1942	1545	La Spezia	11 Mar 1942	1930	La Spezia	24,5	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	14 Mar 1942	0830	La Spezia	14 Mar 1942	1755	La Spezia	49,2	Exercises, escorted by the tug Favignana.
	Arillo, Mario	23 Mar 1942	0825	La Spezia	23 Mar 1942	1656	La Spezia	41,9	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	28 Mar 1942	0825	La Spezia	28 Mar 1942	1735	La Spezia	26,5	Exercises with the submarine H.6, escorted by the torpedo boat Climene. Escorted back by MAS 509, MAS 525, MAS 567 and MAS 569.
	Arillo, Mario	1 Apr 1942	0825	La Spezia	1 Apr 1942	2100	La Spezia	45,8	Exercises with the submarines H.1 and Bajamonti, escorted by the auxiliary Crotone.
14	Arillo, Mario	11 Apr 1942	1820	La Spezia	19 Apr 1942	1015	La Spezia	704,1	Sailed, escorted for about an hour by MAS 505 and MAS 510, for patrol west of Sardinia [40°07'N, 08°27'E] for 10th MAS Flotilla SLC test.
		13 Apr 1942	0230	41° 48'N, 7° 26'E	At 0230 hours, a submarine was sighted. This report was apparently bogus, as no allied or enemy submarines operated in this area at that time.
	Arillo, Mario	20 Apr 1942	1930	La Spezia	21 Apr 1942	0850	La Spezia	5,5	Trials.
	Arillo, Mario	25 Apr 1942	1600	La Spezia	26 Apr 1942	0930	La Spezia	6	Trials.
15	Arillo, Mario	29 Apr 1942	1225	La Spezia	5 May 1942	1845	Leros		Passage La Spezia-Leros for a Maiali operation. Escorted through the Messina Strait by the torpedo boat Abba, then through (a) 34°40'N, 22°00'E (b) 34°10'N, 24°40'E (c) 34°20'N, 26°20'E (d) 34°56'N, 27°50'E (e) 35°40'N, 27°54'E. At 0515/5, met by the destroyer Sella who escorted her to Leros.
		2 May 1942	1445	36° 48'N, 17° 46'E	At 1445 hours, a derelict mine was sighted and disposed with light machine gun fire (180 rounds expended).
		3 May 1942	0745	35° 21'N, 20° 40'E	At 0745 hours, a derelict mine was sighted and disposed with light machine gun fire (160 rounds expended).
	Arillo, Mario	9 May 1942	0620	Portolago (Leros)	10 May 1942	0940	Leros		Exercises, escorted by the destroyer Sella.
15b	Arillo, Mario	11 May 1942	0626	Leros	24 May 1942	1120	La Spezia	3602,9	Launched Maiale attack from 1.5 mile from Ras el Tin light at 2025-2050 hours on 14th May (operation G.A.4). Returned via Rhodes (brief stop to pick up her secret papers) and Messina (escorted locally by the torpedo boat Abba on 22nd May 1942) through (1) 35°35'N, 28°00'E (2) 34°20'N, 26°25'E (3) 34°05'N, 24°40'E (4) 34°20'N, 23°00'E.
		14 May 1942	2025-+2050	(0) 030° - Ras el Tin -1.75 mile or north of Kait Bey Fort (Alexandria).	At 2110 hours on 13th May, the searchlights of Alexandria were observed as Ambra arrived off her objective. At 0130 hours on the 14th, antiaircraft fire coming from the city could be observed as an air raid had been arranged to provide cover. At 0300 hours, the submarine closed submerged, T.V. Arillo using bathometric data to guide himself. At 1925 hours, Ambra reached the sea floor and stopped at a depth of only 10.5 metres. The Ras-El-Tin light was observed at 1.75 mile. Between 2025 and 2050 hours, the three SLCs were launched. They were piloted by: GM Giovanni Magello/2o Capo Palombaro Giuseppe Morbelli TGN Luigi Feltrinelli/Sottocapo Palombaro (Diver) Luciano Favale S.T.V. (Medical) Giorgio Spaccarelli/Sg Palombaro Armano Memoli. The mission failed because of currents, which diverted the 'maiales' several thousand meters off course. The British were alerted when the crossing of the western loop was detected at 2340 hours and contacts were depth-charged at 0130 and 0140 hours. The three SLCs were scuttled off Agami, Mex and Anfouchy (to the west of the harbour entrance), they blew up at 1030 hours. Two Italians were captured at 0600 hours (Mex) and two more at 1030 (Anfouchy), the latter had scuttled their SLC about one mile from the wreck of the City of Pittsburg where they took refuge. The third team [Feltrinelli/Favale] eluded capture until 19th June. The Mediterranean Fleet had been put on alert as an attempt on Alexandria was known since 6th May and the floating dock was believed to be the main target.
		21 May 1942	1052	36° 50'N, 17° 40'E	At 1052 hours, a derelict mine was sighted and disposed with light machine gun fire (120 rounds expended).
	Arillo, Mario	29 May 1942	0907	La Spezia	29 May 1942	1036	La Spezia	12	Trials.
	Arillo, Mario	7 Aug 1942	1300	La Spezia	7 Aug 1942	1830	La Spezia	33,4	Trials.
	Arillo, Mario	10 Aug 1942	0827	La Spezia	10 Aug 1942	1925	La Spezia	58,9	Trials.
	Arillo, Mario	12 Aug 1942	0815	La Spezia	12 Aug 1942	1840	La Spezia	50	Trials.
	Arillo, Mario	17 Aug 1942	0809	La Spezia	18 Aug 1942	0750	La Spezia	42,3	Trials.
	Arillo, Mario	19 Aug 1942	0815	La Spezia	20 Aug 1942	0750	La Spezia	10,9	Exercises and gyrocompass tests.
	Arillo, Mario	25 Aug 1942	1540	La Spezia	26 Aug 1942	0307	La Spezia	11,5	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	29 Aug 1942	0810	La Spezia	29 Aug 1942	1710	La Spezia	16,7	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	1 Sep 1942	0837	La Spezia	1 Sep 1942	1650	La Spezia	37,7	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	11 Sep 1942	1545	La Spezia	11 Sep 1942	1800	La Spezia	5,3	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	12 Sep 1942	1510	La Spezia	12 Sep 1942	1723	La Spezia	4,5	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	13 Sep 1942	0830	La Spezia	13 Sep 1942	1255	La Spezia	9,7	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	21 Sep 1942	0910	La Spezia	21 Sep 1942	1852	La Spezia	29,8	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	23 Sep 1942	0845	La Spezia	23 Sep 1942	2005	La Spezia	49	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	28 Sep 1942	0850	La Spezia	28 Sep 1942	1205	La Spezia	23	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	30 Sep 1942	0820	La Spezia	30 Sep 1942	0958	La Spezia	7,2	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	3 Oct 1942	0732	La Spezia	3 Oct 1942	1050	La Spezia	12	Trials.
	Arillo, Mario	5 Oct 1942	0740	La Spezia	5 Oct 1942	0951	La Spezia	5,3	Trials.
	Arillo, Mario	6 Oct 1942	0745	La Spezia	6 Oct 1942	1925	La Spezia	57,6	Exercises, escorted by MAS 505.
	Arillo, Mario	7 Oct 1942	1550	La Spezia	8 Oct 1942	1440	La Spezia	142,5	Exercises, escorted by MAS 505.
	Arillo, Mario	13 Oct 1942	0745	La Spezia	13 Oct 1942	1638	La Spezia	58,7	Exercises with the submarines H.4 and H.6, escorted by MAS 556.
	Arillo, Mario	15 Oct 1942	0948	La Spezia	15 Oct 1942	1149	La Spezia	5,2	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	20 Oct 1942	1536	La Spezia	20 Oct 1942	2249	La Spezia	2,6	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	27 Oct 1942	0747	La Spezia	27 Oct 1942	1635	La Spezia	57,9	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	28 Oct 1942	1625	La Spezia	29 Oct 1942	0800	La Spezia	5,2	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	9 Nov 1942	1730	La Spezia	9 Nov 1942	0802	La Spezia	1	Trials.
	Arillo, Mario	10 Nov 1942	0830	La Spezia	10 Nov 1942	1210	La Spezia	27,2	Trials.
	Arillo, Mario	10 Nov 1942	0900	La Spezia	10 Nov 1942	1055	La Spezia		Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	16 Nov 1942	1045	La Spezia	16 Nov 1942	1220	La Spezia	5,3	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	17 Nov 1942	1542	La Spezia	17 Nov 1942	1917	La Spezia	5,3	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	19 Nov 1942	0835	La Spezia	19 Nov 1942	1715	La Spezia	5,3	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	20 Nov 1942	1455	La Spezia	20 Nov 1942	1850	La Spezia	5,3	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	23 Nov 1942	1537	La Spezia	23 Nov 1942	2045	La Spezia	5,3	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	24 Nov 1942	1315	La Spezia	24 Nov 1942	1750	La Spezia	6	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	25 Nov 1942	0942	La Spezia	25 Nov 1942	2100	La Spezia	26,6	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	25 Nov 1942	1245	La Spezia	25 Nov 1942	1545	La Spezia		Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	27 Nov 1942	1545	La Spezia	27 Nov 1942	2212	La Spezia	7	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	3 Dec 1942	1020	La Spezia	3 Dec 1942	1943	La Spezia	11	Exercises.
16	Arillo, Mario	4 Dec 1942	1452	La Spezia	15 Dec 1942	1120	La Spezia	1539,26	Launched frogmen and SLC attack on Algiers [Operation N.A.1]. The operation was delayed by 24 hours as SUPERMARINA had been informed of the arrival of a large convoy to Algiers on 9th November. Arillo was awarded the Medaglia D'Oro for his exploits.
		11 Dec 1942	2300-2320	(0) 105° - Southern entrance of Algiers harbour - 2000 m.	At 2145 hours, Ambra had reached a position just 2,000 metres from the entrance of the harbour of Algiers. By 2300 hours, the ten Gamma men had left the boat. At 2320 hours, the three SLCs left. SLC: 1. TV Giorgio Badessi (Group Leader)/ S.C. Palombaro Carlo Pesel 2. TNG Guido Arena/ Sotto Capo Palombaro Ferdinando Cocchi 3. GM Giorgio Reggioli/S.C. Palombaro Colombo Pammolli Gamma men (each pair given 5 objectives): 1. Serg. Alberto Evangelista/Serg. Luigi Rolfini 2. Serg. Gaspare Ghiglione /Soldato Luciano Luciani 3. Marò (or S.C, Fuochista) Rodolfo Lugano/Marò Giovanni Lucchetti (Lucchetti had threatened Morello who had ordered him to return to the submarine. He disobeyed and carried on) 4. S.C. Palombaro Giuseppe Feroldi/Marò Evideo Boscolo (Boscolo attacked target no. 5, Feroldi was unable to reach his objective). 5. STAN Agostino Morello (Gamma leader)/2° Capo Inf. Oreste Botti Reserve: T,V, Augusto Jacobacci 2° Capo Armando Battaglia At that time, the following vessels were present in Algiers: the British Empire Centaur (7,041 GRT, built 1942), the Norwegian Berto (1,493 GRT, built 1918), the British Harmattan (4,558 GRT, built 1930), Ocean Vanquisher (7,174 GRT, 1942) and an unidentified vessel [the USS Thomas Stone beached after being crippled by a German torpedo bomber]. They were the five objectives of the operation [operation N.A.1]. Also present were the light cruisers HMS Sirius and HMS Dido and the sloop HMS Deptford. Berto was sunk at 0620 hours (all the crew was saved) and the others badly damaged (Empire Centaur had no. 2 and 3 holds flooded, Harmattan had her engine room flooded and had beached herself, Ocean Vanquisher had run aground with engine room and boiler rooms flooded). The sixteen men of the Decima Flottiglia MAS were all captured. It had been a great success.
	Arillo, Mario	6 Mar 1943	0810	La Spezia	6 Mar 1943	1351	La Spezia	24	Trials.
	Arillo, Mario	10 Mar 1943	0810	La Spezia	10 Mar 1943	1215	La Spezia	23	Trials.
	Arillo, Mario	12 Mar 1943	0805	La Spezia	12 Mar 1943	1530	La Spezia	29	Trials.
	Arillo, Mario	21 Mar 1943	0800	La Spezia	21 Mar 1943	1625	La Spezia	57,8	Trials.
	Arillo, Mario	22 Mar 1943	1200	La Spezia	22 Mar 1943	1620	La Spezia	10	Trials.
	Arillo, Mario	24 Mar 1943	1200	La Spezia	24 Mar 1943	1620	La Spezia	2,5	Gyrocompass tests.
	Arillo, Mario	30 Mar 1943	1300	La Spezia	30 Mar 1943	1615	La Spezia	2,5	Exercises.
17	Arillo, Mario	31 Mar 1943	0800	La Spezia	5 Apr 1943	0745	La Spezia	668	Sailed for area west of Bonifacio Strait for test, with twelve Gamma combat swimmers, three M.T.R. and four operators.
		3 Apr 1943	1200	41° 31'N, 6° 31'E	At 1200 hours, a Spanish vessel was sighted.
	Arillo, Mario	10 Apr 1943	0800	La Spezia	10 Apr 1943	1740	La Spezia	49,6	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	12 Apr 1943	0731	La Spezia	12 Apr 1943	1730	La Spezia	52	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	3 May 1943	0645	La Spezia	3 May 1943	1615	La Spezia	57	Exercises, escorted out by MAS 525.
	Arillo, Mario	8 May 1943	0715	La Spezia	8 May 1943	1715	La Spezia	66,6	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	16 May 1943	0700	La Spezia	16 May 1943	1303	La Spezia	24,6	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	17 May 1943	0845	La Spezia	17 May 1943	1730	La Spezia	28,7	Exercises.
	Arillo, Mario	19 May 1943	0755	La Spezia	19 May 1943	2345	La Spezia	84,4	Exercises.
	Ferrini, Renato	28 May 1943	1435	La Spezia	29 May 1943	0025	La Spezia	16,9	Exercises.
18	Ferrini, Renato	2 Jun 1943	0920	La Spezia	7 Jun 1943	0655	La Spezia	450	Sailed for area west of Bonifacio Strait for test with twelve Gamma combat swimmers, three M.T.R. and four operators. Escorted out by MAS 525?
	Ferrini, Renato	28 Jun 1943	0930	La Spezia	28 Jun 1943	1600	La Spezia	5	Exercises.
	Ferrini, Renato	2 Jul 1943	0820	La Spezia	3 Jul 1943	0100	La Spezia	70,7	Exercises.
	Ferrini, Renato	6 Jul 1943	1740	La Spezia	7 Jul 1943	1700	La Spezia	68,3	Exercises.
	Ferrini, Renato	11 Jul 1943	1350	La Spezia	12 Jul 1943	0100	La Spezia	7,7	Exercises.
19	Ferrini, Renato	14 Jul 1943	1532	La Spezia	18 Jul 1943	1410	Messina		Passage La Spezia-Messina, carrying three human torpedoes destined to force the harbour of Syracuse (also reported as three explosive boats to attack Augusta). At 2030 hours on the 16th, she met the torpedo boat Partenope in point M3 to escort her through the Strait of Messina.
		16 Jul 1943	2243	38° 23'N, 15° 46'E	At 2243 hours, an hospital ship was seen on opposite course.
		17 Jul 1943	0210-0215 0230 (e)	(0) South of San Rainieri Light (Strait of Messina).	At 0035 hours, Ambra was being escorted by the torpedo-boat Partenope, when they received the order to stop off Messina as the light cruiser Scipione Africano was expected to cross the Straits shortly. At 0210 hours, Scipione Africano was observed firing at unidentified naval targets. A vessel was set afire. This actually was MTB-316 . She was sunk and none of her eleven-men crew survived. MTB- 313 was hit and had one killed and one wounded. The MTBs claimed two torpedo hits on the cruiser, but Scipione Africano was undamaged.
		17 Jul 1943	2232	37° 28'N, 15° 58'E	At 2232 hours, five enemy vessels were sighted at a distance of 12,000 metres. Ambra had instructions not to reveal its presence until her special mission was accomplished and desisted from attacking.
		18 Jul 1943	0320 0320B (e)		At 0320 hours, an aircraft was sighted, which made a recognition signal before bombing the submarine with depth-charges. Ambra was straddled by seven or eight bombs, damaged by near-misses and had a few wounded. As she could no longer submerge, she was forced to abort her mission. She returned through the Strait of Messina escorted by the corvette Cicogna and the torpedo-boat Partenope who took her in tow part of the trip back to Naples. A submarine was reported lurking near them at 1915 hours on the 18th and the corvette Cicogna was detached to hunt it. Ambra and Partenope proceeded together to Naples. This was Wellington 'B' (HZ.116) of 221 Squadron piloted by Pilot Officer E. Austin. Post-war, this attack was initially credited to have sunk the submarine Romolo, although she was assessed at the time as "probably slightly damaged". The aircraft had detected the submarine from a range of 6 miles and made an attack by keeping the target in its moonpath. Five 250-lb depth charges set at 25 feet and three A/S 100-lb bombs were released from a height of 200 feet. The submarine was reported to have fired a short burst of machine gun fire as the aircraft flew away. It was not hit. The aircraft attempted to contact British destroyers known to be operating in the area, without success.
19b	Ferrini, Renato	18 Jul 1943	1715	Messina	19 Jul 1943	1850	Naples	799,5	Passage Messina-Naples.
		18 Jul 1943	0320 0320B (e)		At 0320 hours, an aircraft was sighted, which made a recognition signal before bombing the submarine with depth-charges. Ambra was straddled by seven or eight bombs, damaged by near-misses and had a few wounded. As she could no longer submerge, she was forced to abort her mission. She returned through the Strait of Messina escorted by the corvette Cicogna and the torpedo-boat Partenope who took her in tow part of the trip back to Naples. A submarine was reported lurking near them at 1915 hours on the 18th and the corvette Cicogna was detached to hunt it. Ambra and Partenope proceeded together to Naples. This was Wellington 'B' (HZ.116) of 221 Squadron piloted by Pilot Officer E. Austin. Post-war, this attack was initially credited to have sunk the submarine Romolo, although she was assessed at the time as "probably slightly damaged". The aircraft had detected the submarine from a range of 6 miles and made an attack by keeping the target in its moonpath. Five 250-lb depth charges set at 25 feet and three A/S 100-lb bombs were released from a height of 200 feet. The submarine was reported to have fired a short burst of machine gun fire as the aircraft flew away. It was not hit. The aircraft attempted to contact British destroyers known to be operating in the area, without success.
	Ferrini, Renato	25 Jul 1943	1400	Naples	27 Jul 1943	0445	La Spezia	390,5	Passage Naples-La Spezia. Joined up with the steamer Saluzzo, escorted by the torpedo boats Ardito and Animoso who went to La Maddalena. Ambra left them at 1840 hours on the 26th, off Piombino. She was reported damaged more seriously than at first thought. It was proposed that following the entry in service of Murena (at the end of September) and Grongo (on 20th October 1943), she was to revert to ordinary submarine operations.
	Ferrini, Renato	9 Sep 1943		La Spezia	9 Sep 1943		Scuttled		Scuttled after armistice.

168 entries. 157 total patrol entries (19 marked as war patrols) and 25 events.

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