Malachite (MH)
Malachite

Type	Coastal / Sea going
Class	Perla (22)
Laid down	31 Aug 1935	Odero-Terni-Orlando, Muggiano
Launched	15 Jul 1936
Commissioned	6 Nov 1936
End service
Stricken
Loss date	9 Feb 1943
Loss position	38° 42'N, 8° 54'E
History
Fate	Sunk on 9th February 1943 south of Cagliari, Sardinia, in position 38°42'N, 08°54'E by the Dutch submarine HrMs Dolfijn.

Commands

Commander	Date from	Date to	Command notes
C.C. Renato D'Elia	15 Dec 1939	11 Aug 1940
T.V. Guido Coscia	12 Aug 1940	26 Aug 1940
T.V. Gianfranco Gazzana Priaroggia	27 Aug 1940	8 Nov 1940
T.V. Luigi Baroni	8 Nov 1940	17 Nov 1940
T.V. Enzo Zanni	18 Nov 1940	24 Mar 1942
T.V. Olinto Di Serio	24 Mar 1942	20 May 1942
T.V. Alpinolo Cinti	20 May 1942	4 Sep 1942
T.V. Oscar Gran	5 Sep 1942	5 Oct 1942
T.V. Alpinolo Cinti	5 Oct 1942	9 Feb 1943

Ships hit

No ships hit by this submarine.

Patrols and events

	Commander	Date	Time	Port	Arr. date	Arr. time	Arr. port	Miles	Description
	D'Elia, Renato	10 Jun 1940		Taranto	10 Jun 1940		Taranto		At Taranto.
1	D'Elia, Renato	17 Jun 1940	2330	Taranto	2 Jul 1940	0750	Taranto	2169,8	Patrolled between 40°40'N and 41°20'N and 02°40'E and 03°20'E, 40 miles southeast of Barcelona up to 27 June.
		21 Jun 1940	1144 1045 (e)	39° 51'N, 5° 10'E	At 1144 hours, a formation of twelve aircraft was sighted at a distance of 3,500 metres. They attacked Malachite who dived. She reached 44 meters when she was shaken by an explosion, which caused slight damage. This could have been French T 2 Squadron (Laté.29-8 seaplanes evacuating from Berre to Bougie) which attacked a submarine with five aircraft. The attack is reported as havinf occured on 22 June, but refers to a signal from Marine Bougie of 1325 hours on 21st June, so the date is probably an error. The attacks were carried out by T 21 piloted by L.V. Lamiot (unable to drop his bomb), T 22 (did not attack), T 23 piloted by L.V. Jourdain (dropped a bomb, which did not explode), T 210 piloted by E.V. Grosclaude (dropped a bomb which exploded), T 27 piloted by Maître Le Gall (dropped a bomb) and T 21 which made a second run and dropped a bomb, but it did not explode.
		24 Jun 1940	2202	41° 18'N, 2° 44'E	At 2202 hours, a tanker was sighted at a distance of 5,000 metres followed shortly after another four merchant vessels. Malachite tried to close the range unsuccessfully and the heavy seas prevented a gun action.
		28 Jun 1940	1350	39° 48'N, 5° 22'E	At 1350 hours, a submarine was sighted at a distance of 3,500 metres, steering 340° in heavy seas. C.C. Renato d'Elia decided not to attempt an attack as he believed it might be Nani. This could not be, as she had already reached Naples. Possibly this could have been either Ascianghi, Cappellini or Mocenigo but their patrol reports are not precise enough to determine which one.
	D'Elia, Renato	15 Jul 1940	0545	Taranto	17 Jul 1940	1800	Pola	614	Passage Taranto-Pola. Then refit.
	Coscia, Guido	12 Aug 1940		Pola	26 Aug 1940		Pola		Refit in Pola. Change in command.
	Gazzana Priaroggia, Gianfranco	22 Oct 1940	0730	Pola	22 Oct 1940	1622	Pola	46	Exercises.
	Gazzana Priaroggia, Gianfranco	29 Oct 1940	0710	Pola	29 Oct 1940	1522	Pola	52,5	Exercises.
	Gazzana Priaroggia, Gianfranco	30 Oct 1940	1107	Pola	30 Oct 1940	1830	Pola	15	Exercises.
	Gazzana Priaroggia, Gianfranco	2 Nov 1940	0930	Pola	2 Nov 1940	1725	Pola	56	Exercises.
	Baroni, Luigi	9 Nov 1940	0855	Pola	11 Nov 1940	1315	Taranto	531	Passage Pola-Taranto. Uneventful.
2	Baroni, Luigi	12 Nov 1940	0500	Taranto	13 Nov 1940	1830	Taranto	180	Defensive patrol in 150° - Torre Scanzano - 13' (Gulf of Taranto).
	Zanni, Enzo	28 Nov 1940	0815	Taranto	28 Nov 1940	1513	Taranto	35	Exercises.
	Zanni, Enzo	29 Nov 1940	0745	Taranto	29 Nov 1940	1815	Taranto	53	Exercises.
	Zanni, Enzo	30 Nov 1940	1235	Taranto	1 Dec 1940	1655	Augusta	314	Passage Taranto-Augusta.
3	Zanni, Enzo	15 Dec 1940	1213	Augusta	30 Dec 1940	1327	Augusta	1257	Patrolled off Cyrenaica with Smeraldo, between 33°10'N and the Libyan coast, and between 22°00'E and 22°50'E.
		15 Dec 1940	1515 ? (e)	36° 00'N, 15° 36'E (0) 111° - Cape Murro di Porco - 14 miles.	At 1515 hours, a Blenheim bomber was sighted at a distance of 2,000 metres. It closed to 700 metres but did not drop any bomb as Malachite opened fire with her machine guns. This was actually Maryland 1 of Air Reconnaissace Flight 431 (Flying Officer Adrien Warburton) which strafed the submarine with its front machine guns.
	Zanni, Enzo	1 Jan 1941	0050	Augusta	1 Jan 1941	0902	Messina	77	Passage Augusta-Messina.
	Zanni, Enzo	20 Jan 1941	0805	Messina	20 Jan 1941	1645	Messina	62	Exercises.
	Zanni, Enzo	23 Jan 1941	0800	Messina	23 Jan 1941	1630	Messina	47	Exercises.
4	Zanni, Enzo	26 Jan 1941	1800	Messina	27 Jan 1941	1330	Messina	120	Defensive patrol (hydrophone watch) north of the Strait of Messina. Uneventful.
5	Zanni, Enzo	4 Feb 1941	1720	Messina	18 Feb 1941	1600	Messina	1563	Patrolled off Cyrenaica within 60 miles from 33°10'N, 22°10'E.
		14 Feb 1941	0106	(0) Off Cyrenaica.	At 0106 hours, a dark silhouette, believed to be a cruiser or a destroyer, was sighted on an easterly course. Malachite attempted to close the range but, at 0100 hours on the 21st, the enemy vessel passed some 6 to 7,000 meters away and disappeared in the distance.
	Zanni, Enzo	6 Mar 1941	0805	Messina	6 Mar 1941	1535	Messina	39	Exercises, escorted by R.D.57.
6	Zanni, Enzo	9 Mar 1941	1800	Messina	24 Mar 1941	1540	Leros	1450	Patrolled South of Crete within 20 miles from 33°30'N, 27°20'E on a NE-SW axis, then on 18 March shifted 235° - 50 miles and passage Messina-Leros.
		19 Mar 1941	0109	33° 00'N, 26° 40'E	Since the previous evening, noises had been picked up by the hydrophones without resulting in any visual confirmation. At 0030 hours, hydrophone effects were picked up again. At 0055 hours, in heavy mist, a shadow was finally sighted,followed shortly after by another. They were believed to be a SOUTHAMPTON class cruiser and a destroyer steering 050°-040° at 18 knots At 0109 hours, Malachite fired two bow torpedoes from the surface, at a range of 2,500 metres, aimed at the cruiser. They missed. A third torpedo was about to be fired when the destroyer suddenly turned toward the submarine. Malachite crash-dived. Two depth charges were heard, followed by two more. The target was possibly the light cruiser HMS Gloucester escorted by the destroyer HMS Hasty on passage from Alexandria to Piraeus via the Kythera Channel and carrying General Blamey and 1,087 troops of the Australian corps.
7	Zanni, Enzo	8 Apr 1941	1720	Leros	23 Apr 1941	0900	Augusta	1258	Patrolled in 33°55'N, 31°20'E on a NE-SW axis and passage Leros-Augusta.
		14 Apr 1941	2327	34° 55'N, 24° 44'E (0) Very approximately.	At 2327 hours, two liners (10,000 to 20,000 GRT), escorted by two destroyers, were sighted at 7,000 metres, steering 100°. Malachite could not close to the attack.
		15 Apr 1941	0110	(0) 100 miles North of Sidi Barrani.	At 0110 hours, two steamers estimated at 3,000 to 5,000 GRT escorted by two destroyers were sighted at a distance of 5,000 metres, steering 100°. Again, Malachite could not close to the attack.
		17 Apr 1941	0149	(0) Ca. 100 miles North of Sidi Barrani.	At 0149 hours, an enemy destroyer was sighted at a distance of 2,000 metres and she turned toward the submarine. Malachite crash-dived but the voice pipe had not been closed causing a large amount of water to penetrate the submarine. It was finally closed and the submarine went down to 80 meters and appeared to pick up sounds from a passing convoy on her hydrophones . She surfaced at 0212 hours but did not sight anything.
		17 Apr 1941	2000	(0) Ca. 100 miles North of Sidi Barrani.	At 2000 hours, information was received of a large heavily escorted convoy. Malachite altered course to intercept but nothing was sighted or heard.
		18 Apr 1941	2000	(0) Ca. 100 miles North of Sidi Barrani.	At 2000 hours, information was received of a large convoy steering 300°. Malachite steered west to intercept. Between 1700 and 1900 hours on the 20th, Malachite was on her way to Augusta when a series of distant explosions were heard. This was believed to be from a convoy under air attack, but nothing was sighted.
	Zanni, Enzo	10 May 1941	0800	Augusta	10 May 1941	1215	Augusta	2	Exercises.
	Zanni, Enzo	10 May 1941	1345	Augusta	10 May 1941	1815	Augusta	2	Exercises.
	Zanni, Enzo	11 May 1941	0815	Augusta	11 May 1941	1025	Augusta	5	Exercises.
	Zanni, Enzo	12 May 1941	0805	Augusta	12 May 1941	1215	Augusta	9	Exercises with Smeraldo, escorted by a tug and MAS 529.
	Zanni, Enzo	17 May 1941	0915	Augusta	17 May 1941	1145	Augusta	7	Exercises with MAS 528 and auxiliary motor sailing vessel V.68.
8	Zanni, Enzo	18 May 1941	2118	Augusta	5 Jun 1941	0842	Augusta	1780	Patrolled in Eastern Mediterranean, within 20 miles from 33°10'N, 28°20'E on a NE-SW axis, On 28 May, patrol was shifted between Gaidaro and the Cretan coast (34°40'N, 25°30'E?). Uneventful. Heard only H.E.
	Zanni, Enzo	23 Jun 1941	0805	Augusta	23 Jun 1941	1111	Augusta	18	Exercises.
	Zanni, Enzo	28 Jun 1941	1425	Augusta	28 Jun 1941	1715	Augusta	7,5	Exercises.
	Zanni, Enzo	29 Jun 1941	0818	Augusta	29 Jun 1941	1118	Augusta	16	Exercises by MAS 531.
9	Zanni, Enzo	30 Jun 1941	2030	Augusta	17 Jul 1941	0835	Augusta	1724	Patrolled north of Ras Azzaz, between 32°25'N and 32°40'N, and between 24°40'E and 25°00'E.
		3 Jul 1941	2007 2110 (e)	(0) Off Ras Azzaz (UK: off Mersa Matruh).	At 1937 hours, Malachite was submerged when noises were picked up with the hydrophones. Nothing could be observed with the periscope, so she surfaced at 1946 hours. At 1947 hours, two destroyers were sighted zigzagging and firing at aircraft at a distance of 6-7,000 metres. As they were closing toward the submarine, Malachite submerged at 1957 hours, but again nothing could be observed through the periscope. Surfacing at 2004 hours, she immediately sighted a DIDO class cruiser with two destroyers. At 2107 hours, a single torpedo was fired from a bow tube at a distance of 2,500 metres aimed at the cruiser and the submarine crash-dived. Two torpedoes were intended, but the first had misfired. After 150 seconds, a loud explosion was heard and it was believed that the cruiser had been hit. These were actually the destroyers HMS Defender, HMAS Stuart and HMAS Vendetta on their way to Tobruk. HMS Defender sighted the torpedo track and avoided it. HMAS Stuart sighted the submarine's conning tower and rushed to the attack, dropping two depth charges. HMS Defender hunted the submarine without success. Italian Naval Intelligence had intercepted a signal from the light cruiser HMS Phoebe reporting an attack (she was actually operating off the Syrian coast) and deduced that she was undamaged but that possibly one of the destroyers had been hit.
		6 Jul 1941	2046+	(0) Off Ras Azzaz.	At 1943, hydrophones detected noises and Malachite steered toward them. At 2046 hours, a destroyer was sighted at a distance of 7,000 metres, steering 250° at 30 knots. The submarine could not gain an attacking position.
		8 Jul 1941	0020	(0) Off Ras Azzaz.	At 0020 hours, the submarine Tembien was sighted at 2,000 metres. Malachite dived to avoid a case of mistaken identity.
	Zanni, Enzo	21 Jul 1941	0830	Augusta	21 Jul 1941	1550	Messina	74	Passage Augusta-Messina.
	Zanni, Enzo	20 Aug 1941	0815	Messina	20 Aug 1941	1645	Messina	25	Exercises.
	Zanni, Enzo	23 Aug 1941	0837	Messina	23 Aug 1941	1715	Messina	27	Exercises.
	Zanni, Enzo	25 Aug 1941	0800	Messina	25 Aug 1941	1615	Messina	32	Exercises.
	Zanni, Enzo	29 Aug 1941	0805	Messina	29 Aug 1941	1645	Messina	35,5	Exercises.
	Zanni, Enzo	30 Aug 1941	0903	Messina	30 Aug 1941	1245	Messina	28	Exercises.
	Zanni, Enzo	31 Aug 1941	2306	Messina	1 Sep 1941	0650	Augusta	70	Passage Messina-Augusta.
	Zanni, Enzo	6 Sep 1941	0815	Augusta	6 Sep 1941	1210	Augusta	18	Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary minesweeper Tea.
	Zanni, Enzo	10 Sep 1941	0815	Augusta	10 Sep 1941	1145	Augusta	21	Exercises.
	Zanni, Enzo	18 Sep 1941	0815	Augusta	18 Sep 1941	1200	Augusta	15	Exercises.
10	Zanni, Enzo	22 Sep 1941	2115	Augusta	8 Oct 1941	0915	Augusta	1383	Patrolled 20 miles north of Ras Amer on a patrol line with Tricheco. Uneventful.
	Zanni, Enzo	11 Oct 1941	0025	Augusta	14 Oct 1941	1600	La Spezia	630	Passage Augusta-La Spezia. Sighted only Italian vessels.
	Zanni, Enzo	17 Oct 1941	0830	La Spezia	17 Oct 1941	1730	La Spezia	36	Exercises with Veniero and Platino, escorted by MAS 572 and the auxiliary Capodistria.
	Zanni, Enzo	19 Oct 1941	0730	La Spezia	19 Oct 1941	1230	La Spezia	37	Exercises.
	Zanni, Enzo	6 Dec 1941	0845	La Spezia	6 Dec 1941	1510	La Spezia	36	Exercises, escorted by the auxiliaries San Marco, Crotone, Capodistria and Giasone.
	Zanni, Enzo	11 Dec 1941	0800	La Spezia	11 Dec 1941	1500	La Spezia	36	Exercises, escorted by MAS 510.
	Zanni, Enzo	19 Dec 1941	0845	La Spezia	19 Dec 1941	1730	La Spezia	62	Exercises with the submarines Da Procida and H.1, escorted by the auxiliaries Porto Sdobba, Crotone and Capodistria, MAS 507 and MAS 510. .
	Zanni, Enzo	21 Dec 1941	0830	La Spezia	21 Dec 1941	1245	La Spezia	24	Exercises.
	Zanni, Enzo	22 Dec 1941	0805	La Spezia	22 Dec 1941	1730	La Spezia	40	Exercises with the submarine Platino, escorted by the auxiliaries Porto Sdobba, Capodistria and Favignana.
	Zanni, Enzo	29 Dec 1941	0940	La Spezia	29 Dec 1941	2125	La Spezia	55	Exercises.
	Zanni, Enzo	31 Dec 1941	0835	La Spezia	31 Dec 1941	1710	La Spezia	26	Exercises with the submarine Colonna, escorted by the auxiliaries Capodistria and Crotone.
	Zanni, Enzo	3 Jan 1942	1325	La Spezia	3 Jan 1942	1840	La Spezia	27	Exercises.
	Zanni, Enzo	6 Jan 1942	0900	La Spezia	6 Jan 1942	1810	La Spezia	21	Exercises.
	Zanni, Enzo	7 Jan 1942	1705	La Spezia	7 Jan 1942	2110	La Spezia	3	Exercises.
	Zanni, Enzo	10 Jan 1942	1705	La Spezia	10 Jan 1942	2110	La Spezia	25	Exercises with the submarine H.6, escorted by the torpedo boat La Masa.
	Zanni, Enzo	12 Jan 1942	1700	La Spezia	12 Jan 1942	2140	La Spezia	25	Exercises, escorted by the torpedo boat La Masa.
	Zanni, Enzo	14 Jan 1942	2330	La Spezia	17 Jan 1942	1600	Augusta	625	Passage La Spezia-Augusta. Uneventful.
11	Zanni, Enzo	20 Jan 1942	1815	Augusta	31 Jan 1942	0945	Messina	1170	Patrolled north of Cyrenaica between 33°00'N and 33°40'N and 21°20'E and 21°40'E in Italian Grids 9146 and 1546. On 16th January, she was ordered to Grids 7927 and 3327 or 31°20'N and 31°40'N?). Uneventful. Heard only H.E. Then short refit.
		20 Jan 1942	0241	36° 30'N, 16° 30'E (0) Approximately.	At 0241 hours, a submarine was sighted steering 320°. Malachite altered course away. This was Menotti returning to Augusta from a supply mission to Tripoli.
	Zanni, Enzo	8 Feb 1942	0845	Messina	8 Feb 1942	1040	Messina	6,6	Trials.
12	Zanni, Enzo	10 Feb 1942	1640	Messina	26 Feb 1942	0910	Messina	1762	Was supposed to sail for exercises with patrol-boat Marzano (A.S. 67), but instead sailed for patrol north of Cyrenaica on the meridian within 8 miles from 34°00'N, 20°00'E on a patrol line with Topazio, Tricheco and Perla. On 13th February, she was moved 20 miles south. At 2000 hours on the 15th, following orders from MARICOSOM, she proceeded to a new position at 148° - 98 miles.
		11 Feb 1942	0029 0043B (e)		At 0029 hours, a submarine was sighted on an opposite course, at a distance of 1,200 metres. This was HMS Upright (Lieutenant J.W.D. Coombe, RN) who sighted Malachite at just 300 metres and immediately dived. Neither submarine could regain contact.
		11 Feb 1942	2147		At 2147 hours, a submarine was sighted at a distance of 2,000 metres. Malachite turned away. Perhaps this was HMS Tempest who was lost two days later.
		17 Feb 1942	0620		At 0620 hours, a derelict mine was sighted 200 metres away and was sunk by machine gun fire. It was not of Italian manufacture.
	Zanni, Enzo	17 Mar 1942	1407	Messina	17 Mar 1942	1700	Messina	13	Trials, escorted by the auxiliary Marras.
	Di Serio, Olinto	25 Mar 1942	1330	Messina	25 Mar 1942	1730	Messina	13	Trials and exercises escorted by the auxiliary Marras.
	Di Serio, Olinto	27 Mar 1942	0800	Messina	27 Mar 1942	1145	Messina	16	Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Marzano.
	Di Serio, Olinto	29 Mar 1942	0812	Messina	29 Mar 1942	1130	Messina	17	Exercises, escorted by the auxiliaries Marzano (A.S.67) and Marras (A.S.51).
	Di Serio, Olinto	4 Apr 1942	0800	Messina	4 Apr 1942	1130	Messina	20	Trials.
	Di Serio, Olinto	6 Apr 1942	0630	Messina	6 Apr 1942	1335	Messina	62	Trials, escorted by MAS 562.
13	Di Serio, Olinto	6 Apr 1942	2010	Messina	24 Apr 1942	0648	Messina	1876	Patrolled north of Cyrenaica, between 33°40'N and 34°20'N, and between 22°00'E and 22°20'E on a patrol line with Uarsciek.
		8 Apr 1942	1150 1240 (e)		At 1150 hours, a Blenheim bomber was sighted at a distance of 5,000 metres. It circled twice the submarine, making strafing runs. At 1200 hours, Malachite took an opportune moment to dive. This was a Maryland (291) of 203 Squadron piloted by Flying Officer Curtiss who sighted a surfaced submarine, course 130°, 8 knots and took photographs. This was the third U-boat sighted on this patrol.
	Di Serio, Olinto	12 May 1942	1410	Messina	12 May 1942	1715	Messina	18	Trials.
	Di Serio, Olinto	15 May 1942	2100	Messina	17 May 1942	1135	Cagliari	364	Passage Messina-Cagliari.
	Di Serio, Olinto	19 May 1942	1350	Cagliari	19 May 1942	1945	Cagliari	33	Trials.
14	Cinti, Alpinolo	30 May 1942	1800	Cagliari	11 Jun 1942	1115	Cagliari	1251	Patrolled in western Mediterranean, in area between 37°50'N and 38°10'N, and between 03°00'E and 03°40'E. Reached the area on the morning of 1 June. In the same afternoon she was ordered to move 60 miles west.
		1 Jun 1942	0800	38° 02'N, 3° 25'E	At 0800 hours, a 4-5,000-ton motorship was sighted at a distance of 6,000 metres, steering 358° at 14-15 knots. Malachite tried to close to identify her, but the vessel proved too fast and disappeared.
		1 Jun 1942	0920	38° 02'N, 3° 25'E	At 0920 hours, an aircraft was seen at 10,000 metres and Malachite dived. At 1456 hours, the submarine was ordered to move her patrol 60 miles to the west.
		2 Jun 1942	0145	38° 02'N, 2° 01'E	At 0145 hours, a destroyer was sighted at a distance of 12-13,000 metres, steering 160°, 25-30 knots. Malachite closed to attack and had three bow torpedo tubes (533 mm) ready for firing, but a sudden change in course of the destroyer prevented it from being carried out.
		9 Jun 1942	1220 1226 (e)	37° 56'N, 2° 15'E	At 1220 hours, a Blenheim bomber was sighted at a distance of 6-,000 metres and it attacked the submarine. Malachite crash-dived and, at 1222 hours, as she reached a depth of 30-35 metres, four bombs exploded. The attack was made by Catalina 'D' (VA 726) of 240 Squadron, piloted by Flight Lieutenant Godber. The U-boat had been sighted at a range of 6 miles, steering 136° at 10 knots. The aircraft actually released eight depth charges from a height of 50 feet and no result was observed.
		9 Jun 1942	1539	37° 56'N, 2° 15'E (0) Approximately.	At 1539 hours, an aircraft was sighted at 7-8,000 metres flying at an altitude of 1,000 metres. Malachite dived. This was possibly a Sunderland which sighted a submarine at 1645 hours in 37°46' N, 00°36' E steering 305°, 8 knots. The submarine dived before an attack could be made [at the time, Malachite was steering 180°, but the aircraft may have made an error in direction].
15	Cinti, Alpinolo	14 Jun 1942	1800	Cagliari	20 Jun 1942	0650	Cagliari	908	Sailed to intercept an enemy cruiser reported to be damaged and being towed at 1600/14 June in 37°58'N, 07°18'E, course 270°. She was ordered to the area between 37°20'N and 37°40'N, and between 02°20'E and 02°40'E.
		16 Jun 1942	1125	37° 33'N, 1° 33'E	At 1125 hours, an enemy cruiser with two destroyers were sighted at 20-22,000 metres. Malachite attempted to attack but could not get to closer than 10,000-12,000 meters at 1140 hours.
		16 Jun 1942	1517	37° 26'N, 1° 10'E	At 1517 hours, a ship believed to be French was sighted at a distance of 20,000 metres steering 180°.
		18 Jun 1942	0355	37° 16'N, 2° 47'E	At 0355 hours, a submarine was sighted at a distance of 500 metres, steering 270°. It was similar to Bronzo or a German U-boat. Malachite turned away, the other submarine did the same.
16	Cinti, Alpinolo	23 Jun 1942	0600	Cagliari	25 Jun 1942	0935	Cagliari	270	Sailed to form a patrol line with Velella, Uarsciek and Giada off Cape Carbonara between 37°20'N and 37°50'N, and between 09°40'E and 10°00'E but recalled at 2150/24.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	10 Jul 1942	0800	Cagliari	10 Jul 1942	1815	Cagliari	5	Gyrocompass tests.
17	Cinti, Alpinolo	16 Jul 1942	0340	Cagliari	17 Jul 1942	2000	Cagliari	283	Patrolled off Cagliari, between 37°20'N and 37°40'N, and between 09°40'E and 10°00'E. On a patrol line with Bronzo, Velella and Dagabur. Interrupted by leaks which caused chlorine fumes in the battery.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	21 Jul 1942	0500	Cagliari	22 Jul 1942	1000	Naples	268	Passage Cagliari-Naples.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	24 Jul 1942	0905	Naples	24 Jul 1942	1220	Naples	26	Trials.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	25 Jul 1942	1400	Naples	25 Jul 1942	1645	Naples	13	Trials, then long refit.
	Gran, Oscar	5 Sep 1942		Naples	5 Oct 1942		Naples		Refit in Naples. Change in command
	Cinti, Alpinolo	11 Oct 1942	1030	Naples	11 Oct 1942	1530	Naples	23,8	Trials.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	15 Oct 1942	0815	Naples	15 Oct 1942	1845	Naples	59	Trials.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	20 Oct 1942	0920	Naples	20 Oct 1942	1240	Naples	34,5	Trials.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	23 Oct 1942	0910	Naples	23 Oct 1942	1515	Naples	1,6	Trials.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	24 Oct 1942	1430	Naples	24 Oct 1942	1830	Naples	17,5	Trials.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	25 Oct 1942	1200	Naples	25 Oct 1942	1900	Naples	29,2	Trials and exercises.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	27 Oct 1942	1200	Naples	27 Oct 1942	1845	Naples	39,7	Trials and exercises.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	4 Nov 1942	1421	Naples	4 Nov 1942	1748	Naples	32	Trials and exercises.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	5 Nov 1942	0834	Naples	5 Nov 1942	1141	Naples	29	Exercises.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	5 Nov 1942	1853	Naples	7 Nov 1942	0815	La Spezia	333	Passage Naples-La Spezia.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	9 Nov 1942	1512	La Spezia	9 Nov 1942	1652	La Spezia	5	Trials.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	13 Nov 1942	0900	La Spezia	13 Nov 1942	1514	La Spezia	3	Trials.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	15 Nov 1942	0810	La Spezia	15 Nov 1942	1533	La Spezia	22	Exercises.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	16 Nov 1942	0900	La Spezia	16 Nov 1942	1545	La Spezia	36	Exercises.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	17 Nov 1942	0807	La Spezia	17 Nov 1942	1209	La Spezia	22	Exercises.
18	Cinti, Alpinolo	18 Nov 1942	0600	La Spezia	25 Nov 1942	1323	Cagliari	1103	Patrolled in western Mediterranean, in area between 37°20'N and 37°40'N, and between 07°40' and 08°00'E, off Cape de Fer and Bay of Philippeville.
		23 Nov 1942	2310	37° 09'N, 7° 07'E	At 2310 hours, an MTB was sighted at a distance of 4-5,000 metres. Malachite dived.
		24 Nov 1942	0411	37° 11'N, 7° 05'E (0) Italian Grid 8418,/4.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	26 Nov 1942	1029	Cagliari	27 Nov 1942	2020	Naples	292	Passage Cagliari-Naples.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	9 Dec 1942	0812	Naples	9 Dec 1942	1330	Naples	23	Exercises.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	11 Dec 1942	1944	Naples	13 Dec 1942	0028	Cagliari	274,5	Passage Naples-Cagliari.
19	Cinti, Alpinolo	15 Dec 1942	1900	Cagliari	25 Dec 1942	1000	Cagliari	1023,5	Patrolled in western Mediterranean, between 37°20'N and 37°40'N, and between 08°20'E and 08°40'E.
		18 Dec 1942	2243		At 2243 hours, an aircraft was seen at a distance of 3,000 metres circling around the submarine. Malachite dived.
		19 Dec 1942	2015		At 2015 hours, Information was received that, at 1828 hours, two unknown warships had been sighted by German air reconnaissance in Italian Grid 5678/2 (030° - Bone - 50 miles) steering 150°. Malachite altered course to intercept but failed to see anything.
		22 Dec 1942	2125		At 2125 hours, Information was received that, at 1756 hours, five steamers had been sighted by German air reconnaissance in Italian Grid 4793/2 steering 090°. Malachite altered course to intercept, only hearing distant noises, but failed to see anything.
		23 Dec 1942	2323	37° 33'N, 8° 29'E	At 2323 hours, in poor visibility, a submarine similar to the ARGO class, was sighted at a distance of 3-4,000 metres, steering 300°. Malachite turned away and dived to avoid a case of mistaken identity.
20	Cinti, Alpinolo	4 Jan 1943	0415	Cagliari	6 Jan 1943	0745	Cagliari	295	Patrolled in area between 37°40'N and 38°00'N, and between 08°40'E and 09°00'E, on a patrol line with Dandolo, Argento, Avorio and Mocenigo. Uneventful.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	15 Jan 1943	1300	Cagliari	16 Jan 1943	1600	La Maddalena		Passage Cagliari-La Maddalena.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	19 Jan 1943	1816	La Maddalena	20 Jan 1943	0010	La Maddalena		Exercises.
21	Cinti, Alpinolo	20 Jan 1943	0210	La Maddalena	23 Jan 1943	1440	Cagliari	558	Patrolled off Cape Bougaroni, in area between 37°40'N, the North African coast, and between 06°20'E and 06°40'E.
		22 Jan 1943	0518.40	37° 13'N, 6° 24'E (0) Italian Grid 8850/3.	During the evening of 21st, January, Malachite had been informed of the passage of an important convoy steering eastward. At 0415 hours on the 22nd, Malachite was proceeding at a depth of 35 metres, when she was violently shaken by bomb explosions, seemingly directly above her. A minute later, the hydrophones picked up numerous noises, presumably for the expected convoy. At 0455 hours, the convoy came into view at a distance of 10,000 metres. It appeared to consist of ten 5-10,000-ton merchants, including tankers, escorted by three destroyers, steering 120°, 8 knots. One destroyer briefly appeared to alter course toward the submarine, before returning to the convoy, then came back again. T.V. Alpino Cinti, believing he had been discovered, elected to attack the destroyer instead. The target was now steering 015° at 16 knots. At 0518.40 hours, four torpedoes (533mm, G7e type) were fired from the bow tubes at a distance of 1,100 metres. Malachite immediately went deep. She had barely reached a depth of 3 or 4 metres when a double explosion was heard. No depth charging followed and the submarine moved away from the area. At 1134 hours, she was at a depth of 30 metres when explosions were heard close by and it was believed that she may have been spotted by an aircraft. She was undamaged and resumed her patrol.
		23 Jan 1943	0800-0830	38° 36'N, 8° 23'E	At 0830 hours, a derelict mine was sighted at a distance of 1,000 metres. Malachite closed to 500 metres, expending 120 machine gun rounds but did not succeed to sink it.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	31 Jan 1943	1950	Cagliari	1 Feb 1943	0124	Cagliari		Exercises.
22	Cinti, Alpinolo	2 Feb 1943	1930	Cagliari	9 Feb 1943	1100	Sunk	690	Sailed for special mission off Algeria. Sunk in 38°42'N, 08°54'E (near Cagliari) by Dutch submarine HrMs Dolfijn, T.V. Alpino Cinti, three officers, nine ratings were picked up by the Italian minesweeper Arcioni and the fishing vessel Dori. One officer and thirty-four ratings were lost. A reconstructed patrol report was made.
		6 Feb 1943	0345	36° 57'N, 3° 26'E	At 0345 hours, two destroyers were sighted at a distance of 4,000 metres, steering 270°, 20-25 knots. Malachite could not gain a good attack position.
		6 Feb 1943	2110	36° 46'N, 3° 26'E (0) 105° - Cape Matifou (Algeria) - 9.5 miles.	At 2110 hours, ten saboteurs of Italian Special Forces (1st battalion of the 10th Arditi Regiment) were landed on the Algerian coast in three boats. Their objective was a railway bridge about 30 km east of Algiers. The landing was successful. Malachite returned at 0558 hours on the 7th to pick them up but they failed to show up. The ten men had been captured.
		9 Feb 1943	1103 1059.5 (e)	(e) 38° 42'N, 8° 54'E	At 1103 hours, Malachite had just entered the searched channel leading to Cagliari, when the lookout, 2° Nocchiere (2nd Helmsman) Sisto Fosci, spotted torpedo tracks coming from the port side. The helm was immediately put hard to starboard. The first torpedo missed 50 metres ahead, the second 5-10 metres and the third only about one metre from the bow, but the fourth hit the submarine aft. The explosion was not very great and looked more like a large shell hit but the submarine sank stern first in about 50 seconds. About 20 minutes later, the auxiliary minesweeper Arcione and the fishing vessel Dori arrived on the scene and picked up the survivors. T.V. Alpino Cinti, three officers, nine ratings were the only ones found. One officer and thirty-four ratings were lost. The attack had been made by the Dutch submarine HrMs Dolfijn (Lieutenant Commander H.M.L.F.E. van Oostrom Soede). At 1048 hours, she had sighted a submarine described as of the GEMMA class at a distance of 2 miles. At 1059.5 hours, she had fired a salvo of four torpedoes from a range of 2,200 yards at 8.5-second firing intervals. One explosion was heard and when the periscope was raised, the target was observed to sink by the stern.

130 entries. 107 total patrol entries (22 marked as war patrols) and 38 events.

All Italian submarines

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