Aradam (AR)
Aradam

Type	Coastal / Sea going
Class	Adua (23)
Laid down	14 Feb 1936	Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Monfalcone
Launched	18 Oct 1936
Commissioned	16 Jan 1937
End service
Stricken
Loss date
Loss position
History	Scuttled at Genoa, Italy on 9th September 1943 to prevent her capture by the Germans. Raised and sunk there by bombs from Allied aircraft on 4th September 1944.
Fate

Commands

Commander	Date from	Date to	Command notes
C.C. Giuseppe Bianchini	17 Dec 1939	29 Jul 1941
T.V. Oscar Gran	29 Jul 1941	4 Sep 1942
T.V. Alpinolo Cinti	5 Sep 1942	21 Oct 1942
T.V. Carlo Forni	21 Oct 1942	23 Jul 1943
T.V. Mario Tromba	Aug 1943	9 Sep 1943

Ships hit

No ships hit by this submarine.

Patrols and events

	Commander	Date	Time	Port	Arr. date	Arr. time	Arr. port	Miles	Description
1	Bianchini, Giuseppe	9 Jun 1940	1652	Cagliari	14 Jun 1940	1523	Cagliari	390,5	Sailed to form a patrol line (S2) on the Cape Teulada meridian: Axum - 15 miles south of the Cape. Turchese - 35 miles south of the Cape. Adua - 55 miles south of the Cape. Aradam - 75 miles south of the Cape.
2	Bianchini, Giuseppe	20 Jun 1940	1836	Cagliari	28 Jun 1940	0805	Cagliari	847	Patrolled between Cape Croisette and Cape Creus (Spain) in 42°40'N, 04°40'E.
		23 Jun 1940	0912	42° 40'N, 4° 25'E	At 0912 hours, a warship with two or three funnels was sighted at a distance of 1,500 metres travelling at high speed. A torpedo (533mm) was fired from a bow tube. It missed.
3	Bianchini, Giuseppe	3 Jul 1940	1423	Cagliari	6 Jul 1940	0945	Cagliari	249	Sailed with Turchese and patrolled off Cagliari in 38°14'N, 07°40'E. On 4th July, she heard hydrophone noises, which may have been caused by the French battlecruiser Strasbourg, on her way to Toulon after the bombardment of Mers El Kebir.
4	Bianchini, Giuseppe	16 Jul 1940	0028	Cagliari	16 Jul 1940	0617	Cagliari	47	Sailed for patrol on a line 10 miles from 38°05'N, 08°20'E to intercept a battleship squadron, on a barrage line with Alagi, to intercept a battleship squadron, but recalled quickly.
4b	Bianchini, Giuseppe	22 Jul 1940	1608	Cagliari	9 Aug 1940	1430	La Maddalena	2118,5	Sailed with Alagi for patrol on 36°00'N parallel between 02°10'W and 03°20'W, east of Gibraltar, 17 miles east of Alboran then off Cape Falcon. Witnessed an Italian (or French?) air raid on Gibraltar at 2250 hours on 28th July. Sighted only Spanish vessels.
	Bianchini, Giuseppe	20 Aug 1940	1100	La Maddalena	21 Aug 1940	1435	Naples	253,8	Passage La Maddalena-Taranto.
	Bianchini, Giuseppe	8 Oct 1940	0851	Naples	8 Oct 1940	1710	Naples	47,5	Exercises.
	Bianchini, Giuseppe	11 Oct 1940	0935	Naples	11 Oct 1940	1702	Naples	44,5	Exercises.
	Bianchini, Giuseppe	13 Oct 1940	1000	Naples	13 Oct 1940	1130	Naples		From 1000 to 1130 hours, while moored in harbour, there was an accidental fire on board the submarine. There were no casualties.
	Bianchini, Giuseppe	1 Nov 1940	0837	Naples	1 Nov 1940	1730	Naples	47	Exercises.
	Bianchini, Giuseppe	5 Nov 1940	0742	Naples	5 Nov 1940	1701	Naples	48	Exercises.
	Bianchini, Giuseppe	7 Nov 1940	0402	Naples	8 Nov 1940	1238	Cagliari	349	Passage Naples-Cagliari.
5	Bianchini, Giuseppe	9 Nov 1940	1836	Cagliari	12 Nov 1940	2312	Cagliari	421	Sailed to form a patrol line with Alagi, Axum, Diaspro and Medusa, 315° - La Galite - 80 miles, north of Cape Bougaroni, on a line 120 miles west of that point. Uneventful.
6	Bianchini, Giuseppe	15 Nov 1940	1846	Cagliari	19 Nov 1940	1645	Cagliari	364,5	Sailed for patrol North of Cape Bougaroni, in 38°10'N, between 07°20'E and 07°40'E, on a barrage line with Diaspro. the bad weather and defects to the port diesel prevented the submarine from reaching the area in time. Heard hydrophone noises but sighted nothing.
7	Bianchini, Giuseppe	26 Nov 1940	0137	Cagliari	2 Dec 1940	1733	Cagliari	576	Sailed with Diaspro for patrol in 37°40'N, 08°00'E on a line 10 miles south from this point, off Cape de Fer and Cape Bougaroni on a line with Axum, Diaspro and Alagi. On the night of the 27th, she was ordered to 37°20'N, 06°00'E. Uneventful, except for the bad weather (Force 8).
		26 Nov 1940	0648	(0) Off Cape de Fer.	At 0648 hours, a destroyer of the JAVELIN class was sighted at a distance of 1,000 metres, steering 080°, 20 knots. Aradam dived and took avoiding action, as she was not ready to fire her torpedoes.
	Bianchini, Giuseppe	13 Dec 1940	1331	Cagliari	13 Dec 1940	1715	Cagliari	226	Exercises.
8	Bianchini, Giuseppe	7 Jan 1941	1830	Cagliari	12 Jan 1941	1920	Cagliari	645	Patrolled off Sardinia, on a line 20 miles from 37°30'N, 09°50'E.
		9 Jan 1941	1727	(0) North of Tunis.	At 1727 hours, Aradam was at a depth of 30 metres when she was bombed or depth charged. She escaped damage. Then, from 1741 to 1801 hours, she was hunted by three enemy vessels but went deep to 115 meters to extricate herself. From 1830 to 1900 hours, noises were heard and interpreted as a large enemy force on an easterly course. Aradam did not carry out an attack as is implied in the Seekriegsleitung diaries.
	Bianchini, Giuseppe	20 Jan 1941	1310	Cagliari	20 Jan 1941	1500	Cagliari	9	Trials, escorted by MAS 502.
	Bianchini, Giuseppe	21 Jan 1941	0810	Cagliari	21 Jan 1941	1130	Cagliari	15	Trials.
	Bianchini, Giuseppe	24 Jan 1941	0815	Cagliari	24 Jan 1941	1020	Cagliari		Exercises.
	Bianchini, Giuseppe	26 Jan 1941	1312	Cagliari	26 Jan 1941	1930	Cagliari	26,5	Exercises.
	Bianchini, Giuseppe	29 Jan 1941	0814	Cagliari	29 Jan 1941	1136	Cagliari	26	Exercises.
	Bianchini, Giuseppe	2 Feb 1941	1451	Cagliari	3 Feb 1941	2010	Naples	264	Passage Cagliari-Naples.
	Bianchini, Giuseppe	28 Feb 1941	0909	Naples	28 Feb 1941	1647	Naples	27	Exercises.
	Bianchini, Giuseppe	3 Mar 1941	0714	Naples	4 Mar 1941	1432	Cagliari	265,5	Passage Naples-Cagliari.
	Bianchini, Giuseppe	24 Mar 1941	0810	Cagliari	24 Mar 1941	1340	Cagliari	42	Exercises.
	Bianchini, Giuseppe	25 Mar 1941	0719	Cagliari	26 Mar 1941	1730	Messina	336	Passage Cagliari-Messina.
9	Bianchini, Giuseppe	27 Mar 1941	1056	Messina	12 Apr 1941	1300	Messina	1735	Patrolled in Eastern Mediterranean, off Ras Aamer, on an axis NE/SW from 33°00'N, 25°40'E. Heard only hydrophone effect. Bianchini went on to become the leader of the 12th MAS flotilla which operated in Lake Ladoga.
		27 Mar 1941	1530	(0) Approximately east of Catania.	At 1530 hours, a German bomber, flying in formation, dropped a large bomb. It fell one mile ahead of Aradam.
	Bianchini, Giuseppe	14 Apr 1941	1758	Messina	15 Apr 1941	1436	Naples	224	Passage Messina-Naples for extensive refit.
	Bianchini, Giuseppe	5 Jul 1941	0920	Naples	5 Jul 1941	1646	Naples	29,4	Trials.
	Bianchini, Giuseppe	12 Jul 1941	0853	Naples	12 Jul 1941	1754	Naples	30	Trials.
	Bianchini, Giuseppe	13 Jul 1941	0911	Naples	13 Jul 1941	1940	Naples	24	Gyrocompass tests.
	Bianchini, Giuseppe	15 Jul 1941	0831	Naples	15 Jul 1941	1915	Naples	53,5	Trials.
	Bianchini, Giuseppe	18 Jul 1941	0730	Naples	18 Jul 1941	1900	Naples	34,5	Exercises.
	Bianchini, Giuseppe	19 Jul 1941	2008	Naples	20 Jul 1941	0120	Naples	29	Exercises.
	Bianchini, Giuseppe	22 Jul 1941	0837	Naples	22 Jul 1941	1710	Naples	65	Exercises.
	Bianchini, Giuseppe	25 Jul 1941	0705	Naples	25 Jul 1941	1622	Naples	19	Exercises.
	Bianchini, Giuseppe	27 Jul 1941	1510	Naples	28 Jul 1941	0058	Naples	35,2	Exercises.
	Bianchini, Giuseppe	29 Jul 1941	0720	Naples	29 Jul 1941	1522	Naples	43,3	Exercises.
	Gran, Oscar	1 Aug 1941	0815	Naples	1 Aug 1941	1813	Naples	39,5	Exercises.
	Gran, Oscar	2 Aug 1941	0751	Naples	2 Aug 1941	1431	Naples	33,1	Exercises.
	Gran, Oscar	3 Aug 1941	0551	Naples	5 Aug 1941	1105	Cagliari	283	Passage Naples-Cagliari.
	Gran, Oscar	7 Aug 1941	0730	Cagliari	7 Aug 1941	1231	Cagliari	16,8	Exercises with the submarine Alagi, escorted by the minesweeper Balear.
10	Gran, Oscar	7 Aug 1941	2345	Cagliari	9 Aug 1941	1447	Cagliari	331,9	Patrolled in 37°50'N, 06°00'E, on the parallel between 05°E and 06°E. Uneventful.
	Gran, Oscar	15 Aug 1941	0801	Cagliari	15 Aug 1941	1340	Cagliari	20,4	Trials escorted by the minesweeper Balear.
11	Gran, Oscar	22 Aug 1941	1648	Cagliari	27 Aug 1941	1317	Cagliari	456,5	Patrolled west of Galite Island.
		26 Aug 1941	0159	37° 47'N, 8° 21'E	At 0146 hours, a dark vessel was sighted and appeared to be a large schooner. At 0159 hours, a single torpedo (533mm) was fired from a bow tube at a range of 500 metres. It missed. Shortly after, an explosion was heard but believed to be from a depth charge. Later, the schooner was identified as Italian.
	Gran, Oscar	30 Aug 1941	0754	Cagliari	30 Aug 1941	1128	Cagliari	15,4	Exercises.
12	Gran, Oscar	4 Sep 1941	0905	Cagliari	17 Sep 1941	1246	Cagliari	820	Patrolled off Cape Bon (zone K.1). Uneventful. Sighted only French ships.
13	Gran, Oscar	25 Sep 1941	1832	Cagliari	2 Oct 1941	0843	Cagliari	800	Sailed with Axum, Diaspro and Serpente for patrol between 39°20'N and 40°00'N, and between 06°20'E and 06°40'E. On 27th September, she was shifted 100 miles to the south. She returned to base by following the North African coast at a distance of 16 miles. NOTE: Gran was criticized for not mentioning the coordinates of the positions of ships encountered at 1405 hours on the 29th and 0020 hours on 1st October.
		29 Sep 1941	1405	(0) 010° - Cape Bougaroni - 26 miles.	At 0619 hours, two explosions were heard from the direction of Diaspro's patrol area. It was believed she had hit a vessel. This was the attack on HMS Gurkha, which had failed. Noises were heard on the hydrophones off and on since 1211 hours. At 1405 hours, five enemy destroyers were sighted at a distance 6-7,000 metres, steering 165°. Aradam attempted to close, but they passed out of range. At 1649 hours, an explosion was heard and it was believed that Serpente, in the adjacent area, had scored a hit. This attack against HMS Legion had also failed.
		1 Oct 1941	0020	(0) Off Cape de Fer.	At 0020 hours, flashing lights was seen in heavy rain. It was believed these were perhaps the cruiser and two destroyers reported by MARICOSOM. Aradam steered toward them but visibility was poor. It was later recognised as a French vessel, probably "Toutquenois" (?) on passage from Bone to Marseilles.
		1 Oct 1941	0820	(0) Between Cape de Fer, Cape Serrat and La Galite.	At 0820 hours, a submarine was sighted. It was believed to be Diaspro who had probably sighted Aradam and submerged.
14	Gran, Oscar	10 Oct 1941	1749	Cagliari	21 Oct 1941	1039	Cagliari	1078,1	Sailed with Alagi, Serpente, Turchese and Diaspro for a patrol North of Cape Bougaroni, between 37°10'N and 37°30'N, 06°00'E and 06°20'E.
		17 Oct 1941	1900	37° 01'N, 6° 16'E	At 1900 hours, a steamer was sighted at a distance of 12-14,000 metres, steering 280°. Aradam closed submerged and, at 1955 hours, surfaced for gun action at a range of 6,000 meters. The vessel turned away at full speed and disappeared before a shot could be fired.
	Gran, Oscar	4 Nov 1941	0815	Cagliari	4 Nov 1941	1318	Cagliari	35,7	Trials with the minesweeper Balear.
15	Gran, Oscar	10 Nov 1941	2308	Cagliari	16 Nov 1941	1129	Cagliari	648,6	Patrolled northwest of Cape Bon, between Zembra and Cani Islands, the parallel of 37°40'N and a line 335° from Zembra. At 2100 hours on the 14th, she was ordered 37°30'N, 08°32'E to search for Empire Pelican.
		14 Nov 1941	0304	37° 16'N, 10° 34'E	At 0304 hours, a submarine was sighted. It was believed to be Turchese. Bandiera of VIII Grupsom was also in the area.
		14 Nov 1941	2100		At 2100 hours, orders were received to attack Empire Pelikan (sic, Empire Pelican) in 37°30' N, 08°32' E. Aradam steered toward the area.
		15 Nov 1941	0830	37° 09'N, 8° 41'E (0) 11 miles north of Tabarka (Tunisia).	At 0830 hours, a large oil slick was sighted but no signs of Empire Pelican.
		15 Nov 1941	0920	37° 13'N, 8° 34'E	At 0920 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived.
		15 Nov 1941	1220	37° 30'N, 8° 32'E (0) Approximately.	At 1220 hours, information was received from MARICOSOM that an aircraft had seen at 1010 hours, a derelict vessel believed to be Empire Pelikan (sic Empire Pelican) and ordered her to pick up the survivors. Empire Pelican and Empire Defender had both been sunk by Italian torpedo-bombers. Aradam looked for the survivors but without success. In fact, the twenty-five survivors of Empire Pelican had taken to four lifeboats and reached Cape Seurat the same afternoon.
	Gran, Oscar	22 Nov 1941	1400	Cagliari	22 Nov 1941	1650	Cagliari		Exercises.
16	Gran, Oscar	26 Nov 1941	2250	Cagliari	8 Dec 1941	1055	Cagliari	1040,1	Patrolled east of La Galite Island between (A) 37°20'N, 10°10'E (B) 37°40'N, 10°10'E (C) 37°40'N, 10°30'E (D) Zembra Island. Only French ships were sighted.
		28 Nov 1941	2342		At 2342 hours, Aradam was informed of a merchant vessel sighted at 1015 hours, in 37°30' N, 05°30' E (Italian grid 1672/4) on an easterly course. T.V. Gran estimated that the vessel traveling at a speed of 10-13 knots would cross his patrol area between 0400 and 0800 hours on 29th November.
		29 Nov 1941	0630		At 0630 hours, another report was received which mentioned that a convoy was seen at 1500 hours on the 28th in 37°30' N, 08°50' E. Despite excellent weather conditions, Aradam did not hear or sight anything.
	Gran, Oscar	18 Dec 1941	0845	Cagliari	18 Dec 1941	1210	Cagliari		Exercises.
17	Gran, Oscar	18 Dec 1941	2044	Cagliari	25 Dec 1941	0835	Cagliari	482,7	Patrolled off Philippeville between 37°30'N and 38°00'N, and between 07°50'E and 08°00'E, on a barrage line with Turchese, Axum and Alagi.
		23 Dec 1941	2010		At 2010 hours, information was received that, at 1715 hours, Turchese had sighted a squadron of two cruisers and four destroyers (in 37°21' N, 06°26' E, off Cape Bougaroni) and Aradam attempted to intercept. The submarine sighted nothing and, at 2333 hours, gave up the chase and returned to her patrol area.
18	Gran, Oscar	1 Jan 1942	1915	Cagliari	8 Jan 1942	1825	Cagliari	1125	Patrolled between Malta and Pantelleria between 34°00'N and 34°20'N, and between 14°40'E and 15°20'E, on a barrage line with Axum, Turchese and Aradam to protect Libyan convoys.
		3 Jan 1942	1402	35° 38'N, 12° 38'E	At 1402 hours, an aircraft was sighted at a distance of 3,000 metres, flying at an altitude of about 100 meters. Aradam was at periscope depth and dived to 60 metres.
		3 Jan 1942	2205	35° 38'N, 12° 38'E (0) Approximately.	At 2205 hours, a submarine was sighted at 2-3,000 metres. It was believed to be Alagi operating in the adjacent area.
		5 Jan 1942	0622	34° 06'N, 14° 37'E	At 0622 hours, a hospital ship was sighted steering 040°.
		6 Jan 1942	1030	35° 14'N, 13° 24'E	At 1030 hours, a floating body was found. Its decomposition state made it difficult to identify it but it was believed to be an airman. Honours were rendered by the personnel on the bridge.
		6 Jan 1942	1526	35° 44'N, 13° 03'E	At 1526 hours, a derelict mine was sighted. Because of the heavy seas, no attempt was made to destroy it.
	Gran, Oscar	17 Jan 1942	0910	Cagliari	17 Jan 1942	1407	Cagliari	39,5	Exercises escorted by the auxiliary Salvatore.
19	Gran, Oscar	28 Jan 1942	1430	Cagliari	28 Jan 1942	1908	Cagliari	41	Sailed for patrol between 38°00'N and 38°30'N, and between 07°20'E and 07°30'E, on a barrage line with Alagi, Brin, Turchese and Axum, but quickly recalled.
	Gran, Oscar	4 Feb 1942	1302	Cagliari	4 Feb 1942	1855	Cagliari	39	Trials, escorted by the auxiliary minesweeper R.D.34.
20	Gran, Oscar	9 Feb 1942	1505	Cagliari	21 Feb 1942	0855	Cagliari	1137,4	Patrolled north of Cape Bougaroni, between 38°00'N and 38°30'N, and between 06°20'E and 06°30'E, on a barrage line with Axum and Turchese. On 18th February, she was shifted 20 miles to the south.
		10 Feb 1942	1407		At 1407 hours, information was received of an enemy cruiser and destroyer sighted at 1205 hours in Italian Grid 6291 (32 miles NNE of Cape Bengut) , steering 090°, 20 knots. Aradam was too far to intercept, but nevertheless proceeded northward.
		10 Feb 1942	1632	38° 15'N, 7° 10'E	At 1632 hours, a large aircraft believed to be a Dornier was sighted at a distance of 10,000 metres.
		10 Feb 1942	2045	37° 45'N, 7° 35'E	At 2045 hours, hydrophone effects were heard and believed to be from an enemy naval force. Nothing could be seen and, at 2307 hours, Aradam made an enemy report.
21	Gran, Oscar	27 Feb 1942	1304	Cagliari	4 Mar 1942	1205	Cagliari	602,8	Patrolled southwest of Sardinia, between 37°50'N and 38°00'N, and between 06°20'E and 06°30'E. Uneventful. At 1402 hours on 1st March, she was ordered home, but, at 1949 hours the same day, the order was rescinded and she returned to her patrol area until 1412 hours on 3rd March, when she received a definite order to leave her patrol. At 2000 hours on the 3rd, she obtained a fix which showed she had been out of position by 45 miles.
22	Gran, Oscar	27 Mar 1942	2227	Cagliari	1 Apr 1942	1200	Cagliari	486	Patrolled north of Cape Bougaroni, between 37°50'N and 38°00'N, 06°20'E and 07°20'E, on a barrage line with Turchese.
		30 Mar 1942	1418	(0) Off Cape Bougaroni.	At 1418 hours, information was received of an enemy cruiser of 7,000 tons, 10 miles southeast of Galite Island, steering 270°, 20 knots. Aradam surfaced at 1452 hours and proceeded toward the south at maximum speed but sighted nothing.
		1 Apr 1942	0152 0045 (e)	38° 25'N, 7° 56'E	At 0152 hours, a submarine was sighted at a distance of 1,500 metres, steering 240°. It could have been Italian. Aradam steered away. It was actually the Dutch HrMs O 23 (Luitenant ter zee 1e klasse (Lt. Cdr.) Albertus Marinus Valkenburg), on passage direct from Gibraltar to Alexandria.
23	Gran, Oscar	4 Apr 1942	0103	Cagliari	22 Apr 1942	1028	Cagliari	566,5	Patrolled in zone Kappa 2 (K 2), off Kelibia (Tunisia), on a barrage line with Turchese (in zone K 1).
		6 Apr 1942	0317	36° 47'N, 11° 05'E	At 0312 hours, the First Officer sighted a wake at a distance of 2,500 metres. It was very quickly recognised to be a destroyer and initially believed to be proceeding at a moderate speed of about 16 knots. At 0317 hours, it was realised that the vessel was going faster (25 knots) than estimated. One torpedo (533mm, type H) was fired from a bow tube at a distance of 470 metres. The order to fire a second torpedo was not understood as the noise of the "senza bolla" (bubbleless) system covered the voice. The submarine crash-dived immediately and no hit was heard but it was believed that the torpedo may have struck the stern. In fact the torpedo had missed. The target was the destroyer HMS Havock who was actually doing 28-30 knots. However, at 0358 hours, she ran hard aground in position 020° - Kelibia Light - 2.5 miles (approx. 36°52' N, 11°08' E or about 6 miles from Aradam's attack position). No explanation could be given on how the destroyer had beached herself near Cape Mirh (about 2.5 miles north of Cape Mustafa ) some 39 minutes later (according to the Italians which was accurate enough). The theory was that she was hit and managed 7 knots before beaching herself. In fact, either she was much further south than recorded or, the time was wrong. At about 1500 hours MAS 563 (T.V. Renato Castello) and MAS 564 (G.M. Francesco Luciano) from Pantelleria arrived on the scene and met the French minesweeper Héron who informed them that the crew of H.43 (HMS Havock) had been interned. The two Italian boats tried to examine the wreck, but when they were only half a mile from her, the forward part exploded and she was broken in two.
		9 Apr 1942	0519	36° 47'N, 11° 07'E	At 2142 hours on 8th April, information was received that a cruiser and destroyer were expected to go through Aradam's zone at about 0100 hours on the 9th. At 0519 hours on the 9th, the cruiser and destroyer were suddenly sighted at a distance of 1,000 metres. As they steered straight for the submarine, Aradam crash-dived. The two vessels passed so close that an attack with stern torpedoes was impossible. This was the light cruiser HMS Penelope, proceeding from Malta to Gibraltar. ' HMS Pepper Pot ', as she had been nicknamed, was proceeding unescorted. Despite her damages, she had managed a very credible 29 knots, for a few hours, but was now proceeding at 20 knots as she closed Cape Bon. During, the day she was the subject of several air attacks, but reached her destination at dusk the following day, having averaged 27 knots for most of the journey
		18 Apr 1942	1503	35° 50'N, 11° 08'E	At 1503 hours, a steamer was sighted at a distance of 1,000 metres. An attack was about to be carried out as the vessel had not been announced, when a CANT Z.506 was observed flying close to the steamer, so it was assumed to be Italian.
		19 Apr 1942	1006	(0) Off Cape Bon.	At 1006 hours, the Italian steamer Nino Claudio (2,571 GRT, built 1941) was sighted at a distance of 1,000 metres. She was due off Cape Bon at 1100 hours.
		20 Apr 1942	0506	35° 45'N, 11° 06'E	At 0506 hours, a large steamer was sighted, followed shortly after by two smaller vessels. Since, the Italian steamer Panuco (7,751 GRT, built 1941), escorted by two destroyers [actually the destroyer Folgore, the torpedo boat Centauro and the tug Instacabile], were expected at 0320 hours, the attack was aborted.
	Gran, Oscar	30 Apr 1942	1200	Cagliari	1 May 1942	0900	Trapani	185,5	Passage Cagliari-Trapani.
	Gran, Oscar	21 May 1942	0820	Trapani	21 May 1942	1215	Trapani	37,5	Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary minesweeper R.D.42.
24	Gran, Oscar	23 May 1942	2100	Trapani	9 Jun 1942	0935	Trapani	1465,5	Patrolled near Cape Blanc and La Galite, between 37°20'N and 37°45'N, and between 09°20'E and 10°20'E. Sighted several Italian and French ships.
		7 Jun 1942	2057	37° 45'N, 9° 37'E	At 2057 hours, an aircraft was sighted at a distance of 7,000 metres and the submarine dived.
		8 Jun 1942	2120	38° 19'N, 10° 58'E (0) Italian Grid 8701/5.	At 2120 hours, a column of smoke was observed, apparently a vessel hit. An Italian convoy had been sighted earlier, but T.V. Gran did not know if this was the same one. Aradam made an enemy report at 2239 hours, signaling three vessels steering 090°.
	Gran, Oscar	12 Jun 1942	1000	Trapani	12 Jun 1942	1330	Trapani	27	Exercises, escorted by the torpedo boat Dezza.
25	Gran, Oscar	13 Jun 1942	0846	Trapani	17 Jun 1942	1559	Trapani	264	Sailed with the submarines Dessié and Onice, escorted by the torpedo boat Dezza until 1810 hours. Patrolled west of Malta, between 36°20'N and 36°20'N, and between 13°00'E and 13°20'E, to intercept an enemy convoy.
		15 Jun 1942	1006	36° 12'N, 13° 13'E	At 1006 hours, an enemy biplane (Swordfish) was observed through the periscope at a distance of 2,000 metres. Aradam went deeper to escape detection.
		16 Jun 1942	1016	35° 57'N, 13° 01'E	At 1016 hours, a submarine was sighted at a distance of 2,000 metres and believed to be Ascianghi.
	Gran, Oscar	19 Jun 1942	0900	Trapani	20 Jun 1942	0900	Messina	205	Passage Trapani-Naples, but then diverted to Messina.
	Gran, Oscar	22 Jun 1942	0943	Messina	23 Jun 1942	0609	Naples	281	Passage Messina-Naples.
	Gran, Oscar	29 Aug 1942	1340	Naples	29 Aug 1942	1750	Naples	21	Exercises.
	Gran, Oscar	1 Sep 1942	1430	Naples	1 Sep 1942	1915	Naples	39	Trials.
	Gran, Oscar	2 Sep 1942	1740	Naples	2 Sep 1942	2315	Naples	47	Trials.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	5 Sep 1942	0840	Naples	5 Sep 1942	1436	Naples		Exercises.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	5 Sep 1942	1925	Naples	7 Sep 1942	0710	La Spezia	340	Passage Naples-La Spezia to embark G7e electric torpedoes.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	10 Sep 1942	1200	La Spezia	10 Sep 1942	1720	La Spezia	35	Exercises.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	11 Sep 1942	0819	La Spezia	11 Sep 1942	1707	La Spezia	53	Exercises.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	13 Sep 1942	0810	La Spezia	13 Sep 1942	1322	La Spezia	4	Gyrocompass tests.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	14 Sep 1942	1038	La Spezia	14 Sep 1942	1152	La Spezia	2	Trials.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	15 Sep 1942	1235	La Spezia	17 Sep 1942	0915	Trapani	407,5	Passage La Spezia-Trapani.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	22 Sep 1942	1325	Trapani	22 Sep 1942	1820	Trapani	12	Trials.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	23 Sep 1942	1400	Trapani	23 Sep 1942	1630	Trapani	17	Trials.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	24 Sep 1942	1330	Trapani	24 Sep 1942	1725	Trapani	22	Trials.
	Cinti, Alpinolo	15 Oct 1942	0820	Trapani	15 Oct 1942	1320	Trapani	32	Exercises.
	Forni, Carlo	23 Oct 1942	0745	Trapani	23 Oct 1942	1236	Trapani	30	Exercises.
26	Forni, Carlo	7 Nov 1942	0115	Trapani	18 Nov 1942	1440	Cagliari	1159,5	Patrolled off Bone in 37°00'N, 08°00'E.
		14 Nov 1942	1132	36° 59'N, 7° 49'E	At 1132 hours, two MTBs similar to the Italian MAS 60-ton type were sighted and Aradam turned away.
		16 Nov 1942	0230	36° 59'N, 7° 49'E	At 0230 hours, two steamers were sighted on an easterly course, 11 knots. Aradam trailed them, hoping to gain a favourable attack position, but lost them at 0344 hours in a sudden rain squall.
		16 Nov 1942	0447	36° 52'N, 7° 52'E	At 0344 hours, under heavy rain, which had rendered the binoculars useless, a steamer was sighted at a distance of 3,000 metres, steering 210°. At 0447 hours, the vessel altered course to starboard, offering a good attack angle. Two torpedoes (533mm, G7e type) were fired from bow tubes at a distance of 500 metres. They missed as the vessel had turned to port. At 0506 hours, another pair of torpedoes (533mm, G7e type) were fired from bow tubes at a distance of 600 metres. They also missed. One torpedo exploded on the coast. From 0514 to 0544 hours, Aradam opened fire on the vessel, claiming a direct hit on the bridge with the third round. However, a defective round exploded shortly after exiting the barrel, temporarily blinding the gun crew and the personnel on the bridge and the action could not be renewed. The target has not yet been identified.
	Forni, Carlo	19 Nov 1942	1525	Cagliari	20 Nov 1942	2155	Naples	272	Passage Cagliari-Naples.
		20 Nov 1942	2010 (e)	(0) 22° - Imperatore Lt° - 9 miles (near Ischia).	At 1930B hours, the submarine HMS P 228 (Lieutenant I.L. Mackay McGeogh, RN) was lurking near Ischia, when hydrophone effect was detected by the ASDIC operator. Shortly after, a submarine of ALAGI or perhaps GIOVANNI DA PROCIDA Class was observed , steering 047°, 13 knots. At 2010B hours, six torpedoes were fired at 4-second firing intervals, from a distance of about 2,000 yards. They all missed. Twelve minutes later, two explosions were heard, probably torpedoes exploding at the end of their run. This was almost certainly Aradam, who reached Naples at 2155 hours, but did not notice the attack.
	Forni, Carlo	1 Dec 1942	0820	Naples	1 Dec 1942	1247	Naples	21,5	Trials.
	Forni, Carlo	11 Dec 1942	0801	Naples	11 Dec 1942	1255	Naples	25,5	Exercises.
	Forni, Carlo	12 Dec 1942	1550	Naples	12 Dec 1942	1810	Castellammare di Stabia	12,5	Passage Naples-Castellammare di Stabia.
	Forni, Carlo	19 Dec 1942	1407	Castellammare di Stabia	19 Dec 1942	1606	Naples		Passage Castellammare di Stabia-Naples.
	Forni, Carlo	19 Dec 1942	1840	Naples	20 Dec 1942	2145	Augusta	282	Passage Naples-Augusta.
27	Forni, Carlo	22 Dec 1942	2355	Augusta	11 Jan 1943	1045	Augusta	1784	Patrolled off Cyrenaica, between 34°00'N and the Libyan coast, and between 21°30'E and 22°00'E.
		31 Dec 1942	2305	33° 02'N, 21° 51'E (0) Italian Grid 7672/4.	At 2305 hours, two small patrol vessels were sighted steering 290°. Aradam tried to close in the hope of discovering larger vessels but lost contact.
		2 Jan 1943	0320	33° 17'N, 21° 37'E	At 0320 hours, three small patrol vessels were sighted at a distance of 2,000 metres. Aradam dived at 0325 hours, but gradually lost hydrophone contact.
		2 Jan 1943	0555	33° 17'N, 21° 41'E	At 0555 hours, two escort vessels similar to Italian corvettes were sighted. Aradam dived at 0600 hours but lost contact.
	Forni, Carlo	11 Jan 1943	2333	Augusta	12 Jan 1943	0930	Messina	69	Passage Augusta-Messina.
	Forni, Carlo	30 Jan 1943	0815	Messina	30 Jan 1943	1247	Messina	19	Exercises.
	Forni, Carlo	1 Feb 1943	1500	Messina	1 Feb 1943	2148	Augusta	69	Passage Messina-Augusta with the submarine Topazio.
	Forni, Carlo	6 Feb 1943	0813	Augusta	6 Feb 1943	1155	Augusta	19	Exercises.
	Forni, Carlo	10 Feb 1943	0815	Augusta	10 Feb 1943	1235	Augusta	19	Exercises.
	Forni, Carlo	15 Feb 1943	1200	Augusta	15 Feb 1943	1750	Augusta	26	Exercises.
28	Forni, Carlo	18 Feb 1943	1800	Augusta	5 Mar 1943	0740	Augusta	1620	Patrolled in Gulf of Sirte, off Misurata, between 32°06'N and 32°20'N, and between 15°50'E and 16°40'E.
		23 Feb 1943	0145	32° 06'N, 16° 22'E	At 0145 hours, a steamer escorted by a small destroyer or corvette with two patrol vessels were sighted at a distance of 4-6,000 metres steering 280° course. Aradam could not gain an attacking position.
		26 Feb 1943	2040	32° 17'N, 16° 07'E	At 2040 hours, a vessel which could not be identified, escorted by a destroyer, were sighted at a distance of 3,000 metres. Aradam could not catch up to gain a favourable position.
	Forni, Carlo	17 Mar 1943	1507	Augusta	18 Mar 1943	2031	Naples	274,8	Passage Augusta-Naples.
	Forni, Carlo	28 Mar 1943	0800	Naples	28 Mar 1943	1225	Naples	15,5	Exercises.
	Forni, Carlo	30 Mar 1943	0801	Naples	30 Mar 1943	1007	Naples	9	Exercises.
	Forni, Carlo	3 Apr 1943	0801	Naples	3 Apr 1943	1007	Pozzuoli	20	Passage Naples-Pozzuoli.
	Forni, Carlo	5 Apr 1943	0045	Pozzuoli	6 Apr 1943	0725	La Maddalena	226,7	Passage Naples-La Maddalena with the submarine Sirena.
	Forni, Carlo	11 Apr 1943	0910	La Maddalena	11 Apr 1943	1205	Bonifacio	34	Passage La Maddalena-Bonifacio.
	Forni, Carlo	15 Apr 1943	0815	Bonifacio	15 Apr 1943	0955	Bonifacio	5	Exercises.
29	Forni, Carlo	2 May 1943	1947	Bonifacio	16 May 1943	1327	La Maddalena	1407,5	Sailed with the submarine Diaspro and patrolled in western Mediterranean between 38°40'N and 39°20'N, and between 05°40'E and 06°20'E. Uneventful, except for some defects.
	Forni, Carlo	17 May 1943	1455	La Maddalena	17 May 1943	1745	Bonifacio	20	Passage La Maddalena-Bonifacio.
	Forni, Carlo	17 May 1943	2055	Bonifacio	19 May 1943	0610	La Spezia	173,5	Passage Bonifacio-La Spezia, escorted in by MAS 525.
	Forni, Carlo	20 May 1943	0810	La Spezia	20 May 1943	1355	Genoa	36,2	Passage La Spezia-Genoa for refit, escorted by MAS 525.
	Forni, Carlo	23 Jul 1943	1130+	Genoa	23 Jul 1943	1200?	Sunk		While testing her forward tubes in Genoa harbour, Aradam accidentally sank in about 30 minutes. There were no casualties.
		23 Jul 1943	1200?	(0) Genoa harbour.	At about noon, Aradam was testing her forward torpedo tubes when, due to an error in drill water flooded the submarine through tube no. 1, causing her to sink. Although T.V. Forli was not directly involved, he received a severe reprimand from an investigating commission presided by Admiral Legnani himself.
	Tromba, Mario	9 Sep 1943		Genoa	9 Sep 1943	0720 or 0830	Scuttled		She was being repaired when the Armistice arrived. She was scuttled in Genoa harbour along with the former French submarine Henri Poincaré, FR 113 (ex-French Requin), Colonna and H 6. Refloated and repaired by the Germans, who ceded her to the Republican Navy on 25th January 1944. She was raised and, on 25th March 1944, repairs had started. Reported to have been assigned to the 10th MAS Flotilla on 29th April 1944.
		4 Sep 1944		Genoa	4 Sep 1944		Genoa		She was in the process of returning to service and had undergone trials in harbour on 18th August 1944, when she was sunk, along with submarines Grongo, Murena and Sparide, following an air raid by 168 B.17 bombers (USAAF) dropping a total of 1,965 500-lb bombs .

140 entries. 115 total patrol entries (29 marked as war patrols) and 46 events.

All Italian submarines

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