Italian submarines in World War Two
Italian Commanders
Alberto Crepas
| Born | 27 Nov 1906 | Rome | |
| Died | Jul 1943 | (36) | Killed in action |
| Ranks
Decorations
|
Career information
PIETRO MICCA (T.V. First Officer): from 23.05.1938 to ?ARGO (T.V. C.O.): from 31.05.1940 to 31.01.1942.
Promoted to C.C. on ?
LUCIANO MANARA (C.C. C.O.): from 25.02.1943 to 30.05.1943.
ROMOLO (C.C. C.O.): From 19.06.1943 to July 1943? (sunk, Crepas was killed).
Commands listed for Alberto Crepas
| Submarine | Type | Rank | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argo (AO, I.26) | Ocean going | T.V. | 31 May 1940 | 31 Jan 1942 |
| Luciana Manara (MR) | Ocean going | C.C. | 25 Feb 1943 | 30 May 1943 |
| Romolo (RO) | Transport | C.C. | 19 Jun 1943 | Jul 1943 |
Ships hit by Alberto Crepas
| Date | Submarine | Ship hit | Type | GRT | Nat. | Loss type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 1 Dec 1940 | Argo | HMCS Saguenay | Destroyer | 1,337 |  | Damaged |
| 2. | 5 Dec 1940 | Argo | Silverpine | Cargo ship | 5,066 |  | Sunk |
War patrols listed for Alberto Crepas
| Submarine | Date | Time | Port | Arr. date | Arr. time | Arr. port | Miles | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argo (AO, I.26) | 17 Jun 1940 | 0645 | La Spezia | 17 Jun 1940 | 1700 | La Spezia | 75,6 | Exercises after long refit. | ||
| Argo (AO, I.26) | 21 Jun 1940 | 0532 | La Spezia | 21 Jun 1940 | 1410 | La Spezia | 27,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Argo (AO, I.26) | 22 Jun 1940 | 1420 | La Spezia | 22 Jun 1940 | 2053 | Savona | 72,8 | Passage La Spezia-Savona. | ||
| Argo (AO, I.26) | 23 Jun 1940 | 1410 | Savona | 23 Jun 1940 | 2145 | La Spezia | 72,8 | Passage Savona-La Spezia. | ||
| Argo (AO, I.26) | 26 Jun 1940 | 2235 | La Spezia | 27 Jun 1940 | 2035 | La Maddalena | 228 | Passage La Spezia-La Maddalena with the submarines Neghelli and Scirè. | ||
| 1. | Argo (AO, I.26) | 10 Jul 1940 | 0050 | La Maddalena | 12 Jul 1940 | 0952 | La Maddalena | 309,6 | Patrolled in position 310° - Point Asinara Light (Sardinia) - 80 miles. She, was part of a barrage line, 15 miles apart with Iride, Scirè and Diaspro. | |
| Argo (AO, I.26) | 27 Jul 1940 | 1343 | La Maddalena | 27 Jul 1940 | 2030 | La Maddalena | 41,8 | Hydrophone watch. | ||
| 2. | Argo (AO, I.26) | 31 Jul 1940 | 2225 | La Maddalena | 1 Aug 1940 | 1518 | Cagliari | 175,6 | Sailed with Scirè and Neghelli for a patrol in 37°40'N, 06°20'E. Made a brief stop at Cagliari, to pick up her sailing orders before proceeding for patrol. | |
| 3. | Argo (AO, I.26) | 1 Aug 1940 | 1542 | Cagliari | 10 Aug 1940 | 2237 | La Maddalena | 1167 | Patrolled south of the Balearic Islands in position 37°49'N, 06°20'E. Part of a barrage line involving six other boats: Scirè, Neghelli, Turchese, Medusa, Axum, and Diaspro. MARICOSOM had ordered a screen on two lines (three and four boats respectively) north of Cape Bougaroni (06°20’ E meridian). The two lines were 10 miles apart and each submarine was positioned 20 miles from the next one. The second day into the mission, Medusa had to return to base and was later replaced by Manara. Uneventful. | |
| Argo (AO, I.26) | 23 Aug 1940 | 1330 | La Maddalena | 24 Aug 1940 | 0930 | La Spezia | 41,8 | Passage La Maddalena-La Spezia on hydrophone watch, then refit. | ||
| Argo (AO, I.26) | 23 Sep 1940 | 0835 | La Spezia | 23 Sep 1940 | 1630 | La Spezia | 42 | Trials after refit. | ||
| Argo (AO, I.26) | 26 Sep 1940 | 0805 | La Spezia | 26 Sep 1940 | 1700 | La Spezia | 40 | Trials after refit. | ||
| Argo (AO, I.26) | 28 Sep 1940 | 0800 | La Spezia | 28 Sep 1940 | 1620 | La Spezia | 31 | Trials after refit. | ||
| 4. | Argo (AO, I.26) | 2 Oct 1940 | 1400 | La Spezia | 24 Oct 1940 | 1320 | Bordeaux | 3038 | Passage from La Spezia to Bordeaux. Passed Gibraltar on 8th October. Patrolled in area between 36°00'N and 36°30'N, and between 09°04'W and 09°42'W. The submarine experienced defects in two forward tubes and one stern tube. Escorted in by M-9, M-13 and M-21. | |
| 12 Oct 1940 | 0940 0800 (e) | (e) 36° 50'N, 10° 00'W (0) 260° - Cape St. Vincent - 50 miles. | At 0846 hours, a smoke was observed. At 0900 hours, the submarine dived and recognised it as a 4,000-ton armed vessel on a 180° course. At 0940 hours, a single torpedo (533mm, type W) was fired from a bow tube at a distance of 600 metres. It missed. This was the armed trawler HMT Cape Barracouta who reported the attack. Bad weather prevented the submarine from a surface action. | |||||||
| 12 Oct 1940 | 1434-1545 | 36° 00'N, 9° 30'W (0) Approximately. | At 1434 hours, the Portuguese trawler Estrella Do Norte (325 GRT, built 1919) was ordered to stop, but was allowed to proceed after examination. | |||||||
| 5. | Argo (AO, I.26) | 22 Nov 1940 | 1130 | Bordeaux | 12 Dec 1940 | 1900 | Le Verdon | 3075 | Patrolled in the Atlantic between 53°20'N and 54°20'N, and between 17°00'W and 20°00'W. | |
| 1 Dec 1940 | 0449 0355 (e) | 54° 05'N, 16° 55'W (e) 54° 40'N, 15° 20'W | Argo was proceeding on the surface when, at 0449 hours, the officer of the watch sighted a shadow which was at first taken for a submarine. She took an intercepting course and when it was realised that it was a destroyer, a single torpedo (533mm) was fired from a bow tube at distance of 600 metres and scored a hit after 40 seconds. The submarine turned and tried to finish her off with a stern shot (450mm), but missed. A second stern shot (533mm) followed and was claimed to have hit (it had not). This was the destroyer HMCS Saguenay. With HMS Highlander, she had been escorting convoy HG.47 but had temporarily lost contact with the convoy. She had sighted the submarine at 800 yards and fired two rounds which missed before the torpedo hit the forward part on the port side. Twenty-one were killed. At 0700 hours, HMS Highlander arrived on the scene to assist her and took off five officers and eighty-five ratings. The remaining crew (five officers and fifty-three ratings) managed to bring Saguenay to port stern first. The tugs Englishman, Salvonia [she was later diverted to assist the armed merchant cruiser HMS Forfar] and Schelde, and the A/S trawlers HMT Foxtrot, HMT Stella Polaris and HMT Sphene were sailed to her assistance. She managed to reach Barrow in Furness towed by the tug Schelde at 1615 hours on 5th December. | |||||||
| 2 Dec 1940 | 0610 | 54° 53'N, 18° 28'W | At 0610 hours, the sound of gunfire was heard followed by what appeared to be a torpedo hit at a distance of 4,000 metres. Possibly the British Dunsley (3,862 GRT, built 1929) from convoy HX.90, damaged by gunfire at 0606 hours in 54°41' N, 18°41' W by U-47 (KK Günther Prien). | |||||||
| 2 Dec 1940 | 0825 0932-1350 (e) | 54° 36'N, 18° 26'W (e) 54° 37'N, 18° 26'W | At 0800 hours, a small steamer or perhaps a convoy escort was observed, possibly collecting survivors. The submarine stopped its diesels and proceeded on its electric motors to avoid being heard. At 0825 hours, the submarine fired a torpedo (533mm) from no.4 tube at a range of 500 metres, but it appeared to veer to the right and missed. The submarine dived to a depth of 80 metres. At 0919 hours, "Hastig" was heard (sic, ASDIC), immediately followed by depth charges. From 0912 hours to 1437 hours, Argo was subjected to a systematic hunt by two destroyers and counted 96 depth charges, but suffered practically no damage. At 2045 hours, the submarine surfaced with the gun crew at action station, but the horizon was empty. The target had been the destroyer HMCS St. Laurent and together with HMS Viscount, they had hunted the submarine dropping 81 depth charges. HMCS St. Laurent had indeed picked up survivors from Conch and was looking for those of the armer merchant cruiser HMS Forfar when the attack occurred. Although both destroyer captains doubted the result of their attacks, the U-boat Assessment Committee had concluded the U-boat "probably sunk". | |||||||
| 4 Dec 1940 | 1255 | 54° 00'N, 18° 00'W (0) Very approximately. | At 1255 hours, a Sunderland aircraft was sighted at 2,000 metres. Argo fired six pans of machine gun rounds before diving to a depth of 60 metres. No explosions were reported. | |||||||
| 5 Dec 1940 | 0339 0220 (e) | 54° 14'N, 18° 08'W (e) 54° 00'N, 17° 30'W (0) Z | At 0339 hours, the officer of the watch suddenly sighted a dark shape. A torpedo was immediately fired at a distance of 500 metres at a 12,000-ton two-funnel vessel. The torpedo hit after 35 seconds under the first funnel. A second explosion followed, attributed to a boiler and she sank. This was the steamer Silverpine (5,066 GRT, built 1924) in ballast and detached from convoy OB.252 bound from Glasgow to New York. Thirty-six were killed. Nineteen survivors were picked up by HMS Harvester at 0900 hours in 57°00' N, 17°30' W. The submarine was later hunted by HMS Harvester. Starting at 0412 hours, Argo reported three patterns of eight depth charges each. | |||||||
| 11 Dec 1940 | 1545 | (0) ? | A big wave covered the bridge and carried over the First Officer T.V. Alessandro de Santis. The submarine turned back and closed to about 20 metres from the unfortunate officer. Sotto Capo Cannoniere [Petty Officer (Gunner)] Lorenzo Ciapetti bravely offered to jump in the water to reach him with a life saver. He closed to about 8-10 metres before De Santis disappeared and was no longer seen. Ciapetti was recovered and the submarine resumed course. For his bravery, Lorenzo Ciapetti was awarded the Medaglia d'Argento al valore militare (Silver Medal). | |||||||
| Argo (AO, I.26) | 25 Jan 1941 | Le Verdon? | 25 Jan 1941 | Date? | Le Verdon? | According to the KTB of 2.MSFL, Argo made a sortie on this date, escorted by M-12 and M-21. Italian documents do not show such a sortie. She may have been mistaken for Dandolo who sailed on that day. | ||||
| Argo (AO, I.26) | 21 Feb 1941 | 1508 | Bordeaux | 21 Feb 1941 | 1950 | Le Verdon | 47 | Passage Bordeaux-Le Verdon. | ||
| Argo (AO, I.26) | 22 Feb 1941 | 1502 | Bordeaux | 22 Feb 1941 | 1745 | Le Verdon | 10 | Trials. | ||
| Argo (AO, I.26) | 23 Feb 1941 | 1200 | Le Verdon | 24 Feb 1941 | 0030 | La Pallice | 62 | Passage Le Verdon-La Pallice with the submarine Brin escorted by the German minesweepers M-2, M-6 and M-21 and Sperrbrecher 16. | ||
| Argo (AO, I.26) | 25 Feb 1941 | 0840 | La Pallice | 25 Feb 1941 | 1653 | La Pallice | 53 | Exercises. | ||
| 6. | Argo (AO, I.26) | 28 Feb 1941 | 1705 | La Pallice | 30 Mar 1941 | 1142 | Bordeaux | 4270 | Sailed for patrol between 59°30'N and 53°00'N, and between 13°00'W and 25°00'W. Then went into dry-dock for long refit. | |
| 1 Mar 1941 | 1300 | 45° 55'N, 8° 30'W | At 1300 hours, an unidentified aircraft was sighted at 6,000 metres and circled the submarine as close as 1,000 metres. Argo made the recognition signal but was not answered. The aircraft disappeared and the submarine dived. | |||||||
| 5 Mar 1941 | 1400 | 47° 10'N, 11° 40'W | At 1400 hours, a submarine of the BIANCHI class was observed on 120° course. Argo turned away. | |||||||
| 7 Mar 1941 | 1400 1301 (e) | 53° 35'N, 16° 50'W (e) 53° 20'N, 18° 50'W | At 1400 hours, an aircraft was sighted at 6,000 metres. When it had closed at 1,500 metres, Argo made a recognition signal, receiving the correct counter signal. At a range of 800 metres, the aircraft was identified as a Sunderland and the submarine opened fire with her machine guns. Argo managed to keep the aircraft at bay until she dived at 1415 hours. The aircraft was Sunderland 'H' of 210 Squadron and did not carry out an attack. The presence of HMS Taku in the area probably inhibited the pilot from pressing home an attack. | |||||||
| 10 Mar 1941 | 1830 | 57° 37'N, 23° 55'W | At 1830 hours, an antisubmarine vessel was sighted at 4,000 metres, the submarine dived and was not detected. | |||||||
| 11 Mar 1941 | 1220 | 57° 15'N, 24° 36'W | At 1220 hours, a 4-5,000-ton vessel was sighted at 6-7,000 metres on a 060° course. The submarine maneuvered around it intending to attack in the evening, but at 1355 hours lost contact. | |||||||
| 27 Mar 1941 | 1300 | 47° 20'N, 9° 20'W | At 1300 hours, an aircraft was sighted coming from the south. When the range had dropped to 1,000 metres, the submarine made the recognition signal which was not answered. At a distance of 800 metres, it was recognised as a Sunderland and two rounds were fired and the aircraft disappeared to the north. T.V. Crepas was not satisfied of his antiaircraft armament of two Breda machine guns and suggested that it must be increased to four. | |||||||
| 7. | Argo (AO, I.26) | 19 May 1941 | 1345 | Bordeaux | 14 Jun 1941 | 1045 | Bordeaux | 3367 | Patrolled off Portugal and west of the Strait of Gibraltar between 35°40'N and 36°20'N, and between 07°40'E and 06°30'W. | |
| 20 May 1941 | 1510 | 44° 18'N, 3° 19'W | 1510 hours, a German bomber was sighted and recognition signals exchanged. | |||||||
| 21 May 1941 | 1721 | 44° 28'N, 8° 15'W | At 1721 hours, an aircraft was sighted at 4,000 metres and came as close as 2,000 meters. It did not respond to recognition signals and flew away in a southerly direction. | |||||||
| 27 May 1941 | 0100 | 35° 45'N, 8° 56'W | At 2300 hours on 26th March, Argo was informed by BETASOM (signal of 2215/26) of a battleship, an aircraft carrier and a cruiser sighted at 1600 hours in Italian Grid 0326/22 [Force H], probably proceeding to Gibraltar. Argo, Marconi, Veniero and Mocenigo were ordered to intercept. At 0100 hours, an illuminated vessel was seen on a 200° course. It was apparently neutral and the submarine let her go. | |||||||
| 29 May 1941 | 1630+ | 35° 58'N, 6° 48'W (0) Italian Grid 1510/66. | The submarine heard H.E. at 1630 hours and shortly after sighted a convoy of ten steamers, escorted by three destroyers, steering 240°. The submarine surfaced at 1740 hours and made an enemy report. One diesel had broken down and Argo could not maintain contact. | |||||||
| 30 May 1941 | 0730-2252 | 35° 58'N, 6° 48'W (0) Approximately. | From 0730 to 2252 hours, the submarine was subjected to a systematic hunt and counted 91 depth charge explosions. However, Argo was undamaged and surfaced at 2330 hours and escaped to the westward. | |||||||
| 31 May 1941 | 1230-1546 | 35° 58'N, 6° 48'W (0) Approximately. | From 1230 to 1546 hours, the submarine was subjected to a systematic hunt by three vessels and counted fifteen depth charge explosions. However, Argo was undamaged. | |||||||
| 4 Jun 1941 | 0415 | 36° 32'N, 8° 00'W | At 2310 on 3rd June, the submarine received orders from BETASOM (1950/3) to move to Grid 7562/32 for a period of 48 hours. At 0415 hours, an enemy warship was sighted and perhaps two more. The submarine dived to avoid detection. At 2350 hours on the 5th, the submarine received a signal from BETASOM reporting a convoy at 1830 hours in Grid 8511/11, course 090°, 8 knots. She was ordered to intercept at 1600 hours on the 6th in Grid 8562/13. | |||||||
| 6 Jun 1941 | 0750 | 37° 10'N, 9° 25'W | At 0750 hours, a submarine was sighted but she apparently took avoiding action. Between 1255 and 1800 hours, Argo reported being hunted and hearing fifteen depth charges. | |||||||
| 7 Jun 1941 | 1230 | 37° 11'N, 10° 22'W | At 1230 hours, a steamer was observed to have sailed from Lisbon and taken a 220° course. This proved to be the Brazilian Bagé (8,235 GRT, built 1912) and she was left alone. | |||||||
| 8 Jun 1941 | 1540 | (0) Off Lisbon. | At 1540 hours, the submarine was hunted and dived to 60 metres. Nine explosions were heard and Argo went to 80 metres. Four explosions followed at 1630 hours and two more at 1700 hours. | |||||||
| 11 Jun 1941 | 1845 | 43° 30'N, 10° 45'W | At 1845 hours, two corvettes were sighted but avoided. | |||||||
| 12 Jun 1941 | 1500 | 44° 10'N, 8° 20'W | An unidentified aircraft attempted an attack but was repulsed with the submarine expending four magazines of machine gun rounds. | |||||||
| Argo (AO, I.26) | 12 Sep 1941 | 0905 | Bordeaux | 12 Sep 1941 | 1330 | Le Verdon | Passage Bordeaux-Le Verdon. | |||
| Argo (AO, I.26) | 12 Sep 1941 | 1400 | Le Verdon | 12 Sep 1941 | 1650 | Le Verdon | Gyrocompass tests. | |||
| Argo (AO, I.26) | 13 Sep 1941 | 0900 | Le Verdon | 13 Sep 1941 | 1710 | La Pallice | Diving tests at Le Pertuis d'Antioche. At a depth of 20 metres water infiltration was observed that could not be controlled. The submarine surfaced and a fuel leak was also seen. The submarine proceeded to La Pallice to carry out repairs. | |||
| Argo (AO, I.26) | 15 Sep 1941 | 0800 | La Pallice | 15 Sep 1941 | 1755 | La Pallice | Diving tests to 40 metres. The infiltrations were verified to have stopped. | |||
| 8. | Argo (AO, I.26) | 16 Sep 1941 | 0905 | La Pallice | 24 Sep 1941 | 1600 | Bordeaux | 1895 | Sailed from Le Verdon for Cagliari. At 1000 hours she had reached in 39°12'N, 13°00'W and dived and several defects were noted including the gyrocompass. The submarine had to navigate with an ordinary compass and At 2200 hours surfaced. T.V. Crepas took the decision to turn back [mileage since Bordeaux on 12th September]. She was under repairs from 25th September to 7th October. | |
| Argo (AO, I.26) | 8 Oct 1941 | 0830 | Bordeaux | 10 Oct 1941 | La Pallice | Passage Bordeaux-La Pallice. | ||||
| 9. | Argo (AO, I.26) | 11 Oct 1941 | 1815 | La Pallice | 24 Oct 1941 | 1230 | Cagliari | 2399 | Passage La Pallice to Cagliari. Passed Gibraltar on 20th October 1941. Sighted only neutral vessels. | |
| 13 Oct 1941 | 1030 0939 (e) | 45° 32'N, 8° 08'W (e) 45° 48'N, 8° 07'W | At 1030 hours, Argo came under attack by a Catalina aircraft. This was actually Hudson 'I' (AM553) of 233 Squadron piloted by Flying Officer Haigh. One bomb was dropped but missed the submarine by 100 metres. The submarine remained on the surface firing 51 100mm rounds and 478 13.2mm rounds to keep the aircraft at bay. Three more bombs were dropped but missed the submarine's bow by 50 metres. At 1330 hours, the aircraft finally flew away and the submarine submerged. BETASOM requested from the BdU that aircraft cover be provided and two Me 110 were promised, but finally did not take off although a German U-boat was sent to her assistance. | |||||||
| 20 Oct 1941 | 0255 | (0) 153° - Malabata - 6 miles. | At 0255 hours, a submarine chaser was sighted. The submarine submerged and crossed the Strait of Gibraltar without further incidents. | |||||||
| Argo (AO, I.26) | 28 Oct 1941 | 0830 | Cagliari | 29 Oct 1941 | 1130 | Naples | 285 | Passage Cagliari-Naples for long refit. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 25 Feb 1943 | 1500 | Fiume | 25 Feb 1943 | 1800 | Fiume | 10 | Trials. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 27 Feb 1943 | 1545 | Fiume | 27 Feb 1943 | 1850 | Fiume | 30 | Trials. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 2 Mar 1943 | 1300 | Fiume | 2 Mar 1943 | 1850 | Fiume | 29 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 3 Mar 1943 | 1355 | Fiume | 3 Mar 1943 | 1625 | Sussa (Fiume) | 20 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 5 Mar 1943 | 0805 | Sussa (Fiume) | 5 Mar 1943 | 2335 | Sussa (Fiume) | 75 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 6 Mar 1943 | 0805 | Sussa (Fiume) | 6 Mar 1943 | 1240 | Sussa (Fiume) | 21 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 8 Mar 1943 | 1230 | Sussa (Fiume) | 8 Mar 1943 | 1830 | Sussa (Fiume) | 26 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 10 Mar 1943 | 1200 | Sussa (Fiume) | 10 Mar 1943 | 2230 | Sussa (Fiume) | 70 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 11 Mar 1943 | 0820 | Sussa (Fiume) | 11 Mar 1943 | 1040 | Sussa (Fiume) | 22,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 12 Mar 1943 | 0915 | Sussa (Fiume) | 12 Mar 1943 | 2300 | Sussa (Fiume) | 90 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 15 Mar 1943 | 1200 | Sussa (Fiume) | 15 Mar 1943 | 2315 | Sussa (Fiume) | 81 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 16 Mar 1943 | 0830 | Sussa (Fiume) | 16 Mar 1943 | 1115 | Sussa (Fiume) | 20,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 17 Mar 1943 | 1155 | Sussa (Fiume) | 18 Mar 1943 | 0025 | Sussa (Fiume) | 72 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 19 Mar 1943 | 0830 | Sussa (Fiume) | 19 Mar 1943 | 1955 | Sussa (Fiume) | 62 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 22 Mar 1943 | 0900 | Sussa (Fiume) | 22 Mar 1943 | 2310 | Sussa (Fiume) | 62 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 24 Mar 1943 | 0710 | Sussa (Fiume) | 24 Mar 1943 | 2200 | Sussa (Fiume) | 63 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 26 Mar 1943 | 0810 | Sussa (Fiume) | 26 Mar 1943 | 2315 | Sussa (Fiume) | 64 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 29 Mar 1943 | 1420 | Sussa (Fiume) | 29 Mar 1943 | 1857 | Sussa (Fiume) | 36 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 31 Mar 1943 | 1305 | Sussa (Fiume) | 31 Mar 1943 | 2300 | Sussa (Fiume) | 51 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 2 Apr 1943 | 1405 | Sussa (Fiume) | 2 Apr 1943 | 2400 | Sussa (Fiume) | 59 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 5 Apr 1943 | 1346 | Sussa (Fiume) | 5 Apr 1943 | 2300 | Sussa (Fiume) | 50 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 7 Apr 1943 | 1240 | Sussa (Fiume) | 7 Apr 1943 | 2400 | Sussa (Fiume) | 62 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 9 Apr 1943 | 1255 | Sussa (Fiume) | 9 Apr 1943 | 2340 | Sussa (Fiume) | 65 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 12 Apr 1943 | 1230 | Sussa (Fiume) | 12 Apr 1943 | 2315 | Sussa (Fiume) | 65 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 14 Apr 1943 | 1100 | Sussa (Fiume) | 14 Apr 1943 | 2250 | Sussa (Fiume) | 74 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 15 Apr 1943 | 1220 | Sussa (Fiume) | 15 Apr 1943 | 1450 | Sussa (Fiume) | 14,7 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 16 Apr 1943 | 1403 | Sussa (Fiume) | 17 Apr 1943 | 0027 | Sussa (Fiume) | 55 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 19 Apr 1943 | 1212 | Sussa (Fiume) | 19 Apr 1943 | 2330 | Sussa (Fiume) | 52 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 21 Apr 1943 | 1400 | Sussa (Fiume) | 22 Apr 1943 | 0140 | Sussa (Fiume) | 71,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 23 Apr 1943 | 1140 | Sussa (Fiume) | 23 Apr 1943 | 2400 | Sussa (Fiume) | 72 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 26 Apr 1943 | 1140 | Sussa (Fiume) | 27 Apr 1943 | 0115 | Sussa (Fiume) | 73 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 28 Apr 1943 | 1230 | Sussa (Fiume) | 29 Apr 1943 | 0100 | Sussa (Fiume) | 75 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 30 Apr 1943 | 1220 | Sussa (Fiume) | 30 Apr 1943 | 2400 | Sussa (Fiume) | 70 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 3 May 1943 | 1525 | Sussa (Fiume) | 3 May 1943 | 2400 | Sussa (Fiume) | 51 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 5 May 1943 | 1545 | Sussa (Fiume) | 6 May 1943 | 0015 | Sussa (Fiume) | 31 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 6 May 1943 | 1015 | Sussa (Fiume) | 6 May 1943 | 1135 | Sussa (Fiume) | 3,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 7 May 1943 | 1410 | Sussa (Fiume) | 7 May 1943 | 1610 | Sussa (Fiume) | 12 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 7 May 1943 | 2015 | Sussa (Fiume) | 7 May 1943 | 2345 | Sussa (Fiume) | 29,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 10 May 1943 | 1330 | Sussa (Fiume) | 11 May 1943 | 0110 | Sussa (Fiume) | 54 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 12 May 1943 | 1315 | Sussa (Fiume) | 13 May 1943 | 0100 | Sussa (Fiume) | 55 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 14 May 1943 | 1023 | Sussa (Fiume) | 15 May 1943 | 0025 | Sussa (Fiume) | 80 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 17 May 1943 | 0945 | Sussa (Fiume) | 18 May 1943 | 0110 | Sussa (Fiume) | 94 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 19 May 1943 | 1320 | Sussa (Fiume) | 19 May 1943 | 2400 | Sussa (Fiume) | 59 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 21 May 1943 | 1315 | Sussa (Fiume) | 22 May 1943 | 0015 | Sussa (Fiume) | 58 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 22 May 1943 | 1025 | Sussa (Fiume) | 22 May 1943 | 1145 | Sussa (Fiume) | 4 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 24 May 1943 | 1230 | Sussa (Fiume) | 25 May 1943 | 0057 | Sussa (Fiume) | 76 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 26 May 1943 | 1245 | Sussa (Fiume) | 27 May 1943 | 0125 | Sussa (Fiume) | 74 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 28 May 1943 | 1200 | Sussa (Fiume) | 29 May 1943 | 0245 | Sussa (Fiume) | 76 | Exercises. | ||
| Luciana Manara (MR) | 31 May 1943 | 1210 | Sussa (Fiume) | 1 Jun 1943 | 0132 | Sussa (Fiume) | 72 | Exercises. | ||
| Giuseppe Finzi (FZ, I.2) | 10 Jun 1943 | Bordeaux | 14 Jun 1943 | Bordeaux | Refit in Bordeaux (change in command). | |||||
| Romolo (RO) | 21 Jun 1943 | 0740 | Taranto | 21 Jun 1943 | 1537 | Taranto | 24,5 | Trials. | ||
| Romolo (RO) | 23 Jun 1943 | 1145 | Taranto | 23 Jun 1943 | 1814 | Taranto | 19,5 | Trials. Sonar exercises with torpedo boats Pegaso and Fabrizi, in 40°26'30'N, 17°02'E. | ||
| Romolo (RO) | 25 Jun 1943 | 0610 | Taranto | 25 Jun 1943 | 1622 | Taranto | 27 | Exercises. | ||
| Romolo (RO) | 26 Jun 1943 | 1230 | Taranto | 26 Jun 1943 | 2030 | Taranto | 26 | Exercises. | ||
| Romolo (RO) | 29 Jun 1943 | 0614 | Taranto | 29 Jun 1943 | 2000 | Taranto | 50 | Trials. | ||
| Romolo (RO) | 1 Jul 1943 | 1248 | Taranto | 1 Jul 1943 | 1953 | Taranto | Exercises. | |||
| Romolo (RO) | 2 Jul 1943 | 0645 | Taranto | 2 Jul 1943 | 1155 | Taranto | Exercises with the submarine Remo and torpedo boats Pegaso and Partenope. | |||
| Romolo (RO) | 3 Jul 1943 | 0646 | Taranto | 3 Jul 1943 | 1253 | Taranto | Exercises. | |||
| Romolo (RO) | 11 Jul 1943 | 0654 | Taranto | 11 Jul 1943 | 1715 | Taranto | Exercises. | |||
| Romolo (RO) | 12 Jul 1943 | 0531 | Taranto | 12 Jul 1943 | 1515 | Taranto | 200 | Exercises. | ||
| 10. | Romolo (RO) | 15 Jul 1943 | 1726 | Taranto | 18 Jul 1943 | 0550 | Sunk with all hands | She had been ordered to sail at 1400 hours on the 15th but was delayed because of defects. On passage Taranto-Naples (first sortie) through (a) 39°00'N, 17°40'E (b) 37°45'N, 16°12'E (c) 37°45'N, 15°45'E, then to point S1 (Capo Dell'Armi or 37°51'N, 15°41'E) where she was expected at 1310 hours on the 16th. She was to proceed through Point M 1, straight to point B (from Point M 1 submerged even in daylight) and finally to Naples. Her instructions were to travel on the surface at 11 knots until 0730 hours on the 17th and then submerged at 2 knots until 2030 hours on the 17th and then on surface again until Naples. | ||
| 15 Jul 1943 | 1230 (e) | Initially, Romolo was to have been loaded with ammunition on 5th July and sail on 10th July for Catania, but the invasion of Sicily brought a change in plan. She was ordered to sail at 1400 hours on the 15th, but was delayed because of defects. She was to proceed from Taranto to Naples through: (1) 39°00' N, 17°40' E (2) 37°45' N, 16°12' E (3) 37°45' N, 15°45' E, (4) Point S1 (Capo Dell'Armi or 37°51' N, 15°41' E) where she was expected at 1310 hours on the 16th. (5) Point M 1 (Strait of Messina), then submerged in daylight, straight to point B (off Naples) and finally to Naples. Her instructions were to travel on the surface at 11 knots until 0730 hours on the 17th, then submerged at 2 knots until 2030 hours on the 17th and surfaced again until Naples. At 1230 hours, in a phone conversation with Comandante Ginocchio, Comandante Rossi of SUPERMARINA suggested that, since air protection could not be assured, Remo and Romolo should proceed submerged when off southwest of Calabria and arrive a day later than initially anticipated. At 1545 hours, MARICOSOM ordered Romolo to proceed on the surface from 1400 hours on the 15th (she sailed only at 1726 hours) to 0730 hours on the 17th and then submerged until 2030 hours on the 17th. At 2230 hours on the 17th she was to pass through Point B of Naples and then arrive at Naples (surface speed: 11 knots, submerged speed: 2 knots. At 2005 hours on the 15th, a new order instructed the submarine to travel submerged as necessary, because of the danger of air attack, in order to reach meridian 16°E at 0500 hours on the 17 th and to travel submerged even during night hours in order to be 212° - Reggio - 6 miles (ca. 38°06' N, 15°38' E) at 1900 hours on the 17th. There, she was to meet a VAS boat that would escort her through the Strait of Messina. At 1330 hours on the 16th, MARICOSOM issued orders to Romolo and Remo to adjust their navigation in order to pass meridian 16°06' E at 0200 hours on the 17th and 0300 hours on the 17th respectively, then to proceed to the position off Reggio already established. | ||||||||
| 18 Jul 1943 | 0320B (e) | Wellington 'B' (HZ.116) of 221 Squadron piloted by Pilot Officer E. Austin made an attack, which was initially credited to have sunk the submarine Romolo, although at the time, she was assessed 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. The submarine attacked was actually Ambra (see entry for this submarine). The mysterious loss of the submarine Romolo still has not been solved. It is possible that her cargo of ammunition (?) contributed to her loss. There is an outside possibility that she may have been lost on Rorqual's minefield, laid about 2 miles off Punta Stilo (15th May 1943). Although the minefield was located on 22nd May and mines detonated and another five detached. Six more mines were destroyed on 23rd May while the torpedo boat Orione reported to record mine echoes in 38°35.5' N, 16°39' E and the corvette Driade sank two British mines in 38°35.5' N, 16°41.5' E. It is possible that the minefield had not been completely cleared. Romolo should have passed some 15 miles off Punta Stilo but C.C. Crepas could have elected to close the coast to make up time (he had left nearly 3.5 hours behind schedule) or to get a bearing and stray into this minefield. She was a brand new submarine and had not completed her trials and an accidental loss cannot be ruled out. C.C. Alberto Crepas, six officers, fifty-three ratings and two civilians lost perished. | ||||||||
115 entries. 91 total patrol entries (10 marked as war patrols) and 30 events.