Italian submarines in World War Two
Italian Commanders
Luigi Andreotti
| Born | 19 Jun 1914 | La Spezia |
| Ranks
Decorations
|
Career information
From 01.05.1940, served on the staff of C.F. Suviero at 6° GRUPSOM (Tobruk)BENEDETTO BRIN (T.V. C.O.): from 01.11.1941 to 30.11.1941.
MARCANTONIO BRAGADINO (T.V. C.O.): from 01.12.1941 to 03.12.1941.
BENEDETTO BRIN (T.V. C.O.): from 04.12.1941 to 13.12.1941.
MARCANTONIO BRAGADINO (T.V. C.O.): from 13.12.1941 to 08.01.1942.
BENEDETTO BRIN (T.V. C.O.): from 08.01.1942 to 23.11.1943.
Promoted to C.C. in 1944.
RUGGIERO SETTIMO (T.V. C.O.): from 01.12.1944 to 20.01.1945.
AMMIRAGLIO CAGNI (T.V. C.O.): from 12.02.1945 to end of war.
Commands listed for Luigi Andreotti
| Submarine | Type | Rank | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | Ocean going | T.V. | 1 Nov 1941 | 30 Nov 1941 |
| Marcantonio Bragadino (BG) | Minelaying | T.V. | 1 Dec 1941 | 3 Dec 1941 |
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | Ocean going | T.V. | 4 Dec 1941 | 13 Dec 1941 |
| Marcantonio Bragadino (BG) | Minelaying | T.V. | 13 Dec 1941 | 8 Jan 1942 |
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | Ocean going | T.V. | 8 Jan 1942 | 23 Nov 1943 |
| Ruggiero Settimo (RS) | Ocean going | C.C. | 1 Dec 1944 | 20 Jan 1945 |
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | Ocean going | C.C. | 12 Feb 1945 | Aug 1945 |
Ships hit by Luigi Andreotti
No ships hit by this Commander.War patrols listed for Luigi Andreotti
| Submarine | Date | Time | Port | Arr. date | Arr. time | Arr. port | Miles | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 1 Nov 1941 | Taranto | 30 Nov 1941 | Taranto | Refit in Taranto. | |||||
| Marcantonio Bragadino (BG) | 2 Dec 1941 | 1447 | Brindisi | 3 Dec 1941 | 0955 | Taranto | Passage Brindisi-Taranto. | |||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 13 Dec 1941 | 0830 | Taranto | 13 Dec 1941 | 1530 | Taranto | 21 | Trials with the submarine Bronzo, escorted by the auxiliary Dalmazia. | ||
| 1. | Marcantonio Bragadino (BG) | 17 Dec 1941 | 1400 | Taranto | 25 Dec 1941 | 2100 | Tripoli | Supply mission to Benghazi, but then diverted to Tripoli (35 tons of fuel, 14 tons of ammunition). At 1245 hours on 24th December 1941, she was sighted by the torpedo boat Polluce in 32°50'N, 14°12'E. The submarine ran aground and had to be freed by the tug Ciclope while the torpedo boat Cantore was sailed to provide antiaircraft protection. | ||
| 20 Dec 1941 | 0415 | At 0415 hours, during a crash-dive, the hatch was not properly secured and two men had been left outside. The submarine quickly returned to a depth of 12 metres and then surfaced. Sergente Torpediniere Giovanni Taccori was found alive clinging to the periscope but 2o Capo Torpediniere Pietro Spada drowned. | ||||||||
| 24 Dec 1941 | 2340 | (0) 165° - Mellaha Tower - 1.6 mile or off Tagiura Point (near Tripoli). | At 2340 hours, Bragadino accidentally ran aground. The submarine unloaded her cargo with the help of motor fishing vessel and was finally freed at 1730 hours the next day with the help of the tug Ciclope and screened by the torpedo-boat Cantore. | |||||||
| 2. | Marcantonio Bragadino (BG) | 27 Dec 1941 | 1305 | Tripoli | 28 Dec 1941 | 1335 | Tripoli | Sailed for Taranto via (a) Point B of Ras Halab (b) Point F in 35°14'N, 17°22'E and (c) Point A of Santa Maria di Leuca, but returned as she could not dive properly. British Intelligence was aware of this mission through ULTRA decrypt. | ||
| 3. | Marcantonio Bragadino (BG) | 1 Jan 1942 | 1234 | Tripoli | 4 Jan 1942 | 1425 | Augusta | 1314 | Return trip for repairs. Uneventful [mileage from 25th December]. | |
| 2 Jan 1942 | 0125 | At 0125 hours, a hospital ship was sighted and believed to be Gradisca. | ||||||||
| 4. | Marcantonio Bragadino (BG) | 5 Jan 1942 | 1020 | Augusta | 5 Jan 1942 | 1800 | Messina | 70 | Passage Augusta-Messina. | |
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 7 Jan 1942 | 0925 | Taranto | 7 Jan 1942 | 0950 | Taranto | Exercises. | |||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 11 Jan 1942 | 1300 | Taranto | 11 Jan 1942 | 1740 | Taranto | 29 | Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Abbazia. | ||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 13 Jan 1942 | 1300 | Taranto | 13 Jan 1942 | 1742 | Taranto | 26,5 | Exercises, escorted by the pilot vessel Limbara. | ||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 15 Jan 1942 | 0840 | Taranto | 15 Jan 1942 | 1455 | Taranto | 30,5 | Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Dalmazia. | ||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 20 Jan 1942 | 1030 | Taranto | 23 Jan 1942 | 1428 | Cagliari | 780 | Passage Taranto-Cagliari. During a crash-dive, a rating was injured by the conning tower hatch falling on him. | ||
| 5. | Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 28 Jan 1942 | 1413 | Cagliari | 28 Jan 1942 | 1849 | Cagliari | 55 | Sailed for patrol between 37°50'N and 38°10'N, and between 05°30'E and 05°40'E with Alagi, Aradam, Turchese and Axum, but then recalled. | |
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 5 Feb 1942 | 0850 | Cagliari | 5 Feb 1942 | 1720 | Cagliari | Exercises, escorted by the minesweeper R.D.34. | |||
| 6. | Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 8 Feb 1942 | 2025 | Cagliari | 17 Feb 1942 | 1213 | Cagliari | 1256,2 | Sailed with Alagi for patrol north of Cape de Fer, between African coast and 37°30'N, and between 06°20'E and 06°30'E. | |
| 9 Feb 1942 | 2200 | 37° 20'N, 6° 25'E (0) Approximate position. | At 2200 hours, an illuminated vessel was sighted on a westerly course. She proved to be the French St. Étienne (1,971 GRT, built 1924). | |||||||
| 10 Feb 1942 | 0440 | 37° 20'N, 6° 25'E (0) Approximate position. | At 0440 hours, an illuminated vessel was sighted on a westerly course. She proved to be the French Sainte Marthe (4,702 GRT, built 1903). | |||||||
| 10 Feb 1942 | 1535 | 37° 20'N, 6° 25'E (0) Approximate position. | At 1535 hours, an unknown submarine was sighted at 10,000 metres. It was believed to be an Italian submarine from VII.Grupsom. At 1615 hours, the submarine was sighted again at 12,000 metres and was closed to 6,000 meters. It was identified as of the Alagi class. | |||||||
| 10 Feb 1942 | 1840 | 37° 20'N, 6° 25'E (0) Approximate position. | At 1840 hours, an aircraft was sighted at 12,000 metres and the submarine dived. | |||||||
| 10 Feb 1942 | 2009 | 37° 20'N, 6° 25'E (0) Approximate position. | At 2009 hours, Benedetto Brin was informed of an enemy cruiser and a destroyer, sighted at 1205 hours on the previous day in Italian Grid 6291, steering 090°, 20 knots. The submarine proceeded to an intercept position, but sighted nothing. Two vessels were seen at 0015 hours on the 11th, hugging the coast and were presumed French. | |||||||
| 16 Feb 1942 | 0700 | 37° 20'N, 6° 25'E (0) Approximate position. | At 0700 hours, an illuminated French ship was observed. It was believed to be Château Larose (2,047 GRT, built 1930), as listed in the French calendar no. 29 and no action was taken. | |||||||
| 7. | Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 27 Feb 1942 | 1233 | Cagliari | 10 Mar 1942 | 1131 | Cagliari | 1667 | Sailed with submarines Axum, Aradam and Turchese and patrolled south of Majorca and off Cape Falcon. Several neutral ships were observed. | |
| 6 Mar 1942 | 1815 | 36° 58'N, 0° 50'W | At 1815 hours, an enemy naval force was detected with hydrophones. It was steering 090°, which passed to the north of the submarine. | |||||||
| 8 Mar 1942 | 0015 | 36° 42'N, 0° 34'W | At 0015 hours, an enemy naval force of five ships, probably destroyers, was sighted at a distance of 5,000 metres, steering 090°. The ships were too far to attack but, at 0032 hours, the second and fourth destroyers turned toward the submarine. Benedetto Brin dived immediately but was not attacked. | |||||||
| 8. | Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 27 Mar 1942 | 2150 | Cagliari | 16 Apr 1942 | 2005 | Cagliari | 2579,1 | Patrolled south of Majorca and off Cape Ferrat. Sighted French ships. | |
| 28 Mar 1942 | 1930 | At 1930 hours, Benedetto Brin was informed by MARICOSOM (1718/28) of a naval force steering 090°, 16 knots. The force consisting of a battleship, two aircraft carriers and ten light units had been observed earlier in Italian Grid 2651/2 (37°23' N, 01°55' E). The submarine altered course to 180° to intercept it. | ||||||||
| 29 Mar 1942 | 0844 | 37° 48'N, 3° 06'E | At 0844 hours, five silhouettes were seen at 15,000 metres. Two of them were large, with an aircraft probably escorting them, which was sighted at 8,000 meters. The submarine dived immediately to periscope depth without seeing anything, but maintained hydrophone contact until 0950 hours. She then surfaced and made an enemy report. | |||||||
| 30 Mar 1942 | 0645 | At 0555 hours, a French ship was sighted and closed at 600 metres. It was identified as Oued Tiflet (1,190 GRT, built 1914). At 1420 hours, the submarine was ordered by MARICOSOM to move 40 miles to the south (to ca. 37°10' N). | ||||||||
| 31 Mar 1942 | 0255 | 36° 58'N, 3° 25'E | At 0135 hours, propeller sounds were heard on the hydrophones. At 0255 hours, the vessel was sighted and initially believed to be a medium-sized warship, but apparently it was a steamer. At 0300 hours, a second vessel appeared at a distance of 8-10,000 meters before disappearing westward. | |||||||
| 31 Mar 1942 | 0705 0558 (e) | 37° 05'N, 3° 18'E | At 0705 hours, Benedetto Brin was proceeding on the surface when an aircraft was sighted at 4,000 metres. It attacked. The submarine dived and when she reached a depth of 15 meters, a bomb exploded near her causing no damage. This was Catalina 'C' (AJ162) of 202 Squadron, piloted by light Lieutenant Melville-Jackson. Five seconds after the submarine had disappeared, it dropped four 250 lb MK VIII A/S bombs set to explode at a depth of 25 feet from an altitude of 200 feet. | |||||||
| 2 Apr 1942 | 0518 | At 0518 hours, two vessels were sighted. Both proved to be French, the dredger Provence towed by the tug Gysbert. | ||||||||
| 9 Apr 1942 | 1110 | At 1110 hours, Benedetto Brin was informed of a 5,000-ton light cruiser steering 270°, 22 knots sighted at 0800 hours in Italian Grid 3477/6 (8 miles east of Cani Island). The information was amplified by a second signal at 1415 hours and the submarine proceeded at a speed of 10-12 knots to intercept. | ||||||||
| 10 Apr 1942 | 0448 | 36° 45'N, 0° 36'W | At 0448 hours, propeller noises were heard and believed to be an enemy cruiser steering 260°. It passed out of range, | |||||||
| 10 Apr 1942 | 1729 | 36° 06'N, 0° 44'W | At 1729 hours, hydrophone noises were heard and were believed to be two enemy cruisers (earlier reported by MARICOSOM) steering 050°. They passed out of range. | |||||||
| 15 Apr 1942 | 1245 | At 1045 hours, a vessel was sighted steering 340°. The submarine closed to 800 metres, identifying her as the French steamer Sainte Lucille (1,465 GRT, built 1917). | ||||||||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 4 May 1942 | 0810 | Cagliari | 4 May 1942 | 1155 | Cagliari | Exercises. | |||
| 9. | Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 17 May 1942 | 1455 | Cagliari | 9 Jun 1942 | 0930 | Cagliari | 2027,8 | Sailed via 37°40' N, 02°20' E for patrol between 36°50'N and 37°10'N, and between 01°20'E and 02°00'E. She was warned that one Italian submarine was 50 miles north of her and another 063° - 70 miles from her. At 2023 hours on the 17th, a signal from MARICOSOM made a modification to the order, by placing her in Grids 8765 and 8726 (between 38°20'N and 38°40' N, and between 02°20'E and 02°50'E). She was then ordered to leave this area at 2200 hours on the 20th and return to her original position. On 28th May, was ordered to move 50 miles east and 10 miles north (ca. 37°10' N, 02°42' E). At 1402 hours on the 30th, she was ordered to Grids 3342 and 3340 (probably ca. 37°00'N, 01°00'E). | |
| 18 May 1942 | 1220 | At 1220 hours, an aircraft was sighted at 12,000 metres and the submarine dived. | ||||||||
| 18 May 1942 | 1625 | At 1625 hours, an aircraft was sighted at 15,000 metres and the submarine dived. | ||||||||
| 18 May 1942 | 1900 | At 1900 hours, an aircraft, probably of Botha type, was seen at 15,000 metres and the submarine dived. | ||||||||
| 3 Jun 1942 | 1220 | 36° 58'N, 1° 10'E | At 1220 hours, a cruiser was sighted (pages missing from the report). | |||||||
| 7 Jun 1942 | 0402 0405 (e) | 37° 23'N, 2° 58'E | At 0402 hours, Benedetto Brin sighted an aircraft of the Stirling type, which proceeded to attack. The submarine was slightly damaged and claimed the aircraft damaged (details unknown, pages missing from the patrol report). This was Sunderland 'R' (W3983) of 10 Squadron (RAAF) piloted by Flight Lieutenant R.W. Marks. It had detected the submarine by radar at 3 miles. It dived from 1500 feet to a height of 100 feet, releasing a stick of eight depth charges, as the submarine put up a light antiaircraft defence. The submarine was strafed and the center of the DC stick fell about 30 yards on the submarine's port beam. Immediately after the attack, heavy vibration in the Sunderland as well as a back firing port engine caused the pilot to break off the engagement and return to base. | |||||||
| 7 Jun 1942 | 1207 1144 (e) | 37° 40'N, 4° 03'E | At 1207 hours, Benedetto Brin was again under air attack. Exact details from the submarine are not known as pages are missing from her patrol report. The aircraft was claimed to have been hit by the submarine machine guns. The submarine was slightly damaged. The aircraft was Sunderland 'M' of 202 Squadron, piloted by Flying Officer R.M. Corrie. It had sighted the submarine steering 80° at 14 knots, and made an attack from the stern. The depth charges failed to release on the first run, but the submarine was heavily strafed. The four depth charges were dropped on the second run but the aircraft was hit by the antiaircraft guns and one crew member was wounded. As the submarine submerged, four more depth charges were dropped about 13 seconds after it had disappeared. Despite having damaged aerials and wings, the Sunderland managed to reach its base. | |||||||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 28 Jun 1942 | 1015 | Cagliari | 29 Jun 1942 | 1010 | Naples | 294 | Passage Cagliari-Naples. Uneventful. | ||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 19 Jul 1942 | 1400 | Naples | 19 Jul 1942 | 1742 | Naples | Exercises. | |||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 24 Jul 1942 | 1005 | Naples | 25 Jul 1942 | 0840 | Cagliari | 295 | Passage Naples-Cagliari. | ||
| 10. | Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 1 Aug 1942 | 1600 | Cagliari | 18 Aug 1942 | 2120 | Cagliari | 1903,2 | Patrolled to the northwest of Cape Caxine, against expected convoys from Gibraltar. On 5th August, she was informed of a sortie of the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle, the light cruiser HMS Charybdis and four destroyers. On 11th August she was informed of a strongly escorted convoy (PEDESTAL). The same afternoon, her hydrophones detected noises and in the late evening, a destroyer was sighted. Brin was then told of a damaged aircraft carrier (Eagle) but no further visual contact was made. Her diesels emitted a lot of smoke and maximum speed was reduced from 12 to 11 knots. | |
| 5 Aug 1942 | 2216 | At 2216 hours, Benedetto Brin was informed that a naval squadron, including the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle, had sailed eastward. No sighting or H.E. contact was made. | ||||||||
| 11 Aug 1942 | 0525 | At 0525 hours, Benedetto Brin was informed of a heavily escorted convoy [this was the PEDESTAL convoy], sighted off Cape Ferrat, steering 090°. For the next hours the submarine altered between surface observation and listening with her hydrophones. | ||||||||
| 11 Aug 1942 | 2200 | 37° 10'N, 2° 30'E | At 2200 hours, a destroyer was sighted at 2,000 metres, steering 270° toward Benedetto Brin. The submarine dived immediately but was not attacked. | |||||||
| 12 Aug 1942 | 0920 | (0) Italian Grid 2660. | At 0920 hours, Benedetto Brin was at a depth of 45 metres, on a listening watch and heard several explosions until 1900 hours. The submarine returned to periscope depth at 1955 hours, but the horizon was empty. | |||||||
| 13 Aug 1942 | 0030 | At 0030 hours, Benedetto Brin was informed of a damaged aircraft carrier steering 210°, 10 knots. The submarine altered course to 270° to intercept but sighted nothing. | ||||||||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 3 Sep 1942 | 0815 | Cagliari | 3 Sep 1942 | 1240 | Cagliari | 27,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 8 Sep 1942 | 0811 | Cagliari | 8 Sep 1942 | 1156 | Cagliari | 29,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 29 Sep 1942 | 1400 | Cagliari | 29 Sep 1942 | 1756 | Cagliari | 25,3 | Exercises. | ||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 17 Oct 1942 | 0800 | Cagliari | 17 Oct 1942 | 1214 | Cagliari | 25,7 | Exercises. | ||
| 11. | Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 17 Oct 1942 | 1810 | Cagliari | 31 Oct 1942 | 1343 | Cagliari | 1773,5 | Patrolled north of Cape Como (Island of Ibiza) ca. 38°40'N, 01°00'E. | |
| 18 Oct 1942 | 1100 | At 1100 hours, an aircraft was seen at 10,000 metres and the submarine dived. | ||||||||
| 25 Oct 1942 | 1403 | 37° 30'N, 1° 55'E | At 1403 hours, two aircraft were seen and the submarine dived. | |||||||
| 26 Oct 1942 | 0605 | 38° 47'N, 1° 05'E | At 0605 hours, a submarine of the CORALLO class was sighted at 10,000 metres. Benedetto Brin turned away and, at 0620 hours, lost sight of the submarine. | |||||||
| 27 Oct 1942 | 1245 | 39° 10'N, 1° 19'E | At 1235 hours, noises were heard on the hydrophones and ten minutes later, a fishing vessel was sighted steering 140°. | |||||||
| 30 Oct 1942 | 0740 | 38° 48'N, 3° 08'E | At 0740 hours, a submarine, which could not be identified but was believed to be the Italian Emo, was sighted at a distance of 5,000 metres on a parallel course. At 1200 hours, it had disappeared from sight. | |||||||
| 30 Oct 1942 | 1402 | 38° 48'N, 4° 13'E | At 1402 hours, a steamer was sighted steering 330°. At 1423 hours, Benedetto Brin was trying to close, but was briefly forced to submerge by an aircraft sighted at 8,000 metres. At 1510 hours, the submarine had closed enough the vessel to identify her as the French steamer Hebe (1,684 GRT, built 1920) now steering 340°. She had been announced on the French calendar of merchant traffic no. 27. | |||||||
| 30 Oct 1942 | 1423 | 38° 48'N, 4° 13'E | At 1423 hours, an aircraft was seen at 8,000 metres and the submarine dived. | |||||||
| 12. | Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 7 Nov 1942 | 0340 | Cagliari | 17 Nov 1942 | 0802 | Cagliari | 1485 | Patrolled off Bougie. On 15th November, she attacked a small vessel without success. | |
| 8 Nov 1942 | 2212 | 37° 35'N, 6° 29'E | At 2212 hours, a submarine was sighted, steering 200°. This was probably Velella. Benedetto Brin turned away. | |||||||
| 11 Nov 1942 | 1920 | 38° 10'N, 6° 30'E | At 1920 hours, an aircraft was seen at 500 metres without any action being taken. | |||||||
| 12 Nov 1942 | 2008 | 38° 10'N, 6° 30'E | At 2008 hours, a submarine was sighted on parallel course. Benedetto Brin turned away. | |||||||
| 13 Nov 1942 | 0455 | At 0455 hours, a corvette was sighted steering 180°. Benedetto Brin turned away. | ||||||||
| 13 Nov 1942 | 0520 | 36° 45'N, 5° 08'E | At 0520 hours, two corvette were sighted steering 180°. Benedetto Brin turned away. | |||||||
| 13 Nov 1942 | 1325 | (0) Off Bougie. | At 1325 hours, an aircraft was sighted at 8,000 metres and the submarine dived. | |||||||
| 14 Nov 1942 | 1411 | (0) Off Bougie. | At 1411 hours, two aircraft were sighted at 10,000 metres and the submarine dived. | |||||||
| 14 Nov 1942 | 1452 | (0) Off Bougie. | At 1452 hours, an aircraft was sighted at 8,000 metres and the submarine dived. | |||||||
| 14 Nov 1942 | 1850 | (0) Off Bougie. | At 1850 hours, a submarine was sighted steering 250°. Benedetto Brin countinued on her way to Bougie. | |||||||
| 15 Nov 1942 | 0158 | 36° 49'N, 5° 34'E | At 0137 hours, a shadow was sighted at 4,500 metres, silhouetted against the coast. Benedetto Brin closed at 10 knots so that her wake would not be visible. At 0151 hours, the range had closed to 800-1,000 metres and the vessel was at first identified as a medium sized motor vessel. Three torpedoes (533mm, S.I.C. type) were fired at 2-second intervals, set at a depth of 5 metres, from a distance of 500 metres. They all missed. The rapid acceleration of the vessel led T.V. Andreotti believe the target was actually a small patrol vessels and he prudently withdrew. There is an outside possibility that the target was the cased petrol vessel Coxwold (1,124 GRT, built 1938) who sailed unescorted on that day from Bougie for Bone, or Pozarica (1,893 GRT, built 1938) who arrived with escorts at Bougie. However the description of the target seems to indicate a smaller vessel. | |||||||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 18 Nov 1942 | 1616 | Cagliari | 19 Nov 1942 | 1858 | Naples | 296 | Passage Cagliari-Naples then refit. | ||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 16 Feb 1943 | 1000 | Naples | 16 Feb 1943 | 1445 | Naples | 28 | Exercises. | ||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 20 Feb 1943 | 0920 | Naples | 20 Feb 1943 | 1159 | Naples | 25 | Exercises. | ||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 22 Feb 1943 | 1135 | Naples | 22 Feb 1943 | 2140 | Naples | 41 | Exercises with the torpedo boat Cigno. | ||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 25 Feb 1943 | 1338 | Naples | 25 Feb 1943 | 1730 | Naples | 1,5 | Gyrocompass tests. | ||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 26 Feb 1943 | 1202 | Naples | 26 Feb 1943 | 1630 | Naples | 21 | Exercises. | ||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 28 Feb 1943 | 0715 | Naples | 1 Mar 1943 | 0935 | Cagliari | 279 | Passage Naples-Cagliari. | ||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 1 Mar 1943 | 1814 | Cagliari | 2 Mar 1943 | 0800 | Cagliari | 12 | Exercises. | ||
| 13. | Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 2 Mar 1943 | 1606 | Cagliari | 21 Mar 1943 | 0805 | La Maddalena | 2208,5 | Patrolled off Cape Carbon, intially between 37°00'N and 37°40'N, and between 05°00'E and 05°40'E and then between 38°20 'N and the African coast, and between 04°40'E and 05°20'E. She reported being the target of several depth charge attacks, but none are confirmed in Allied documents. | |
| 7 Mar 1943 | 0855-1921 | 37° 00'N, 5° 00'E (0) Approximately. | Between 0855 and 1921 hours, Benedetto Brin appeared to have been the subject of a long hunt by A/S vessels and aircraft. She escaped damage. | |||||||
| 11 Mar 1943 | 0434 | 37° 37'N, 5° 13'E | At 0434 hours, two corvettes were sighted at 500 metres and Benedetto Brin turned away. | |||||||
| 14 Mar 1943 | 0720 | 37° 32'N, 5° 11'E | At 0720 hours, a destroyer was sighted at 7,000 metres and a minute later Benedetto Brin dived. | |||||||
| 18 Mar 1943 | 1048-1430 | 37° 52'N, 5° 20'E | Between 1048 and 1430 hours, Benedetto Brin appeared to have been the subject of a hunt by A/S vessels and aircraft. She escaped damage. | |||||||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 3 Apr 1943 | 1200 | La Maddalena | 4 Apr 1943 | 0815 | Naples | 238,1 | Passage La Maddalena-Naples. | ||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 9 Apr 1943 | 0715 | Naples | 9 Apr 1943 | 0830 | Castellammare di Stabia | 13 | Passage Naples-Castellammare di Stabia. | ||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 11 Apr 1943 | 1100 | Castellammare di Stabia | 11 Apr 1943 | 1200 | Castellammare di Stabia | 4,2 | Trials. | ||
| 14. | Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 11 Apr 1943 | 2300 | Castellammare di Stabia | 17 Apr 1943 | 0930 | La Maddalena | 1020,3 | Patrolled west of Sardinia, between 39°40'N and 40°00'N, and between 07°40'E and 08°10'E. | |
| 12 Apr 1943 | 0630-1430 | From 0630 to 1430 hours, a submarine of the ARGENTO class was seen on parallel course. This was probably Platino. | ||||||||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 20 Apr 1943 | 0200 | La Maddalena | 21 Apr 1943 | 0710 | Naples | 238 | Passage La Maddalena-Naples. | ||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 26 Apr 1943 | 0806 | Naples | 26 Apr 1943 | 1130 | Naples | 27 | Exercises. | ||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 27 Apr 1943 | 0000 | Naples | 28 Apr 1943 | 0632 | La Maddalena | 239,7 | Passage Naples-La Maddalena. | ||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 18 May 1943 | 0615 | Villamarina (La Maddalena) | 18 May 1943 | 1115 | Ajaccio | 65 | Passage La Maddalena-Ajaccio. | ||
| 15. | Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 29 May 1943 | 2150 | Ajaccio | 13 Jun 1943 | 1024 | La Maddalena | 1566,2 | Patrolled off Bougie, between 38°40'N and 39°20'N, and between 05°40'E and 06°20'E. | |
| 10 Jun 1943 | 2208 2210b (e) | 37° 10'N, 5° 30'E | At 2204 hours, Benedetto Brin surfaced in the midst of a convoy. It had not been detected by hydrophones. This was convoy G.T.X.2 from Algiers and had ships headed for Bone, Bougie, Phlippeville, Malta and Tunis. At 2208 hours, four torpedoes (533mm, Italian, 45-knot type) were fired from the stern tubes at a distance of 1500 metres at 3-second intervals. They were aimed at a freighter and a tanker presenting a continuous target. Two explosions were sighted after 80 seconds give a running range of 1,700 metres. The freighter took a port list. At 2213 hours, four torpedoes were to follow from the bow tubes (533mm, G7e, 28-knots), but one of them misfired and only three were launched at 3-second intervals from a distance of 1,000 metres. Two more hits were heard. Thirty seconds, after the firing, a destroyer was observed dangerously close. Benedetto Brin went down to 50 metres and six depth charges were heard. They were followed by six more at 2225 hours and another five at 2306 hours. The submarine was only slightly damaged. The identity of the stricken vessel has not been confirmed. Yet, HMS Wishart reported that a ship had been torpedoed. The tug Empire Gnome was sent from Bougie to assist, but was recalled when the destroyer signalled that the ship had sunk and she was searching for survivors. | |||||||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 14 Jun 1943 | 2010 | Villamarina (La Maddalena) | 16 Jun 1943 | 0652 | Naples | 239,5 | Passage La Maddalena-Naples. | ||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 22 Jun 1943 | 1400 | Naples | 22 Jun 1943 | 1550 | Catellamare di Stabbia | 11 | Passage Naples-Catellamare di Stabbia. | ||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 3 Jul 1943 | 0811 | Castellamare di Stabbia | 3 Jul 1943 | 1159 | Castellamare di Stabbia | 52,5 | Passage Castellamare di Stabbia-Pozzuoliand return. | ||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 3 Jul 1943 | 1608 | Castellamare di Stabbia | 3 Jul 1943 | 1726 | Naples | 13 | Passage Castellamare di Stabbia-Naples. | ||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 4 Jul 1943 | 0127 | Naples | 5 Jul 1943 | 0710 | La Maddalena | 226 | Passage Naples-La Maddalena. | ||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 5 Jul 1943 | 1752 | La Maddalena | 5 Jul 1943 | 2005 | Bonifacio | 25 | Passage La Maddalena-Bonifacio. | ||
| 16. | Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 10 Jul 1943 | 0350 | Bonifacio | 15 Jul 1943 | 0716 | Naples | 822 | Sailed via west coast of Sardinia. Patrolled in zone 103 [between 37°40'N and 38°00'N, and between 08°40'E and 09°00'E]. At 1310 hours on the 10th, she received MARICOSOM orders (TG 1201/10) to switch patrol to zones 173 [between 38°25'N and 38°35'N, and between 12°40'E and 13°00'E], 174 [between 38°15'N and 38°25'N, and between 12°40'E and 12°50'E] and 175 [between 38°15'N and 38°25'N, and between 12°50'E and 13°05'E]. At 2345 hours on the 10th, MARICOSOM ordered her to occupy the northern half of 82 [between 37°05'N and 37°10'N, and between 15°20'E and 15°40'E]. At 0022 hours on the 11th she received MARICOSOM orders (TG 2251/10) to proceed to zone 82 [between 37°00'N and 37°10'N, and between 15°20'E amd 15°40'E] via 39°00'N, 15°00'E and point M 3 (Cape Vaticano) then directly through the Strait of Messina to patrol area, escorted by the corvette Gabbiano. At 1842 hours on the 11th MARICOSOM ordered her to occupy the northern half of zone 81 [between 37°15'N and 37°20'N, and between 15°20'E and 15°40'E]. | |
| 10 Jul 1943 | 0820 | 41° 15'N, 8° 13'E | At 0820 hours, an Italian submarine was observed at a distance of 7,000 metres,steering 230°. Benedetto Brin did not make contact. | |||||||
| 10 Jul 1943 | 0935 | 40° 58'N, 8° 00'E | At 1025 hours, an Italian bomber was seen. steering 70° at height of 500 metres. | |||||||
| 10 Jul 1943 | 0935 | 40° 28'N, 7° 50'E | At 1315 hours, an Italian aircraft was seen at 6,000 metres flying at a height of 200 metres. | |||||||
| 11 Jul 1943 | 1110 | 38° 32'N, 9° 59'E | At 1110 hours, the conning tower of a submarine was observed at 10,000 metres. Her route could not be ascertained and she dived quickly after . This was possibly Turchese. Benedetto Brin remained on the surface. Her diesels were smoking heavily and the head of cylinder no.1 was broken. She finally submerged at 1308 hours. | |||||||
| 11 Jul 1943 | 1722 | 38° 37'N, 11° 01'E | At 1722 hours, an American four-engine bomber was sighted at a distance of 5,000 metres flying at a height of 100 metres. It made straight for the submarine, but at a distance of 3,000 metres it made a large circle. Benedetto Brin seized the opportunity to crash dive | |||||||
| 12 Jul 1943 | 1039 | 38° 45'N, 12° 50'E | At 1039 hours, an aircraft was seen at 10,000 metres and the submarine dived. | |||||||
| 13 Jul 1943 | 0040 | 39° 04'N, 14° 09'E | At 0040 hours, flares were observed and Benedetto Brin dived. | |||||||
| 13 Jul 1943 | 1323 | 38° 59'N, 14° 56'E | At 1323 hours, an aircraft was seen at 6,000 metres and the submarine dived. | |||||||
| 13 Jul 1943 | 1636 | 39° 02'N, 15° 10'E | At 1636 hours, an aircraft was seen at 10,000 metres and the submarine dived. | |||||||
| 13 Jul 1943 | 2050 2049 (e) | 38° 35'N, 15° 50'E | At 2050 hours, Benedetto Brin sighted three torpedo tracks, believed to have been fired from a distance of about 3,000 metres by a submerged submarine. The Italian submarine took evasive action and they missed just a few metres ahead. The attack had been carried out by HMS Unruly (Lt. J.P. Fyfe, RN). It had sighted Benedetto Brin steering 140° on the surface at 11 knots (she was actually making 8 knots) and fired a full salvo of four torpedoes from a distance of 3,000 yards and claimed one hit. The torpedoes had exploded on the coast. For a long time, HMS Unruly was credited with sinking the submarine Acciaio. Although, the U-boat assessment Committee had concluded at the time: "U-boat present. No damage". There is no doubt she had attacked Benedetto Brin and had missed. The Italian submarine had developed defects in its starboard diesel and Andreotti decided to return to Naples. | |||||||
| 14 Jul 1943 | 0050 | 38° 41'N, 15° 42'E | At 0050 hours, an Italian corvette was sighted at 2,000 metres. She was probably Gabbiano. | |||||||
| 14 Jul 1943 | 0250-0305 | 38° 50'N, 15° 35'E | At 0250 hours, Benedetto Brin sighted a submarine steering 120° at 5 knots at a distance of 2,500 metres. At 0305 hours, the range had closed to 1,000 metres, when the submarine dived before T.V. Andreotti could take offensive action. This was probably HMS Unruly who reported diving at 0240 hours. HMS Ultor was also in the vicinity but had dived at 0021 hours. | |||||||
| 14 Jul 1943 | 1520 | 39° 56'N, 14° 33'E | At 1520 hours, an aircraft was seen at 8,000 metres and the submarine dived. | |||||||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 20 Jul 1943 | 1835 | Naples | 20 Jul 1943 | 2115 | Pozzuoli | 11,5 | Passage Naples-Pozzuoli. | ||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 1 Aug 1943 | 0900 | Pozzuol | 1 Aug 1943 | 1230 | Pozzuoli | 31 | Exercises. | ||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 20 Aug 1943 | 1330 | Pozzuol | 20 Aug 1943 | 1730 | Pozzuoli | 36 | Exercises. | ||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 27 Aug 1943 | 1300 | Pozzuoli | 27 Aug 1943 | 1430 | Naples | 13 | Passage Pozzuoli-Naples. | ||
| 17. | Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 3 Sep 1943 | 0226 | Naples | 5 Sep 1943 | 1002 | Naples | 264,2 | Patrolled off Salerno. | |
| 18. | Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 7 Sep 1943 | 1445 | Naples | 11 Sep 1943 | 1815 | Bone | 735 | Sailed for patrol off Salerno. When the armistice was announced, she was ordered to Bone. Met HMS HMS Eclipse at 2214 hours on the 9th in 40°15'N, 13°25'E and was directed to Bone. | |
| 7 Sep 1943 | 2005 2003 (e) | At 2005 hours, the submarine Velella, proceeding 4,000 metres ahead of Benedetto Brin, was observed blowing up with three torpedo hits. There were no survivors. | ||||||||
| 9 Sep 1943 | 1310 | 40° 02'N, 14° 20'E | At 1310 hours, Benedetto Brin, proceeding in company of Galatea toward Bone, sighted a naval formation which could not be identified. | |||||||
| 9 Sep 1943 | 1545 | 40° 14'N, 13° 56'E | At 1545 hours, Benedetto Brin and Galatea encountered the British MTB 266. She ordered them to proceed to Palermo but they declined, as their orders were to surrender at Bone. They resumed their passage. | |||||||
| 9 Sep 1943 | 2126 2214 (e) | 40° 44'N, 13° 00'E | At 2126 hours, a British destroyer was encountered (this was HMS Eclipse). Again Benedetto Brin and Galatea were ordered to proceed to Palermo and again the Italians refused. T.V. Cruciani of Galatea went aboard HMS Eclipse to discuss their situation and finally the two submarines were allowed to resume their passage to Bone. | |||||||
| 10 Sep 1943 | 1016 | 41° 54'N, 11° 46'E | At 1016 hours, six unidentified aircraft were seen but nothing occurred. | |||||||
| 11 Sep 1943 | 1422 | 37° 15'N, 8° 09'E | At 1422 hours, two British fighters were seen. The two Italian submarines continued on their route undisturbed. | |||||||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 14 Sep 1943 | 1324 | Bone | 16 Sep 1943 | 1130 | Malta | 356 | Passage Bone-Malta with the submarines Alagi, Giada, Platino, Galatea, Marea, Menotti and Turchese escorted by the destroyer HMS Isis. | ||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 2 Oct 1943 | 1310 | Saint Paul (Malta) | 2 Oct 1943 | 1515 | La Valetta (Malta) | 12 | Passage San Paolo-Valetta (Malta). | ||
| Benedetto Brin (BR, I.23) | 19 Nov 1943 | 1615 | La Valetta (Malta) | 20 Nov 1943 | 0930 | Augusta | Passage Malta-Augusta with the submarines Settembrini, Squalo and Bandiera escorted by the corvette Chimera. | |||
| Ruggiero Settimo (RS) | 6 Dec 1944 | 0745 | Taranto | 6 Dec 1944 | 1552 | Taranto | 25,5 | Exercises. | ||
| Ruggiero Settimo (RS) | 8 Dec 1944 | 0750 | Taranto | 8 Dec 1944 | 1250 | Taranto | 25,4 | Exercises. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 19 Feb 1945 | 1045 | Palermo | 19 Feb 1945 | 1710 | Palermo | 41 | Exercises with American vessels. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 26 Feb 1945 | 0740 | Palermo | 26 Feb 1945 | 1303 | Palermo | 40 | Exercises with the patrol vessel USS PC-1168. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 6 Mar 1945 | 0803 | Palermo | 6 Mar 1945 | 1241 | Palermo | 38 | Exercises with Italian corvette Flora. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 9 Mar 1945 | 0752 | Palermo | 9 Mar 1945 | 1300 | Palermo | 40 | Exercises with the fleet tug USS Hopi (ATF-71). | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 13 Mar 1945 | 1140 | Palermo | 13 Mar 1945 | 1804 | Palermo | 41 | Exercises with American vessels. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 15 Mar 1945 | 0748 | Palermo | 15 Mar 1945 | 1415 | Palermo | 42 | Exercises with the patrol vessel USS PC-1169. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 16 Mar 1945 | 0745 | Palermo | 16 Mar 1945 | 1420 | Palermo | 43 | Exercises with the patrol vessel USS PC-1595. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 20 Mar 1945 | 0739 | Palermo | 20 Mar 1945 | 1401 | Palermo | 42 | Exercises with the minesweeper USS Pheasant (AM-61). | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 21 Mar 1945 | 1227 | Palermo | 21 Mar 1945 | 1706 | Palermo | 37 | Exercises with the minesweepers USS Implicit (AM-246) and USS Incredible (AM-249). | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 24 Mar 1945 | 0740 | Palermo | 24 Mar 1945 | 1300 | Palermo | 39 | Exercises with the patrol vessel USS PC-1140. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 3 Apr 1945 | 0810 | Palermo | 3 Apr 1945 | 1434 | Palermo | 41 | Exercises with American vessels. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 5 Apr 1945 | 0812 | Palermo | 5 Apr 1945 | 1441 | Palermo | 42 | Exercises with the minesweepers USS YMS-17 and USS YMS-164. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 7 Apr 1945 | 0750 | Palermo | 7 Apr 1945 | 1418 | Palermo | 41 | Exercises with the patrol vessels USS PC-1186 and USS PC-1246. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 9 Apr 1945 | 1106 | Palermo | 9 Apr 1945 | 1728 | Palermo | 42 | Exercises with American vessels. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 11 Apr 1945 | 0805 | Palermo | 11 Apr 1945 | 1431 | Palermo | 42 | Exercises with American vessels. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 12 Apr 1945 | 0818 | Palermo | 12 Apr 1945 | 1342 | Palermo | 39 | Exercises with American vessels. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 13 Apr 1945 | 0850 | Palermo | 13 Apr 1945 | 1530 | Palermo | 41 | Exercises with American vessels. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 20 Apr 1945 | 0801 | Palermo | 20 Apr 1945 | 1423 | Palermo | 41 | Exercises with the patrol vessel USS PC-1593. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 7 May 1945 | 0800 | Palermo | 7 May 1945 | 1432 | Palermo | 41 | Exercises with the minesweeper USS Chickadee (AM-59). | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 16 May 1945 | 0806 | Palermo | 16 May 1945 | 1227 | Palermo | 35 | Exercises with American vessels. As of 15 May 1945, Cagni was informed that her services were no longer required. | ||
| Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55) | 23 May 1945 | 0915 | Palermo | 24 May 1945 | 1608 | Taranto | 345 | Passage Palermo-Taranto. The submarine was detached from duty with the U.S. Navy operating base at Palermo. No more sorties for the rest of the war. | ||
146 entries. 86 total patrol entries (18 marked as war patrols) and 74 events.