Italian submarines in World War Two

Italian Commanders


Mario Fiorini

Born  23 Jun 1916Camogli (Genoa)
Died  18 Nov 1983(67)Rome

Ranks

  G.M.Guardiamarina
  S.T.V.Sottotenente di Vascello

Decorations

18 Jul 1942 Croce di guerra al valore militare
28 Feb 1950 Medaglia di bronzo al valore militare
28 Feb 1950 Medaglia di bronzo al valore militare

Career information

Had served as G.M. on the Venezia 15a Squadra MAS from 27.09.1939.
UARSCIEK (S.T.V. resp.): from 12.12.1941 to 25.12.1941 (refit at Pola).
ONICE (S.T.V. First Officer): from 23.12.1941 to June 1942+.
ONICE (S.T.V. resp.): from 30.07.1942 to 09.08.1942 (refit at Genoa).
ASCIANGHI (S.T.V. C.O.): from 01.07.1943 to 23.07.1943 (sunk, Fiorini survived as PoW).

Commands listed for Mario Fiorini


Submarine Type Rank From To
Uarsciek (UR)Coastal / Sea goingS.T.V.12 Dec 194125 Dec 1941
Onice (OC)Coastal / Sea goingS.T.V.30 Jul 19429 Aug 1942
Ascianghi (AS)Coastal / Sea goingS.T.V.1 Jul 194323 Jul 1943

Ships hit by Mario Fiorini

No ships hit by this Commander.

War patrols listed for Mario Fiorini

 SubmarineDateTimePortArr. dateArr. timeArr. portMilesDescription
Uarsciek (UR)12 Dec 1941Pola25 Dec 1941PolaRefit at Pola.

Onice (OC)30 Jul 1942Genoa9 Aug 1942GenoaAt Genoa. Change in command.

Ascianghi (AS)11 Jul 1943Time?Naples11 Jul 1943Time?Pozzuoli?Exercises.

1.Ascianghi (AS)16 Jul 19431650Pozzuoli23 Jul 19431530Sunk?Sailed for patrol southeast of Sicily in 36°50'N, 15°50'E, about 30 miles SE of Augusta. On 20th July, ordered to area between Augusta and Catania. Sunk in 37°03.5'N, 15°24'E by HMS Laforey and HMS Eclipse. Twenty-seven of her crew were picked up (including her commanding officer), twenty-three were lost.
  23 Jul 19431500
1349Z (e)
The details of this attack are not well known as Ascianghi did not return from patrol.

In the afternoon of 23rd July, the light cruiser HMS Newfoundland was torpedoed by U-407. As the stricken vessel managed to limp away to Malta, the destroyer HMS Laforey (D.19) was left behind to hunt the U-boat.

At 1428B hours, HMS Laforey had carried out an attack, believed to be on a non-sub contact. At 1440 hours, she had been joined by the destroyers HMS Faulknor (D.8), HMS Inglefield, HMS Ilex, HMS Raider and HMS Eclipse for the antisubmarine sweep.

At 1549B hours, two torpedo tracks were sighted by HMS Laforey and HMS Eclipse, apparently fired from about 3,500 yards. The two destroyers combed the tracks.

This was Ascianghi who had fired two stern torpedoes at the destroyer, mistaking her for a cruiser.

At 1550B hours, Laforey dropped a pattern of eight depth charges set from 150 to 300 feet.

At 1554B hours, Eclipse dropped a pattern of eight depth charges set at 100 feet.

At 1557B hours, Laforey dropped a second pattern of eight depth charges set from 350 to 550 feet.

At 1608B hours, Eclipse dropped a pattern of eight depth charges set from 250 to 350 feet.

At 1615B hours, Laforey dropped a third and final pattern of eight depth charges set from 150 to 385 feet. About a minute and half after this attack, Ascianghi surfaced in the wake of Laforey and was immediately engaged with gunfire by all the destroyers in the group. Laforey fired 62 4" rounds, claiming six certain hits, and 83 20mm rounds from about 800 yards. Ascianghi sank stern first at 1623 hours.

Twenty-three men perished. Twenty-seven survivors (including S.T.V. Mario Fiorini) were picked up.

4 entries. 4 total patrol entries (1 marked as war patrols) and 1 events.

Italian Commanders

Italian Submarines