Italian submarines in World War Two

Italian Commanders


Renato Frascolla

Born  24 Jan 1911Taranto

Ranks

  T.V.Tenente di Vascello
  C.C.Capitano di Corvetta

Decorations

26 Jun 1940 Croce di guerra al valore militare
3 Oct 1941 Medaglia di bronzo al valore militare
29 Jan 1946 Croce di guerra al valore militare
22 Jul 1948 Medaglia di bronzo al valore militare

Career information

In May 1940 put on disponibility.
GLAUCO (T.V. First Officer): from September 1940? to March 1941+.
In June 1942, unavailable because of health reasons.
ARGENTO (T.V. C.O.): from 25.11.1942 to 11.04.1943.
Promoted to C.C. in February 1943.
LUIGI SETTEMBRINI (C.C. C.O.): from 16.06.1943 to 18.10.1943.
MARCANTONIO BRAGADINO (C.C. C.O.): from 17.12.1943 to 09.03.1944.
TURCHESE (C.C. C.O.): from 01.04.1944 to 13.09.1944.
RUGGIERO SETTIMO (C.C. C.O.): from 27.09.1944 to 30.11.1944.

Commands listed for Renato Frascolla


Submarine Type Rank From To
Argento (AG)Coastal / Sea goingT.V.25 Nov 194211 Apr 1943
Luigi Settembrini (ST)Ocean goingC.C.16 Jun 194318 Oct 1943
Marcantonio Bragadino (BG)MinelayingC.C.17 Dec 19439 Mar 1944
Turchese (TC)Coastal / Sea goingC.C.1 Apr 194413 Sep 1944
Ruggiero Settimo (RS)Ocean goingC.C.27 Sep 194430 Nov 1944

Ships hit by Renato Frascolla

No ships hit by this Commander.

War patrols listed for Renato Frascolla

 SubmarineDateTimePortArr. dateArr. timeArr. portMilesDescription
Argento (AG)7 Dec 19420817Cagliari7 Dec 19421215Cagliari23Exercises.

1.Argento (AG)10 Dec 19421725Cagliari23 Dec 19420915Cagliari1592,5Sailed with the submarine Corallo for a patrol between 37°40'N and 38°00'N, and between 08°20'E and 08°40'E. Ordered to carry out a reconnaissance of Bougie on the night of 12/13th December.
  12 Dec 19420110-023537° 41'N, 7° 24'EAt 0110 hours, the light from a vessel was sighted. The submarine dived to listen with the hydrophones. It appeared to be a small vessel.

At 0125 hours, the submarine surfaced and moved away with the stern tubes loaded and ready for action if necessary.

At 0200 hours, the shadow was sighted at a distance of 4,000 metres and was later recognised to be a submarine chaser or corvette. Argento turned away on the surface.
  13 Dec 1942004536° 55'N, 5° 30'EAt 0045 hours, three corvettes following a small patrol vessel were sighted at a distance of 5,000 metres. Argento turned away.
  14 Dec 1942212537° 54'N, 8° 14'EAt 2125 hours, a submarine, believed to be Mocenigo, was sighted on a northerly course. Argento turned away.
  15 Dec 1942051538° 00'N, 8° 37'EAt 0515 hours, a submarine was sighted at a distance. Argento turned away.
  15 Dec 1942203537° 46'N, 8° 37'EAt 2035 hours, a submarine was sighted at a distance, steering 080°. Argento turned away.
  15 Dec 1942220037° 51'N, 8° 32'EAt 2200 hours, an enemy submarine was sighted at 1,500 metres. Argento turned away.
  21 Dec 1942003038° 07'N, 8° 25'EAt 0030 hours, a submarine was sighted diving at a distance of 1,500 metres. Argento returned to her patrol area.
  21 Dec 1942203537° 44'N, 8° 21'EAt 2035 hours, a submarine was sighted. Argento turned away.
  22 Dec 19422155-221538° 01'N, 8° 48'EAt 2155 hours, a submarine was sighted proceeding on a northerly course at high speed. It made garbled signals, one of them ending with "LLO". It was initially believed to be Corallo. Argento closed to 2,000 meters, but then realised it could not be Corallo as the distance from her patrol zone would have been too great. Argento kept her bow on the submarine, which finally submerged and, at 2350 hours, Argento resumed her northerly course.

This was P 247 (Lieutenant M.G.R. Lumby, DSC, RN) (later named HMS Saracen). She had sighted the Italian submarine making quite a bit of smoke, steering 270° at 8 knots. She apparently sighted Argento again nearly two hours later.

Argento (AG)31 Dec 19420809Cagliari31 Dec 19421230Cagliari35Exercises.

2.Argento (AG)4 Jan 19430415Cagliari6 Jan 19432235Cagliari322Sailed for a patrol off Bizerta, between 37°40'N and 38°00'N, and between 09°20'E and 09°40'E, then ordered to a position 80 miles to the northwest. Her starboard diesel broke down and the patrol was aborted.

Argento (AG)19 Jan 19430820Cagliari19 Jan 19431300Cagliari32Trials and exercises.

3.Argento (AG)20 Jan 19432330Cagliari31 Jan 19431149Cagliari?Sailed with the submarine Wolframio for a patrol east of Bougie, between 37°20'N and 38°00'N, and between 06°00'E and 06°20'E. On 24th January, she was ordered to reconnoitre Bougie and her patrol area was changed to between 37°20'N and the Algerian coast, and between 05°20'E and 05°40'E.
  21 Jan 19430240
(0) About 20 miles SW of Cagliari.
The submarine Wolframio was sighted. She was returning from patrol.
  21 Jan 1943221838° 07'N, 6° 38'EAt 2218 hours, an aircraft, identified as a Vickers Wellington bomber, was sighted and it attacked from the moonlight. It violently strafed the submarine, passing astern of her and also firing with her rear guns as Argento replied with her machine-guns. The aircraft made two other strafing runs passing astern at 400-500 metres. It appeared to have been hit and flew away.

At 2235 hours, the submarine took the opportunity to submerge.

It is possible that this was Wellington 'U' of was 179 Squadron (see attack of 0400 hours on 22nd January).
  22 Jan 19430400-043537° 58'N, 6° 51'EAt 0400 hours, an aircraft was seen attacking from the moonlight at an altitude of 600 metres. It flew over the submarine at less than 100 metres away and was met by antiaircraft fire. The aircraft dropped four bombs, three narrowly missed to starboard and one fell on the port side of the submarine. It was then seen to be climbing to 800 metres before suddenly crashing in the sea. T.V. Renato Frascolla announced the success by the interphone to the crew members below and ordered cheers for the King and the Duce.

At 0404 hours, Argento dived.

The aircraft was most probably Wellington 'U' (HX.690) of 179 Squadron piloted by Flying Officer T.H. Gordon-Glassford. It failed to return to base and it is very likely this was the bomber shot down by Argento.

At 0415 hours, four depth charges were heard and two more at 0435 hours.
  24 Jan 1943211537° 25'N, 5° 41'EAt 2115 hours, a submarine was sighted steering between 270° and 300°. Argento turned away.
  26 Jan 1943111437° 20'N, 5° 38'EAt 1114 hours, a convoy was sighted at a range of 8-10,000 metres. It passed out of range.
  27 Jan 1943051037° 21'N, 4° 22'EAt 0510 hours, a Wellington bomber was sighted. The submarine immediately dived. A large flame had just been sighted in the distance.
  29 Jan 1943034637° 28'N, 5° 26'EAt 0346 hours, a submarine was sighted steering 190°. Argento turned away.
  29 Jan 1943110337° 20'N, 5° 37'EAt 1103 hours, a large destroyer of the TRIBAL class was sighted proceeding at 20-25 knots, which appeared intent on ramming the submarine. Argento dived to 85 meters but was not attacked.
  29 Jan 1943184237° 18'N, 5° 34'EAt 1825 hours, a vessel using ASDIC was detected with the hydrophones and noise from a turbine with weak intensity.

At 1842 hours, four depth charges exploded, followed by six more patterns of four to six depth-charges but they caused no apparent damage.

Argento (AG)1 Feb 19431304Cagliari2 Feb 19430945La Maddalena224Passage Cagliari-La Maddalena.

Argento (AG)9 Feb 19431058La Maddalena10 Feb 19430849Cagliari224Passage La Maddalena-Cagliari.

Argento (AG)15 Feb 19430826Cagliari15 Feb 19431207Cagliari31Exercises.

4.Argento (AG)16 Feb 19432303Cagliari22 Feb 19430120Cagliari721She was sailed for a patrol between 37°40'N and the Algerian coast, and between 06°00'E and 06°20'E, off Philippeville (Skikda).
  18 Feb 1943034237° 36'N, 6° 36'EAt 0342 hours, an enemy twin-engine bomber was sighted at a distance of 7-8,000 metres. Argento dived 2 minutes later.
  18 Feb 1943110437° 31'N, 6° 14'EAt 1104 hours, two corvettes were sighted at a distance of 1,000 metres. Argento did not attack hoping they may be preceding a convoy but nothing else was sighted.
  21 Feb 1943170538° 46'N, 7° 40'EAt 1705 hours, a German Heinkel 111 bomber was sighted and exchanged recognition signals.

Argento (AG)26 Feb 19430821Cagliari26 Feb 19431305Cagliari22Exercises.

Argento (AG)28 Feb 19432115Cagliari1 Mar 19430752Cagliari31Exercises.
  1 Mar 19431317
1212.5 (e)

(0) 105° - Cavoli Island - 5 miles.
At 1317 hours, Argento sighted three torpedo tracks 40 metres on the starboard bow. The submarine turned hard to starboard.

This was an attack by the Dutch submarine Dolfijn (Lieutenant Commander H.M.L.F.E. van Oostrom Soede). At 1300 hours, she had sighted the submarine, described as GEMMA or SIRENA class, on course 070° then 110° and fired four torpedoes at 1312.5 hours, from a distance of 3,500 yards. All missed ahead.

The auxiliary Idria hunted the Dutch submarine with 50-kg depth charges set at 50 and 100 metres and believed the submarine damaged or sunk at 1620 hours, in position 022° - Cavoli Island - 11 miles. Dolfijn only heard distant explosions.

Argento (AG)1 Mar 19431040Cagliari2 Mar 19430922La Maddalena250Passage Cagliari-La Maddalena via (1) Point B Cagliari (2) 39°20'N, 10°20'E (3) 41°00'N, 10°20'E (4) Point A; 40°55'N, 09°30'E. She was followed by Argo.
  1 Mar 19431317
1212.5 (e)

(0) 105° - Cavoli Island - 5 miles.
At 1317 hours, Argento sighted three torpedo tracks 40 metres on the starboard bow. The submarine turned hard to starboard.

This was an attack by the Dutch submarine Dolfijn (Lieutenant Commander H.M.L.F.E. van Oostrom Soede). At 1300 hours, she had sighted the submarine, described as GEMMA or SIRENA class, on course 070° then 110° and fired four torpedoes at 1312.5 hours, from a distance of 3,500 yards. All missed ahead.

The auxiliary Idria hunted the Dutch submarine with 50-kg depth charges set at 50 and 100 metres and believed the submarine damaged or sunk at 1620 hours, in position 022° - Cavoli Island - 11 miles. Dolfijn only heard distant explosions.

Argento (AG)12 Mar 19431155La Maddalena13 Mar 19430800Naples250Passage La Maddalena-Naples.

Argento (AG)5 Apr 19430915Naples5 Apr 19431130Pozzuoli16Passage Naples-Pozzuoli.

Argento (AG)9 Apr 19430830Pozzuoli9 Apr 19431312Pozzuoli34Exercises.

Argento (AG)10 Apr 19430820Pozzuoli10 Apr 19431155Pozzuoli20,5Exercises.

Luigi Settembrini (ST)17 Jun 19430935Pola17 Jun 19431310Pola19Exercises.

Luigi Settembrini (ST)18 Jun 19431410Pola18 Jun 19432020Pola15Demagnetization.

Luigi Settembrini (ST)19 Jun 19431435Pola19 Jun 19431857Pola22Tests.

Luigi Settembrini (ST)21 Jun 19430803Pola21 Jun 19431915Pola23Exercises.

Luigi Settembrini (ST)22 Jun 19430805Pola22 Jun 19431305Pola32Tests.

Luigi Settembrini (ST)22 Jun 19431439Pola22 Jun 19431852Pola24Tests.

Luigi Settembrini (ST)25 Jun 19430850Pola25 Jun 19431125Pola16,5Exercises.

Luigi Settembrini (ST)28 Jun 19430720Pola28 Jun 19431245Pola28Exercises.

Luigi Settembrini (ST)28 Jun 19431430Pola28 Jun 19431800Pola18Tests.

Luigi Settembrini (ST)30 Jun 19430735Pola30 Jun 19431250Pola31Exercises.

Luigi Settembrini (ST)30 Jun 19431430Pola30 Jun 19431915Pola25Exercises.

Luigi Settembrini (ST)1 Jul 19430815Pola1 Jul 19431203Pola21Tests.

Luigi Settembrini (ST)2 Jul 19430800Pola2 Jul 19431335Pola28Tests.

Luigi Settembrini (ST)8 Jul 19430800Pola8 Jul 19431335Pola38Tests.

Luigi Settembrini (ST)8 Jul 19431500Pola8 Jul 19431815Pola24Tests.

Luigi Settembrini (ST)10 Jul 19430815Pola10 Jul 19431125Pola22,5Tests.

Luigi Settembrini (ST)10 Jul 19431415Pola10 Jul 19431750Pola25Tests.

Luigi Settembrini (ST)15 Jul 19430015Pola16 Jul 19431520Brindisi392Passage Pola-Brindisi.
  16 Jul 19431408
1403 (e)

(e) 40° 41'N, 18° 18'E
(0) 050° - Cape Gallo (of Brindisi) - 10 miles.
A torpedo track was sighted crossing Settembrini's wake 200 metres astern. This was one of six torpedoes fired at her by HMS Tactician (Lieutenant Commander A.F. Collett, DSC, RN). The submarine increased speed and turned to starboard and a second torpedo missed her 15 metres astern. Frascola estimated that they were fired from 2,500 to 3,000 metres. Settembrini successively sighted the torpedo-boat Stocco and the submarine Menotti and informed them of the presence of the enemy submarine.

Luigi Settembrini (ST)27 Jul 19431340Brindisi27 Jul 19431925Brindisi25Trials.

Luigi Settembrini (ST)29 Jul 19431320Brindisi29 Jul 19431855Brindisi28Tests.

Luigi Settembrini (ST)9 Aug 19431954Brindisi12 Aug 19430710Taranto328Passage Brindisi-Taranto. Uneventful.

5.Luigi Settembrini (ST)15 Aug 19430500Taranto23 Aug 19430730Taranto753,5Patrolled in Ionian Sea, between 37°49'N and 38°02'N, and between 15°36'E and 16°00'E.
  22 Aug 19430310-031538° 14'N, 17° 15'EA violent naval bombardment was observed coming from the direction of Crotone. The submarine attempted to close, but lost contact with the enemy force. Jalea also witnessed of the same bombardment.

6.Luigi Settembrini (ST)3 Sep 19430208Taranto10 Sep 19431630Augusta998Sailed for patrol between 38°39'N and Italian coast, 16°45'E and 16°54'E, then diverted to Augusta to surrender.

Luigi Settembrini (ST)18 Sep 19430600Augusta18 Sep 19431650Malta119Passage Augusta-Malta.

Luigi Settembrini (ST)3 Oct 19430830Marsa Scirocco (Malta)3 Oct 19431100Sliema (Malta)17Passage Marsa Scirocco-Sliema (Malta).

Marcantonio Bragadino (BG)17 Dec 1943Taranto9 Mar 1944TarantoRefit in Taranto.

Turchese (TC)1 Apr 1944Brindisi13 Sep 1944BrindisiRefit in Brindisi. Change in command.

Ruggiero Settimo (RS)27 Sep 19440631Taranto27 Sep 19441900Taranto44,6Exercises.

Ruggiero Settimo (RS)7 Nov 19441145Taranto7 Nov 19442100Taranto39Exercises.

Ruggiero Settimo (RS)14 Nov 19440625Taranto14 Nov 19441144Taranto24,5Exercises.

Ruggiero Settimo (RS)21 Nov 19440613Taranto21 Nov 19441430Taranto31,4Exercises.

Ruggiero Settimo (RS)25 Nov 19440605Taranto25 Nov 19441615Taranto38Exercises with the torpedo boats Animoso, Sirio and Ariete and the corvettes Folaga, Driade and Danaide.

67 entries. 49 total patrol entries (6 marked as war patrols) and 25 events.

Italian Commanders

Italian Submarines