Italian submarines in World War Two

Italian Commanders


Alberto Gorini

Born  16 Sep 1914Turbigo (Milan)
Died  28 Nov 1942(28)Killed in action

Ranks

  T.V.Tenente di Vascello

Decorations

29 Jan 1942 Medaglia di bronzo al valore militare
12 Mar 1946 Croce di guerra al valore militare (posthumous)
4 Jan 1949 Medaglia di bronzo al valore militare (posthumous)

Career information

OTARIA (T.V. C.O.): from 15.11.1941 to 29.11.1941.
OTARIA (T.V. C.O.): from 10.06.1942 to 04.09.1942.
GRANITO (T.V. resp.): from 18.08.1942 to 22.08.1942 (temporary replacement of T.V. Leo Sposito).
DESSIÈ (T.V. C.O.): from 04.09.1942 to 28.11.1942 (sunk, Gorini was killed).

Commands listed for Alberto Gorini


Submarine Type Rank From To
Otaria (OA, I.25)Ocean goingT.V.15 Nov 194129 Nov 1941
Otaria (OA, I.25)Ocean goingT.V.10 Jun 19424 Sep 1942
Otaria (OA, I.25)Ocean goingT.V.22 Aug 19424 Sep 1942
Dessiè (DE)Coastal / Sea goingT.V.4 Sep 194228 Nov 1942

Ships hit by Alberto Gorini

No ships hit by this Commander.

War patrols listed for Alberto Gorini

 SubmarineDateTimePortArr. dateArr. timeArr. portMilesDescription
Otaria (OA, I.25)22 Nov 19410943Naples22 Nov 19411725Naples32,3Exercises. T.V. Pasquale Terra of the submarine Velella was on board as an observer.

Otaria (OA, I.25)24 Nov 19410920Naples24 Nov 19411633Naples42,9Exercises.

Otaria (OA, I.25)11 Jun 19421620Cagliari11 Jun 19421910CagliariExercises.

1.Otaria (OA, I.25)12 Jun 19421420Cagliari18 Jun 19420815Cagliari584Patrolled in western Mediterranean in Grid 4060. On 14th June, she was ordered to Grid 5854, between 37°40'N and 38°00'N, and between 05°40'E and 06°00'E, on a patrol line with Bronzo, Giada, Acciaio and Uarsciek.
  13 Jun 19420833
0832 (e)

(e) 39° 17'N, 6° 02'E
The submarine sighted a Sunderland flying boat at a distance of 3,000 metres and opened fire with her machine guns. This was indeed Sunderland 'O' of 202 Squadron piloted by Squadron Leader R.B. Burrage and it dropped seven 250-lb depth-charges which straddled the submarine. The attack was repulsed but one crew member was seriously wounded in the leg by fragments from near-misses and the submarine submerged and escaped.
  16 Jun 19420510An unidentified ship was seen at a distance of 8,000 metres but drew away before the submarine could intercept.

2.Otaria (OA, I.25)22 Jun 19420557Cagliari23 Jun 19420030Cagliari179Sailed for patrol off Cape Blanc, but a defect prevented her from being able to use her radio underwater and she was ordered at 1500 hours on the 22nd to turn back.

Otaria (OA, I.25)24 Jun 19421450Cagliari24 Jun 19421927Cagliari30Trials.

3.Otaria (OA, I.25)27 Jun 19420800Cagliari21 Jul 19420810Cagliari2114Patrolled in Western Mediterranean north of Cape Bengut between 37°00'N and 37°40'N, and between 03°40'E and 04°00'E. On 14th July, was moved to an area between 37°00'N and 37°20'N, and between 02°20'E and 02°40'E.
  15 Jul 1942102537° 04'N, 2° 27'EHydrophone effect on a 347° bearing were heard from a long distance. Otaria had been informed of a naval force sailing from Gibraltar. This was probably the presumed force, but at 1105 hours Otaria was informed that the enemy had reverted course and was returning to Gibraltar.
  17 Jul 1942141437° 00'N, 2° 30'E
(0) Approximately.
An unknown aircraft was sighted at a distance of 7,000 metres and the submarine dived.
  19 Jul 19421630-170037° 00'N, 2° 36'EH.E. on a 50° bearing was heard. Otaria had been informed at 1111 hours, of an enemy cruiser, sighted at 0920 hours on the 19th, some 200 miles east of her position on a westward course and she altered course at full speed. The presumed enemy vessel passed to the northward and at 1700 hours contact was lost.

4.Otaria (OA, I.25)11 Aug 19421759Cagliari15 Aug 19420950Cagliari399Patrolled north of Tunisia, between 37°20'N and 38°00'N, 09°20'E and 09°40'E, on a patrol line with Emo and Dandolo to intercept a convoy to Malta.
  12 Aug 19420533An unknown submarine was sighted to the west and Otaria turned away.
  12 Aug 1942162837° 46'N, 9° 30'EAn enemy squadron consisting of an aircraft carrier, several cruisers and destroyers was observed at 15-20,000 metres, but Otaria was unable to close and they disappeared over the horizon.
  12 Aug 1942204537° 44'N, 9° 30'ESteamers with escorts on westerly course were observed at a distance of 20,000 metres. Otaria could not close to attack. One of the escorts turned toward her and she submerged.
  14 Aug 1942193038° 06'N, 9° 42'EAn unknown ship was sighted on the horizon. The submarine attempted to close but was hampered by engine defects and the chase was abandoned.

5.Granito (GR)18 Aug 19420500Cagliari19 Aug 19421540Trapani264Patrolled north coast of Tunisia to intercept enemy convoy between 37°20'N and 37°50'N, and between 09°20'E and 10°20'E, but then recalled.
  18 Aug 19420900
(0) Off Cavoli Island (Sardinia).
At 0900 hours, an Italian tanker was sighted on a northerly course [this was Perseo proceeding from Tunisia to Cagliari].

At 0915 hours, two torpedo hits were heard and a long column of smoke was sighted and it was assumed that the tanker had been hit [she had been torpedoed by HMS P 211].

Granito (GR)21 Aug 19422250Trapani22 Aug 19421650Cagliari220Passage Trapani-Cagliari.

Otaria (OA, I.25)22 Aug 1942Naples4 Sep 1942Naples399Refit in Naples. T.V. Gorini resumed command.

Dessiè (DE)13 Sep 19421515Messina13 Sep 19421915Messina7,5Trials.

Dessiè (DE)27 Sep 19421330Messina27 Sep 19421741Messina7,5Trials.

Dessiè (DE)28 Sep 19421510Messina28 Sep 19421810Messina16Trials.

Dessiè (DE)29 Sep 19420813Messina29 Sep 19420905Messina3Trials.

Dessiè (DE)30 Sep 19420736Messina30 Sep 19421145Messina13Exercises.

Dessiè (DE)4 Oct 19420745Messina4 Oct 19421124Messina16Exercises.

Dessiè (DE)14 Oct 19420808Messina14 Oct 19421130Messina16Exercises.

Dessiè (DE)16 Oct 19421335Messina16 Oct 19421620Messina12Exercises.

Dessiè (DE)23 Oct 19420757Messina23 Oct 19421210Messina18Exercises.

Dessiè (DE)1 Nov 19421400Messina1 Nov 19421610MessinaExercises.

6.Dessiè (DE)2 Nov 19422115Messina6 Nov 19420800TobrukSupply mission to Tobruk (19.5 tons of boxed ammunition). At 0430 hours on the 5th, she was to pass through 34°02'N, 22°12'E.
  4 Nov 1942075235° 55'N, 21° 00'EAt 0752 hours, an aircraft was sighted at a distance of 5,000 metres and the submarine dived.
  4 Nov 1942122035° 50'N, 21° 10'EAt 1220 hours, an aircraft was sighted at a distance of 8,000 metres and the submarine dived.

7.Dessiè (DE)6 Nov 19421738Tobruk11 Nov 19420720MessinaReturn trip from supply mission to Tobruk, via 34°30'N, 22°20'E at 1200/7 then on course 297° through 36°36'N, 17°20'E.
  8 Nov 1942085534° 40'N, 21° 40'EAt 0855 hours, an aircraft was sighted at a distance of 8,000 metres and the submarine dived.

Dessiè (DE)14 Nov 19421200Messina14 Nov 19421620MessinaExercises.

8.Dessiè (DE)18 Nov 19420730Messina28 Nov 19421400Sunk with all handsSailed for patrol off Philippeville via (1) 39°00'N, 15°15'E (Point M2) (2) 38°50'N, 13°10'E (3) 39°00'N, 10°20'E to area between 37°00'N and 37°20'N, and between 07°40'E and 08°00'E then orderered to investigate Bougie. She acknowledged reception of a message at 1912 hours on the 27th.

She had been advised, on 1st December 1942, to attack the French Eleonore Fresnel (150 GRT, lighthouse supply vessel) with naval personnel who had escaped from Toulon but she reached Algiers ca. 3rd December.

On 30th November, she was to leave her patrol at 1800 hours on the 30th, to return to Naples via (1) 37°20'N, 08°00'E at 1830/30 (2) 39°00'N, 10°20'E at 1100/1 (3) 40°00'N, 11°20'E at 1800/1 (4) Point C (Naples) at 0700/2. Sunk off Bone by the destroyers HMAS Quiberon and HMS Quentin in 37°04'N, 07°49'E (five officers and forty-two other ranks lost, no survivors).
  28 Nov 1942
1254-1533 (e)

(e) 37° 05'N, 7° 55'E
At 1212 hours, the destroyer HMS Quentin sailed from Bône, following a report from an aircraft that a submarine was sighted in the vicinity at 1145 hours. She was later joined by the destroyer HMAS Quiberon who sailed at 1318 hours.

At 1250 hours, the destroyer picked up an ASDIC contact at 2,000 yards.
At 1254 hours, ten depth charges were dropped, set from 100 and 225 feet.
At 1308 hours, ten depth charges were dropped, set from 150 and 385 feet.
At 1330 hours, ten depth charges were dropped, set from 350 and 550 feet (bubbles and oil were sighted).
At 1359 hours, ten depth charges were dropped, set from 50 and 140 feet.
At 1407 hours, ten depth charges were dropped, set from 150 and 385 feet.
At 1525 hours, HMAS Quiberon joined in the attack by dropping five depth charges set at 385 feet (more bubbles and a black object were seen).
At 1533 hours, HMS Quentin dropped a final pattern of ten depth charges set at 350 and 550 feet.

At 1356 hours, the U-boat broke surface, the bow emerging vertically. The bow disappeared and reappeared until the entire boat was visible on the surface. This lasted only a minute and a half before the submarine slid underwater, stern first, with the bow disappearing vertically. The destroyers had opened fire with 4,7" guns and smaller weapons, without scoring a hit. None of the submarine's crew appeared on deck or on the bridge.

There is little doubt that this was Dessié. There were no survivors. T.V. Alberto Gorini, four officers and forty-two other ranks perished.

32 entries. 25 total patrol entries (8 marked as war patrols) and 14 events.

Italian Commanders

Italian Submarines