Italian submarines in World War Two

Italian Commanders


Carlo Liannazza

Born  10 Aug 1902Brescia
Died  26 Jan 1981(78)Sampierdarena (Genoa)

Ranks

  C.C.Capitano di Corvetta
  C.F.Capitano di Fregata

Decorations

  Commendatore dell'ordine della Corona d'Italia
22 Oct 1940 Croce di guerra al valore militare
31 Oct 1941 Medaglia di bronzo al valore militare
17 Aug 1942 Medaglia di bronzo al valore militare
12 Apr 1946 Medaglia di bronzo al valore militare
12 Apr 1946 Medaglia di bronzo al valore militare
21 Mar 1947 Medaglia di bronzo al valore militare

Career information

EMO (C.C. C.O.): from 05.12.1938 to 04.12.1940.
Promoted to C.F. in 1941?
AMMIRAGLIO CAGNI (C.F. C.O.): from 31.05.1941 to 07.05.1943.
In 1944: Head of COMANDO GRUPPO LEVANTE.

Commands listed for Carlo Liannazza


Submarine Type Rank From To
Emo (EO, I.17)Ocean goingC.C.6 Dec 19384 Dec 1940
Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)Ocean goingC.F.31 May 19417 May 1943

Ships hit by Carlo Liannazza


DateSubmarineShip hitTypeGRTNat.Loss type
1.14 Sep 1940EmoSt. AgnesCargo ship5,191BritishSunk
2.3 Nov 1942Ammiraglio CagniDagombaCargo ship3,845BritishSunk
3.29 Nov 1942Ammiraglio CagniArgoCargo ship1,995GreekSunk

War patrols listed for Carlo Liannazza

 SubmarineDateTimePortArr. dateArr. timeArr. portMilesDescription
Emo (EO, I.17)10 Jun 1940Naples10 Jun 1940NaplesAt Naples undergoing repairs.

Emo (EO, I.17)23 Jun 19400215Naples23 Jun 19401630Naples59Exercises.

1.Emo (EO, I.17)27 Jun 19401007Naples16 Jul 19401030Naples456,23Patrolled near Gibraltar in 35°50'N, 03°46'E on a patrol line with Marconi. Sighted HMS Hood, but was unable to attack.
  4 Jul 19401430
(0) About 60 miles east of Gibraltar.
At 1430 hours, following several hydrophone noises, Emo came to periscope depth and sighted a naval force consisting of battleships, an aircraft carrier and a number of destroyers on a westerly course. These were certainly Force H with the battle cruiser HMS Hood, the battleships HMS Valiant and HMS Resolution, the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, the light cruisers HMS Enterprise and HMS Arethusa, and eleven destroyers (HMS Faulknor (D.8), HMS Fearless, HMS Forester, HMS Foresight, HMS Escort, HMS Foxhound, HMS Keppel (D.13), HMS Vortigern, HMS Vidette, HMS Active and HMS Wrestler) returning from Operation CATAPULT.
  6 Jul 19401450
(0) About 75 miles east of Gibraltar.
At 1450 hours, Emo observed a British squadron consisting of two battleships (one of them recognised as HMS Hood), one aircraft carrier and five destroyers at a distance of 12-13,000 metres. They had first been detected by hydrophones. The submarine could not close to less than 9,000 metres. At 1450 hours, following several hydrophone noises, Emo came to periscope depth and sighted a naval force consisting of battleships, an aircraft carrier and a number of destroyers on a westerly course.

These were certainly Force H with the battle cruiser HMS Hood, the battleship HMS Valiant, the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, the light cruisers HMS Enterprise and HMS Arethusa, and the destroyers (HMS Faulknor (D.8), HMS Fearless, HMS Forester, HMS Escort, HMS Foxhound, HMS Wishart, HMS Vortigern, HMS Vidette, HMS Active and HMS Wrestler) carrying Operation LEVER.

Emo (EO, I.17)13 Aug 19400906Naples13 Aug 19401427Naples28Exercises.

2.Emo (EO, I.17)27 Aug 19400915Naples3 Oct 19401530Bordeaux4450Passage to Bordeaux. Patrolled between 42°00'N and 19°00'W and 30°10'W. Passed Gibraltar on 9th September 1940. Escorted in by the German minesweeper M-10 and Sperrbrecher V.
  14 Sep 19400900
0700 GMT (e)

(e) 41° 27'N, 21° 50'W
At 0830 hours (dawn), a steamer was sighted at 6,000 metres on a northerly course. Emo submerged and closed to the attack. At 0900 hours, the submarine fired a torpedo (533mm, S.I.) at a distance of 4,000 metres. It hit. This was the British St. Agnes (5,191 GRT, built 1918) carrying 7,500 tons of oil seed and general cargo [also reported — in error — as AGRUS], from convoy SLS.46 (Freetown to Methil). She was damaged and made an SOS. Emo trailed her and was close enough to identify her as St. Agnes and observe that she was armed with a 120mm or 152mm gun and a smalller one.

At 1730 hours, the submarine surfaced and opened fire. At 1749 hours, fire was checked after 28 rounds (which caused no visible damage as most failed to detonate) as a second freighter appeared on the scene. Chief Officer C.S. Whitticombe reported that the submarine surfaced twice firing 12 rounds the first time and another 8 rounds the second time. None appeared to hit.

Emo altered course to deal with the newcomer but, at 1830 hours, she was identified as the American Excalibur, and the submarine returned to the first ship.

At 1932 hours, a second torpedo (450mm) was fired from a stern tube. St. Agnes was hit and sank. Her sixty-four (or sixty-three?) survivors were picked up by the American steamer Exochorda (not Excalibur as reported in some documents) and landed in Lisbon.

3.Emo (EO, I.17)31 Oct 19400700Bordeaux6 Nov 19401130Bordeaux1052,5Sailed with Faà di Bruno, escorted out by the German minesweepers M-9 and M-21, for Atlantic patrol between 55°20'N and 56°00'N, and between 15°00'W and 20°00'W (Grids 9990-9998 and 9915). She was ordered to leave the Gironde estuary at a speed of 11 knots through 45°06'N, 02°32'W and 49°00'N, 19°00'W, reducing to 8 knots when passing the 12° W meridian, then course north to join her patrol position. Turned back because her commanding officer was injured.
  2 Nov 1940160047° 55'N, 10° 00'WAt 1600 hours, in heavy weather, the lookout Giuseppe Gobbi was carried away by a wave. Emo turned back to try to recover him but he was never found. Another lookout, Teodoro Caruso, was injured.
  3 Nov 1940070047° 55'N, 10° 00'WAt 0700 hours, a large wave fell over the conning tower and C.C. Carlo Liannazza was thrown heavily against the railing. He was injured apparently with a broken rib. The Executive Officer, T.V. Giuseppe Franco, took over and decided to turn back.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)14 Jul 19410930Monfalcone14 Jul 19411418Monfalcone9,5Exercises.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)21 Jul 19410938Monfalcone21 Jul 19411725Pola9,5Passage Monfalcone-Pola.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)24 Jul 19410600Pola24 Jul 19412051Pola133Trials with the submarine Pisani.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)29 Jul 19410740Pola29 Jul 19411908Pola77Exercises with Ammiraglio Saint Bon, escorted by the auxiliary Jadera and the torpedo boat Audace.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)31 Jul 19410850Pola31 Jul 19411205Saccorgiana6,5Passage Pola-Saccorgiana for exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Grado.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)31 Jul 19411511Saccorgiana31 Jul 19411640Pola6,5Passage Saccorgiana-Pola.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)1 Aug 19411139Pola1 Aug 19411601Monfalcone72Passage Pola-Monfalcone.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)9 Aug 1941Monfalcone9 Aug 1941MonfalconeJoined MARICOSOM and assigned to 2.GRUPSOM.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)21 Aug 19411045Monfalcone21 Aug 19411542Pola72Passage Monfalcone-Pola. Docked on 25th August.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)29 Aug 19410510Pola29 Aug 19411810Fiume112Sailed with the submarine Ammiraglio Saint Bon for exercises then proceeded to Fiume.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)2 Sep 19410938Fiume2 Sep 19411420Fiume15,5Exercises with Motorboat R.27.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)3 Sep 19411400Fiume3 Sep 19411725Fiume15,4Exercises with Motorboat R.27.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)6 Sep 19411532?Fiume6 Sep 19411756?Pola55Passage Fiume-Pola.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)8 Sep 19410745Pola8 Sep 19411745Pola56Exercises with the submarines Jalea, Des Geneys and Speri, escorted by the auxiliaries Salvore, Jadera and Morrhua.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)9 Sep 19410855Pola9 Sep 19411022Pola8Exercises.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)10 Sep 19410756Pola10 Sep 19412015Pola15Exercises.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)11 Sep 19410745Pola11 Sep 19411645Pola47Exercises with the submarine Ammiraglio Millo and the torpedo boat Audace, escorted by auxiliary Morrhua.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)12 Sep 19410750Pola12 Sep 19411730Pola130Diving exercises.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)13 Sep 19410800Pola13 Sep 19411752Pola68Exercises escorted by the auxiliary San Giorgio.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)17 Sep 19410800Pola17 Sep 19411550Pola63Exercises escorted by San Giorgio.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)18 Sep 19410820Pola18 Sep 19411230Pola26Exercises with the steamer Salvore.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)20 Sep 19410738Pola21 Sep 19411810Taranto522Passage Pola-Taranto. On 22nd September, a diver found a crack in the starboard propeller.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)24 Sep 19411733Taranto24 Sep 19411753Taranto0,8Docked?

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)27 Sep 19411820Taranto27 Sep 19411905Taranto5Exercises.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)30 Sep 19411331Taranto30 Sep 19411620Taranto26,08Exercises with MAS 4 D.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)3 Oct 19410800Taranto3 Oct 19411155Taranto16Exercises.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)10 Oct 19410905Taranto10 Oct 19411837Taranto2,5Exercises.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)12 Oct 19410750Taranto12 Oct 19411140Taranto37Exercises with MAS 4 D.

4.Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)15 Oct 19411325Taranto18 Oct 19411830Bardia780Supply mission to Bardia (140.7 tons: 0.5 ton of ammunition and 7379 cans x 20 litres of petrol for 140.2 tons). Uneventful.

5.Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)18 Oct 19412300Bardia22 Oct 19411330Taranto794Return trip from supply mission to Bardia.
  19 Oct 1941032532° 20'N, 25° 23'EAt 0325 hours, Ammiraglio Cagni had just sailed from Bardia and was on her way to Taranto, when a dark shadow was sighted on the port beam. The submarine was just turning toward it when a gunfire shot was heard followed by a second. Cagni quickly dived as a third shot was heard.

This was HMS Kandahar , one of three destroyers (the others were HMS Griffin and HMS Jaguar) screening the minelayer HMS Abdiel. They were carrying troop reinforcements to Tobruk (operation CULTIVATE). Because of the urgency to reach their destination before daylight, the destroyers did not try to hunt the submarine.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)13 Nov 19411314Taranto13 Nov 19411535Taranto1Changed moorings?

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)13 Nov 19411314Taranto13 Nov 19411535Taranto1Trials?

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)14 Nov 19411303Taranto14 Nov 19411843Taranto22Exercises.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)14 Nov 19411303Taranto14 Nov 19411848Taranto22Exercises.

6.Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)18 Nov 19411305Taranto22 Nov 19411725Bardia760Supply mission to Bardia (142.6 tons: 7350 cans of petrol for 139.6 tons and 3 tons of ammunition). Uneventful.

7.Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)22 Nov 19412105Bardia25 Nov 19411300Taranto780Return trip from supply mission to Bardia.
  24 Nov 19410805At 0805 hours, a derelict mine was sighted at a distance of 150 metres. It was hit with rifle fire and sank. Twenty seconds later, it exploded, shaking the submarine.

At 1410 hours, a second mine was sighted but the appearance of an aircraft prevented the submarine from disposing of it.

At 1645 hours, a third mine was sunk without difficulty.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)27 Nov 19411300Taranto27 Nov 19411320Taranto1Changed moorings?

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)27 Nov 19411300Taranto27 Nov 19411320Taranto1Trials?

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)28 Nov 19411500Taranto28 Nov 19411520Taranto1Changed moorings?

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)28 Nov 19411500Taranto28 Nov 19411520Taranto1Trials?

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)30 Nov 19410800Taranto30 Nov 19411800Taranto3Exercises.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)30 Nov 19410800Taranto30 Nov 19411800Taranto3Trials?

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)1 Dec 19411345Taranto1 Dec 19411520Taranto5Trials?

8.Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)2 Dec 19411345Taranto5 Dec 19411750Bardia726Supply mission to Bardia (141.2 tons: 139.7 tons of petrol and lubricant, 1.5 tons of food supplies).
  3 Dec 19411125At 0925 hours, an Italian aircraft was sighted and exchanged recognition signals.
  3 Dec 19411125At 0925 hours, an aircraft was sighted and came too close. Cagni opened fire with her machine guns. It made a complete circle and made the recognition signal of the G.A.F. and the submarine answered accordingly.

9.Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)5 Dec 19412220Bardia9 Dec 19411200Taranto740Return trip from supply mission to Bardia, brought back twenty PoWs (or fifteen?).
  6 Dec 1941020732° 30'N, 25° 10'EAt 0207 hours, a torpedo-boat was sighted. As a precaution, Cagni dived.
  7 Dec 1941024132° 50'N, 23° 20'EAt 0241 hours, a naval force was sighted. Its strength could not be determined, but Cagni made an enemy report at 0339 hours.

10.Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)16 Dec 19411350Taranto17 Dec 19411423Taranto230Sailed for supply mission to Bardia (144.7 tons of provisions) but then recalled.

11.Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)24 Dec 19411400Taranto27 Dec 19411800Bardia683Supply mission to Bardia (146.7 tons of food supplies). Uneventful.

12.Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)27 Dec 19412200Bardia31 Dec 19411300Taranto660Return trip from supply mission to Bardia with fifteen British PoWs.
  30 Dec 19411045
1055 (e)
36° 20'N, 19° 40'EAt 1045 hours, an enemy bomber was sighted and attacked, dropping four bombs. Cagni replied with her machine guns and the aircraft returned for three strafing runs.

This was Blenheim 'F' (No.6423, aircraft K7TF) of 203 Squadron piloted by Pilot Officer Hemsted belong to 201 Naval Cooperation Group. He had sighted a submarine steering 300° at 10 knots and dropped from 1500 to 800 feet to carry out the attack. Four 250-lb A/S bombs were released and they all overshot, the nearest being 60 yards off the submarine who took no action. The bomber carried out a strafing run as the submarine took evasive action. She remained on the surface and was shadowed for over an hour before the Blenheim departed. The submarine was described as 200-250 feet in length, coloured grey, with one gun forward and one aft, tall oval shaped conning tower, sharp bows and a short mast on the stern.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)18 Jan 19420800Taranto18 Jan 19421045Taranto20,05Exercises, escorted by the tug Dalmazia.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)21 Jan 19421640Taranto21 Jan 19422315Taranto105Ordered to Augusta but then recalled by MARICOSOM.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)28 Jan 19421644Taranto29 Jan 19421437Augusta299Passage Taranto-Augusta.
  29 Jan 19420210At 0210 hours, the submarine Settimo was encountered and exchanged recognition signals.
  29 Jan 19420505
(0) About 100 miles SEE of Augusta.
At 0505 hours, the destroyer Maestrale escorting the two steamers Probitas and Potestas was sighted. They were proceeding to Taranto.
  29 Jan 19420600
(0) About 90 miles SEE of Augusta.
Two schooners were sighted.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)1 Feb 19421020Augusta1 Feb 19421135AugustaTrials.

13.Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)1 Feb 19421803Augusta5 Feb 19421305TripoliSupply mission to Tripoli (147.5 tons of ammunition). Uneventful. Developed a few defects and a leak.

14.Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)7 Feb 19421455Tripoli9 Feb 19421000Taranto1370Return trip from supply mission to Tripoli. Uneventful.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)25 Feb 19421220Taranto25 Feb 19421604Taranto24Trials.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)3 Mar 19422140Taranto5 Mar 19421200Fiume546Passage Taranto-Fiume.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)31 Mar 19420920Fiume31 Mar 19421320Fiume18Trials. Escorted by the torpedo boat Audace, the auxiliaries San Giorgio and Jadera and two motorboats.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)2 Apr 19420810Fiume2 Apr 19421720Fiume29Torpedo firing exercises with the torpedo boat Audace, escorted by the auxiliary Jadera and two motorboats.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)3 Apr 19420815Fiume3 Apr 19421815Fiume18Exercises with the torpedo boat Audace, the auxiliary Jadera and two motorboats.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)12 Apr 19420522Fiume14 Apr 19421410Taranto591Passage Fiume-Taranto at 15 knots.
  13 Apr 19422120At 1330 hours, MARICOSOM informed Cagni that an enemy submarine was sighted at 1330 hours in 132° - Cape S. Maria di Leuca - 23 miles [apparently a bogus sighting].

At 2120 hours, C.C. Liannazza had ordered tubes no. 3 and 4 (forward) and tube no. 12 (aft) to be readied when the torpedo (450mm) accidentally left tube no. 4 for reasons unknown.

At 0155 hours, on the 14th, Cagni and Ametista were informed that an enemy submarine was reported at 2355 hours on the 13th in Grid 3850/3.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)16 Apr 19420900Taranto16 Apr 19421625Taranto3Gyrocompass tests.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)22 Apr 19420803Taranto22 Apr 19421125Taranto29Trials.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)25 Apr 19420656Taranto25 Apr 19421020Taranto21Trials escorted by the minesweeper R.D.13.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)30 Apr 19421015Taranto30 Apr 19421040Taranto2Entered dock.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)5 May 19421327Taranto5 May 19421805Taranto40Trials.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)10 May 19420700Taranto10 May 19421225Taranto55Trials.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)16 May 19420800Taranto16 May 19421550Taranto38,5Trials.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)19 May 19420930Taranto19 May 19421007Taranto6Trials.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)28 May 19421330Taranto28 May 19421620Taranto17Trials.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)21 Jun 19421312Taranto21 Jun 19421815Taranto29Trials and exercises.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)9 Jul 19420801Taranto9 Jul 19421708Taranto49Trials.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)21 Jul 19421611Taranto23 Jul 19420855Pola567Passage Taranto-Pola.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)25 Jul 19420559Pola25 Jul 19421055Monfalcone72,1Passage Pola-Monfalcone.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)5 Sep 19420700Monfalcone5 Sep 19421300Monfalcone35Exercises.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)10 Sep 19420955Monfalcone10 Sep 19421945Pola105Passage Monfalcone-Pola.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)14 Sep 19420915Pola14 Sep 19421615Pola52Trials.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)15 Sep 19421050Pola15 Sep 19421925Pola54Trials.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)16 Sep 19420800Pola16 Sep 19421520Pola48Gyrocompass tests.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)18 Sep 19420840Pola18 Sep 19421240Pola2Gyrocompass tests.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)19 Sep 19420845Pola23 Sep 19422055Taranto796Passage Pola-Taranto. Uneventful.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)29 Sep 19420945Taranto29 Sep 19421100Taranto9Exercises.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)30 Sep 19421515Taranto30 Sep 19422140Taranto35Exercises.

Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)3 Oct 19421611Naples4 Oct 19420855La Maddalena215Passage Naples-La Maddalena.

15.Ammiraglio Cagni (CA, N.55)6 Oct 19421830La Maddalena20 Feb 19431830Bordeaux17403Patrolled off Capetown, in area between 01°00'N and 02°00'S, and between 27°00'W and 32°00'W, then headed to Bordeaux (passed Gibraltar on 12 October 1942). This was longest mission of an Italian submarine during WWII (137 days, 17,403 miles).
  17 Oct 1942112033° 00'N, 14° 00'WAt 1120 hours, a smoke was sighted on the horizon. Cagni maneuvered to take a position ahead of the vessel and dived at 1305 hours.

At 1412 hours, the submarine closed to a distance of 1,000 meters before recognising her to be Spanish Rio Francoli (2,078 GRT, built 1909 and aborted the attack.
  3 Nov 19421842
1800 GMT (e)
2° 35'S, 18° 31'WAt 1130 hours, two masts were sighted on the horizon. Cagni proceeded at 15 knots to take a position ahead of the vessel.

At 1703 hours, the submarine submerged for the attack.

At 1842 hours, three bow torpedoes (450mm, W 200 type) were fired from 400 metres. All three hit and she sank.

This was the British Dagomba (3,845 GRT, built 1928) on passage from Takoradi to Trinidad.

Ten killed, twenty-one survivors were rescued by the Portuguese sloop Bartolomeu Dias at 0530 hours on 14th November in 07°05' N, 16°00' W. Twenty-three survivors in a lifeboat were picked up by a Vichy patrol vessel and landed at Dakar. They were interned for a few days before being liberated when the Allies landed in North Africa on 8th November.
  9 Nov 194211035° 28'S, 11° 52'WAt 1103 hours, a twin-engine plane was sighted at 5,000 metres. Cagni dived immediately.
  29 Nov 19422025
2000 (e)
34° 45'S, 17° 42'EAt 1503 hours, a smoke was sighted on the horizon steering 030°. Cagni proceeded to intercept at 15 knots. She could not catch up for an attack in daylight hours so C.C. Liannazza opted for an attack after dark.

At 1915 hours, the attack began but was thwarted by a sudden change of course of the vessel. She was now steering 070°.

At 2025 hours, a pair of torpedoes (450mm, 40 knots) were fired from bow tubes at a distance of 2,500 metres. They missed, apparently due to an irregular course.

This was the Greek steamer Argo (1,995 GRT, built 1920) on a voyage from Buenos Aires to Capetown and Durban.

At 2125 hours, another pair of torpedoes (450mm) were fired from bow tubes. They both hit and the vessel sank. Eighteen were killed [twelve crew members and all six passengers], seven survivors (including Captain Synodinos) were rescued by HMS Rotherham and another eleven by HMAS Norman. HMAS Norman later transferred the survivors she had picked up to HMS Rotherham which landed them at Simonstown in the evening.
  3 Jan 194313051° 35'S, 24° 25'WAt 1305 hours, the submarine Enrico Tazolli was met. Cagni was to cede her eight 450mm torpedoes but the bad weather prevented the operation from being carried out and it was finally cancelled.
  13 Jan 19431530-16201° 00'N, 22° 00'W
(0) German Grid FD 3465.
The German Milk cow submarine U-459 (KK Wilamowitz-Möllendorf) was met and from 1530 to 1620 hours she supplied the Italian submarine with 41 tons of fuel (50 cbm).

An ULTRA intercept had revealed that Cagni was to meet U-459 on 1200 hours on 12th January in 01°03' N, 23°57' W.
  25 Jan 194300453° 22'N, 28° 10'WAt 0045 hours, a fully illuminated steamer was sighted steering 025°. It was believed to be the pre-announced Swiss Eiger (4,386 GRT, built 1929) on a voyage from Bahia to Las Palmas (Canaries).
  7 Feb 1943143229° 10'N, 23° 20'WAt 1432 hours, a German submarine was sighted on a southerly course. Recognition signals were exchanged.
  7 Feb 1943163729° 25'N, 23° 16'WAt 1637 hours, a German submarine was sighted on a northerly course. Recognition signals were exchanged.
  15 Feb 1943175044° 37'N, 9° 56'WAt 1750 hours, a Sunderland aircraft was sighted at 8,000 metres. C.C. Liannazza gave the order to crash dive, but for reasons not revealed, it failed and the submarine surfaced again. The aircrat circled then carried out an attack dropping six medium-sized bombs. They missed the submarine by 20-30 metres. Cagni was also strafed and had one rating killed and one wounded.

This was Sunderland was 'I' (DV961) of 461 Squadron (RAAF) piloted by Flight Lieutenant S.R.C. Wood. He sighted the submarine at a distance of 7 miles, steering 100° and correctly identified it as Italian. It dived from the clouds when it was 2-3 miles away. The submarine was observed to fire a red star cartridge and remained surfaced. Heavy strafing observed to knock men overboard. In an attack from the starboard beam six depth charges were released from 100-150 feet. Owing to a faulty distributor they were released in salvo and overshot. The Sunderland attacked at 44.49 N 09.17 W.

The submarine was covered in spray but was apparently undamaged and submerged two minutes after the attack.
  17 Feb 1943201544° 39'N, 10° 03'WAt 2015 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived.
  18 Feb 1943094044° 47'N, 6° 12'WAt 0940 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived.
  18 Feb 1943144044° 50'N, 5° 40'WAt 1440 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived.
  18 Feb 1943181644° 53'N, 5° 20'WAt 1816 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived.

109 entries. 90 total patrol entries (15 marked as war patrols) and 30 events.

Italian Commanders

Italian Submarines