Italian submarines in World War Two

Italian Commanders

Alberto Longhi

Born	22 Sep 1913		Naples
Died	1988	(74)	Leghorn

Ranks

T.V.

Tenente di Vascello

Decorations

4 Jul 1942		Croce di guerra al valore militare
17 Aug 1942		Medaglia di bronzo al valore militare
16 Aug 1943		Medaglia di bronzo al valore militare
14 Jan 1948		Medaglia di bronzo al valore militare
14 Jan 1948		Medaglia d'argento al valore militare

Career information

FILIPPO CORRIDONI (T.V. C.O.): from 22.10.1941 to 02.12.1941.
FILIPPO CORRIDONI (T.V. C.O.): from 01.02.1942 to 03.02.1942.
MOCENIGO (T.V. First Officer): from 06.03.1942 to April 1942+.
MOCENIGO (T.V. C.O.): from 15.07.1942 to 13.05.1943 (sunk at Cagliari by air attack, Longhi survived).
S.7 (T.V. C.O.): from August 1943? to 09.09.1943 (working up at Danzig).
Refused to join RSI and was imprisoned in Germany.

Commands listed for Alberto Longhi

Submarine	Type	Rank	From	To
Filippo Corridoni (CR)	Minelaying	T.V.	22 Oct 1941	2 Dec 1941
Filippo Corridoni (CR)	Minelaying	T.V.	1 Feb 1942	3 Feb 1942
Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	Ocean going	T.V.	15 Jul 1942	13 May 1943
S 7 ()	Sea going	T.V.	Aug 1943	9 Sep 1943

Ships hit by Alberto Longhi

	Date	Submarine	Ship hit	Type	GRT	Nat.	Loss type
1.	14 Dec 1942	Mocenigo	HMS Argonaut	Light cruiser	5,450		Damaged

War patrols listed for Alberto Longhi

	Submarine	Date	Time	Port	Arr. date	Arr. time	Arr. port	Miles	Description
	Filippo Corridoni (CR)	22 Oct 1941		Taranto	2 Dec 1941		Taranto		At Taranto for refitting. Change in command.

	Filippo Corridoni (CR)	1 Feb 1942		Brindisi	3 Feb 1942		Brindisi		At Brindisi. Change in command.

	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	8 Aug 1942	0852	Naples	8 Aug 1942	1637	Naples	38,3	Trials.

	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	12 Aug 1942	0814	Naples	12 Aug 1942	2342	Naples	58,4	Exercises.

	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	17 Aug 1942	1022	Naples	18 Aug 1942	1525	La Spezia	349,5	Passage Naples-La Spezia to load G7e electric torpedoes.
		17 Aug 1942	1300	40° 42'N, 13° 59'E	At 1300 hours, a torpedo was fired from tube no.7 (stern) due to an error in drill.

	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	20 Aug 1942	1025	La Spezia	20 Aug 1942	1100	La Spezia	0,9	Change moorings.

	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	24 Aug 1942	1635	La Spezia	24 Aug 1942	1730	La Spezia	0,9	Change moorings.

	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	25 Aug 1942	1526	La Spezia	25 Aug 1942	1750	La Spezia	7,8	Exercises.

	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	27 Aug 1942	0845	La Spezia	27 Aug 1942	1650	La Spezia	41,6	Trials.

	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	1 Sep 1942	0200	La Spezia	2 Sep 1942	0848	Cagliari	351	Passage La Spezia-Cagliari.

	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	7 Sep 1942	0737	Cagliari	7 Sep 1942	1153	Cagliari	42,5	Exercises.

	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	14 Sep 1942	1144	Cagliari	14 Sep 1942	1517	Cagliari	38,8	Exercises.

	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	15 Sep 1942	0819	Cagliari	15 Sep 1942	1225	Cagliari	50,4	Exercises.

	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	2 Oct 1942	0805	Cagliari	2 Oct 1942	1225	Cagliari	27	Exercises.

1.	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	10 Oct 1942	1800	Cagliari	19 Oct 1942	1344	Cagliari	1455,6	Patrolled between 37°00'N and 37°30'N and 01°40'E and 02°00'E, between Ibiza and the Algerian coast. Sighted only three Swedish relief ships which had been announced.
		11 Oct 1942	0842	37° 49'N, 6° 27'E	At 0842 hours, a German aircraft was seen and exchanged recognition signals.
		11 Oct 1942	2045	37° 08'N, 3° 55'E	At 2045 hours, an unknown submarine was observed at 1,500 metres and Mocenigo turned away.
		15 Oct 1942	1950	37° 20'N, 1° 42'E	At 1950 hours, three ships were seen on a 080° course. At 2008 hours, they were recognised as Swedish vessels which had been announced.
		19 Oct 1942	0950		At 0950 hours, the submarine Dandolo was encountered and signals were exchanged.

2.	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	7 Nov 1942	0355	Cagliari	21 Nov 1942	1520	Cagliari	1662,8	Patrolled off Philippeville, ordered to area between 37°40'N and 37°50'N and 07°00'E and 07°30'E but on the morning of 8th November, she was ordered to shift to 37°00'N and 37°20'N and 07°00'E and 07°20'E. Also ordered to sea were: Nichelio, Porfido, Brin, Argento, Emo, Asteria, Velella, Dandolo, Argo, Platino and Acciaio.
		8 Nov 1942	0840	37° 46'N, 7° 13'E	At 0840 hours, an Italian submarine was sighted at a range of 10 miles.
		10 Nov 1942	0153	37° 11'N, 7° 15'E	At 0513 hours, an unknown submarine was sighted.
		11 Nov 1942	0350	37° 10'N, 7° 05'E (0) Approximately.	At 0350 hours, an unknown submarine was sighted.
		11 Nov 1942	1802-1820	37° 02'N, 7° 04'E	At 1802 hours, an unidentified aircraft was seen. The submarine dived at 1820 hours and heard explosions at 1825-1829 hours.
		11 Nov 1942	2140	37° 13'N, 7° 18'E	At 2140 hours, an unidentified submarine was sighted.
		12 Nov 1942	1755	37° 07'N, 7° 13'E	At 1755 hours, an aircraft of the Consolidated 32 type, was sighted through the periscope. Mocenigo went down to 50 metres and heard bomb explosions.
		13 Nov 1942	1237	37° 07'N, 7° 15'E (0) Approximately.	At 1237 hours, an aircraft was sighted through the periscope. Mocenigo went deep and, three minutes later, heard two explosions.
		13 Nov 1942	1312		At 1312 hours, an aircraft was sighted through the periscope. Mocenigo went down to 50 metres.
		13 Nov 1942	1600	37° 07'N, 7° 15'E	At 1600 hours, a corvette was sighted at 7,000 metres.
		13 Nov 1942	1700		At 1700 hours, an aircraft was sighted and Mocenigo went down to 50 meters. Shortly after, H.E. were heard approaching and the submarine went deeper to 70 meters and heard depth-charges.
		16 Nov 1942	0029	36° 43'N, 5° 25'E	At 0029 hours, a corvette was sighted and Mocenigo dived.
		16 Nov 1942	0210	36° 45'N, 5° 22'E	At 0210 hours, an MTB was sighted and Mocenigo dived.
		19 Nov 1942	0035	37° 14'N, 6° 54'E	At 0030 hours, a convoy of seven ships was observed proceeding on an easterly course at a distance of about 3,200 metres. Five minutes later, Mocenigo had closed on the surface to 1,000 metres and fired four torpedoes (G7e) from her bow tubes and dived. About 65 seconds later, two hits were heard. This claim has not been confirmed.
		20 Nov 1942	0435	36° 55'N, 6° 55'E	At 0435 hours, a large motorboat was sighted at 500 metres and Mocenigo dived.

	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	1 Dec 1942	0816	Cagliari	1 Dec 1942	1250	Cagliari	34,7	Exercises.

3.	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	11 Dec 1942	1605	Cagliari	15 Dec 1942	0710	Cagliari	1635,2	Patrolled in area between 37°20'N and 37°40'N and 08°00'E and 08°20'E, interrupted patrol to load four torpedoes at Cagliari.
		14 Dec 1942	0558.5 0600 (e)	37° 30'N, 8° 13'E (e) 37° 21'N, 8° 19'E	At 0556 hours, Mocenigo was on the surface when she sighted four enemy warships in two columns, proceeding on a SSW course at 18 knots at a distance of 2,000 metres. At 0558 hours, four torpedoes (G7e) were fired from the bow tubes at 2 second intervals from a distance of 800 metres, at what appeared to be a TRIBAL class destroyer. The submarine dived upon firing and heard two hits after 59 and 62 seconds. The victim was the light cruiser HMS Argonaut (5,450 tons), returning from a sweep with the light cruiser HMS Aurora and the destroyers HMS Eskimo and HMS Quality (Force Q). The torpedoes had hit the bow and stern sections, killing an officer and two ratings. The engines were stopped and the steering had failed. HMS Quality remained besides her throughout and HMS Eskimo rejoined them before daylight. She finally managed to get under way at 8 knots, screened by the two destroyers. The escort was later reinforced by the destroyers HMS Ashanti and HMS Tartar and they reached Algiers at 1700 hours on the 15th.

4.	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	16 Dec 1942	1740	Cagliari	25 Dec 1942	0950	Cagliari	1635,2	Patrolled in area between 37°20'N and 37°40'N, and between 08°00'E and 08°20'E, west of La Galite.
		19 Dec 1942	1810	37° 34'N, 8° 16'E	At 1810 hours, an enemy aircraft was sighted and it dropped flares. Mocenigo dived.
		24 Dec 1942	1955+	37° 38'N, 8° 11'E	At 1955 hours, a submarine of the OBERON class was sighted at 2,000 metres. Mocenigo immediately turned away and almost simultaneously a torpedo passed alongside her, missing her by only 2 or 3 metres. The Italian submarine fired back a torpedo from no. 8 tube from a distance of 1,000 metres. It missed. Two loud explosions were heard at 2006 hours (probably torpedoes exploding at the end of their run). The explosions were also heard by the submarine Alagi who was cruising in the vicinity. Longhi had ordered his gun crew at the ready, but conditions were not favourable for a gun duel so they were not used and Mocenigo dived at 2001 hours. The enemy submarine was P 219 (later named Seraph, Lt. N.L.A. Jewell, RN, MBE). She had fired three torpedoes at a range of 400-500 yards. For Mocenigo this had been a close shave.

	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	3 Jan 1943	0822	Cagliari	3 Jan 1943	1250	Cagliari	27,2	Exercises.

5.	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	4 Jan 1943	0620	Cagliari	11 Jan 1943	2310	Cagliari	1050,1	Sailed for patrol between 37°40'N and 38°00'N, and between 09°00'E and 09°20'E. In the evening of 5th January, ordered to the western approaches of the Bay of Bougie between 37°00'N and 37°20'N, and between 04°00'E and 04°20'E.
		6 Jan 1943	0310	37° 51'N, 8° 10'E	At 0310 hours, an Axis bomber was sighted and recognition signals exchanged.
		6 Jan 1943	1820	37° 44'N, 6° 59'E	At 1820 hours, a surfaced Italian submarine was sighted at 5,000 metres.
		7 Jan 1943	2356 2356 (e)	37° 06'N, 4° 10'E (e) 37° 20'N, 5° 48'E	At 2356 hours, Mocenigo sighted an aircraft, which flew over and dropped flares. She crash-dived and was shaken violently by two explosions. Two more explosions were heard at 0026 hours. This was Wellington 'X' (LB145) of 179 Squadron piloted by Flight Sergeant T. Hasty who had detected the submarine by radar at a distance of 1 mile and used the Leigh Light to illuminate it. It was recognised as of Italian type similar to Galileo Ferraris. The attack was carried out from the port quarter, first using the nose gun then dropping two Mark XI Torpex depth charges set at shallow depth from a height of 50-100 feet (two more failed to release). Two flame floats were also dropped to mark the position. The rear gunner reported that the first depth charge exploded well to port, but the second exploded close to the starboard side of the submarine. The aircraft returned at 0055 hours but nothing was sighted.
		10 Jan 1943	1818	36° 59'N, 5° 18'E	At 1818 hours, three steamers escorted by three destroyers were observed on an easterly course at a distance of 10,000 metres. They were too far to be attacked. These were the same ships that were nearly attacked by Bronzo earlier in the afternoon.
		11 Jan 1943	0041 0035 (e)	37° 07'N, 6° 08'E (e) 37° 10'N, 5° 42'E	At 0041 hours, an aircraft was seen with a projector (a Leigh Light) and Mocenigo dived immediately. This was Wellington 'V' (HX562) of 179 Squadron piloted by Flying Officer G. Dring. It had gained a radar contact from 7 miles and had switched its Leigh Light when at range of 0.75 mile and correctly identified the submarine to be of the Italian type. Four Mark XI Torpex depth charges were released from a height of 80 feet and the rear gunner fired off about 30 rounds. The aircraft circled the area but without sighting anything.

	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	21 Jan 1943	1335	Cagliari	21 Jan 1943	1615	Cagliari	17,2	Exercises.

	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	23 Jan 1943	0820	Cagliari	23 Jan 1943	1220	Cagliari	19,2	Exercises.

6.	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	23 Jan 1943	1610	Cagliari	31 Jan 1943	0825	Cagliari	955,3	Patrolled off Bougie, between 37°20'N and the North African coast, and between 06°00'E and 06°20'E.
		25 Jan 1943	1223	37° 17'N, 6° 07'E	At 1223 hours, the submarine was suddenly shaken by depth charges and escaped by going down to 70 meters.
		26 Jan 1943	0910	37° 14'N, 5° 59'E	At 0745 hours, a convoy was observed from a distance of about 10,000 metres on a westerly course, zigzagging at 7 knots. It appeared to be formed by three 4-5,000-ton steamers escorted by three patrol vessels. At 0809, at 0818 and 0831 hours, sounds were heard from turbines. Finally, at 0832 hours, a smoke was seen on the horizon. This time it was a convoy of three steamers escorted by corvettes and two aircraft. At 0910 hours, Mocenigo fired two torpedoes from tubes no. 1 and 3 at a distance of 1,500 metres. The other tubes were not ready to fire. The torpedoes missed as nothing was heard. At 1052 hours, the submarine surfaced and made an enemy report.
		30 Jan 1943	0454	37° 16'N, 6° 08'E	After hearing sounds of vessels on several occasions, at 0335 hours, Mocenigo sighted a corvette at 6,000 metres. She had perhaps been seen by the enemy and dived at 0350 hours. At 0450 hours, the submarine surfaced and observed the shadows of four merchant ships escorted by destroyers and corvettes steering 070° at 8 knots. Four minutes later, the four stern torpedoes were fired at 2-second intervals from a distance of 1,600 metres and the submarine dived. Three hits were heard. Depth charges were heard at 0501, 0504 and 0507 hours. At 1102 hours, Mocenigo surfaced and made an enemy report.

	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	1 Feb 1943	0725	Cagliari	2 Feb 1943	0915	Naples	281,8	Passage Cagliari-Naples.

	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	23 Feb 1943	0810	Naples	23 Feb 1943	1155	Naples	18	Trials.

	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	25 Feb 1943	1325	Naples	25 Feb 1943	1615	Naples	14,8	Exercises.

	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	26 Feb 1943	0220	Naples	27 Feb 1943	0725	Cagliari	287,4	Passage Naples-Cagliari.

7.	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	2 Mar 1943	1840	Cagliari	20 Mar 1943	1155	La Maddalena	1697,4	Sailed with Brin and Dandolo and patrolled between 37°00'N and 37°40'N and between 05°00'E and 05°40'E off Bougie, then between 38°20'N and the African coast, and between 06°00'E and 06°40'E. ULTRA had informed the Allies of her patrol position.
		5 Mar 1943	0331	37° 21'N, 5° 50'E (0) Approximately.	At 2145 hours, Mocenigo was informed that a German aircraft had crashed in the sea and was ordered to search for survivors. At 0331 hours, a lifeboat was located but it was of the type used by merchant vessels and was empty. The search for the airmen was fruitless.
		9 Mar 1943	1148	37° 22'N, 6° 27'E	At 1148 hours, a 5,000-ton light cruiser of the DIDO class was sighted at a distance of 12,000 metres, proceeding steering 270° at 20 knots. Mocenigo was unable to close.
		14 Mar 1943	1003	37° 21'N, 6° 35'E	At 1008 hours, two DIDO class cruisers and two JERVIS class destroyers were sighted on a westerly course at 18 knots, from a distance of 16,000 metres. Mocenigo readied her torpedo tubes, but could not close to less than 6,000 metres and the attack was abandoned.
		14 Mar 1943	1407	37° 22'N, 6° 25'E	At 1407 hours, two cruisers and two destroyers were sighted at 10,000 metres. It was believed they were the same as those seen at 1003 hours. Again Mocenigo could not close to less than 5,000 metres. At 1524 hours, the submarine surfaced and made an enemy report.
		17 Mar 1943	0403	37° 14'N, 6° 18'E	At 0356 hours, a freighter with two escorts steering 050°, were sighted at 3,000 metres. At 0403 hours, four torpedoes (G7e) were fired from the bow tubes at 1,000 metres. They missed. Mocenigo turned for a stern shot but she was at a depth of 20 metres when two depth charges exploded at 0407 hours. The submarine went deep.
		17 Mar 1943	2128-2140	37° 52'N, 6° 33'E	At 2128 hours, a submarine steering 270° was sighted at 7,000 metres. Mocenigo tried to close but lost contact.
		18 Mar 1943	1225-1610		Between 1225 and 1610 hours, the submarine was depth charged but escaped without damage.
		19 Mar 1943	0830	38° 22'N, 9° 04'E	At 0830 hours, an Italian aircraft was sighted and recognition signals were exchanged.
		19 Mar 1943	1050	39° 21'N, 10° 16'E	At 1050 hours, a derelict mine was sighted.

	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	4 Apr 1943	0915	La Maddalena	4 Apr 1943	1547	La Maddalena	71,1	Exercises.

	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	5 Apr 1943	1402	La Maddalena	5 Apr 1943	1625	La Maddalena	17,2	Exercises.

	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	12 Apr 1943	1005	La Maddalena	13 Apr 1943	0745	Naples	232,8	Passage La Maddalena-Naples.

	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	13 Apr 1943	1002	Naples	13 Apr 1943	1152	Castellammare di Stabia	20,05	Passage Naples-Castellammare di Stabia.

	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	21 Apr 1943	0925	Castellammare di Stabia	21 Apr 1943	1912	Castellammare di Stabia	31,5	Exercises, stopped also in Naples.

	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	24 Apr 1943	0820	Castellammare di Stabia	24 Apr 1943	1219	Castellammare di Stabia	27,5	Exercises.

	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	28 Apr 1943	0815	Castellammare di Stabia	28 Apr 1943	1222	Castellammare di Stabia	29,5	Exercises.

	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	1 May 1943	0056	Castellammare di Stabia	2 May 1943	0926	Cagliari	284,5	Passage Castellammare di Stabia-Cagliari.

	Mocenigo (MO, I.19)	13 May 1943	1415	Cagliari	13 May 1943	1445	Sunk		Sunk by USAAF in Cagliari harbour, where she needed repairs by several near-misses (all ten crew members who were on board were evacuated in time, no casualties).
		13 May 1943		(0) Cagliari harbour.	During an air raid by USAAF bombers on Cagliari harbour, Mocenigo was near-missed several times and sank. The ten crew members who were on board at the time were all evacuated safely.

	S 7 ()	9 Sep 1943		Danzig	9 Sep 1943		Danzig		Seized by the Germans at the armistice. No patrols carried out.

70 entries. 39 total patrol entries (7 marked as war patrols) and 40 events.

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Italian submarines

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Events on this day

Italian submarines in World War Two

Italian Commanders

Alberto Longhi

Ranks

Decorations

Career information

Commands listed for Alberto Longhi

Ships hit by Alberto Longhi

War patrols listed for Alberto Longhi

Italian Commanders

Italian Submarines