Italian submarines in World War Two
Italian Commanders
Carlo Mottura
| Born | Jul 1916 | Rome | |
| Died | 19 Jun 1942 | (25) | Killed in action |
| Ranks
Decorations
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Career information
ZAFFIRO (T.V. First Officer): from 15.04.1941 to April 1942.ZAFFIRO (T.V. C.O.): from 19.04.1942 to 19.06.1942 (sunk, Mottura was killed).
Commands listed for Carlo Mottura
| Submarine | Type | Rank | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zaffiro (ZA) | Coastal / Sea going | T.V. | 19 Apr 1942 | 19 Jun 1942 |
Ships hit by Carlo Mottura
No ships hit by this Commander.War patrols listed for Carlo Mottura
| Submarine | Date | Time | Port | Arr. date | Arr. time | Arr. port | Miles | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 23 Apr 1942 | 1045 | Naples | 23 Apr 1942 | 1920 | Naples | 30,5 | Trials. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 24 Apr 1942 | 0940 | Naples | 24 Apr 1942 | 1425 | Naples | 36,3 | Trials. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 25 Apr 1942 | 0640 | Naples | 25 Apr 1942 | 1712 | Naples | 64,8 | Exercises. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 27 Apr 1942 | 0620 | Naples | 27 Apr 1942 | 2300 | Naples | 56,4 | Exercises. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 28 Apr 1942 | 0920 | Naples | 28 Apr 1942 | 1647 | Naples | 12,9 | Exercises, escorted by the torpedo boat Cosenz. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 30 Apr 1942 | 1415 | Naples | 30 Apr 1942 | 2245 | Naples | 24,5 | Exercises, escorted by the torpedo boat Achille Papa. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 1 May 1942 | 0940 | Naples | 1 May 1942 | 1620 | Naples | Exercises, escorted by the torpedo boat Cosenz. | |||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 2 May 1942 | 1320 | Naples | 2 May 1942 | 2300 | Naples | Exercises. | |||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 4 May 1942 | 0920 | Naples | 4 May 1942 | 1630 | Naples | Exercises. | |||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 5 May 1942 | 1400 | Naples | 5 May 1942 | 2245 | Naples | Exercises. | |||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 7 May 1942 | 0620 | Naples | 7 May 1942 | 2255 | Naples | Exercises. | |||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 8 May 1942 | 1355 | Naples | 8 May 1942 | 2130 | Naples | Exercises, escorted by the torpedo boat Polluce. | |||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 15 May 1942 | 0720 | Naples | 15 May 1942 | 1700 | Naples | Exercises. | |||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 16 May 1942 | 0750 | Naples | 16 May 1942 | 1530 | Naples | Exercises. | |||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 19 May 1942 | 1015 | Naples | 20 May 1942 | 1055 | Messina | 237,7 | Passage Naples-Messina with the steamer Vertunno (3,159 GRT, built 1905), escorted by torpedo boat Abba. | ||
| Zaffiro (ZA) | 1 Jun 1942 | 0200 | Messina | 2 Jun 1942 | 1750 | Cagliari | 412,4 | Passage Messina-Cagliari. | ||
| 1. | Zaffiro (ZA) | 8 Jun 1942 | 0350 | Cagliari | 9 Jun 1942 | 1129 | Sunk with all hands | Sailed for patrol with Velella, between 38°20'N and 38°40'N, and between 03°00'E and 03°40'E (south of Balearic Islands). Probably sunk by RAF aircraft (Catalina "J" of 240 Sq) in 38°21'N, 03°21'E at 1130-1315 on 9th June. No survivors, five officers and forty-two ratings were missing. The wreck apparently located by divers south of Ibiza in 2005. | ||
| 9 Jun 1942 | 1129 (e) | (e) 38° 21'N, 3° 21'E | At 1129 hours, Catalina 'J' of 240 Squadron, piloted by Flight Lieutenant D.E. Hawkins, was on an A/S patrol when an enemy submarine of the PERLA class was sighted on the surface, steering 210° at 6 knots. The aircraft at once turned to the attack as the submarine opened fire with her machine guns. The aircraft took avoiding action, which prevented it from strafing the submarine, but it managed to release four 450-lb depth charges which straddled her stern, missing her by 5 to 15 yards. The aircraft came back for a strafing run. The U-boat replied with her weapons until she was silenced. About 20 minutes after the depth charge attack, the U-boat dived but surfaced again 5 minutes later and remained stationary. The crew came out on deck and about thirty-five men could be seen as the submarine began to sink by the stern. The aircraft came back for a strafing run and men began to jump or fall in the sea. White flags were waved as the submarine sank by the stern. The Catalina attempted to alight to pick up the survivors but the heavy swell seriously damaged the hull and it had to take off. At 1315 hours, the aircraft left the scene after dropping a smoke float to mark the spot. There is little doubt that this was Zaffiro. Unfortunately, none of her crew survived. T.V. Carlo Nottura, four officers and forty-two ratings perished. | |||||||
17 entries. 17 total patrol entries (1 marked as war patrols) and 1 events.