Italian submarines in World War Two

Italian Commanders


Mario Priggione

Born  8 Oct 1913Genoa

Ranks

  S.T.V.Sottotenente di Vascello
  T.V.Tenente di Vascello

Decorations

17 Aug 1942 Medaglia di bronzo al valore militare
21 Nov 1948 Medaglia di bronzo al valore militare
29 Jul 1949 Medaglia d'argento al valore militare

Career information

CONSOLE GENERALE LIUZZI (S.T.V. officer): from 17.04.1940 to ?
Promoted to T.V. on ?
ATROPO (T.V. resp.): from 01.02.1942 to 18.02.1942 (repairs at Taranto).
AVORIO (T.V. C.O.): from 01.02.1942 to 18.02.1942.
FRANCESCO RISMONDO (T.V. C.O.): from 23.06.1943 to 13.09.1943.

Commands listed for Mario Priggione


Submarine Type Rank From To
Atropo (AT, N.51)MinelayingT.V.1 Feb 194218 Feb 1942
Avorio (AV)Coastal / Sea goingT.V.20 May 194229 Jan 1943
Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)T.V.23 Jun 194313 Sep 1943

Ships hit by Mario Priggione

No ships hit by this Commander.

War patrols listed for Mario Priggione

 SubmarineDateTimePortArr. dateArr. timeArr. portMilesDescription
Atropo (AT, N.51)1 Feb 1942Taranto18 Feb 1942TarantoAt Taranto for repairs.

Avorio (AV)25 May 19420900Monfalcone25 May 19421700MonfalconeExercises.

Avorio (AV)27 May 19420800Monfalcone27 May 19421900MonfalconeExercises.

Avorio (AV)1 Jun 19420800Monfalcone1 Jun 19421225VenicePassage Monfalcone-Venice.

Avorio (AV)2 Jun 19421140Venice2 Jun 19421315VeniceExercises.

Avorio (AV)5 Jun 19420845Venice5 Jun 19421450PolaPassage Venice-Pola.

Avorio (AV)9 Jun 19421200Pola9 Jun 19421615PolaExercises.

Avorio (AV)12 Jun 19420730Pola12 Jun 19421625PolaExercises.

Avorio (AV)15 Jun 19420625Pola15 Jun 19422030PolaExercises escorted by the torpedo boat T.3.

Avorio (AV)18 Jun 19420550Pola18 Jun 19421945PolaExercises.

Avorio (AV)22 Jun 19420635Pola22 Jun 19421515PolaExercises.

Avorio (AV)28 Jun 19421410Pola1 Jul 19421120NaplesPassage Pola-Naples with the submarine Granito.

Avorio (AV)3 Jul 19420825Naples3 Jul 19421600NaplesExercises.

Avorio (AV)4 Jul 19420810Naples4 Jul 19421420NaplesExercises.

Avorio (AV)5 Jul 19420820Naples5 Jul 19421400NaplesExercises.

Avorio (AV)9 Jul 19420915Naples9 Jul 19421630NaplesExercises.

Avorio (AV)10 Jul 19420825Naples10 Jul 19421540NaplesExercises.

Avorio (AV)12 Jul 19420825Naples12 Jul 19421340NaplesExercises.

Avorio (AV)13 Jul 19420835Naples13 Jul 19421555NaplesExercises.

Avorio (AV)14 Jul 19420840Naples14 Jul 19421500NaplesExercises.

Avorio (AV)16 Jul 19420930Naples16 Jul 19421315NaplesExercises.

Avorio (AV)17 Jul 19420830Naples17 Jul 19421534NaplesExercises.

Avorio (AV)18 Jul 19420845Naples18 Jul 19421645NaplesExercises.

Avorio (AV)19 Jul 19420840Naples19 Jul 19421840NaplesExercises.

Avorio (AV)21 Jul 19420840Naples21 Jul 19421540NaplesExercises.

Avorio (AV)22 Jul 19420840Naples22 Jul 19421516NaplesExercises.

Avorio (AV)24 Jul 19420747Naples24 Jul 19420935NaplesExercises.

Avorio (AV)27 Jul 19421425Naples27 Jul 19422305NaplesExercises.

Avorio (AV)29 Jul 19421440Naples30 Jul 19420031NaplesExercises.

Avorio (AV)3 Aug 19420725Naples3 Aug 19421130NaplesExercises.

Avorio (AV)4 Aug 19420905Naples5 Aug 19421030CagliariPassage Naples-Cagliari.

1.Avorio (AV)11 Aug 19421726Cagliari17 Aug 19421137Cagliari?Patrolled off northern Tunisia, between 37°20' N and 38°00' N and between 09°40' E and 10°00' E, operating against the PEDESTAL convoy.
  12 Aug 1942155537° 35'N, 9° 50'E
(0) Approximately.
At 1555 hours, a submarine was sighted.
  12 Aug 1942170837° 35'N, 9° 50'EAt 1708 hours, an enemy force of three battleships who appeared to be American, several steamers and destroyers were sighted at at distances varying from 12,000 to 18,000 metres.

Avorio attempted to close for an attack but two destroyers turned toward her. At 1725 hours, she submerged and, five minutes later, four depth charges exploded. The submarine escaped by diving to 100 meters and heard a total of 180 depth charges.

2.Avorio (AV)18 Aug 19420027Cagliari19 Aug 19421323Trapani?Patrolled off north coast of Tunisia, between 37°20' N and 37°50' N, and between 09°20' E and 10°20' E.
  18 Aug 1942025538° 51'N, 9° 29'EAt 0255 hours, as Avorio was leaving Cagliari, a submarine was a sighted at a distance of 500 metres steering 050°. T.V. Mario Priggione prepared the two stern tubes but hesitated to attack as it could have been an Italian submarine and finally aborted.

The submarine was HMS P 211 (Commander Ben Bryant, DSC, RN) (later to be named HMS Safari. Avorio was not noticed.
  18 Aug 19420600At 0600 hours, an Italian tanker, believed to be Perseo, was sighted at a distance of 10,000 metres. Avorio closed and made repeated visual signals but the vessel escaped at full speed. The submarine finally closed to 4,500 meters and transmitted in clear a warning that she had sighted a submarine 38°51'40" N, 09°29'40" E [HMS P 211] but the vessel did not respond and appeared to be arming her stern gun. At 0647 hours, Avorio gave up and returned on her original course. Three hours later Perseo was torpedoed and sunk by HMS P 211.

Avorio (AV)22 Aug 19420515Trapani23 Aug 19420055CagliariPassage Trapani-Cagliari.

Avorio (AV)25 Aug 19420825Cagliari25 Aug 19421115CagliariExercises.

Avorio (AV)28 Aug 19420630Cagliari28 Aug 19420840CagliariExercises.

Avorio (AV)5 Sep 19420750Cagliari5 Sep 19421110CagliariExercises.

Avorio (AV)13 Sep 19422100Cagliari15 Sep 19420800AugustaPassage Cagliari-Augusta.

Avorio (AV)26 Sep 19420830Augusta26 Sep 19421305AugustaExercises.

Avorio (AV)3 Oct 19420855Augusta3 Oct 19421315AugustaExercises.

Avorio (AV)15 Oct 19420840Augusta15 Oct 19421400AugustaExercises.

Avorio (AV)22 Oct 19420900Augusta22 Oct 19421245AugustaExercises.

Avorio (AV)5 Nov 19421630Augusta6 Nov 19421633TrapaniPassage Augusta-Trapani.

3.Avorio (AV)7 Nov 19421551Trapani8 Nov 19420200TrapaniSailed for patrol, but very quickly recalled for new instructions.

4.Avorio (AV)8 Nov 19420245Trapani13 Nov 19421630CagliariSailed for patrol off the north coast of Tunisia, between 37°18'N and 37°41'N, and between 09°54'E and 10°15'E and then ordered on 9th November to an area between 37°00'N and 37°20'N, and between 06°20'E and 06°40'E. Arrived at dawn on 9th November at the entrance of the Bay of Bone. Uneventful. The submarine heard H.E. but sighted nothing. Because she was leaking fuel, the submarine had to return to base.

5.Avorio (AV)16 Nov 19421817Cagliari26 Nov 19420940Cagliari?Sailed for patrol between 37°40' N and 38°00' N, and between 07°40' E and 08°00' E. On the evening of the 19th, she made a reconnaissance of Bone. On 20th November, she was moved to an area between 37°20' N and the Algerian coast, and between 07°20' E and 07°40' E.On the evening of 23rd November, she made a reconnaissance of the Bay of Bougie.
  17 Nov 19420625At 0625 hours, a submarine was observed to be diving. Avorio also submerged at 0649 hours.
  19 Nov 1942022137° 15'N, 7° 39'EAt 0221 hours, a corvette was sighted at a range of 5,000 metres. T.V. Mario Priggione did not try to attack the enemy vessel, fearing the presence of other enemy warships.
  22 Nov 19420234-0317At 0234 hours, the Italian submarine Argo was encountered and recognition signals were exchanged. This was followed by vocal exchange between the two commanders.
  24 Nov 1942015436° 42'N, 5° 11'EAt 0116 hours, a dark shadow was sighted at a distance of 800 metres at the limit of a rain squall.

At 0147 hours, the submarine surfaced to close and recognised the vessel to be a one-funnel destroyer with two guns forward.

At 0154 hours, three torpedoes (a fourth misfired) were fired from bow tubes at a range of 600 metres and Avorio dived. After 40 seconds, almost simultaneous explosions were heard. The submarine surfaced at 0342 hours with nothing on the horizon.

Allied records have not confirmed this attack.

Avorio (AV)10 Dec 19421350Cagliari10 Dec 19421635CagliariExercises.

Avorio (AV)11 Dec 19421020Cagliari11 Dec 19421245CagliariExercises.

Avorio (AV)13 Dec 19421415Cagliari13 Dec 19421655CagliariExercises.

Avorio (AV)14 Dec 1942Cagliari14 Dec 1942CagliariExercises.

Avorio (AV)22 Dec 19421355Cagliari22 Dec 19421620CagliariExercises.

Avorio (AV)23 Dec 19420905Cagliari23 Dec 19421015CagliariExercises.

Avorio (AV)30 Dec 19420840Cagliari30 Dec 19421050CagliariExercises.

6.Avorio (AV)2 Jan 19431210Cagliari2 Jan 19431505CagliariSailed for patrol between 37°30' N and the Algerian coast, and between 06°40' E and 07°00' E but was very quickly recalled.

7.Avorio (AV)4 Jan 19430418Cagliari11 Jan 19430750Cagliari?Sailed for patrol between 37°40' N and 38°00' N, and between 09°20' E and 09°40' E. On 7th January, she was ordered to an area between 37°20' N and the Algerian coast, and between 04°20' E and 04°40' E.
  9 Jan 19432347
0016/10 (e)
37° 43'N, 4° 45'EAt 2347 hours, Avorio was steering 090°, when an aircraft, believed to be a Liberator, illuminated her with a projector (Leigh Light) and dropped four bombs. The submarine crash-dived, but the diesel exhaust pipe could not be immediately shut and a quantity of water entered the submarine and the dive was not stopped before a depth of 97 metres had been reached.

The submarine had to surface again, but the aircraft with the projector was sighted just above her at a height of 50 metres, forcing her to crash-dive again. It was noticed that the torpedo cap of tube no. 6 (stern) was not shut properly but this had not caused a leak even though the submarine had reached a depth of 100 metres . However, it was difficult to keep the boat down at a safe depth and Avorio had to surface again. Some 30 tons of water had entered the submarine and it was not possible to start the dielsels, so electric motors had to be used. The aircraft was still circling around.

At about 0010 hours on 10th January the aircraft returned, still using its projector and, dropped four bombs. The nearest fell 10 metres from the submarine, starboard aft of the forward hydroplanes. The bomber was observed to fire with its stern gun but the burst fell short of Avorio who was firing back with her three machine-guns and apparently hit the projector. The submarine was slightly damaged and had to abort her mission.

The attack was made by Wellington 'W' (HX.531) of 179 Squadron, piloted by Flight Sergeant A.D.S. Martin. It had detected the submarine by radar at a range of 11 miles. It was steering 090° at 4 knots. The bomber attacked at 0016 hours, dropping four Mark XI Torpex depth charges from a height of 300 feet set at shallow depth and two flame floats.
  10 Jan 19430310At 0310 hours, the repatriation ships Giulio Cesare and Duilio were sighted at a distance of 1,000 metres. Avorio turned away.
  10 Jan 1943103538° 35'N, 6° 20'EAt 1035 hours, a Sunderland was sighted at a range of 1,000 metres. Avorio crash-dived but the acid vapours caused by the damages incurred on 9th January forced the submarine to emerge at 1750 hours and continue her return passage on the surface.

Avorio (AV)14 Jan 19430847Cagliari14 Jan 19431056CagliariExercises.

Avorio (AV)15 Jan 19430835Cagliari15 Jan 19431102CagliariExercises.

8.Avorio (AV)20 Jan 19430220Cagliari24 Jan 19430815Cagliari?Patrolled off Bougie.
  21 Jan 19432350At 2350 hours, a submarine was sighted at a distance of 3,000 metres. Avorio dived
  23 Jan 1943035037° 27'N, 6° 08'E
(0) Approximately.
At 0350 hours, a submarine was sighted at 5,000 metres. Avorio dived.

Avorio (AV)28 Jan 19431345Cagliari28 Jan 19431606CagliariExercises.

Avorio (AV)30 Jan 19431404Cagliari30 Jan 19431655CagliariExercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)23 Jun 19430710La Spezia23 Jun 19431404La Spezia44,6A/S exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)26 Jun 19430710La Spezia26 Jun 19432012La Spezia36A/S exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)30 Jun 19430725La Spezia30 Jun 19431815La Spezia30,6A/S exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)2 Jul 19430710La Spezia2 Jul 19432109La Spezia46,6A/S exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)4 Jul 19430604La Spezia4 Jul 19431150La Spezia26,8A/S exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)6 Jul 19430705La Spezia6 Jul 19432040La Spezia61,9A/S exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)12 Jul 19430720La Spezia12 Jul 19431654La Spezia36,5A/S exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)14 Jul 19431250La Spezia14 Jul 19431835La Spezia39A/S exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)16 Jul 19430632La Spezia16 Jul 19431700La Spezia63,7A/S exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)17 Jul 19430735La Spezia17 Jul 19431725La Spezia68,6A/S exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)21 Jul 19430747La Spezia21 Jul 19431330La Spezia33,4A/S exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)24 Jul 19430750La Spezia24 Jul 19431315La Spezia39,9A/S exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)26 Jul 19431415La Spezia26 Jul 19431845La Spezia28A/S exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)28 Jul 19430817La Spezia28 Jul 19431440La Spezia50,3A/S exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)29 Jul 19431515La Spezia30 Jul 19430750La Spezia50,3Exercises with the submarine H 4 and gunboat Zagabria.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)31 Jul 19431540La Spezia1 Aug 19430750La Spezia43Exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)11 Aug 19430710La Spezia11 Aug 19431925La Spezia28,2A/S exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)13 Aug 19430715La Spezia13 Aug 19431530La Spezia43A/S exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)16 Aug 19430715La Spezia16 Aug 19431830La Spezia56,9A/S exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)17 Aug 19432000La Spezia18 Aug 19431345La Spezia2A/S exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)17 Aug 19432000La Spezia18 Aug 19431345La Spezia2A/S exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)19 Aug 19430730La Spezia19 Aug 19431345La Spezia33,4A/S exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)20 Aug 19430730La Spezia20 Aug 19431815La Spezia43,4A/S exercises.

9.Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)25 Aug 19431318La Spezia25 Aug 19430835La Spezia76,4Hydrophone Watch in Ligurian Gulf.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)27 Aug 19430723La Spezia27 Aug 19431535La Spezia26A/S exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)31 Aug 19430730La Spezia31 Aug 19431345La Spezia33,4A/S exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)4 Sep 19430739La Spezia4 Sep 1943?La SpeziaExercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)7 Sep 19431530La Spezia8 Sep 19431530BonifacioPassage La Spezia-Bonifacio with the submarine H 6.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)13 Sep 19431205Bonifacio13 Sep 19431205BonifacioCaptured by the Germans and later sunk by gunfire.
  13 Sep 1943
1205 (e)

(0) Bonfacio harbour.
At 1205 hours, a party from the German minesweepers R-198 and R-161 (or R-200?) of the 11th R-Flottille boarded the submarine and captured her without meeting resistance.

97 entries. 89 total patrol entries (9 marked as war patrols) and 14 events.

Italian Commanders

Italian Submarines