Italian submarines in World War Two

Italian Commanders


Rodolfo Scarelli

Born  2 Oct 1909Orte (Viterbo)

Ranks

  T.V.Tenente di Vascello
  C.C.Capitano di Corvetta

Decorations

12 Jan 1942 Medaglia di bronzo al valore militare
11 Feb 1943 Medaglia d'argento al valore militare

Career information

VENIERO (T.V. First Officer): from 22.03.1940 to ?
Promoted C.C. on ?
SIRENA (C.C. C.O.): from 11.01.1941 to 05.08.1942.
FRANCESCO RISMONDO (C.C. C.O.): from 08.09.1942 to 01.10.1942?
CIRO MENOTTI (C.C. C.O.): from 05.11.1942 to 03.02.1943.
FRATELLI BANDIERA (C.C. C.O.): from 07.08.1943 to 11.09.1943. Joined RSI.

Commands listed for Rodolfo Scarelli


Submarine Type Rank From To
Sirena (SI)Coastal / Sea goingC.C.11 Jan 19415 Aug 1942
Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)C.C.8 Sep 19421 Oct 1942
Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)C.C.24 Oct 19425 Nov 1942
Ciro Menotti (ME, N.66)Ocean goingC.C.5 Nov 19423 Feb 1943
Fratelli Bandiera (BA)Ocean goingC.C.7 Aug 194311 Sep 1943

Ships hit by Rodolfo Scarelli

No ships hit by this Commander.

War patrols listed for Rodolfo Scarelli

 SubmarineDateTimePortArr. dateArr. timeArr. portMilesDescription
Sirena (SI)11 Jan 19411030Taranto11 Jan 19411725Taranto35Exercises.

Sirena (SI)15 Jan 19410835Taranto15 Jan 19411320Taranto35,5Exercises, escorted by minesweeper R.D.6.

Sirena (SI)19 Jan 19410815Taranto19 Jan 19411240Taranto29,5Exercises, escorted by minesweeper R.D.6.

1.Sirena (SI)23 Jan 19411800Taranto24 Jan 19411405Taranto49Defensive patrol in Gulf of Taranto.

2.Sirena (SI)25 Jan 19410945Taranto30 Jan 19410835Leros694Passage Taranto-Leros. Uneventful.

Sirena (SI)7 Feb 19410030Leros7 Feb 19411420Leros15Exercises.

Sirena (SI)13 Feb 19410808Leros13 Feb 19411404Leros31Exercises.

3.Sirena (SI)16 Feb 19412020Leros19 Feb 19410740Leros385Patrolled off Kupho Nisi, Crete, in 34°59'N, 26°25'E. Patrol interrupted because of defects.

Sirena (SI)6 Mar 19410935Portolago (Leros)6 Mar 19411646Portolago (Leros)37,5Exercises.

Sirena (SI)15 Mar 19411325Portolago (Leros)15 Mar 19411720Portolago (Leros)28Exercises.

Sirena (SI)16 Mar 19410910Portolago (Leros)16 Mar 19411158Portolago (Leros)19Exercises.

Sirena (SI)17 Mar 19410854Portolago (Leros)17 Mar 19411753Portolago (Leros)59,5Exercises.

Sirena (SI)20 Mar 19412330Portolago (Leros)21 Mar 19410430Portolago (Leros)38Exercises.

Sirena (SI)30 Mar 19410848Portolago (Leros)30 Mar 19411548Portolago (Leros)39Exercises.

Sirena (SI)4 Apr 19410920Portolago (Leros)4 Apr 19411630Portolago (Leros)50,5Exercises.

Sirena (SI)8 Apr 19410805Portolago (Leros)8 Apr 19411644Portolago (Leros)37Exercises.

Sirena (SI)12 Apr 19410648Portolago (Leros)12 Apr 19411208Portolago (Leros)33Exercises.

4.Sirena (SI)13 Apr 19411812Leros19 Apr 19411610Leros601Patrolled north of Crete in 35°50'N, 24°15'E.
  14 Apr 1941232736° 07'N, 24° 15'EAt 2324 hours, a destroyer of the AFRIDI class was sighted at 4-5,000 metres, steering 130° at 22 knots.

At 2327 hours, Sirena had closed on the surface to a distance of 2,300-2,500 metres and fired two torpedoes from bow tubes. No visible result was observed, but inside the submarine a hit was heard and it was believed the destroyer had been damaged. In fact, no British destroyer reported any damage at this time.
  16 Apr 19411919
(0) Near Cape Malea.
At 1919 hours, information was received of an escorted convoy of three merchant ships, which had left Piraeus at 18 knots and of another convoy of thirteen ships from Alexandria, which was proceeding toward Cerigotto.

Sirena proceeded to a position 15 miles west of Cape Malea to intercept them, but only heard H.E. at a distance without sighting anything.

5.Sirena (SI)3 May 19411918Leros10 May 19410635Leros505Patrolled between 36°00'N and 36°32'N, and between 24°50'E and 25°10'E. Off Polykandro and Santorini and between Santorini and Suda.
  8 May 19412230
(0) North of Crete.
At 2230 hours, information was received of a convoy proceeding through Kaso Straits toward Suda and Sirena moved south to intercept.

At 0010 hours on 9th May, she received another signal from MARICOSOM ordering her to a new position to intercept this convoy. Only distant noises were heard and no visual contact was made.

6.Sirena (SI)26 May 19412320Leros6 Jun 19411210Leros591Patrolled in Aegean near Crete in Grid 6016/3 or 35°08'N, 26°47'E.
  28 May 1941190035° 08'N, 26° 47'E
(0) Approximately.
At 1835 hours, noises of two vessels were heard as Sirena was proceeding at a depth of 45 metres.

At 1900 hours, suddenly four depth charges exploded at a distance estimated at about 40 metres. A second pattern of eight depth-charges followed shortly after and more explosions were heard at 1931 hours, but they were about 300 meters away.

Sirena (SI)9 Jun 19410828Leros9 Jun 19411103Leros20Exercises.

7.Sirena (SI)23 Jul 19412100Leros1 Aug 19410220Leros310Patrolled in 37°20'N, 27°40'E near Mykoni and Naxos. Uneventful, except for H.E. At 0530/28, was informed by Marina Rodi of the probable presence of an enemy submarine in the area, but sighted nothing.

Sirena (SI)28 Aug 1941Leros28 Aug 1941Leros15Exercises.

8.Sirena (SI)30 Aug 19412020Leros5 Sep 19411327Brindisi538Patrolled in Aegean and passage Leros-Brindisi through (1) 36°07'N, 26°07'E (2) 36°05'N, 24°11'E (3) 35°45'N, 23°28'E (4) 35°45'N, 22°28'E (5) 36°40'N, 20°30'E then via Santa Maria Leuca to Brindisi. Uneventful.

Sirena (SI)9 Sep 19411315Brindisi11 Sep 19410707Pola395Passage Brindisi-Pola.
  10 Sep 19410710At 0710 hours, the submarine Ammiraglio Saint Bon was sighted.

Sirena (SI)12 Sep 19410520Pola12 Sep 19411200Monfalcone70Passage Pola-Monfalcone. Then refit.

Sirena (SI)31 Dec 19410930Monfalcone31 Dec 19411740Monfalcone22Exercises.

Sirena (SI)3 Jan 19421420Monfalcone3 Jan 19421722Monfalcone17Trials.

Sirena (SI)6 Jan 19421200Monfalcone6 Jan 19421600Monfalcone20Trials.

Sirena (SI)9 Jan 19420950Monfalcone9 Jan 19421510Monfalcone21Trials.

Sirena (SI)12 Jan 19421025Monfalcone12 Jan 19421600Monfalcone22Trials.

Sirena (SI)15 Jan 19421115Monfalcone15 Jan 19421305Monfalcone3Trials.

Sirena (SI)17 Jan 19421055Monfalcone17 Jan 19421736Pola66,4Passage Monfalcone-Pola.

Sirena (SI)20 Jan 19420834Pola20 Jan 19421655Pola57Trials, escorted by the auxiliary Trau.

Sirena (SI)21 Jan 19420907Pola22 Jan 19420045Pola45,2Exercises.

Sirena (SI)24 Jan 19421442Pola24 Jan 19421800Pola26Trials.

Sirena (SI)27 Jan 19421039Pola27 Jan 19421838Pola21,6Trials.

Sirena (SI)29 Jan 19421015Pola29 Jan 19422245Pola67,5Exercises.

Sirena (SI)1 Feb 19421033Pola1 Feb 19421228Pola5Gyrocompass tests.

Sirena (SI)3 Feb 19420935Pola3 Feb 19421230Pola16,08Exercises.

Sirena (SI)7 Feb 19420848Pola7 Feb 19421615Pola8,7Gyrocompass tests.

Sirena (SI)7 Feb 19422205Pola9 Feb 19421415Brindisi446,2Passage Pola-Brindisi.

9.Sirena (SI)10 Feb 19421130Brindisi16 Feb 19422002Taranto1395,7Patrolled north of Cyrenaica within 8 miles from 34°50'N, 21°20'E on the meridian with Ondina.
  14 Feb 1942104534° 38'N, 21° 16'EAt 1045 hours, a Wellington bomber was sighted at 1,000 metres. Sirena dived immediately. Later, distant explosions were heard and C.C. Scarelli assumed that Ondina was being hunted in the adjacent area.
  14 Feb 19421445
1245 (e)
34° 38'N, 21° 16'EAt 1445 hours, Sirena was shaken by an explosion.

This was Hudson 'Y' f 203 RAF/459 RAAF Squadron piloted by Flight Lieutenant Campbell with Wing Commander Johnson) of 203 RAF/459 RAAF Squadron. It attacked a U-boat with four 250 lb A/S bombs when the feather of a periscope was sighted. Two bombs failed to explode, the 1st and 4th fell at about 10 and 50 yards respectively, from the periscope. The 459 RAAF squadron was being formed and it is not certain to which squadron she belonged at the time.

Sirena (SI)5 Mar 19420855Taranto5 Mar 19421330Taranto38,7Trials.

Sirena (SI)6 Mar 19420844Taranto6 Mar 19421626Taranto67,2Trials.

Sirena (SI)11 Mar 19421108Taranto15 Mar 19421145Leros968,7Passage Taranto-Leros.
  12 Mar 1942131536° 50'N, 20° 00'EAt 1315 hours, a derelict mine was sighted and sunk by machine gun fire.
  13 Mar 1942190534° 10'N, 23° 44'EAt 1905 hours, a derelict mine was sighted. The mine could not be destroyed as it was quickly lost from view in the near darkness.

10.Sirena (SI)24 Mar 19421335Leros27 Mar 19420712RhodesSailed to rescue the crew of an Italian bomber, which had ditched in the sea in 33°40'N, 29°00'E, near Prassonisi, and then went to Rhodes. The search was carried out on 25-26th March but was unsuccessful.

Sirena (SI)29 Mar 19422107Rhodes30 Mar 19420637Portolago (Leros)513,8Passage Rhodes-Leros.

11.Sirena (SI)17 Apr 19420126Portolago (Leros)5 May 19420500Portolago (Leros)1701,8Sailed through Kasos Strait for a patrol between 34°00'N and 34°20'N, and between 20°20'E and 21°20'E in Grids 1282, 1217, 1236, about 100 miles NW of Ras Hilal (ca. 34°14'N, 20°46'E) and then in Grids 3144, 3117 and 3112. . Uneventful. Returned via 34°40'N, 21°20'E and 34°40'N, 26°20'E.

Sirena (SI)3 Jun 19420806Portolago (Leros)3 Jun 19421121Portolago (Leros)17,5Trials.

12.Sirena (SI)4 Jun 19421607Portolago (Leros)21 Jun 19420430Portolago (Leros)1306,6Sailed with the submarine Nereide and patrolled between 31°50'N and 33°05'N, and between 26°50'E and 27°30'E.
  13 Jun 1942233031° 54'N, 26° 52'EAt 2330 hours, a destroyer was sighted at a distance of 4,000 metres, but she turned away before an attack could be carried out.

Sirena (SI)10 Jul 19420915Portolago (Leros)10 Jul 19421100Portolago (Leros)13,2Trials.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)11 Sep 19420804La Spezia11 Sep 19421303La Spezia24A/S exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)15 Sep 19420652La Spezia15 Sep 19421807La Spezia83Sailed with Bajamonti, escorted by MAS 507 and MAS 575, to test an explosive obstruction of OLMO type laid by the auxiliary Brindisi on 12th September 1942 between 44°17'21'N, 09°17'18'E and 44°17'14'N, 09°18'E.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)18 Sep 19420710La Spezia18 Sep 19421239La Spezia24A/S exercises, escorted by AS.105, AS.107 and AS.108.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)22 Sep 19420012La Spezia22 Sep 19422330La Spezia67Trials.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)24 Oct 1942Genoa5 Nov 1942GenoaRefit at Genoa.

Ciro Menotti (ME, N.66)7 Nov 19420700Pola7 Nov 19421137Pola16Trials.

Ciro Menotti (ME, N.66)8 Nov 19421000Pola10 Nov 19421340Taranto501,5Passage Pola-Taranto. Uneventful.

Ciro Menotti (ME, N.66)18 Nov 19420745Taranto18 Nov 19421002Taranto10,8Trials.

13.Ciro Menotti (ME, N.66)18 Nov 19422350Taranto19 Nov 19420130TarantoSailed for supply mission, but recalled to await new orders.

14.Ciro Menotti (ME, N.66)19 Nov 19420715Taranto22 Nov 19420950Buerat El Sun Supply mission to Buerat El Sun with 28.8 tons of ammunition for German Army and 21.1 tons of petrol.
  20 Nov 19422020The submarine was ordered to search for the crew of a German aircraft which had ditched. The submarine found nothing and returned on her original course.
  21 Nov 19421105An unknown aircraft was sighted and the submarine dived immediately.
  21 Nov 19421235Six unidentified aircraft were seen and the submarine dived immediately.
  21 Nov 19421505Eight unidentified aircraft were seen and the submarine dived immediately.

15.Ciro Menotti (ME, N.66)22 Nov 19421420Burat El Sun 26 Nov 19421510Taranto1940Return trip from supply mission to Burat El Sun [mileage is for round trip].
  24 Nov 19420235
(0) Off Tripoli.
The submarine Toti. was sighted and recognition signals were exchanged.
  24 Nov 19420855
(0) North of Tripoli.
An unknown aircraft was sighted at a distance and the submarine finally dived at 0922 hours.
  26 Nov 19420530
(0) Off Cape Colonne.
The submarine Santarosa and a patrol boat were sighted. Recognition signals were exchanged and the trio proceeded together to Taranto.

Ciro Menotti (ME, N.66)10 Dec 19420655Taranto10 Dec 19420830Taranto13Trials.

16.Ciro Menotti (ME, N.66)12 Dec 19421400Taranto16 Dec 19420545TripoliSupply mission to Tripoli with 35.4 tons of ammunition, 21 tons of petrol, 11 tons of lubricating oil, 0.1 ton of cooking oil and 0.5 ton of various stores. Uneventful.

17.Ciro Menotti (ME, N.66)16 Dec 19421540Tripoli19 Dec 19421454Taranto1278Return trip from supply mission to Tripoli. Uneventful.

Ciro Menotti (ME, N.66)22 Dec 19420708Taranto22 Dec 19421338Taranto16Exercises.

Fratelli Bandiera (BA)10 Aug 19430845Pola10 Aug 19431135PolaExercises.

Fratelli Bandiera (BA)10 Aug 19431510Pola10 Aug 19431840PolaExercises.

Fratelli Bandiera (BA)11 Aug 19430830Pola11 Aug 19431210PolaExercises.

Fratelli Bandiera (BA)11 Aug 19431520Pola11 Aug 19431930PolaExercises.

Fratelli Bandiera (BA)13 Aug 19430845Pola13 Aug 19431200PolaExercises.

Fratelli Bandiera (BA)13 Aug 19431515Pola13 Aug 19431730PolaExercises.

Fratelli Bandiera (BA)14 Aug 19432220Pola15 Aug 19430545FiumePassage Pola-Fiume.

Fratelli Bandiera (BA)16 Aug 19430800Fiume17 Aug 19430340FiumeExercises.

Fratelli Bandiera (BA)18 Aug 19431100Fiume19 Aug 19430230FiumeExercises.

Fratelli Bandiera (BA)20 Aug 19430600Fiume21 Aug 19430105FiumeExercises.

Fratelli Bandiera (BA)23 Aug 19431030Fiume24 Aug 19430040FiumeExercises.

Fratelli Bandiera (BA)30 Aug 19430147Sussa or Susak (Fiume)1 Sep 19430640Brindisi453Passage Sussa-Brindisi.
  30 Aug 19430850A German aircraft appeared and recognition signals were exchanged.

18.Fratelli Bandiera (BA)7 Sep 19431819Brindisi11 Sep 19432040Taranto704Sailed for patrol then surrendered at Taranto. Apparently, was damaged by bombing attack.

88 entries. 80 total patrol entries (18 marked as war patrols) and 18 events.

Italian Commanders

Italian Submarines