Italian submarines in World War Two

Italian Commanders


Giorgio Viani

Tenente di Vascello

Born  2 Sep 1909Venice
Died   1982(72)Florence

Ranks

20 Jul 1940 T.V.Tenente di Vascello

Decorations

8 May 1945 Croce di guerra al valore militare
22 Jul 1948 Medaglia di bronzo al valore militare

Career information

DOMENICO MILLELIRE (T.V. First Officer): from 14.04.1939 to ?
DOMENICO MILLELIRE (T.V. C.O.): from 01.02.1941 to 06.03.1941.
MAGGIORE BARACCA (T.V. C.O.): from August 1941 to 08.09.1941 (sunk, Viani survived as PoW).

Commands listed for Giorgio Viani


Submarine Type Rank From To
Domenico Millelire (MI)Ocean goingT.V.20 Jul 194027 Jul 1940
Domenico Millelire (MI)Ocean goingT.V.1 Feb 19416 Mar 1941
Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10)Ocean goingT.V.Aug 19418 Sep 1941

Ships hit by Giorgio Viani

No ships hit by this Commander.

War patrols listed for Giorgio Viani

 SubmarineDateTimePortArr. dateArr. timeArr. portMilesDescription
Domenico Millelire (MI)20 Jul 1940Pola27 Jul 1940PolaIn Pola.

Domenico Millelire (MI)18 Feb 19410900Brindisi18 Feb 19411240Brindisi24Exercises.

Domenico Millelire (MI)6 Mar 19410845Brindisi6 Mar 19412115Taranto166,5Passage Brindisi-Taranto.

1.Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10)31 Aug 1941Bordeaux31 Aug 1941La PallicePassage Bordeaux-La Pallice.

2.Maggiore Francesco Baracca (BC, I.10)2 Sep 1941EveningLa Pallice8 Sep 19410800+SunkSailed for patrol in 40°25'N, 14°25'W then to 40°15'N, 17°25'W. At 2240 hours on the 6th, she was ordered to 41°05'N, 17°45'W then 40°25'N, 20°45'W, northeast of the Azores. Was northernmost of a barrage of five submarines. Carried only four reserve torpedoes (2 x 533 mm and 2 x 450 mm) instead of eight. At 1040 hours on the 6th, she reported that she was in 40°25'N, 20°35'W. Depth-charged by the destroyer HMS Croome, brought to the surface, then rammed and sunk. Thirty-four survivors (the captain, five officers and twenty-eight ratings), twenty-eight ratings killed.
  8 Sep 1941
0730 (e)

(e) 40° 31'N, 21° 15'W
At 0200A hours, the escort destroyer HMS Croome (Lieutenant Commander John D. Hayes) of the 13th Destroyer Flotilla had left convoy H.G. 72 in 40°00' N, 22°32' W to join convoy O.G. 73 at 0800 hours. She was to sweep an area ahead of it.

At 0730A hours, the starboard lookout spotted an object on the starboard beam at 8,500 yards. It was identified as a submarine steering south. This was Maggiore Baracca. Speed was increased to 20 knots. The submarine dived immediately.

At a range of 1,100 yards, she was detected by ASDIC. A first pattern of depth was released, it caused only minor damages such as putting out the depth gauge. This was followed by a second one set deeper as the submarine had reached a depth of 90 metres. This time all the lights were put out, the engines stopped, the steering gear disabled and flooding fore and aft.

Baracca surfaced astern the destroyer. Very quickly, HMS Croome reverted course and opened fire with all her guns. The submarine replied with her gun but her shooting was wild. Lewis gun fire quickly silenced her and the crew was seen to abandon ship as the destroyer rammed her just abaft the conning tower. The submarine sank. The destroyer was flooded as far as the central stores and her ASDIC was put out of action. She had to proceed at 8 knots to Gibraltar for repairs.

There were thirty-four survivors (T.V. Viani, five officers and twenty-eight ratings), twenty-eight ratings were killed.

5 entries. 5 total patrol entries (2 marked as war patrols) and 1 events.

Italian Commanders

Italian Submarines