Italian submarines in World War Two

Italian Commanders


Pasquale Beltrame

Born  5 Oct 1912Savona

Ranks

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

Decorations

20 Jan 1948 Medaglia d'argento al valore militare
29 Jan 1948 Medaglia di bronzo al valore militare
29 Mar 1948 Medaglia di bronzo al valore militare

Career information

ARADAM(S.T.V. First Officer): From 30.05.1939 to November 1940+.
Promoted to T.V. on ?
GIOVANNI BAUSAN (T.V. C.O.): from 02.12.1941? to 17.01.1942.
ASTERIA (T.V. C.O.): from 24.06.1942 to 20.08.1942.
BEILUL (T.V. C.O.): from 24.08.1942 to 09.09.1943.

Commands listed for Pasquale Beltrame


Submarine Type Rank From To
Giovanni Bausan (BN)Ocean goingT.V.2 Dec 194117 Jan 1942
Asteria (AE)Coastal / Sea goingT.V.24 Jun 194220 Aug 1942
Beilul (BU)Coastal / Sea goingT.V.24 Aug 19429 Sep 1943

Ships hit by Pasquale Beltrame

No ships hit by this Commander.

War patrols listed for Pasquale Beltrame

 SubmarineDateTimePortArr. dateArr. timeArr. portMilesDescription
Giovanni Bausan (BN)1 Jan 1942Date???Fiume17 Jan 1942FiumeRefit.

Asteria (AE)29 Jun 19421330Messina29 Jun 19421815Messina34Trials.

1.Asteria (AE)2 Jul 19421900Messina21 Jul 19420700Messina2825Sailed escorted by the auxiliary Castiglia, which could only make 7 knots and was therefore left behind at 2000 hours on 2nd July, then patrolled between 33°40'N and 36°00'N, and between 32°00'E and the Syrian coast.
  3 Jul 19420740At 0740 hours, two aircraft were seen at a distance of 5,000 metres, flying toward Asteria who dived.
  3 Jul 19420830At 0830 hours, the Italian hospital ship Arno was sighted at a range of 10,000 metres. Asteria had been informed of her passage but the hydrophones did not detect her.
  3 Jul 19420945At 0945 hours, an aircraft was seen at a distance of 4,500 metres and the submarine dived.
  5 Jul 19421355At 1355 hours, an aircraft was seen at a distance of 4,000 metres and the submarine dived.
  11 Jul 1942092335° 17'N, 35° 28'EAt 0923 hours, a smoke was sighted on the horizon at a range of 14,000 metres. It turned out to be a patrol vessel, zigzagging, steering 320°, 16 knots and followed at a distance by two steamers. At 0955 hours, Asteria closed to a distance of 5,000 meters of the escort and at 1000 hours was still 9,500 meters from the steamers before breaking off the chase.
  11 Jul 1942102535° 16'N, 35° 24'EAt 1025 hours, a steamer was sighted at a range of 6,000 metres. An escort was also sighted at 1,000 meters. The submarine attempted to close the steamer before losing contact at 1110 hours.
  14 Jul 1942020833° 48'N, 34° 56'EAt 0205 hours, the mist on the horizon made it difficult to identify an indistinct shape sighted at a range of 1,500 metres. Asteria steered toward it and recognised it as a large destroyer.

At 0208 hours, a single torpedo (533mm, S.I. 270 type with S.I.C. pistol) was fired at a range of 2,000 metres. The destroyer altered course to port, presenting her stern.

At 0210.5 hours, a single torpedo (533mm, S.I. 270 type with S.I.C. pistol) was fired at a range of 2,500 metres. An explosion was heard after 151 seconds but the destroyer had disappeared in the dark side of the horizon. Both torpedoes apparently missed.

This was possibly the armed whaler HMSAS Protea, detached to assist the Dutch tanker Odinda who had just been torpedoed by U-371. Other warships in the general vicinity were the corvette HMS Gloxinia and the escort destroyers HMS Croome and HMS Tetcott. No attack appears to have been reported.
  14 Jul 19422245
2350 (e)
33° 52'N, 34° 26'EAt 2245 hours, a submarine was sighted at a range of 1,000 metres and believed to be Italian. Prudently, Asteria turned to starboard at maximum speed to move away.

This was actually HMS Turbulent (Commander J.W. Linton, DSC, RN) who, at about the same time, sighted a submarine for only about 50 seconds, before she dived and lost contact.

Asteria (AE)10 Aug 19420800Messina10 Aug 19421230Messina24Exercises.

2.Asteria (AE)11 Aug 19421200Messina17 Aug 19421810Trapani702Escorted by the auxiliary Mazzei until 2150 hours on the 11th, she sailed for a patrol west of Malta between 35°40'N and 36°00'N and between 13°20'E and 13°40'E.
  14 Aug 1942205635° 33'N, 13° 53'EAt 2056 hours, an aircraft was seen and Asteria dived. The submarine was at a depth of 29 meters when four groups of bombs (three or four each) were heard, but she escaped damage.

The aircraft has not been identified.

3.Asteria (AE)18 Aug 19420110Trapani19 Aug 19420730Trapani183Sailed with Ascianghi and Alagi escorted by an R.D. (minesweeper) vessel until 0245/18. She was to patrol between 37°20'N and 37°50'N, and between 09°20'E and 10°20'E, north of Tunisia, but was recalled at 1300 hours on the 19th.

Beilul (BU)1 Sep 19420813Monfalcone1 Sep 19421440Monfalcone30Trials.

Beilul (BU)2 Sep 19421640Monfalcone2 Sep 19422038Monfalcone30,5Trials.

Beilul (BU)4 Sep 19420650Monfalcone4 Sep 19421357Venice78Passage Monfalcone-Venice (one source gives the date as 3rd September).

Beilul (BU)5 Sep 19420925Venice5 Sep 19421125Venice15Exercises.

Beilul (BU)7 Sep 19420715Venice7 Sep 19421728Pola88Passage Venice-Pola.

Beilul (BU)9 Sep 19420607Pola9 Sep 19422102Pola129Exercises with torpedo boat Insidioso.

Beilul (BU)10 Sep 19420930Pola10 Sep 19421934Pola11Gyrocompass tests.

Beilul (BU)12 Sep 19421603Pola16 Sep 19420950Messina620,7Passage Pola-Messina. Uneventful.

Beilul (BU)19 Sep 19420706Messina19 Sep 19421226Messina13,3Exercises.

Beilul (BU)20 Sep 19420706Messina20 Sep 19421226Messina13Exercises.

Beilul (BU)21 Sep 19421300Messina21 Sep 19421731Messina15Exercises.

Beilul (BU)23 Sep 19420805Messina23 Sep 19421241Messina13Exercises.

Beilul (BU)26 Sep 19420800Messina26 Sep 19421146Messina17Exercises.

Beilul (BU)5 Oct 19421320Messina5 Oct 19421700Messina6Exercises.

Beilul (BU)15 Oct 19420800Messina15 Oct 19421101Messina6Exercises.

Beilul (BU)19 Oct 19421750Messina23 Oct 19421418Leros865Passage Messina-Leros. Uneventful. Sighted only an Italian convoy at 0730 hours on 23rd October.

Beilul (BU)14 Nov 19420640Leros14 Nov 19421104Leros15,5Exercises.

4.Beilul (BU)15 Nov 19420706Leros30 Nov 19421310Leros1625Sailed for patrol near Rhodes. MAS 542 escorted her only until 0930 hours on the 15th as the bad weather forced her to turn back. An aircraft escorted her until 1130 hours on the 15th.
  19 Nov 19422040At 2040 hours, an aircraft was seen at a distance of 1,000 metres. It made a green signal. Beilul dived.

Beilul (BU)28 Dec 19420805Leros28 Dec 19421140Leros7Exercises.

5.Beilul (BU)7 Jan 19431200Leros23 Jan 19430450Leros1519Patrolled south of 34°00'N, between 21°30'E and 22°00'E. Uneventful. Heard only H.E.
  17 Jan 1943225833° 14'N, 21° 52'EAt 2258 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived.
  18 Jan 1943025733° 14'N, 21° 36'EAt 0257 hours, an aircraft was seen and the submarine dived.

Beilul (BU)6 Feb 19430218Leros6 Feb 19430645StampaliaPassage Leros-Stampalia.

Beilul (BU)9 Feb 19430803Leros9 Feb 19431116Leros12,5Exercises.

Beilul (BU)16 Feb 19430930Leros16 Feb 19431202Leros10,5Exercises.

6.Beilul (BU)25 Feb 19430800Leros12 Mar 19431240Leros1487Patrolled west of Cyprus between 35°00'N and 36°00'N, and between 30°00'E and 30°40'E. Uneventful. Heard only H.E.

Beilul (BU)30 Mar 19430936Leros30 Mar 19431205Leros8Exercises.

Beilul (BU)1 Apr 19430908Portolago (Leros)1 Apr 19431055Parteni (Leros)5,8Passage Portolago-Parteni (Leros).

Beilul (BU)7 Apr 19430903Parteni (Leros)7 Apr 19431032Portolago (Leros)6,2Passage Parteni-Portolago (Leros).

Beilul (BU)13 Apr 19430836Leros13 Apr 19431147Leros19Exercises.

Beilul (BU)20 Apr 19431004Leros20 Apr 19431200Leros6Exercises.

Beilul (BU)1 May 19430856Leros1 May 19431056Leros9Exercises.

7.Beilul (BU)26 May 19431545Leros15 Jun 19431820Leros1297Sailed escorted by a MAS until 1705 hours on the 26th, via 34°28'N, 26°20'E for a patrol in Gulf of Sirte in area bounded by the African coast and 34°00'N, and the parallels 14°00'E and 20°00'E.
  28 May 19430844
0955 (e)
34° 00'N, 24° 00'E
(0) Submarine position is approximate.
At 0844 hours, two Blenheim bombers were sighted at a distance of 4-5,000 metres, flying toward the submarine at an altitude of 500 metres. There was no time to crash-dive and, when when range was 1,200 metres, the submarine opened fire with her machine-guns. The two aircraft did not drop any bomb but attacked with cannon fire. As soon as they were over the submarine, T.V. Pasquale Beltrame seized the opportunity to order the crash-dive. Beilul was undamaged.

These aircraft were actually Beaufighters from 227 Long Range Fighter Squadron (201 Group) piloted by Flight Lt. M.B. Curtis and Flight Officer M.B.E. Amos. They had apparently already expended their bombs in an attack on a caique earlier in the morning.
  31 May 19432252Two small warships were sight at respectively 600 and 800 metres. Beilul dived.
  13 Jun 19430200At 0200 hours, information was received from SUPERMARINA of five enemy vessels near Ras-El-Tin (Libya), course and speed were not given. It was believed this was a convoy earlier reported and was probably steering toward Benghazi. Beilul moved southward to be in a position to intercept.
  13 Jun 19431440-1517At 1233 hours, Beilul initiated her return trip.

At 1440 hours, a depth-charge exploded near the submarine. No enemy craft had been heard approaching.

At 1450 hours, a second explosion occurred, followed by two more at 1457 hours and another two at 1459 hours. At 1501 hours, noises from a vessel nearing the submarine were heard. More followed until 1517 hours.

8.Beilul (BU)25 Jun 19432000Leros17 Jul 19430800Taranto1760,5Patrol and passage Leros-Brindisi via Rhodes. Patrolled in 32°15'N, 25°55'E. From 1st July, patrolled between 34°00'N and the African coast, and between 23°40'N and 27°00'E. Ordered to Pola on 9th July. On 10 July was ordered to proceed to 37°00'N, 16°00'E (east of Syracuse). Ordered to leave patrol on 14th July.
  28 Jun 1943150432° 00'N, 26° 00'E
(0) Approximate position.
At 1504 hours, Beilul was submerged when she was shaken by a loud explosion, followed minute later by another one. The submarine was undamaged.
  2 Jul 19430613At 0613 hours, after noises were detected with the hydrophones, five explosions were heard near Beilul. The noises were heard off and on.

At 1651 hours, another five depth charges exploded near her.
  12 Jul 1943215536° 54'N, 15° 35'EAt 2143 hours, the forward lookout noticed the shadows of two vessels. A minute and a half later, three destroyers of the JERVIS class could be made out.

At 2155 hours, three torpedoes were fired from the bow tubes (a fourth misfired) at a range of 1,500 metres. Shortly after, two explosions were heard 3 seconds apart. There is no evidence that the attack was successful.

The targets were possibly the light cruisers HMS Cleopatra and HMS Euryalus screened by the destroyers HMS Ilex and HMS Echo. They had sailed from Malta at 1600 hours for a patrol off the East Sicilian coast.
  16 Jul 19432234
2247 (e)

(0) 304° - Punta Alice - 24 miles.
At 2234 hours, a dark shadow was sighted but could not be identified. This was actually the submarine HMS United (Lieutenant John Charles Young Roxburgh, DSC, RN) who observed a submarine generating a great deal of smoke, but this suddenly stopped.

Beilul's diesels were indeed produced a great deal of smoke and when the shadow was seen, T.V. Beltrame prudently ordered the crew to shut down the main engines, switch to the electric motors and, take avoiding action. HMS United (who had sunk Remo the previous day) refrained from attack as British submarines were operating in the adjacent areas.

Beilul (BU)22 Jul 19431030Taranto25 Jul 19430704Pola536Passage Taranto-Pola. Uneventful.

Beilul (BU)27 Jul 19430454Pola27 Jul 19431138Monfalcone68Passage Pola-Monfalcone.

Beilul (BU)31 Jul 19430910Monfalcone31 Jul 19431155Monfalcone4Trials.

Beilul (BU)9 Sep 1943Monfalcone9 Sep 1943MonfalconeBeilul could not sail because she lacked part of her machinery. She was to have been sunk on 11th September 1943, after the submarine Argo was scuttled, but her C.O. T.V. Beltrame reported receiving orders to surrender the submarine to the Germans. Seized by the Germans, but was in need of a major overhaul. In February 1944, she was mentioned as ceded to the Decima Flottiglia MAS and transformed as a special operation submarine.

56 entries. 42 total patrol entries (8 marked as war patrols) and 20 events.

Italian Commanders

Italian Submarines