Italian submarines in World War Two

Italian Commanders


Bruno Zelik

Born  30 Oct 1903Trieste
Died  10 Aug 1942(38)Killed in action

Ranks

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

Decorations

17 Aug 1942 Medaglia di bronzo al valore militare (posthumous)
18 Dec 1951 Medaglia d'argento al valore militare (posthumous)

Career information

REGINALDO GIULIANI (T.V. C.O.): from 25.04.1940 to 12.08.1940.
VETTOR PISANI (T.V. C.O.): from 23.10.1940 to 04.11.1941.
Promoted to C.C. in October 1940).
FRANCESCO RISMONDO (C.C. C.O.): from 04.11.1941 to 28.01.1942.
TOPAZIO (C.C. C.O.): from 09.02.1942 to 28.02.1942.
ONICE (C.C. C.O.): from 29.01.1942 to 23.05.1942.
SCIRÈ (C.C. C.O.): from 24.05.1942 to 10.08.1942 (sunk, Zelik was killed).

Commands listed for Bruno Zelik


Submarine Type Rank From To
Reginaldo Giuliani (GN, I.14, UIT.23)Ocean goingT.V.25 Apr 194012 Aug 1940
Vettor Pisani (PN)Ocean goingC.C.23 Oct 19404 Nov 1941
Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)C.C.4 Nov 194128 Jan 1942
Topazio (TP)Coastal / Sea goingC.C.9 Feb 194228 Feb 1942
Onice (OC)Coastal / Sea goingC.C.29 Jan 194223 May 1942
Scirè (SR)Coastal / Sea goingC.C.24 May 194210 Aug 1942

Ships hit by Bruno Zelik

No ships hit by this Commander.

War patrols listed for Bruno Zelik

 SubmarineDateTimePortArr. dateArr. timeArr. portMilesDescription
1.Reginaldo Giuliani (GN, I.14, UIT.23)6 Jun 19400800Taranto21 Jun 19401810Taranto1462,8Patrolled 35 miles south of Gavdo and south of Crete in 34°20'N, 24°20'E. On 18th June, patrol was shifted 25 miles to the west. Formed a line with Bagnolini, Tarantini and Salpa.

Reginaldo Giuliani (GN, I.14, UIT.23)1 Jul 19400800Taranto1 Jul 19401055Taranto10,5Exercises.

Reginaldo Giuliani (GN, I.14, UIT.23)11 Jul 19401155Taranto11 Jul 19401533Taranto19Exercises.

2.Reginaldo Giuliani (GN, I.14, UIT.23)12 Jul 19400748Taranto27 Jul 19401543Taranto1682,9Patrolled northeast of Derna from 33°05'N, 22°40'E, 20 miles to SE and SW with the submarine Bagnolini. From the night of 23 July, patrol was shifted to 33°40'N parallel.
  24 Jul 19400435
(0) Off Derna.
At 0435 hours, As the submarine was diving, the hatch fell heavily on the head of the gunner Cesario Verardo. The gunner was severely injured and despite attempts to administer him first aid he died at 0525 hours on the following day.
  27 Jul 19400157
0215 (e)

(0) 31 miles south of Cape Santa Maria di Leuca.
At 0157 hours, Giuliani sighted a shadow at 1,200-1,500 metres. It was believed to be a submarine and it dived. This was most likely Bagnolini. Giuliani also dived and Zelik heard a noise and believed the "enemy" submarine had fired a torpedo, but this was not the case.

Vettor Pisani (PN)16 Nov 19400815Pola16 Nov 19401536Pola25,4Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)22 Nov 19400758Pola22 Nov 19401605Pola52Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)26 Nov 19400918Pola26 Nov 19401630Pola54,5Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)29 Nov 19400755Pola29 Nov 19401715Pola63Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)4 Dec 19400800Pola4 Dec 19401700Pola61,2Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary San Giorgio.

Vettor Pisani (PN)6 Dec 19400800Pola6 Dec 19401725Pola55,4Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)11 Dec 19400812Pola11 Dec 19401715Pola56,9Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)14 Dec 19400800Pola15 Dec 19400340Pola81,2Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)19 Dec 19400800Pola19 Dec 19401736Pola57,5Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)21 Dec 19401610Pola22 Dec 19400150Pola65Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Laurana.

Vettor Pisani (PN)27 Dec 19400805Pola27 Dec 19401730Pola59,3Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)30 Dec 19400800Pola30 Dec 19401730Pola61,1Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Laurana.

Vettor Pisani (PN)2 Jan 19410945Pola2 Jan 19411650Pola53Sailed with the submarine Adua, escorted by the auxiliary Jadera for attack exercises on torpedo boat Audace.

Vettor Pisani (PN)4 Jan 1941Pola4 Jan 1941Pola81,4Exercises with the submarine Adua escorted by the auxiliary Laurana.

Vettor Pisani (PN)7 Jan 19410900Pola8 Jan 19410050Pola81,4Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)9 Jan 19410800Pola9 Jan 19411610Pola54,1Exercises with the auxiliary Laurana.

Vettor Pisani (PN)13 Jan 19410800Pola15 Jan 19410100Pola138,1Exercises. Apparently stopped at Rovigno on 14th January then passage to Pola with torpedo boat Audace, the auxiliary Jadera and submarines Adua, Fieramosca and Fisalia.

Vettor Pisani (PN)16 Jan 19410800Pola16 Jan 19411645Pola64,9Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)21 Jan 19410800Pola21 Jan 19411645Pola64,8Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)23 Jan 19410803Pola23 Jan 19411745Pola63,5Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)25 Jan 19410800Pola26 Jan 19410212Pola81,2Attack exercises on the torpedo boat Audace, escorted by the auxiliaries San Giorgio and Jadera.

Vettor Pisani (PN)28 Jan 19411617Pola29 Jan 19410130Pola61Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)30 Jan 19410805Pola30 Jan 19411730Pola64,5Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)31 Jan 19410810Pola1 Feb 19410100Pola89,5Attack exercises on the torpedo boat Audace.

Vettor Pisani (PN)3 Feb 19410810Pola3 Feb 19411900Pola67,4Sailed with the submarine Fisalia, escorted by the auxiliary San Giorgio, for exercises with the torpedo boat Audace.

Vettor Pisani (PN)7 Feb 19410820Pola8 Feb 19410045Pola82Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)8 Feb 19411750Pola9 Feb 19410140Pola66Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)10 Feb 19410818Pola10 Feb 19412029Pola54,9Exercises with the submarine Fieramosca, escorted by the auxiliary San Giorgio.
  10 Feb 19411454
(0) Near Island of S. Caterina (near Rovigno).
The submarine was returning from exercises due to the sudden fog when she ran aground but later managed to disengage herself. An inquest exonerated C.C. Zelik from responsibility.

Vettor Pisani (PN)23 Feb 19410823Pola23 Feb 19411700Pola54,5Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)24 Feb 19410810Pola24 Feb 19411830Pola65,1Sailed with the submarines Fisalia and Adua, escorted by the auxiliaries San Giorgio and Jadera, for torpedo firing exercises with the torpedo boat Audace.

Vettor Pisani (PN)26 Feb 19410813Pola26 Feb 19411654Pola63,6Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)28 Feb 19410815Pola1 Mar 19410115Pola75,3Exercises with the submarine Des Geneys, escorted by the auxiliary Laurana and then by San Giorgio, for night firing exercises with the torpedo boat Audace.

Vettor Pisani (PN)1 Mar 19411741Pola2 Mar 19410050Pola63Exercises, escorted by the torpedo boat Audace and the auxiliary San Giorgio.

Vettor Pisani (PN)3 Mar 19410810Pola3 Mar 19411825Pola61,4Exercises with Des Geneys, escorted by the torpedo boat Audace and the auxiliaries San Giorgio, Jadera and Laurana.

3.Vettor Pisani (PN)6 Mar 19410811Pola7 Mar 19410010Pola97,9Sailed for defensive patrol, escorted by the auxiliaries Jadera and Tenace.

Vettor Pisani (PN)8 Mar 19410820Pola8 Mar 19411700Pola54,6Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)10 Mar 19410815Pola10 Mar 19411750Pola59,8Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)12 Mar 19410920Pola12 Mar 19411726Pola27,2Exercises, escorted by the auxiliaries San Giorgio and Jadera.

Vettor Pisani (PN)13 Mar 19411746Pola13 Mar 19412330Pola45Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary San Giorgio.

Vettor Pisani (PN)15 Mar 19410820Pola15 Mar 19412351Pola70,2Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)18 Mar 19410826Pola18 Mar 19411700Pola48,4Exercises with the torpedo boat Audace, escorted by the auxiliary Jadera.

Vettor Pisani (PN)20 Mar 19410815Pola20 Mar 19411830Pola62,6Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)21 Mar 19410815Pola21 Mar 19411420Pola43,2Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)26 Mar 19410825Pola26 Mar 19411734Pola64,9Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)29 Mar 19411746Pola30 Mar 19410050Pola49Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)31 Mar 19411145Pola31 Mar 19411713Pola77,2Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)1 Apr 19410815Pola1 Apr 19411715Pola52,9Exercises, escorted by the auxiliaries Laurana and San Giorgio.

4.Vettor Pisani (PN)4 Apr 19411540Pola5 Apr 19411000Pola103,5Hydrophone watch with the submarine Des Geneys, to cover an Italian convoy in northern Adriatic in 45°12'N, 12°57'E. Uneventful.

Vettor Pisani (PN)6 Apr 19411955Pola7 Apr 19410725Pola4,5Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)7 May 19410800Pola7 May 19411740Pola51,8Exercises with the submarine Bragadino, escorted by auxiliary San Giorgio.

Vettor Pisani (PN)9 May 19410725Pola9 May 19411825Pola61,6Exercises with the submarine Des Geneys, escorted by auxiliary Gigliola.

Vettor Pisani (PN)10 May 19411040Pola11 May 19410230Pola69,1Exercises with the submarine Des Geneys, escorted by the auxiliary Gigliola and then night torpedo firing exercises with torpedo boat Audace.

Vettor Pisani (PN)13 May 19411030Pola13 May 19411150Pola31,6Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)14 May 19410800Pola14 May 19411855Pola60,1Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)16 May 19410820Pola16 May 19411830Pola47,7Exercises with the submarine Toti in zone 2, escorted by auxiliary Morrhua.

Vettor Pisani (PN)17 May 19410744Pola17 May 19411807Pola55,4Exercises with the submarine Toti, escorted by the auxiliary Cilicia.

Vettor Pisani (PN)20 May 19410800Pola20 May 19411840Pola60,4Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)21 May 19410800Pola21 May 19411910Pola59,5Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)22 May 19410800Pola22 May 19411840Pola61,3Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)24 May 19410800Pola25 May 19410157Pola75Exercises with the submarines Narvalo, Bausan, Speri and Toti, escorted by the auxiliaries San Giorgio, Jadera and Morrhua.

Vettor Pisani (PN)26 May 19410805Pola26 May 19411811Pola60,2Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)28 May 19410800Pola28 May 19411355Pola54,2Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)31 May 19410730Pola1 Jun 19410251Pola95,4Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Jadera.

Vettor Pisani (PN)3 Jun 19410745Pola3 Jun 19411835Pola62,5Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)4 Jun 19410800Pola4 Jun 19411540Pola68,1Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)6 Jun 19410825Pola6 Jun 19411834Pola35Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)7 Jun 19411305Pola8 Jun 19410150Pola57,8Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)9 Jun 19410800Pola9 Jun 19411640Pola67,2Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)11 Jun 19410800Pola11 Jun 19411820Pola60,3Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)13 Jun 19410800Pola13 Jun 19411850Pola56,6Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)14 Jun 19410734Pola14 Jun 19411820Pola59,6Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)16 Jun 19410800Pola16 Jun 19411820Pola53,8Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)17 Jun 19411045Pola18 Jun 19410321Pola69,5Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary San Giorgio.

5.Vettor Pisani (PN)19 Jun 19411710Pola21 Jun 19410130Pola422Patrolled in Adriatic.

Vettor Pisani (PN)26 Jun 19410737Pola26 Jun 19411705Pola60,3Sailed with the submarine Enrico Toti, escorted by the auxiliary Jadera, for exercises with the torpedo boat Audace.

Vettor Pisani (PN)28 Jun 19410737Pola29 Jun 19410245Pola86,5Exercises with the submarine Speri, escorted by the auxiliary Jadera and the torpedo boat Insidioso.

Vettor Pisani (PN)30 Jun 19410800Pola30 Jun 19411819Pola60,6Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)2 Jul 19410741Pola2 Jul 19411900Pola61,3Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)3 Jul 19411230Pola3 Jul 19411845Pola61,3Gunnery exercises with the submarines Jalea and Speri and the auxiliary Principessa Mafalda.

Vettor Pisani (PN)5 Jul 19410740Pola5 Jul 19411730Pola52,3Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)15 Jul 19410745Pola15 Jul 19411905Pola56,4Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)16 Jul 19410730Pola16 Jul 19411900Pola63,5Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)19 Jul 19410940Pola19 Jul 19411500Pola51,6Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Jadera.

Vettor Pisani (PN)19 Jul 19411955Pola20 Jul 19410230Pola54Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)22 Jul 19410745Pola22 Jul 19411820Pola61,7Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)24 Jul 19410504Pola24 Jul 19412105Pola189Trials with the submarine Ammiraglio Cagni.

Vettor Pisani (PN)25 Jul 19410830Pola25 Jul 19411830Pola60,6Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)28 Jul 19410740Pola28 Jul 19411740Pola51,6Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)29 Jul 19410743Pola30 Jul 19410230Pola72,8Exercises with the submarine Medusa, escorted by the auxiliary San Giorgio.

Vettor Pisani (PN)1 Aug 19410800Pola1 Aug 19411825Pola53,6Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)4 Aug 19410100Pola4 Aug 19411815Pola63,3Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)8 Aug 19410740Pola8 Aug 19411752Pola57,2Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)12 Aug 19410733Pola12 Aug 19411552Pola52,1Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)12 Aug 19412107Pola13 Aug 19410556Pola64Exercises with the submarines Jalea and Des Geneys, escorted by the auxiliary Jadera, the torpedo boat Audace and the light cruiser Da Barbiano.

Vettor Pisani (PN)16 Aug 19410715Pola16 Aug 19411420Pola56,9Exercises with the submarine Des Geneys, escorted by the auxiliary Salvore and the torpedo boat Audace.

Vettor Pisani (PN)22 Aug 19411900Pola23 Aug 19410113Pola52Sailed with the submarine Adua, escorted by the auxiliary Salvore, for torpedo firing exercises with the torpedo boat Insidioso.

Vettor Pisani (PN)28 Aug 19411900Pola29 Aug 19410122Pola54Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)3 Sep 19411104Pola3 Sep 19411849Pola53,8Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)5 Sep 19410800Pola5 Sep 19411658Pola60,9Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)10 Sep 19410800Pola10 Sep 19411645Pola51,1Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)10 Sep 19411830Pola11 Sep 19410018Pola52Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)13 Sep 19410800Pola13 Sep 19411635Pola53,8Exercises with the submarines Bausan, Medusa and Jalea, escorted by the torpedo boat Insidioso and the auxiliaries Morrhua and Jadera.

Vettor Pisani (PN)13 Sep 19411830Pola14 Sep 19410120Pola53Exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)4 Nov 19410800Pola4 Nov 19411512Pola49Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary San Giorgio and the torpedo boat Audace.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)7 Nov 19411700Pola7 Nov 19412015Pola51Exercises, escorted by the torpedo boat Audace.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)10 Nov 19410800Pola10 Nov 19411500Pola51Exercises, escorted by the torpedo boat Audace and the auxiliary Jadera.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)11 Nov 19411005Pola11 Nov 19412215Pola68Exercises, escorted by the torpedo boat Audace.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)12 Nov 19411650Pola12 Nov 19412205Pola68Exercises, escorted by the torpedo boat Audace.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)20 Nov 19410800Pola20 Nov 19411310Pola68Exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)25 Nov 19410700Pola26 Nov 19411252Fiume52Passage Pola-Fiume.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)14 Dec 1941Time?Fiume14 Dec 19411410Fiume16Exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)26 Dec 19411120Fiume26 Dec 19411435Fiume16Exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)1 Jan 19420805Fiume2 Jan 19421540Brindisi360Passage Fiume-Brindisi.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)7 Jan 19420630Brindisi9 Jan 19420055Messina260Passage Brindisi-Messina.
  7 Jan 19421745At 1745 hours, the submarine Otaria was sighted.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)12 Jan 19420720Messina14 Jan 19420850La Spezia495Passage Messina-La Spezia. Uneventful.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)17 Jan 19420905La Spezia17 Jan 19421435La Spezia24Exercises, escorted by the auxiliaries Giasone and Capodistria.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)20 Jan 19420800La Spezia20 Jan 19421735La Spezia32Exercises, escorted by MAS 525.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)23 Jan 19420800La Spezia23 Jan 19421314La Spezia28Exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)26 Jan 19420800La Spezia26 Jan 19421300La Spezia27Exercises.

Francesco Rismondo (ex-N.1, ex-Osvetnik) (RI)27 Jan 19420830La Spezia27 Jan 19421230La Spezia29Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Porto Sdobba.

6.Topazio (TP)9 Feb 19421727Messina25 Feb 19421320Messina1552Patrolled within 8 miles from 34°40'N, 20°00'E. On the evening of 13th February was moved 20 miles south, then returned to her original position. On the evening of 15th February, she was ordered to shift 098° - 148 miles. Note: Zelik was the commanding officer of Onice, who was undergoing repairs, and took temporary command of Topazio.
  14 Feb 1942212034° 58'N, 19° 54'EAt 2118 hours, a large two-funnel destroyer was sighted at 1,500 metres, proceeding at 18 knots.

At 2120 hours. a single torpedo was fired from a stern tube at a range of 1,000 metres. It missed. T.V. Zelik believed his submarine had been sighted and took her down to 40 meters but no counter-attack ensued.

Onice (OC)25 Feb 19420950Messina25 Feb 19421755Messina70Exercises, escorted by the motor boat Diversi.

7.Onice (OC)11 Mar 19420110Messina14 Mar 19420810Messina503,7Patrolled southeast of Malta between 34°20'N and 34°40'N, and between 16°20'E and 17°00'E, on a patrol line with Uaersciek.
  11 Mar 19421445
(0) NE of Malta.
At 1006 hours, Onice (and Uarsciek) had been informed that an enemy force of three cruisers, five destroyers and four auxiliaries had been sighted, at 0745 hours in Italian Grid 6719 (34°20' N, 22°25' E), steering 285°, 22 knots. This was followed by more signals.

At 1445 hours, two aircraft were sighted steering 270°. Onice dived.

8.Onice (OC)15 Mar 19421903Messina31 Mar 19420755Messina1517,3Patrolled north of Cyrenaica between 34°30'N and 34°40'N, 22°10'E and 23°10'E.
  16 Mar 19420120
0115 (e)
37° 29'N, 16° 32'EAt 0120 hours, a submarine was sighted at a distance of 800-1,000 metres. Shortly after, Onice fired two torpedoes from her bow tubes at a range of 500 metres. She then opened fire as she steered straight for the enemy. After the third round, fired at only 150 metres, the submarine crash-dived as Onice passed over her.

This was HMS P 36 (Lieutenant H.N. Edmonds, DSC) who mistook Onice for an E-boat which fired two bursts above the submarine. HMS Unbeaten was in an adjacent area and heard two loud explosions at 0130 hours but these were probably the torpedoes hitting bottom.
  17 Mar 19421315
(0) West of Crete.
At 1315 hours, Onice was suddenly attacked by a German aircraft, which strafed her. The submarine made the recognition signal and the aircraft flew away. At 1330 hours, two more aircraft were sighted and this time Onice dived immediately.
  21 Mar 1942161434° 18'N, 22° 54'EAt 1614 hours, in poor visibility, a convoy was sighted at a distance of 3,000 metres. Onice submerged, but immediately lost contact.
  23 Mar 1942143334° 14'N, 22° 26'E
(0) Italian Grid 5806/2.
At 1342 hours, noises were detected with hydrophones. At 1415 hours, an enemy squadron could be seen at 7-8,000 metres. It consisted of three destroyers leading three or four cruisers, flanked by more destroyers.

At 1433 hours, two torpedoes were fired from bow tubes with the destroyer screen at a distance of 1,800 metres and the cruisers at 2,500-3,000 metres. The "senzabolla" (bubbleless) system did not work and C.C. Zelik decided to take his submarine to a depth of 40 metres. At 1436 hours, an explosion was heard and a torpedo was assumed to have hit. The explosion was also heard in Platino who was in the area.

This was most probably the 15th Cruiser Squadron retiring to Alexandria after the Second Battle of Sirte. The attack does not seem to have been observed and the torpedoes missed.
  23 Mar 1942150634° 14'N, 22° 02'E
(0) Italian Grid 5806/2.
At 1506 hours, a cruiser and destroyer were sighted on an opposite course at a distance of 5,000 metres. Onice lost contact but sighted them again at 1602 hours, this time at a distance of 8-10,000 meters.

Onice (OC)18 Apr 19420902Messina19 Apr 19421546Trapani212,3Passage Messina-Trapani escorted by the torpedo boat Abba.

Onice (OC)20 Apr 19420815Trapani20 Apr 19421100Trapani23,5Trials.

9.Onice (OC)20 Apr 19421558Trapani11 May 19421350Trapani1130,9Sailed with the submarine Corallo, escorted by the torpedo boat Cigno and patrolled in zone K.2 (between 36°53'N and 36°57'N, and between 11°12'E and the Tunisian coast) to attack Malta traffic.
  28 Apr 1942034536° 50'N, 11° 07'EAt 0343 hours, a large submarine was sighted at a distance of 3-4,000 metres.

At 0345 hours, two torpedoes were fired. One of them porpoised and both missed. The rough seas prevented Onice from carrying a gun action and the enemy submarine dived at 0347 hours.

No enemy submarine operated in the area. Either Onice attacked Corallo by mistake or the "submarine" was perhaps a fishing vessel. At the same time,in the adjacent area, Corallo was in the process of sinking of the Tunisian fishing vessel Tunis and she did not dive as reported by C.C. Zelik.
  9 May 19422114
(0) 2 miles north of Cape Bon.
At 2114 hours, Onice was strafed by an aircraft and crash-dived.
  9 May 19422119
(0) 2 miles north of Cape Bon.
At 2119 hours, propellers of a fast destroyer were heard. It was steering south. This was the fast minelayer HMS Welshman proceeding to Malta with supplies. The noises quickly faded away.

Onice (OC)22 May 19420801Trapani22 May 19421145Trapani21,8Exercises escorted by the minesweeper R.D.42.

Scirè (SR)27 Jun 19420753La Spezia27 Jun 19421815La Spezia46Exercises.

Scirè (SR)30 Jun 19420815La Spezia30 Jun 19421755La Spezia16Exercises.

Scirè (SR)1 Jul 19420825La Spezia1 Jul 19421720La SpeziaExercises.

Scirè (SR)6 Jul 19420830La Spezia6 Jul 19421135La SpeziaExercises.

Scirè (SR)9 Jul 19420935La Spezia9 Jul 19421715La SpeziaExercises.

Scirè (SR)10 Jul 19420839La Spezia10 Jul 19421435La SpeziaExercises.

Scirè (SR)16 Jul 19420830La Spezia16 Jul 19421820La SpeziaExercises.

Scirè (SR)24 Jul 19422315La Spezia24 Jul 19420230La SpeziaExercises.

10.Scirè (SR)27 Jul 19421830La Spezia2 Aug 19421920LerosPassage La Spezia-Leros. The sortie was known through ULTRA.

11.Scirè (SR)6 Aug 19420752Leros10 Aug 19421610Sunk with all handsMission to attack Haifa with human torpedoes (Operation S.L.1). She was sunk by the armed trawler HMT Islay.
  10 Aug 1942
1110 (e)
At 1110 hours, a Walrus (W.2789) of 700 Squadron, piloted by Sub Lieutenant R.A.J. Lea, sighted a submarine at half a mile. It was partially submerged, with only the conning tower and the wire cutters showing above the water. It appeared to be diving and steering 250°. The aircraft made an attack from the stern, releasing two depth charges from a height of 20 feet and set to a depth of 25 feet. They exploded about 30 yards ahead of the swirl, probably above the target. No result was observed.

There is little doubt that the submarine was Scirè. British Intelligence had been informed of her passage to Leros as early as 30th July and was aware that the submarine had been involved in the special operation on Alexandria the previous December. Another special operation was to be expected to follow soon.

Following this report, the motor launches ML 348 and ML 354 were dispatched from Beirut and the escort destroyer HMS Tetcott was detached to assist.
  10 Aug 1942
1545-1610 (e)

(e) 33° 11'N, 34° 55'E
At 1545 hours, the armed trawler HMT Islay sighted a submarine on the surface just off the Haifa swept channel. She attacked it with gunfire and depth charges.

This was Scirè and she was sunk with all hands. C.C. Bruno Zelik, four officers, forty-four ratings and eleven passengers of the Decima Flottiglia Mas perished.

Two bodies were washed ashore a few days later (Captain Egil Chersi, who was to be the leader of attack, and 2° Capo IEF (Petty Officer) Eugenio Del Ben. This may lead us to believe that the submarine was caught in the process of launching the attack or some men attempted to escape from her wreck. Why was she caught on the surface, in broad daylight, near an important enemy base is a mystery. Perhaps Scirè had developed defects or had suffered serious damage from the previous air attack which made it difficult to complete her mission and C.C. Zelik had decided to launch the attack in daylight.

The eleven men of the Decima Flottiglia Mas were:

2° Capo Inf. Aurelio Morgan
2° Capo IEF Eugenio Del Ben
Serg. Nocchiere Delfo Caprili
Serg. Can. Lauro Manzoni
Sotto Capo Can. Erminio Fioravanti
Fuochista O. Luca Ricciardi
Motorista Paolo Baronchelli
Cap. Comm. Egil Chersi
Serg. Pal. Rodolfo Beuck
S.T. Medico Pietro Gnecco
Fuochista Guido Fontebuoni

The wreck was later located in 32°54.5' N, 34°58' E and examined by divers (depth of 32-34 meters), artifacts being recovered after the war. An attack by Maiali appeared to have been expected but the target appears to have mistakenly been considered as Beirut instead of Haifa and, CS.15 decided on 15th August.1942, to send HMS Aldenham to Beirut to reinforce the A/S defences.

On 24th August 1942, examination of the wreck revealed that all three cylinders were empty (only frogmen were to be used). In 1984, the Italian rescue ship Antea recovered the remains of forty-two of the crew and passengers as well as some artifacts.

150 entries. 142 total patrol entries (11 marked as war patrols) and 16 events.

Italian Commanders

Italian Submarines