Italian submarines in World War Two

Italian Commanders


Giovanni Cantù

Born  26 Jun 1907Leghorn
Died  24 Apr 1989(81)Rome

Ranks

  T.V.Tenente di Vascello

Decorations

  Croce al merito di guerra
  Ufficiale dell'ordine della Corona d'Italia
  Cavaliere di gran croce dell'ordine della Republica Italiana
20 Aug 1940 Croce di guerra al valore militare

Career information

From 25.02.1940, had been in command of the torpedo-boat PLEIADI.
RUGGIERO SETTIMO (T.V. C.O.): from 04.06.1940 to 27.08.1940.
CIRO MENOTTI (T.V. C.O.): from 28.08.1940 to 18.09.1940.
DES GENEYS (T.V. C.O.): from 26.09.1940 to 19.01.1941?
VETTOR PISANI (T.V. C.O.): from 15.10.1940 to 22.10.1940.

Commands listed for Giovanni Cantù


Submarine Type Rank From To
Ruggiero Settimo (RS)Ocean goingT.V.4 Jun 194027 Aug 1940
Ciro Menotti (ME, N.66)Ocean goingT.V.28 Aug 194018 Sep 1940
Vettor Pisani (PN)Ocean goingT.V.15 Oct 194022 Oct 1940
Des Geneys (DN)Ocean goingT.V.26 Sep 194019 Jan 1941

Ships hit by Giovanni Cantù

No ships hit by this Commander.

War patrols listed for Giovanni Cantù

 SubmarineDateTimePortArr. dateArr. timeArr. portMilesDescription
1.Ruggiero Settimo (RS)6 Jun 19400427Taranto16 Jun 19401546Gallipoli (near Taranto)1295Patrolled in Kythera Channel, north of Crete.
  13 Jun 19402027
(0) Off Suda (Crete)
A large enemy submarine was sighted at a distance of 1,000 metres and two torpedoes (533mm) were fired, but missed. The enemy submarine also appeared to have launched torpedoes. This was possibly HMS Phoenix, which was in 35°42' N, 24°11' E, but she did not fire torpedoes and did not observe the attack.

Ruggiero Settimo (RS)26 Jun 19401505Gallipoli (near Taranto)26 Jun 19401730Taranto7Passage Gallipoli-Taranto.

Ruggiero Settimo (RS)4 Jul 19401620Taranto5 Jul 19401652Augusta282Passage Taranto-Augusta with submarine Luigi Settembrini.

2.Ruggiero Settimo (RS)8 Jul 19402321Augusta13 Jul 19400007Augusta389Patrolled in 36°10'N, 17°20'E. Damaged by a bomb from a Sunderland.
  12 Jul 19401129
1125 (e)
36° 10'N, 17° 20'E
(e) 36° 48'N, 15° 54'E
(0) Approximately.
The submarine was attacked by a Sunderland flying at an altitude of 250 meters. This was Sunderland 'W' (N.9020) of 228 Squadron, piloted by Squadron Leader G. L. Menzies] flying at 2,000 feet, which dropped three 250 lb A/S bombs and strafed the submarine. Ruggiero Settimo replied with the starboard machine-gun, but it jammed after a few rounds. The submarine turned to starboard as an evasive action, allowing the port side MG to bear, but it was hit by a bomb on the stern just abaft the engine compartment, causing only minor damage. Luckily, despite being strafed by the Sunderland, there were no casualties. Settimo dived, two more bombs were dropped on the submerging submarine and another on a third run. These bombs caused more serious damage forcing the submarine to abort her patrol.

Ruggiero Settimo (RS)20 Jul 19401600Augusta21 Jul 19401750Taranto298Passage Augusta-Taranto.

Ruggiero Settimo (RS)23 Aug 19400804Taranto23 Aug 19401640Taranto26Exercises.

Ruggiero Settimo (RS)25 Aug 19400850Taranto25 Aug 19401700Taranto50Exercises.

Ciro Menotti (ME, N.66)28 Aug 1940Taranto18 Sep 1940TarantoRefit at Taranto. Change in command.

Des Geneys (DN)7 Oct 19401003Pola7 Oct 19401736Pola49,4Exercises.

Des Geneys (DN)14 Oct 19400820Pola14 Oct 19401724Pola49,7Exercises.

Vettor Pisani (PN)15 Oct 1940Pola22 Oct 1940PolaRefit in Pola. Change in command.

Des Geneys (DN)19 Oct 19400800Pola19 Oct 19401710Pola55Exercises.

Des Geneys (DN)2 Nov 19400803Pola2 Nov 19401102Pola21,05Exercises.

Des Geneys (DN)5 Nov 19400810Pola5 Nov 19401705Pola54Exercises.

Des Geneys (DN)7 Nov 19400818Pola7 Nov 19401656Pola31,3Exercises.

Des Geneys (DN)9 Nov 19400805Pola9 Nov 19401747Pola56Exercises.

Des Geneys (DN)20 Nov 19400820Pola20 Nov 19401726Pola29,9Exercises.

Des Geneys (DN)21 Nov 19400722Pola21 Nov 19401716Pola35,6Exercises.

Des Geneys (DN)25 Nov 19400758Pola25 Nov 19401712Pola70Sailed with the submarine Adua, escorted by the auxiliary San Giorgio and the tug Tenace, for torpedo firing exercises with the torpedo boat Audace.

Des Geneys (DN)27 Nov 19400813Pola27 Nov 19401708Pola59Sailed with the submarine Adua, escorted by the auxiliary San Giorgio and the tug Tenace, for torpedo firing exercises with the torpedo boat Audace.

Des Geneys (DN)3 Dec 19400814Pola3 Dec 19401741Pola58Exercises.

Des Geneys (DN)5 Dec 19400751Pola5 Dec 19401725Pola62Exercises.

Des Geneys (DN)9 Dec 19400800Pola9 Dec 19401748Pola57Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary San Giorgio.

Des Geneys (DN)12 Dec 19400800Pola12 Dec 19401654Pola63Exercises.

Des Geneys (DN)16 Dec 19400833Pola16 Dec 19401745Pola74Attack exercises with torpedo boat Audace, escorted by the auxiliary Laurana.

Des Geneys (DN)20 Dec 19400800Pola20 Dec 19401844Pola63Sailed with the submarine Adua, escorted by the auxiliary Gigliola, for torpedo firing exercises with the torpedo boat Audace.

Des Geneys (DN)26 Dec 19400805Pola26 Dec 19401800Pola71Attack exercises on the torpedo boat Audace with the submarines Bragadino and Adua, escorted by the auxiliary San Giorgio and the submarine chaser Laurana.

Des Geneys (DN)28 Dec 19401602Pola29 Dec 19400202Pola84Sailed with the submarine Adua for night torpedo firing exercises with the torpedo boat Audace.

Des Geneys (DN)29 Dec 19400800Pola29 Dec 19401736Pola114Exercises.

Des Geneys (DN)3 Jan 19410800Pola3 Jan 19411640Pola68Exercises.

Des Geneys (DN)6 Jan 19410800Pola6 Jan 19411640Pola62Exercises with the submarine Adua, escorted by the submarine chaser Laurana.

Des Geneys (DN)7 Jan 19410912Pola7 Jan 19411347Pola46Gunfire exercises with the submarines Bragadino, Adua and Fisalia, escorted by the auxiliary Laurana.

Des Geneys (DN)8 Jan 19410810Pola8 Jan 19411715Pola71Attack exercises with the submarine chaser Laurana.

Des Geneys (DN)11 Jan 19410800Pola12 Jan 19410110Pola132Attack exercises with the submarine Adua on the torpedo boat Audace, escorted by the auxiliary San Giorgio.

Des Geneys (DN)17 Jan 19410810Pola17 Jan 19411135Pola32Exercises, escorted by the auxiliary Laurana.

Des Geneys (DN)18 Jan 19411603Pola19 Jan 19410315Pola80Sailed with the submarines Adua and Bragadino, escorted by the auxiliary San Giorgio, for torpedo firing exercises with the torpedo boat Audace.

36 entries. 36 total patrol entries (2 marked as war patrols) and 2 events.

Italian Commanders

Italian Submarines