Italian submarines in World War Two

Italian Commanders


Francesco Caprile

Born  1 Jan 1912Chiavari (Genoa)
Died  11 Jul 1943(31)Killed in action

Ranks

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

Decorations

Career information

BENEDETTO BRIN (S.T.V. officer): from 15.01.1939 to July 1940+.
AMETISTA (S.T.V. officer): from 14.10.1940 to November 1940+.
Promoted T.V. on ?
AMETISTA (T.V. officer): from 21.11.1941 to March 1943+.
AMETISTA (T.V. C.O.): from 05.07.1942 to 15.03.1943.
ANTONIO BAJAMONTI (T.V. C.O.): from 25.04.1943 to 11.06.1943.
FLUTTO (T.V. C.O.): from 17.06.1943 to 11.07.1943 (sunk, Caprile was killed).

Commands listed for Francesco Caprile


Submarine Type Rank From To
Ametista (AA)Coastal / Sea goingT.V.6 Jul 194215 Mar 1943
Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM)T.V.25 Apr 194311 Jun 1943
Flutto (FL)Sea goingT.V.17 Jun 194311 Jul 1943

Ships hit by Francesco Caprile

No ships hit by this Commander.

War patrols listed for Francesco Caprile

 SubmarineDateTimePortArr. dateArr. timeArr. portMilesDescription
Ametista (AA)7 Jul 19420852Naples7 Jul 19421830Naples47Trials.

Ametista (AA)8 Jul 19421503Naples8 Jul 19422330Naples38,7Exercises.

Ametista (AA)11 Jul 19420917Naples11 Jul 19421051Naples6Trials.

Ametista (AA)11 Jul 19421424Naples11 Jul 19421925Naples16,5Trials.

Ametista (AA)13 Jul 19421015Naples13 Jul 19421035Naples0,1Immersion in dock.

Ametista (AA)14 Jul 19420945Naples14 Jul 19421225Naples5,2Trials.

Ametista (AA)15 Jul 19420700Naples15 Jul 19420740Naples1,6Changed moorings.

Ametista (AA)18 Jul 19421403Naples18 Jul 19421605Naples6,3Trials.

Ametista (AA)18 Jul 19421800Naples18 Jul 19421835Naples1,6Changed moorings.

Ametista (AA)21 Jul 19421525Naples21 Jul 19421717Naples8,8Trials.

Ametista (AA)21 Jul 19422130Naples26 Jul 19421600Portolago (Leros)1044,2Passage Naples-Portolago (Leros). Escorted by a MAS until 0100 hours on 22nd, then from 1400 to 2040 hours by the patrol boat A.S.51 (to Capo Dell'Armi). From 0530 hours on the 26th, escorted to Leros by the auxiliary Orsini.
  24 Jul 19421006At 1006 hours, a transport escorted by two destroyers was sighted at 16,000 metres. This was the steamer Unione (6,070 GRT, built 1942) escorted by the destroyers Pigafetta and Premuda and were proceeding from Benghazi to Taranto. Pigafetta closed to a thousand meters of Ametista and exchanged recognition signals. Shortly after, a German aircraft was sighted and they also exchanged recognition signals.
  24 Jul 19421525At 1525 hours, an Italian convoy was sighted at 20,000 metres. Ametista dived to 35 meters to avoid an incident and to test her hydrophones but heard nothing. Before midnight the submarine intercepted two signals from the torpedo boat Lince reporting a convoy under attack.

Ametista (AA)6 Aug 19421413Portolago (Leros)6 Aug 19421820Portolago (Leros)10,8Trials.

Ametista (AA)11 Aug 19420807Portolago (Leros)11 Aug 19421215Portolago (Leros)14,5Exercises.

Ametista (AA)14 Aug 19421030Portolago (Leros)14 Aug 19421124Portolago (Leros)0,7Trials.

Ametista (AA)18 Aug 19420800Portolago (Leros)18 Aug 19421200Portolago (Leros)13Exercises.

Ametista (AA)23 Aug 19420635Portolago (Leros)23 Aug 19420854Portolago (Leros)20,3Exercises.

Ametista (AA)5 Sep 19420740Portolago (Leros)5 Sep 19421123Portolago (Leros)14Exercises.

Ametista (AA)15 Sep 19420711Portolago (Leros)15 Sep 19421115Portolago (Leros)16,5Exercises.

1.Ametista (AA)23 Sep 19420610Portolago (Leros)11 Oct 19421615Portolago (Leros)1658,4Sailed with the submarine Nereide and escorted by destroyer Sella 1840 hours on the 23rd. Patrolled south of Crete, 90 miles south of Kaso Island, between 33°40'N and 34°00'N, and between 26°35'E and 26°50'E. On her return, she was escorted by MAS 542 then by MAS 555, which took over until Leros.
  29 Sep 1942034033° 47'N, 26° 42'EAt 0340 hours, an aircraft was seen at 500 metres and the submarine dived.
  3 Oct 1942233033° 41'N, 26° 44'EAt 2330 hours, an aircraft was seen at 600 metres and the submarine dived.

Ametista (AA)16 Oct 19420900Portolago (Leros)16 Oct 19420920Portolago (Leros)0,2Changed moorings?

Ametista (AA)21 Oct 19420925Portolago (Leros)21 Oct 19420940Portolago (Leros)0,2Changed moorings?

Ametista (AA)28 Oct 19420825Portolago (Leros)28 Oct 19421200Portolago (Leros)12Trials.

Ametista (AA)29 Oct 19420735Portolago (Leros)29 Oct 19421110Portolago (Leros)8Trials.

Ametista (AA)30 Oct 19420948Portolago (Leros)30 Oct 19420956Portolago (Leros)4Trials.

Ametista (AA)5 Nov 19420850Portolago (Leros)5 Nov 19421146Portolago (Leros)13Trials.

Ametista (AA)6 Nov 19421400Portolago (Leros)6 Nov 19421415Portolago (Leros)0,5Changed moorings?

Ametista (AA)10 Nov 19420800Portolago (Leros)10 Nov 19421145Portolago (Leros)16Trials.

Ametista (AA)11 Nov 19421347Portolago (Leros)11 Nov 19421715Portolago (Leros)15Trials.

Ametista (AA)14 Nov 19420634Portolago (Leros)14 Nov 19421305Portolago (Leros)24Trials.

Ametista (AA)15 Nov 19420920Portolago (Leros)15 Nov 19421128Portolago (Leros)11Trials.

Ametista (AA)20 Nov 19420917Portolago (Leros)20 Nov 19421215Portolago (Leros)14Trials.

Ametista (AA)3 Dec 19420848Portolago (Leros)3 Dec 19421200Portolago (Leros)11Trials.

Ametista (AA)22 Dec 19420848Portolago (Leros)22 Dec 19421200Portolago (Leros)11,5Trials.

2.Ametista (AA)26 Dec 19420806Portolago (Leros)10 Jan 19431820Portolago (Leros)1183Patrolled west of Cyprus, relieving Nereide in Grids 8389, between 35°20'N and 36°00'N, and between 30°00'E and 30°40'E. Departure known to British Intelligence through ULTRA. Uneventful patrol in very poor visibility marred by the death of one of the crew.
  2 Jan 19430825At 0825 hours, tragedy struck the submarine when Sergeant R.T. Carmine Cantone, who had developed a high fever, passed away. His body was confined to the deep at 1745 hours. Ametista was disinfected upon arrival at Leros.

3.Ametista (AA)12 Feb 19430805Portolago (Leros)27 Feb 19431332Portolago (Leros)1475Patrolled west of Cyprus, between 35°20'N and 36°00'N, and between 30°00'E and 30°40'E. Uneventful.

Ametista (AA)12 Mar 19430835Portolago (Leros)12 Mar 19431130Portolago (Leros)7,5Trials.

Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM)26 Apr 19430900Genoa26 Apr 19431610La Spezia46Passage Genoa-La Spezia.

Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM)30 Apr 19431305La Spezia30 Apr 19431905La Spezia28Exercises.

Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM)30 Apr 19431305La Spezia30 Apr 19431905La Spezia28Exercises.

Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM)3 May 19430840La Spezia3 May 19431150La Spezia17Trials.

Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM)5 May 19431110La Spezia5 May 19431553La Spezia16Trials.

Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM)6 May 19430835La Spezia6 May 19431030La Spezia6Trials.

Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM)7 May 19430850La Spezia7 May 19431610La Spezia58Trials.

Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM)8 May 19431945La Spezia8 May 19432015La Spezia2,5Trials.

Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM)9 May 19430850La Spezia9 May 19431525La Spezia10Trials.

Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM)10 May 19430700La Spezia10 May 19430830La Spezia5Trials.

Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM)11 May 19430835La Spezia11 May 19431755La Spezia65Trials.

Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM)12 May 19430930La Spezia12 May 19431120La Spezia5Trials.

Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM)14 May 19430710La Spezia14 May 19431430La Spezia43Exercises.

Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM)16 May 19431005La Spezia16 May 19431130La Spezia9Trials.

Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM)27 May 19432010La Spezia27 May 19432030La Spezia1,5Trials.

Antonio Bajamonti (ex-N.2, ex-Smeli) (BM)29 May 19430715La Spezia29 May 19430730La Spezia1,5Trials.

Flutto (FL)17 Jun 19431415Castellammare di Stabia17 Jun 19431750Castellammare di Stabia19Exercises.

Flutto (FL)18 Jun 19431433Castellammare di Stabia18 Jun 19431753Castellammare di Stabia18Exercises.

Flutto (FL)19 Jun 19430834Castellammare di Stabia19 Jun 19432122Castellammare di Stabia29Exercises.

Flutto (FL)29 Jun 19430816Castellammare di Stabia29 Jun 19431705Castellammare di Stabia29Exercises.

Flutto (FL)4 Jul 19430000Naples5 Jul 19430600La MaddalenaPassage Naples-La Maddalena at 13 knots via 40°20'N, 11°40'E.

Flutto (FL)7 Jul 19430509Porto Palma (La Maddalena)7 Jul 19430805Bonifacio21Passage Porto Palma (La Maddalena)-Bonifacio.

4.Flutto (FL)10 Jul 19430500Bonifacio11 Jul 19432130Sunk with all handsSailed via Cape Figari (ca. 41°00'N, 10°00'E) for patrol in area 171 [between 38°15'N and 38°25'N, and between 12°00'E and 12°20'E] [Velella and Argo were to patrol next to her in 172 and 173].

However, the same evening, she was ordered to proceed via 39°00'N, 15°00'E and Point M3 to area 84 [between 36°40'N and 36°50'N, and between 15°20'E and 15°40'E].

She was reported to have crossed the Strait of Messina at 1705 hours on the 11th. She had done about 400 miles in 40.5 hours. Probably sunk off off Catania by British motor torpedo boats MTB 640, MTB 651 and MTB 670 in 37°34'N, 15°43'E (six officers and forty-three ratings killed, no survivors). At 0007 hours on the 14th, MARICOSOM, unaware of her loss, ordered her to occupy the southern half of zone 81 [between 37°10'N and 37°15'N, and between 15°20'E and 15°40'E].

On 16th July, she was ordered to an area between 37°20 and 37°40'N, and between 15°40'E and the Sicilian coast.

On 20th July, she was ordered to return to La Maddalena via the Strait of Messina with an ETA of 23rd July but failed to show up.
  11 Jul 1943
2130 (e)

(e) 34° 34'N, 15° 43'E
At 2130 hours, the British motor torpedo boats MTB 640 (Lt. R.R. Smith, RN), MTB 651 (Kenneth Horlock) and MTB 670 of the 32nd MTB Flotilla were carrying an offensive patrol off Catania, when a surfaced submarine was attacked. The submarine tried to fight off the attack and, according to the British eyewitnesses, she returned very effective fire with a machine gun on the conning tower before diving. She inflicted seventeen casualties on the MTBs. MTB-651 had one wounded (the coxwain), the distribution of casualties on the other two boats is not known. The MTBs fired torpedoes which missed and dropped depth charges. The submarine was believed to have been seriously damaged. Our thanks to Ken Gadsdon who served on MTB-651 and provided an eyewitness account to the action.

This submarine could only be Flutto. She may have been sunk in this encounter as no subsequent news were received from her. T.V. Francesco Caprile, five officers and forty-three ratings perished, there were no survivors.
  11 Jul 19431510
1445 (e)

(0) 24° - Cape Peloro - 11 miles
At 1510 hours, a submarine was sighted and reported to MARICOSOM.

This was HMS Ultor (Lieutenant G.E. Hunt, DSC, RN). She had sighted the Italian submarine, unescorted and steering 180° at 10 knots. The British submarine had instructions to reserve her torpedoes for cruisers and battleships in case the Italian Battle Fleet sailed to interfere with the landings in Sicily. She could only carry out a dummy attack on Flutto. For the Italian submarine, this was a reprieve of only a few hours.

62 entries. 59 total patrol entries (4 marked as war patrols) and 7 events.

Italian Commanders

Italian Submarines