Italian submarines in World War Two

Italian Commanders


Pier Vittorio Casarini

Born  2 Apr 1918Cremona
Died  12 Sep 1943(25)Killed in action

Ranks

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

Decorations

10 Feb 1941 Croce di guerra al valore militare
18 Jul 1942 Croce di guerra al valore militare

Career information

ATROPO (S.T.V. resp.): from 29.12.1941 to 19.01.1942 (repairs at Taranto).
ZOEA (S.T.V. resp.): from 01.01.1942 to 02.02.1942 (repairs at Taranto).
Promoted to T.V. on ?
TITO SPERI (T.V. resp.): from 29.06.1943 to 01.07.1943 (reserve in Taranto).
TOPAZIO (T.V. C.O.): from 02.07.1943 to 12.09.1943 (sunk, Casarini was killed).

Commands listed for Pier Vittorio Casarini


Submarine Type Rank From To
Atropo (AT, N.51)MinelayingS.T.V.29 Dec 194119 Jan 1942
Zoea (ZE)MinelayingS.T.V.20 Jan 19422 Feb 1942
Tito Speri (TS)Ocean goingT.V.29 Jun 19431 Jul 1943
Topazio (TP)Coastal / Sea goingT.V.2 Jul 194312 Sep 1943

Ships hit by Pier Vittorio Casarini

No ships hit by this Commander.

War patrols listed for Pier Vittorio Casarini

 SubmarineDateTimePortArr. dateArr. timeArr. portMilesDescription
Atropo (AT, N.51)29 Dec 1941Taranto19 Jan 1942TarantoAt Taranto for repairs.

Zoea (ZE)20 Jan 1942Taranto2 Feb 1942TarantoRepairs at Taranto. Change in command.

Tito Speri (TS)29 Jun 1943Taranto1 Jul 1943TarantoIn reserve at Taranto.

Topazio (TP)29 Jul 19431320Castellammare di Stabia29 Jul 19431858Castellammare di Stabia26Trials and exercises.

Topazio (TP)1 Aug 19430918Castellammare di Stabia1 Aug 19431635Castellammare di Stabia38Exercises.

Topazio (TP)3 Aug 19431528Castellammare di Stabia3 Aug 19431751Naples12Passage Castellammare di Stabia-Naples.

Topazio (TP)5 Aug 19431005Naples5 Aug 19431821Naples48Exercises.

Topazio (TP)6 Aug 19430702Naples6 Aug 19430900Pozzuoli12Passage Naples-Pozzuoli.

Topazio (TP)12 Aug 19430838Pozzuoli12 Aug 19431702Pozzuoli46Exercises.

Topazio (TP)18 Aug 19430645Pozzuoli18 Aug 19432038Pozzuoli24Docked briefly in Naples and returned to Pozzuoli.

Topazio (TP)19 Aug 19430645Pozzuoli19 Aug 19431920Naples15Docked in Naples.

Topazio (TP)19 Aug 19432345Naples21 Aug 19431002La Maddalena250Passage Naples-La Maddalena.

Topazio (TP)30 Aug 19431402La Maddalena30 Aug 19431752Porto Palino16Passage La Maddalena-Porto Palino.

1.Topazio (TP)7 Sep 19431612La Maddalena12 Sep 1943Sunk with all handsSailed with Turchese until she parted on 10th September (she was also seen by Diaspro on the previous day), when on Anzio parallel, slightly east of 11°E. Part of a barrage line with Diaspro, Turchese and Marea in the Gulf of Salerno. On 8th September, she was ordered along with all other submarines, to dive to 80 meters then to surface only at 0800 hours on the 9th and display the Italian flag with a black flag of surrender. Then to proceed to Bone. At 1117 hours on the 12th, an RAF bomber (Bisley "J" of 13 Squadron) reported attacking a surfaced submarine. This was most likely Topazio. It is not clear if she was on her way to surrender. She disappeared without a trace (six officers, forty-three ratings missing).
  12 Sep 1943
1117 (e)

(e) 38° 39'N, 9° 22'E
At 1117 hours, a Bisley from 13 Squadron piloted by Flying Officer G.H. Finch when a submarine was seen slightly down by the stern and making less than 10 knots. Using the cloud cover, the aircraft surprised the submarine with a stick of four depth charges from 50 feet. One of the them exploded within 10 yards of the conning tower. The submarine attempted to make a recognition signal and was completely obscured by plumes and, when they cleared, she was gone. A growing oil slick was visible and some 15-20 men in the water were photographed by the aircraft.

This submarine was initially believed to have been Turchese, who arrived later in Bone, but it was most probably Topazio. T.V. Pier Vittorio Casarini, five officers, and forty-three ratings perished. It was a tragedy that could have been avoided.

14 entries. 14 total patrol entries (1 marked as war patrols) and 1 events.

Italian Commanders

Italian Submarines