Cristiano D’Adamo – Page 13 – Regia Marina Italiana

All Vessels of the Regia Marina

December 5, 2023 by Cristiano D'Adamo

Vessel	Call Sign	Class	Type	Shipyard	Laid Down	Launched	Comm.	Fate	On
Abastro		Abastro	Minesweeper	Neptun, Rostok
Acciaio	AC	Platino	Submarine – Coastal	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	11/21/1940	6/22/1941	10/30/1941	Sunk	7/13/1943
Acquilone	AL	Turbine	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente	5/18/1925	8/3/1927	12/3/1927	Sunk	7/27/1940
Adua	AD	Adua	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	2/1/1936	9/13/1936	11/14/1936	Sunk	9/30/1941
Airone	AO	Spica tipo Alcione	Torpedo Boat	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	10/29/1936	1/23/1938	5/10/1938	Sunk	10/12/1940
Alabarda		Ariete	Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	3/24/1943	5/7/1944	11/27/1944	Captured	9/9/1943
Alabastro	AB	Platino	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	3/14/1941	12/18/1941	5/9/1942	Sunk	9/14/1942
Alagi	AL	Adua	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	3/19/1936	11/15/1936	3/6/1937	Removed from Service	9/9/1943
Alce	C 23	Gabbiano	Corvette	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	5/27/1942	12/5/1942		Captured	9/9/1943
Alcione	AC	Spica tipo Alcione	Torpedo Boat	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	10/29/1936	12/23/1937	5/10/1938	Sunk	12/11/1941
Alderaban	AL	Spica tipo Perseo	Torpedo Boat	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	10/2/1935	6/14/1936	6/12/1936	Sunk	10/24/1941
Alfredo Oriani	OA	Oriani	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	10/28/1935	7/30/1936	7/15/1937	Transferred	1/1/1948
Aliseo	AS	Orsa 2a Serie	Torpedo Boat	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare	9/16/1941	9/20/1942	2/28/1943
Alpino	AP	Soldati 1a Serie	Destroyer	Cantiere Navale Riuniti (C.N.R.) Ancona	5/2/1937	9/8/1938	4/20/1939	Sunk	4/19/1943
Altair	AT	Spica tipo Perseo	Torpedo Boat	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	10/2/1935	7/26/1936	12/23/1936	Sunk	10/20/1941
Ambra	PL	Perla	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	8/28/1935	5/28/1936	8/4/1936	Scuttled	9/9/1943
Ametista	AA	Sirena	Submarine – Coastal	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	9/16/1931	4/26/1933	4/1/1934	Scuttled	9/12/1943
Andrea Doria		Duilio	Battleship	Arsenale Navale, La Spezia	4/1/1937	10/26/1940	10/26/1940	Removed from Service	6/15/1956
Andromeda	AD	Spica tipo Perseo	Torpedo Boat	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	10/2/1935	6/28/1936	12/6/1936	Sunk	3/17/1941
Anfitrite	AN	Sirena	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	7/11/1931	7/5/1933	3/22/1934	Scuttled	3/6/1941
Animoso	AM	Orsa 2a Serie	Torpedo Boat	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	4/3/1941	4/15/1942	8/14/1942
Antares	AN	Spica tipo Perseo	Torpedo Boat	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	10/2/1935	7/19/1936	12/23/1936	Sunk	5/28/1943
Antilope	C 19	Gabbiano	Corvette	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	1/20/1942	5/9/1942	11/11/1942	Captured	9/9/1943
Ape	C 25	Gabbiano	Corvette	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare	5/6/1942	11/22/1942	5/15/1943
Aquila		Aquila	Aircraft Carrier	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante				Captured	9/8/1943
Aradam	AR	Adua	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	3/14/1936	10/18/1936	1/16/1937	Scuttled	9/9/1943
Arbe ()		Arbe	Minelayer	Kraljevica, Jugoslavia
Archimede	AH	Brin	Submarine – Oceanic	Tosi, Taranto	12/23/1937	3/5/1939	4/18/1939	Sunk	4/15/1943
Ardea	C 54	Gabbiano	Corvette	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	3/15/1943			Captured	9/9/1943
Ardente	AD	Orsa 2a Serie	Torpedo Boat	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	4/7/1941	5/27/1942	9/30/1942	Wrecked	1/12/1943
Ardimentoso	AT	Orsa 2a Serie	Torpedo Boat	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	4/7/1941	6/28/1942	12/14/1942
Ardito	AR	Orsa 2a Serie	Torpedo Boat	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	4/3/1941	3/14/1942	6/30/1942	Captured	9/16/1943
Aretusa	AU	Spica tipo Alcione	Torpedo Boat	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	10/26/1936	2/6/1938	7/1/1938
Argento	AG	Platino	Submarine – Coastal	Tosi, Taranto	4/30/1941	2/22/1942	5/16/1942	Scuttled	8/3/1943
Argo	AO	Argo	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	12/9/1935	11/24/1936	8/31/1937	Scuttled	9/10/1943
Argonauta	AU	Argonauta	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	11/9/1929	1/19/1931	1/14/1932	Sunk	6/29/1940
Ariel	AE	Spica tipo Alcione	Torpedo Boat	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	10/29/1936	3/14/1938	7/1/1938	Sunk	10/12/1940
Ariete		Ariete	Torpedo Boat	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	7/15/1942	3/6/1943	8/5/1943
Artemide	C 39	Gabbiano	Corvette	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	3/9/1942	8/10/1942	10/10/1942	Captured	9/9/1943
Artigliere	AR	Soldati 1a Serie	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	2/15/1937	12/12/1937	11/14/1938	Sunk	10/12/1940
Arturo		Ariete	Torpedo Boat	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	7/15/1942	3/27/1943	10/4/1943	Captured	9/9/1943
Ascari	AI	Soldati 1a Serie	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	12/11/1937	7/31/1938	5/6/1939	Sunk	3/24/1943
Ascianghi	AS	Adua	Submarine – Coastal	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	1/20/1937	7/5/1937	3/25/1938	Sunk	7/23/1943
Asteria	AE	Platino	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	10/16/1940	5/25/1941	11/8/1941	Sunk	2/17/1943
Atropo	AT	Foca	Submarine – Medium Range	Tosi, Taranto	7/10/1937	11/20/1938	2/14/1939	Stricken	9/9/1943
Augusto Riboty	RI	Maestrale	Destroyer	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	2/27/1915	9/24/1916	5/5/1917	Transferred
Auriga		Ariete	Torpedo Boat	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	7/15/1942	4/15/1943	12/28/1943	Captured	9/9/1943
Aviere	AV	Soldati 1a Serie	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	1/16/1937	9/19/1937	8/31/1938	Sunk	12/17/1942
Avorio	AV	Platino	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	11/9/1940	9/6/1941	3/25/1942	Sunk	2/9/1943
Axum	AX	Adua	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	3/8/1936	9/27/1936	12/2/1936	Scuttled	12/28/1943
Azio		Ostia	Minelayer	Cantiere Navale Riuniti (C.N.R.) Ancona
Azio		Ostia	Mine Layer	Cantiere Navale Riuniti (C.N.R.) Ancona	1/1/1925	1/1/1927
Alpino Bagnolini	BI	Liuzzi	Submarine – Oceanic	Tosi, Taranto	12/15/1938	10/28/1939	12/22/1939	Captured	3/11/1943
Baiamonti	BM	Bajamonti	Submarine – Coastal	Loires, Nantes (France)	1/1/1927	12/1/1928	12/2/1928	Scuttled	9/9/1943
Baionetta	C 34	Gabbiano	Corvette	Breda, Venezia	2/24/1942	10/5/1942	5/15/1943
Baleno	BO	Dardo 2a Serie	Destroyer	Cantieri Navali del Quarnaro (C.N.Q.), Fiume	10/1/1929	3/22/1931	6/15/1932	Sunk	4/17/1941
Balestra		Ariete	Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Navali del Quarnaro (C.N.Q.), Fiume	9/5/1943
Balilla	BL	Balilla	Submarine – Oceanic	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	1/12/1925	2/20/1927	7/20/1928	Stricken	4/28/1941
Fratelli Bandiera	BA	Bandiera	Submarine – Medium Range	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	2/11/1928	7/7/1929	6/2/1930	Stricken	9/9/1943
Maggiore Baracca	BG	Marconi	Submarine – Oceanic	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	3/1/1939	4/21/1940	7/10/1940	Sunk	9/8/1941
Barbarigo	BO	Marcello	Submarine – Oceanic	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	2/6/1937	6/12/1938	9/19/1938	Sunk	6/16/1943
Bari (ex Pillau)		Bari	Obsolete Ship	Schichau, Danzig (Germany)	12/31/1912	4/4/1914	12/14/1914	Sunk	6/28/1943
Angelo Bassini		La Masa	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente
Cesare Battisti	BT	Sauro	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente	2/9/1924	12/11/1926	4/13/1927	Scuttled	4/3/1941
Bausan	BN	Pisani	Submarine – Medium Range	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	1/20/1926	3/24/1928	9/15/1929	Removed from Service	11/8/1941
Beilul	BU	Adua	Submarine – Coastal	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	7/2/1937	5/22/1938	9/14/1938	Sunk	9/9/1943
Berenice	C 66	Gabbiano	Corvette	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	10/1/1942	4/21/1943	8/1/1943
Berillo	BE	Perla	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	9/14/1935	6/14/1936	8/5/1936	Scuttled	10/2/1940
Bersagliere	BG	Soldati 1a Serie	Destroyer	Cantiere Navale Riuniti (C.N.R.) Ancona	4/21/1937	7/3/1938	4/1/1939	Sunk	1/7/1943
Antonio Biamonti (ex Smeli)		Osvetnik	Submarine – Coastal	Loires, Nantes (France)		12/1/1928	4/1/1941	Scuttled	8/9/1943
Michele Bianchi	BH	Marconi	Submarine – Oceanic	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	2/15/1939	12/3/1939	4/15/1940	Sunk	7/5/1941
Bolzano		Bolzano	Cruiser – Heavy	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	6/11/1930	8/31/1932	8/19/1933	Sunk	6/22/1944
Bombarda	C 38	Gabbiano	Corvette	Breda, Venezia	8/31/1942			Captured	9/11/1943
Bombardiere	BR	Soldati 2a Serie	Destroyer	Cantiere Navale Riuniti (C.N.R.) Ancona	10/7/1940	3/23/1942	7/15/1942	Sunk	1/17/1943
Borea	BR	Turbine	Destroyer	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	4/29/1925	1/28/1927	11/24/1927	Sunk	7/17/1940
Marcantonio Bragadin	BG	Bragadin	Submarine – Minelaying	Tosi, Taranto	2/2/1927	7/21/1929	11/16/1931	Stricken	9/9/1943
Brin	BR	Brin	Submarine – Oceanic	Tosi, Taranto	12/3/1936	4/3/1938	6/30/1938	Stricken	9/9/1943
Bronzo	BZ	Platino	Submarine – Coastal	Tosi, Taranto	12/2/1940	9/28/1941	1/2/1942	Captured	7/12/1943
Buccari		Fasana	Minelayer	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
CA 1		CA I	Submarine – Midget	Caproni Taliedo			4/15/1938	Scuttled	9/9/1943
CA 2		CA I	Submarine – Midget	Caproni Taliedo				Captured	9/9/1943
CA 3		CA I	Submarine – Midget	Caproni Taliedo				Removed from Service	9/9/1943
CA 4		CA I	Submarine – Midget	Caproni Taliedo				Removed from Service	9/9/1943
Ammiraglio Cagni	CA	Ammiragli	Submarine – Oceanic	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	9/16/1939	7/20/1940	8/21/1941	Removed from Service	9/9/1943
Calabrone	C 30	Gabbiano	Corvette	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare	10/1/1942	6/27/1943		Captured	9/9/1943
Calipso	CI	Spica tipo Alcione	Torpedo Boat	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	9/29/1937	6/12/1938	11/16/1938	Sunk	12/5/1940
Calliope	CP	Spica tipo Alcione	Torpedo Boat	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	5/26/1937	4/15/1938	10/28/1938
Pietro Calvi	CV	Calvi	Submarine – Oceanic	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	7/20/1932	3/3/1935	10/16/1935	Scuttled	7/15/1942
Camicia Nera	CN	Soldati 1a Serie	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	1/21/1937	8/8/1937	6/30/1938	Transferred	2/21/1949
Camoscio	C 21	Gabbiano	Corvette	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	1/25/1942	5/9/1942	4/18/1943
Canopo	CA	Spica tipo Climene	Torpedo Boat	Cantieri del Tirreno (C.T.), Genova-Riva Trigoso	12/10/1935	10/1/1936	3/31/1937	Sunk	5/3/1941
Comandante Cappellini	CL	Marcello	Submarine – Oceanic	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	4/25/1938	5/14/1939	9/23/1939	Captured	9/8/1943
Pier Capponi	CP	Mameli	Submarine – Medium Range	Tosi, Taranto	8/27/1925	6/19/1927	1/20/1929	Sunk	3/31/1941
Capriolo	C 22	Gabbiano	Corvette	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	6/3/1942	12/5/1942		Captured	9/9/1943
Carabina	C 37	Gabbiano	Corvette	Breda, Venezia	9/28/1942	8/31/1943		Captured	9/11/1943
Carabiniere	CB	Soldati 1a Serie	Destroyer	Cantieri del Tirreno (C.T.), Genova-Riva Trigoso	2/1/1937	7/23/1937	12/20/1938	Removed from Service	1/18/1965
Ammiraglio Caracciolo	CC	Ammiragli	Submarine – Oceanic	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	10/16/1939	10/16/1940	9/15/1941	Sunk	12/11/1941
Carlo Mirabello	MI	Maestrale	Destroyer	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	11/21/1914	12/21/1915	8/24/1916	Sunk	5/21/1941
Ermanno Carlotto		Carlotto	River Gunboat	Shangai Dode Engineering	1/1/1920	1/1/1921	1/1/1921	Captured	8/9/1943
Carrista	CR	Soldati 2a Serie	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	9/11/1941			Removed from Service
Cassiopea	CS	Spica tipo Climene	Torpedo Boat	Cantieri del Tirreno (C.T.), Genova-Riva Trigoso	12/10/1935	11/22/1936	4/26/1937
Castelfitardo		Curtatone	Destroyer	Orlando, Livorno	1/1/1920	1/1/1922	1/1/1923	Captured	1/1/1943
Castore	CT	Spica tipo Climene	Torpedo Boat	Cantiere Navale Riuniti (C.N.R.) Ancona	1/25/1936	9/27/1936	1/16/1937	Sunk	6/2/1943
Catalafimi		Curtatone	Destroyer	Orlando, Livorno	1/1/1920	1/1/1922	1/1/1923	Captured	1/1/1943
Cavalletta	C 31	Gabbiano	Corvette	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare	3/12/1942
Conte di Cavour		Cavour	Battleship	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	10/1/1933	6/1/1937	10/1/1937	Removed from Service	12/15/1948
CB 1		CB	Submarine – Coastal	Caproni Taliedo			1/27/1941	Transferred	9/9/1943
CB 10		CB	Submarine – Coastal	Caproni Taliedo			8/1/1943	Removed from Service
CB 11		CB	Submarine – Coastal	Caproni Taliedo			8/24/1943	Scuttled	9/11/1943
CB 12		CB	Submarine – Coastal	Caproni Taliedo			8/24/1943	Scuttled	9/11/1943
CB 13		CB	Submarine – Coastal	Caproni Taliedo				Sunk	3/23/1945
CB 14		CB	Submarine – Coastal	Caproni Taliedo				Sunk
CB 15		CB	Submarine – Coastal	Caproni Taliedo				Sunk
CB 16		CB	Submarine – Coastal	Caproni Taliedo				Surrendered
CB 17		CB	Submarine – Coastal	Caproni Taliedo				Sunk	4/3/1945
CB 18		CB	Submarine – Coastal	Caproni Taliedo				Sunk	3/31/1945
CB 19		CB	Submarine – Coastal	Caproni Taliedo				Captured
CB 2		CB	Submarine – Coastal	Caproni Taliedo			1/27/1941	Transferred	9/9/1943
CB 20		CB	Submarine – Coastal	Caproni Taliedo				Captured
CB 21		CB	Submarine – Coastal	Caproni Taliedo				Sunk	4/29/1945
CB 22		CB	Submarine – Coastal	Caproni Taliedo				Captured
CB 3		CB	Submarine – Coastal	Caproni Taliedo			5/10/1941	Transferred	9/9/1943
CB 4		CB	Submarine – Coastal	Caproni Taliedo			5/10/1941	Transferred	9/9/1943
CB 5		CB	Submarine – Coastal	Caproni Taliedo			5/10/1941	Sunk	6/13/1942
CB 6		CB	Submarine – Coastal	Caproni Taliedo			5/10/1941	Transferred	9/9/1943
CB 7		CB	Submarine – Coastal	Caproni Taliedo			8/1/1943	Removed from Service
CB 8		CB	Submarine – Coastal	Caproni Taliedo			8/1/1943	Removed from Service
CB 9		CB	Submarine – Coastal	Caproni Taliedo			8/1/1943	Removed from Service
Centauro	CO	Spica tipo Climene	Torpedo Boat	Cantiere Navale Riuniti (C.N.R.) Ancona	5/30/1934	2/19/1936	6/16/1936	Sunk	11/4/1942
Cernia		Tritone	Submarine – Coastal	Tosi, Taranto	7/12/1943			Stricken
Cervo	C 56	Gabbiano	Corvette	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	2/25/1943
Giulio Cesare		Cavour	Battleship	Cantieri del Tirreno (C.T.), Genova-Riva Trigoso	10/1/1933	10/1/1937	6/2/1937	Removed from Service	2/15/1945
Chimera	C 48	Gabbiano	Corvette	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	6/27/1942	1/30/1943	5/26/1943
Cicala	C 29	Gabbiano	Corvette	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare	9/30/1942	6/27/1943		Captured	9/9/1943
Ciclone	CI	Orsa 2a Serie	Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	5/9/1941	3/1/1942	5/21/1942	Sunk	3/8/1943
Cicogna	C 15	Gabbiano	Corvette	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	6/15/1942	10/12/1942	1/11/1943	Wrecked	7/24/1943
Cigno	CG	Spica tipo Climene	Torpedo Boat	Cantiere Navale Riuniti (C.N.R.) Ancona	3/11/1936	11/24/1936	3/15/1937	Sunk	4/16/1943
Circe	CC	Spica tipo Alcione	Torpedo Boat	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	9/29/1937	6/29/1938	10/4/1938	Sunk	11/27/1942
Clava	C 63	Gabbiano	Corvette	Breda, Venezia	10/20/1943
Climene	CE	Spica tipo Climene	Torpedo Boat	Cantiere Navale Riuniti (C.N.R.) Ancona	7/25/1934	1/7/1936	4/24/1936	Sunk	4/28/1943
Clio	CL	Spica tipo Alcione	Torpedo Boat	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	10/29/1936	4/3/1938	10/2/1938
Cobalto	CB	Platino	Submarine – Coastal	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	11/26/1940	8/20/1941	3/18/1942	Sunk	8/12/1942
Cocciniglia	C 61	Gabbiano	Corvette	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
Cofienza		Palestro	Destroyer	Orlando, Livorno
Battolomeo Colleoni		Condottieri tipo Di Giussano	Cruiser – Light	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	6/21/1928	12/21/1930	2/10/1932	Sunk	7/19/1940
Marcantonio Colonna	CN	Pisani	Submarine – Medium Range	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	3/12/1925	12/26/2027	7/10/1929	Removed from Service	6/1/1942
Colubrina	C 35	Gabbiano	Corvette	Breda, Venezia	3/14/1942	12/7/1942		Captured	9/11/1943
Corallo	CO	Perla	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	10/1/1935	8/2/1936	9/26/1936	Sunk	12/13/1942
Corazziere	CZ (CR)	Soldati 1a Serie	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	10/7/1937	5/22/1938	3/4/1939	Scuttled	9/9/1943
Cormorano	C 13	Gabbiano	Corvette	Societa Anonima Cantieri Cerusa, Genova-Voltri	1/14/1942	9/20/1942	3/6/1943
Corridoni	CR	Bragadin	Submarine – Minelaying	Tosi, Taranto	7/4/1927	3/30/1930	11/17/1931	Stricken	9/8/1943
Corsaro	CA	Soldati 2a Serie	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	1/23/1941	11/16/1941	5/16/1942	Sunk	1/9/1943
Enrico Cosenz		La Masa	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente
Crisalide	C 58	Gabbiano	Corvette	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
Curtatore		Curtatone	Destroyer	Orlando, Livorno	1/1/1920	1/1/1922	1/1/1923	Sunk	1/1/1941
D1		D1	Minesweeper	Cantiere Navale Riuniti (C.N.R.) Ancona
D10 (ex TB36)		D10	Minesweeper	Cantieri Navali del Quarnaro (C.N.Q.), Fiume
Alberico da Barbiano		Condottieri tipo Di Giussano	Cruiser – Light	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	4/16/1928	8/23/1930	6/9/1931	Sunk	12/13/1941
Alberto da Giussano		Condottieri tipo Di Giussano	Cruiser – Light	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	3/29/1928	4/27/1930	2/5/1931	Sunk	12/31/1941
Alvise Da Mosto	DM	Navigatori	Destroyer	Cantieri Navali del Quarnaro (C.N.Q.), Fiume	8/22/1928	7/1/1929	3/15/1931	Sunk	12/1/1941
Antonio Da Noli	DN	Navigatori	Destroyer	Cantieri del Tirreno (C.T.), Genova-Riva Trigoso	7/25/1927	5/21/1929	12/29/1929	Sunk	7/9/1943
Da Procida	DP	Mameli	Submarine – Medium Range	Tosi, Taranto	9/21/1925	4/1/1928	1/20/1929	Stricken	9/8/1943
Nicoloso Da Recco	DR	Navigatori	Destroyer	Cantiere Navale Riuniti (C.N.R.) Ancona	12/14/1927	1/5/1930	5/20/1930	Removed from Service	7/15/1954
Leonardo Da Vinci		Marconi	Submarine – Oceanic	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	9/19/1938	9/16/1939	3/8/1940	Sunk	5/23/1943
Daga		Ariete	Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	1/9/1943	7/15/1943	3/27/1944	Captured	9/9/1943
Dagabur	DA	Adua	Submarine – Coastal	Tosi, Taranto	4/16/1936	9/22/1936	4/9/1937	Sunk	8/12/1942
Daino	C 55	Gabbiano	Corvette	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	3/1/1943
Danaide	C 44	Gabbiano	Corvette	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	5/9/1942	10/21/1942	2/27/1943
Dandolo	DO	Marcello	Submarine – Oceanic	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	6/14/1937	9/20/1937	3/25/1938	Stricken	9/8/1943
Dardanelli		Ostia	Mine Layer	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	1/1/1925	1/1/2925
Dardanelli		Ostia	Minelayer	Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino, Trieste
Dardo	DA	Dardo 1a Serie	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente	1/23/1929	7/6/1930	1/25/1932	Captured	9/9/1943
Delfino	DL	Squalo	Submarine – Medium Range	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	10/27/1928	4/27/1930	6/19/1930	Sunk	3/23/1943
Dentice		Tritone	Submarine – Coastal	Tosi, Taranto	7/23/1943			Stricken
Des Geneys	DN	Pisani	Submarine – Medium Range	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	2/1/1926	6/14/1928	10/31/1929	Removed from Service	5/28/1943
Dessiè	DE	Adua	Submarine – Coastal	Tosi, Taranto	4/20/1936	11/22/1936	4/14/1937	Sunk	11/28/1942
Diamante	DI	Sirena	Submarine – Coastal	Tosi, Taranto	5/11/1931	5/21/1933	6/18/1933	Sunk	6/20/1940
Diana		Diana	Destroyer	Cantieri Navali del Quarnaro (C.N.Q.), Fiume	5/31/1939	5/20/1940	11/12/1940	Sunk	6/29/1942
Diaspro	DS	Perla	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	9/21/1935	7/5/1936	8/28/1936	Stricken	9/8/1943
Armando Diaz		Condottieri tipo Cadorna	Cruiser – Light	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	7/28/1930	7/10/1932	4/29/1933	Sunk	2/25/1941
Dragone		Ariete	Torpedo Boat	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	7/15/1942	8/14/1943	4/3/1944	Captured	9/9/1943
Driade	C 43	Gabbiano	Corvette	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	5/9/1942	10/7/1942	1/14/1943
Emanuele Filiberto Duca d’Aosta		Condottieri tipo Duca di Aosta	Cruiser – Light	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	10/29/1932	4/22/1934	3/17/1935	Removed from Service	2/12/1949
Caio Duilio		Duilio	Battleship	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare	4/8/1937	7/15/1940	7/15/1940	Removed from Service	11/1/1956
Durazzo		Fasana	Minelayer	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
Durbo	DU	Adua	Submarine – Coastal	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	3/8/1937	3/6/1938	7/1/1938	Scuttled	10/18/1940
Egeria	C 67	Gabbiano	Corvette	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	2/15/1943	7/3/1943		Captured	9/9/1943
Emo	EO	Marcello	Submarine – Oceanic	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	2/16/1937	6/29/1938	10/14/1938	Sunk	11/10/1942
Eridano		Ariete	Torpedo Boat	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	7/15/1942	7/12/1943	3/4/1944	Captured	9/9/1943
Eritrea		Eritrea	Corvette	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare	7/25/1935	9/20/1936	2/10/1937
Espero	ES	Turbine	Destroyer	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	4/29/1925	8/31/1927		Sunk	6/28/1940
Etna		Etna	Cruiser – Light	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	9/23/1939	5/28/1942
Eugenio di Savoia		Condottieri tipo Duca di Aosta	Cruiser – Light	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	7/6/1933	3/16/1935	1/16/1936	Removed from Service	6/26/1951
Euridice	C 70	Gabbiano	Corvette	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	7/1/1943
Euro	ER	Turbine	Destroyer	Cantieri del Tirreno (C.T.), Genova-Riva Trigoso	1/24/1925	7/7/1927	12/22/1927	Sunk	10/1/1943
Euterpe	C 41	Gabbiano	Corvette	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	4/2/1942	10/22/1942	1/20/1943	Scuttled	9/9/1943
Comandante Faa Di Bruno	FB	Marcello	Submarine – Oceanic	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	4/28/1938	6/18/1939	10/23/1939	Sunk	10/31/1940
Nicola Fabrizi		La Masa	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente
Farfalla	C 59	Gabbiano	Corvette	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
Fasana		Fasana	Minelayer	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
Fenice	C 50	Gabbiano	Corvette	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	6/27/1942	3/1/1943	6/15/1943
Ferraris	FE	Galilei	Submarine – Oceanic	Tosi, Taranto	10/15/1931	8/11/1934	1/31/1935	Scuttled	10/25/1941
Ettore Fieramosca	FM	Fieramosca	Submarine – Oceanic	Tosi, Taranto	7/17/1926	6/14/1929	12/5/1931	Stricken	3/1/1943
Giuseppe Finzi	FZ	Calvi	Submarine – Oceanic	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	8/1/1932	6/29/1935	1/8/1936	Sunk	9/8/1943
Fionda		Ariete	Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Navali del Quarnaro (C.N.Q.), Fiume	8/26/1942
Fisalia	FS	Argonauta	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	11/20/1929	5/2/1931	6/4/1932	Sunk	9/28/1941
Fiume		Zara	Cruiser – Heavy	Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino, Trieste	4/29/1929	4/27/1930	11/23/1931	Sunk	3/28/1941
Flora	C 46	Gabbiano	Corvette	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	5/16/1942	12/1/1942	4/26/1943
Flutto	FL	Tritone	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	12/1/1941	9/19/1942	3/20/1943	Sunk	7/11/1943
Foca	FO	Foca	Submarine – Medium Range	Tosi, Taranto	1/15/1936	6/27/1937	11/6/1937	Sunk	10/15/1940
Folaga	C 16	Gabbiano	Corvette	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	6/15/1942	11/14/1942	2/16/1943
Folgore	FG	Dardo 2a Serie	Destroyer	Partenopei, Napoli	1/30/1930	4/26/1931	7/1/1932	Sunk	12/2/1942
Fortunale	FT	Orsa 2a Serie	Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	5/9/1941	4/18/1942	8/16/1942
FR 11 (ex jean de Vienne)		FR11	Cruiser – Light	Arsenal de la Marine, Lorient
FR 111		FR 111	Submarine – Medium Range	Arsenal de Brest (France)	1/1/1924	3/16/1926	1/20/1943	Sunk	2/28/1943
FR 12 (ex La Galissoniere)		FR12	Cruiser – Light	Arsenal de la Marine, Lorient
Francesco Crispi	CP (CR)	Sella	Destroyer	Pattison, Napoli	2/21/1923	9/12/1925	4/29/1927	Captured
Francesco Nullo	NL	Sauro	Destroyer	Cantieri Navali del Quarnaro (C.N.Q.), Fiume	10/9/1924	11/14/1925	4/15/1927	Sunk	10/21/1940
Francesco Stocco		Sirtori	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente
Fratelli Cairoli		Rosolino Pilo	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente
Freccia	FR	Dardo 1a Serie	Destroyer	Cantieri del Tirreno (C.T.), Genova-Riva Trigoso	2/20/1929	8/3/1930	10/21/1931	Sunk	8/8/1943
Fuciliere	FC	Soldati 1a Serie	Destroyer	Cantiere Navale Riuniti (C.N.R.) Ancona	5/2/1937	7/31/1938	2/10/1939	Transferred	1/17/1950
Fulmine	FL	Dardo 2a Serie	Destroyer	Cantieri Navali del Quarnaro (C.N.Q.), Fiume	10/1/1929	8/2/1931	7/14/1932	Sunk	11/9/1941
Gabbiano	C 11	Gabbiano	Corvette	Societa Anonima Cantieri Cerusa, Genova-Voltri	1/14/1942	6/23/1942	10/3/1942
Galatea	GT	Sirena	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	7/18/1931	5/5/1933	6/25/1934	Removed from Service	9/9/1943
Galilei	GL	Galilei	Submarine – Oceanic	Tosi, Taranto	10/15/1931	3/19/1934	10/16/1934	Captured	6/19/1940
Galvani	GA	Brin	Submarine – Oceanic	Tosi, Taranto	12/3/1936	5/22/1938	7/29/1938	Sunk	6/24/1940
Gazzella	C 20	Gabbiano	Corvette	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	1/22/1942	5/9/1942	2/6/1943	Sunk	8/5/1943
Gemma	GE	Perla	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	9/7/1935	5/21/1936	7/8/1936	Sunk	10/8/1940
Generale Achille Papa		Cantone	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente
Generale Antonio Cantone		Cantone	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente
Generale Antonio Cascino		Cantone	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente
Generale Antonio Chinotto		Cantone	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente
Generale Carlo Montanari		Cantone	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente
Generale Marcello Prestinari		Cantone	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente
Geniere	GE	Soldati 1a Serie	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	8/26/1937	2/27/1938	12/14/1938	Sunk	3/1/1943
Ghibli	GH	Orsa 2a Serie	Torpedo Boat	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare	8/30/1941	2/28/1943	7/24/1943	Captured	9/9/1943
Giacinto Carini		La Masa	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente
Giacomo Medici		La Masa	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente
Giada	GD	Platino	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	10/16/1940	6/10/1941	12/8/1941	Removed from Service	9/9/1943
Giosue’ Carducci	CD	Oriani	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	2/5/1936	10/28/1936	11/1/1937	Sunk	4/28/1941
Giovanni Acerbi		Sirtori	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente
Giovanni Berta		Giuseppe Biglieri	Minesweeper	Schiffbau G.S., Bremerhaven
Giovanni Da Verazzano	DV	Navigatori	Destroyer	Cantieri Navali del Quarnaro (C.N.Q.), Fiume	8/17/1927	12/15/1928	7/25/1930	Sunk	10/19/1942
Giovanni dalle Bande Nere		Condottieri tipo Di Giussano	Cruiser – Light	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare	10/31/1928	4/27/1930	4/1/1931	Sunk	4/1/1942
Giovanni Nicotera	NC	Sella	Destroyer	Pattison, Napoli	5/6/1925	6/24/1926	1/8/1927	Transferred	3/1/1940
Ernestro Giovannini		Andrea Bafine	Escort Gunboat	Pattison, Napoli	1/1/1920	1/1/1922	1/1/1922	Stricken
Reginaldo Giuliani	GN	Liuzzi	Submarine – Oceanic	Tosi, Taranto	3/13/1939	12/3/1939	2/3/1940	Captured	9/8/1943
Giulio Germanico		Capitani Romani	Cruiser – Light	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	4/3/1939	7/26/1941	11/9/1943
Giuseppe Biglieri		Giuseppe Biglieri	Minesweeper	Schiffbau G.S., Bremerhaven
Giuseppe Cesare Abba		Rosolino Pilo	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente
Giuseppe Dezza		Rosolino Pilo	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente				Captured	9/8/1943
Giuseppe Garibaldi		Condottieri tipo Duca degli Abruzzi	Cruiser – Light	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	1/12/1933	4/21/1936	12/20/1937	Removed from Service	5/1/1961
Giuseppe La Farina		La Masa	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente
Giuseppe La Masa		La Masa	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente
Giuseppe Missori		Rosolino Pilo	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente				Captured	9/8/1943
Giuseppe Sirtori		Sirtori	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente
Gladio		Ariete	Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	1/9/1943	6/15/1943	1/8/1944	Captured	9/9/1943
Glauco	GU	Glauco	Submarine – Oceanic	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	10/10/1933	1/5/1935	9/20/1935	Scuttled	6/27/1941
Gondar	GO	Adua	Submarine – Coastal	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	2/1/1936	9/13/1936	11/14/1936	Scuttled	9/30/1940
Gorgo	GG	Tritone	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	5/15/1941	1/30/1942	11/11/1942	Sunk	5/21/1943
Gorizia		Zara	Cruiser – Heavy	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	3/17/1930	12/28/1930	12/23/1931	Captured	9/8/1943
Granatiere	GN	Soldati 1a Serie	Destroyer	Cantiere Navale Riuniti (C.N.R.) Ancona	4/5/1937	4/24/1938	2/1/1939	Removed from Service	7/1/1958
Granito	GR	Platino	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	11/9/1940	8/5/1941	3/31/1942	Sunk	11/9/1942
Grecale	GR	Maestrale	Destroyer	Cantiere Navale Riuniti (C.N.R.) Ancona	9/25/1931	6/17/1934	11/15/1934	Removed from Service	5/31/1964
Grillo	C28	Gabbiano	Corvette	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare	6/22/1942	3/21/1943		Captured	9/9/1943
Gronco		Tritone	Submarine – Coastal	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	5/15/1941	1/30/1942	11/11/1942	Scuttled	9/9/1943
Groppo	GP	Orsa 2a Serie	Torpedo Boat	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare	6/18/1941	4/19/1942	8/31/1942	Sunk	5/25/1943
Gru	C 18	Gabbiano	Corvette	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	7/6/1942	12/23/1942	4/29/1943
Guglielmotti	GI	Brin	Submarine – Oceanic	Tosi, Taranto	12/3/1936	9/11/1938	10/12/1938	Sunk	3/17/1942
H1		Holland	Submarine – Coastal	Electric Boat Company, (Canada)	1/1/1916	1/1/1916
H2		Holland	Submarine – Coastal	Electric Boat Company, (Canada)	1/1/1916	1/1/1916
H4		Holland	Submarine – Coastal	Electric Boat Company, (Canada)	1/1/1916	1/1/1917
H6		Holland	Submarine – Coastal	Electric Boat Company, (Canada)	1/1/1916	1/1/1916
H8		Holland	Submarine – Coastal	Electric Boat Company, (Canada)	1/1/1916	1/1/1916
Ibis	C 17	Gabbiano	Corvette	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	6/18/1942	12/12/1942	4/3/1943
Impavido	IM	Orsa 2a Serie	Torpedo Boat	Cantieri del Tirreno (C.T.), Genova-Riva Trigoso	8/15/1941	2/24/1943	4/30/1943	Captured	9/16/1943
Impero		Littorio	Battleship	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	5/14/1938	11/15/1940
Impetuoso	IP	Orsa 2a Serie	Torpedo Boat	Cantieri del Tirreno (C.T.), Genova-Riva Trigoso	8/15/1941	4/20/1943	6/7/1943	Scuttled	9/11/1943
Indomito	ID	Orsa 2a Serie	Torpedo Boat	Cantieri del Tirreno (C.T.), Genova-Riva Trigoso	1/10/1942	7/6/1943	8/4/1943
Intrepido	IT	Orsa 2a Serie	Torpedo Boat	Cantieri del Tirreno (C.T.), Genova-Riva Trigoso	1/31/1942	9/8/1943	1/16/1944	Captured	9/9/1943
Ippolito Nievo		Rosolino Pilo	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente				Removed from Service	1/1/1938
Iride	IR	Perla	Submarine – Coastal	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	9/3/1935	7/30/1936	11/6/1936	Sunk	8/22/1939
Jalea	IA	Argonauta	Submarine – Coastal	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	1/20/1930	6/15/1932	3/16/1933	Removed from Service	9/9/1942
Jantina	IN	Argonauta	Submarine – Coastal	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	1/20/1930	5/16/1932	3/1/1933	Sunk	7/5/1940
Lafolè	LF	Adua	Submarine – Coastal	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	6/30/1937	4/10/1938	8/13/1938	Sunk	10/20/1939
Lampo	LP	Dardo 2a Serie	Destroyer	Partenopei, Napoli	1/30/1930	7/26/1931	8/13/1932	Sunk	4/30/1943
Lancia		Ariete	Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	3/24/1943	5/7/1944	9/7/1944	Captured	9/9/1943
Lanciere	LN	Soldati 1a Serie	Destroyer	Cantieri del Tirreno (C.T.), Genova-Riva Trigoso	2/1/1937	12/18/1938	4/25/1939	Wrecked	3/23/1942
Lanzerotto Maloncello	MO	Navigatori	Destroyer	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	8/30/1927	3/14/1929	1/18/1930	Sunk	3/24/1943
Legionario	LG	Soldati 2a Serie	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	10/21/1940	4/16/1941	3/1/1942	Transferred	8/15/1948
Legnano		Ostia	Mine Layer	Cantiere Navale Riuniti (C.N.R.) Ancona	1/1/1925	1/1/1926
Legnano		Ostia	Minelayer	Cantiere Navale Riuniti (C.N.R.) Ancona
Leone	LE	Leone	Destroyer	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	11/23/1921	10/1/1923	7/1/1923	Wrecked	4/1/1941
Leone Pancaldo	PN	Navigatori	Destroyer	Cantieri del Tirreno (C.T.), Genova-Riva Trigoso	7/7/1927	2/5/1929	11/30/1929	Sunk	5/29/1942
Lepanto		Ostia	Minelayer	Cantiere Navale Riuniti (C.N.R.) Ancona
Lepanto		Ostia	Mine Layer	Cantiere Navale Riuniti (C.N.R.) Ancona	1/1/1925	1/1/1925
Libeccio	LI	Maestrale	Destroyer	Cantieri del Tirreno (C.T.), Genova-Riva Trigoso	9/29/1931	7/4/1934	11/23/1934	Sunk	11/9/1941
Libellula	C 32	Gabbiano	Corvette	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare	12/3/1942
Libra	LB	Spica tipo Alcione	Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Navali del Quarnaro (C.N.Q.), Fiume	12/7/1936	10/3/1937	1/19/1938
Lince	LC	Spica tipo Alcione	Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Navali del Quarnaro (C.N.Q.), Fiume	12/7/1936	1/15/1938	4/1/1938	Sunk	8/28/1943
Lira	LR	Spica tipo Alcione	Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Navali del Quarnaro (C.N.Q.), Fiume	12/7/1936	9/12/1937	1/1/1938	Scuttled	9/9/1943
Littorio		Littorio	Battleship	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	10/28/1934	8/22/1937	5/6/1940	Removed from Service	6/1/1948
Console Generale Liuzzi	LZ	Liuzzi	Submarine – Oceanic	Tosi, Taranto	10/1/1938	9/17/1939	11/21/1939	Sunk	6/27/1940
Lubiana (ex Ljubljana)		Sebenico	Destroyer	Yarrow, Glasgow
Luca Tarigo	TA	Navigatori	Destroyer	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	8/30/1927	12/9/1928	11/16/1929	Sunk	4/16/1941
Lucciola	C 27	Gabbiano	Corvette	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare	6/22/1942	3/21/1943		Scuttled	9/13/1943
Luigi Cadorna		Condottieri tipo Cadorna	Cruiser – Light	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	9/19/1930	9/30/1931	8/11/1933	Removed from Service	5/1/1951
Luigi di Savoia Duca degli Abruzzi		Condottieri tipo Duca degli Abruzzi	Cruiser – Light	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	12/28/1933	4/21/1936	12/1/1937	Removed from Service	5/1/1961
Lupo	LP (LU)	Spica tipo Alcione	Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Navali del Quarnaro (C.N.Q.), Fiume	12/7/1936	11/7/1937	2/28/1938	Sunk	12/2/1942
Macallè		Adua	Submarine – Coastal	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	3/1/1936	10/29/1936	3/1/1937	Sunk	6/15/1940
Maestrale	MA	Maestrale	Destroyer	Cantiere Navale Riuniti (C.N.R.) Ancona	9/25/1931	4/5/1934	9/2/1934	Scuttled	9/9/1943
Maggiolino	C 60	Gabbiano	Corvette	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
Malachite	MH	Perla	Submarine – Coastal	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	8/31/1935	7/15/1936	1/6/1936	Sunk	2/9/1943
Alessandro Malaspina	MA	Marconi	Submarine – Oceanic	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	3/1/1939	2/18/1940	6/20/1940	Sunk	9/10/1941
Maleda (ex Mljet)		Arbe	Minelayer	Kraljevica, Jugoslavia
Mameli	MM	Mameli	Submarine – Medium Range	Tosi, Taranto	8/17/1925	12/9/1926	1/20/1929	Stricken	9/9/1943
Luciano Manara	MR	Bandiera	Submarine – Medium Range	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	2/18/1928	10/5/1929	9/9/1930	Stricken	9/10/1943
Daniele Manin	MA	Sauro	Destroyer	Cantieri Navali del Quarnaro (C.N.Q.), Fiume	10/9/1924	1/15/1925	5/1/1927	Sunk	4/3/1941
Marangone	C 52	Gabbiano	Corvette	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	3/15/1943	9/16/1943	8/16/1944	Captured	9/9/1943
Marcello	ML	Marcello	Submarine – Oceanic	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	1/4/1937	9/20/1937	3/5/1938	Sunk	2/22/1941
Guglielmo Marconi	MN	Marconi	Submarine – Oceanic	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	9/19/1938	7/30/1939	2/8/1940	Sunk	10/28/1941
Marea	MA	Tritone	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	12/1/1941	12/10/1942	5/7/1943	Removed from Service	9/9/1943
Mario Sonzini		Giuseppe Biglieri	Minesweeper	Schiffbau G.S., Bremerhaven
MAS 1D (ex TC 1)		Thornycroft 55	Motor Torpedo Boat	Thornycroft, Londra
MAS 204		Baglietto 12 ton	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze		4/12/1918		Scuttled	4/8/1941
MAS 206		Baglietto 12 ton	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze		6/14/1918		Scuttled	4/8/1941
MAS 210		Baglietto 12 ton	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze		8/3/1918		Scuttled	4/8/1941
MAS 213		Baglietto 12 ton	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze		8/19/1918		Scuttled	4/8/1941
MAS 216		Baglietto 12 ton	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze		9/16/1918		Scuttled	4/8/1941
MAS 2D (ex TC 2)		Thornycroft 55	Motor Torpedo Boat	Thornycroft, Londra
MAS 423		S.V.A.N velocissimo da 13 tonnellate	Motor Torpedo Boat	Societa Veneziana Automobili Navali (S.V.A.N.), Venezia
MAS 424		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 1a Serie Sperimentale	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze
MAS 426		S.V.A.N velocissimo da 13 tonnellate	Motor Torpedo Boat	Societa Veneziana Automobili Navali (S.V.A.N.), Venezia
MAS 430		S.V.A.N velocissimo da 13 tonnellate	Motor Torpedo Boat	Societa Veneziana Automobili Navali (S.V.A.N.), Venezia
MAS 431		Baglietto 1931	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze
MAS 432		S.V.A.N velocissimo da 13 tonnellate	Motor Torpedo Boat	Societa Veneziana Automobili Navali (S.V.A.N.), Venezia
MAS 433		S.V.A.N velocissimo da 13 tonnellate	Motor Torpedo Boat	Societa Veneziana Automobili Navali (S.V.A.N.), Venezia
MAS 434		S.V.A.N velocissimo da 13 tonnellate	Motor Torpedo Boat	Societa Veneziana Automobili Navali (S.V.A.N.), Venezia
MAS 437		S.V.A.N velocissimo diesel	Motor Torpedo Boat	Societa Veneziana Automobili Navali (S.V.A.N.), Venezia
MAS 438		Baglietto 1934	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze
MAS 439		Baglietto 1934	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze
MAS 440		Baglietto 1934	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze
MAS 441		Baglietto 1934	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze
MAS 451		Tipo Biglietto Velocissimo	Motor Torpedo Boat	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
MAS 452		Tipo Biglietto Velocissimo	Motor Torpedo Boat	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
MAS 501		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
MAS 502		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
MAS 503		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
MAS 504		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
MAS 505		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
MAS 507		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
MAS 509		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
MAS 510		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
MAS 512		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
MAS 513		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
MAS 514		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
MAS 515		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
MAS 516		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
MAS 517		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
MAS 518		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
MAS 519		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Celli, Venezia
MAS 520		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Celli, Venezia
MAS 521		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Celli, Venezia
MAS 522		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Celli, Venezia
MAS 523		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Societa Veneziana Automobili Navali (S.V.A.N.), Venezia
MAS 524		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Societa Veneziana Automobili Navali (S.V.A.N.), Venezia
MAS 525		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MAS 526		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze
MAS 527		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze
MAS 528		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze
MAS 529		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze
MAS 530		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze
MAS 531		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze
MAS 532		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze
MAS 533		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze
MAS 534		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze
MAS 535		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze
MAS 536		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
MAS 537		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
MAS 538		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
MAS 539		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
MAS 540		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Celli, Venezia
MAS 541		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Celli, Venezia
MAS 542		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Celli, Venezia
MAS 543		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Celli, Venezia
MAS 544		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Celli, Venezia
MAS 545		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
MAS 546		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MAS 547		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MAS 548		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MAS 549		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MAS 550		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MAS 551		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 3a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	C.N.A., Roma
MAS 552		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 3a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MAS 553		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 3a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MAS 554		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 3a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MAS 555		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 3a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
MAS 556		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 3a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
MAS 557		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 3a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
MAS 558		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 3a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Celli, Venezia
MAS 559		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 3a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Celli, Venezia
MAS 560		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 3a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Celli, Venezia
MAS 561		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 3a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze
MAS 562		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 3a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze
MAS 563		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 3a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze
MAS 564		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 3a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze
MAS 566		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 4a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze
MAS 567		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 4a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze
MAS 568		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 4a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze
MAS 569		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 4a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze
MAS 570		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 4a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Baglietto, Varazze
MAS 571		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 4a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
MAS 572		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 4a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
MAS 573		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 4a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
MAS 574		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 4a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Celli, Venezia
MAS 575		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 4a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Celli, Venezia
MAS 576		Tipo Velocissimo “500” 4a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Celli, Venezia
Medusa	MU	Argonauta	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	11/30/1929	12/10/1931	10/8/1932	Sunk	1/30/1942
Melpomene	C 68	Gabbiano	Corvette	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	3/25/1943	8/29/1943		Captured	9/9/1943
Ciro Menotti	ME	Bandiera	Submarine – Medium Range	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	5/12/1928	7/29/1929	7/29/1930	Stricken	9/9/1943
Meteo		Abastro	Minesweeper	Neptun, Rostok
Micca	MC	Micca	Submarine – Minelaying	Tosi, Taranto	10/15/1931	3/31/1935	1/10/1935	Sunk	7/29/1943
Milazzo		Ostia	Minelayer	Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino, Trieste
Milazzo		Ostia	Mine Layer	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	1/1/1925	1/1/1927
Millelire	MI	Balilla	Submarine – Oceanic	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	10/20/1925	9/19/1927	8/11/1928	Removed from Service	5/15/1941
Ammiraglio Millo	MG	Ammiragli	Submarine – Oceanic	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	10/16/1939	8/31/1940	7/15/1941	Sunk	5/13/1943
Minerva	C 42	Gabbiano	Corvette	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	4/2/1942	11/5/1942	2/24/1943
Mitragliere	MT	Soldati 2a Serie	Destroyer	Cantiere Navale Riuniti (C.N.R.) Ancona	10/7/1940	9/28/1941	2/1/1942	Transferred	7/15/1948
Mocenigo	MO	Marcello	Submarine – Oceanic	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	1/19/1937	11/20/1937	8/16/1938	Sunk	3/14/1941
Monsone	MS	Orsa 2a Serie	Torpedo Boat	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare	6/18/1941	6/7/1942	11/28/1942	Sunk	3/1/1943
Morosini	MS	Marcello	Submarine – Oceanic	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	3/2/1937	7/28/1938	11/11/1938	Sunk	8/11/1942
Antonio Mosto		Rosolino Pilo	Destroyer	Pattison, Napoli
Mozambano		Curtatone	Destroyer	Orlando, Livorno	1/1/1920	1/1/1922	1/1/1923
MS 11		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 41 (ex Orjen)		S1	Motor Torpedo Boat	Lurssen, Vegesak
MS 51		MS 51	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	8/6/1942	10/14/1942	2/15/1943	Scuttled	9/9/1943
MS 12		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 13		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 14		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 15		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 16		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 21		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 22		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 23		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 24		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 25		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 26		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 31		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 32		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 33		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 34		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 35		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 36		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 1a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 42 (ex Velebit)		Lürssen “S 2”	Motor Torpedo Boat	Lurssen, Vegesak
MS 43 (ex Dinara)		Lürssen “S 2”	Motor Torpedo Boat	Lurssen, Vegesak
MS 44 (ex Triglav)		Lürssen “S 2”	Motor Torpedo Boat	Lurssen, Vegesak
MS 45 (ex Suborov)		Lürssen “S 2”	Motor Torpedo Boat	Lurssen, Vegesak
MS 46 (ex Rudnik)		Lürssen “S 2”	Motor Torpedo Boat	Lurssen, Vegesak
MS 51		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 52		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 53		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 54		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 55		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 56		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 61		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 62		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 63		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 64		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 65		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 66		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 71		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 72		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 73		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 74		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 75		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
MS 76		C.R.D.A. 60 ton 2a Serie	Motor Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
Murena		Tritone	Submarine – Coastal	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	4/1/1942	4/11/1943	8/25/1943	Scuttled	9/9/1943
Muzio Attendolo		Condottieri tipo Montecuccoli	Cruiser – Light	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	4/10/1933	9/9/1934	8/7/1935	Sunk	12/4/1942
Naiade	NA	Sirena	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	5/9/1931	3/27/1933	11/16/1933	Scuttled	12/14/1940
Nani	NI	Marcello	Submarine – Oceanic	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	1/15/1937	1/16/1938	9/5/1938	Sunk	1/7/1941
Narvalo	NR	Squalo	Submarine – Medium Range	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	10/17/1928	3/15/1930	12/11/1930	Scuttled	1/14/1943
Nautilo		Tritone	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	1/3/1942	3/20/1943	7/26/1943	Scuttled	9/9/1943
Neghelli	NG	Adua	Submarine – Coastal	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	2/25/1937	11/7/1937	2/22/1938	Sunk	1/19/1941
Nembo	NB	Turbine	Destroyer	Cantieri del Tirreno (C.T.), Genova-Riva Trigoso	1/21/1925	1/27/1927	10/24/1927	Sunk	7/20/1940
Nereide	NE	Sirena	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	5/30/1931	5/25/1933	2/17/1934	Sunk	7/13/1943
Nichelio	NC	Platino	Submarine – Coastal	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	7/1/1941	4/12/1942	7/30/1942	Removed from Service	9/8/1943
Ondina	ON	Sirena	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	7/25/1931	12/2/1933	9/19/1934	Scuttled	7/11/1942
Onice	OC	Perla	Submarine – Coastal	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	8/27/1935	6/15/1936	9/1/1936	Stricken	9/9/1943
Orione		Orsa 1a Serie	Torpedo Boat	Cantiere Navale Riuniti (C.N.R.) Ancona	4/27/1936	4/21/1937	3/31/1938
Orsa		Orsa 1a Serie	Torpedo Boat	Cantiere Navale Riuniti (C.N.R.) Ancona	4/27/1936	3/21/1937	3/31/1938
Ostia		Ostia	Mine Layer	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	1/1/1925	1/1/1925
Ostia		Ostia	Minelayer	Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino, Trieste
Ostro	OT	Turbine	Destroyer	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	4/29/1925	1/2/1928	10/9/1928	Sunk	7/21/1940
Otaria	OA	Glauco	Submarine – Oceanic	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	11/17/1933	3/20/1935	10/20/1935	Stricken	9/9/1943
Palestro		Palestro	Destroyer	Orlando, Livorno
Pallade	PD	Spica tipo Alcione	Torpedo Boat	Societa Anonima Bacini e Scali Napoli, Napoli	2/13/1937	12/19/1937	10/5/1938	Sunk	8/4/1943
Pantera	PA	Leone	Destroyer	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	12/19/1921	10/18/1923	10/28/1924	Scuttled	4/4/1941
Partenope	PN	Spica tipo Alcione	Torpedo Boat	Societa Anonima Bacini e Scali Napoli, Napoli	1/31/1937	2/27/1938	11/26/1938	Sunk	5/4/1943
Pasman (ex Mosor)		Arbe	Minelayer	Kraljevica, Jugoslavia
Pegaso		Orsa 1a Serie	Torpedo Boat	Societa Anonima Bacini e Scali Napoli, Napoli	2/15/1936	12/8/1936	3/30/1938	Scuttled	9/11/1943
Pelagosa		Fasana	Minelayer	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
Pellegrino Matteucci		Pellegrino Matteucci	Minesweeper	Deutsche Werft, Amburgo (Germany)
Pellegrino Matteucci		Giuseppe Biglieri	Minesweeper	Schiffbau G.S., Bremerhaven
Pellicano	C 14	Gabbiano	Corvette	Societa Anonima Cantieri Cerusa, Genova-Voltri	1/14/1942	2/12/1943	3/15/1943
Perla	PL	Perla	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	8/31/1935	5/3/1936	7/8/1936	Captured	7/9/1942
Persefone	C 40	Gabbiano	Corvette	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	3/9/1942	9/21/1942	11/28/1942	Scuttled	9/9/1943
Perseo	PS	Spica tipo Perseo	Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Navali del Quarnaro (C.N.Q.), Fiume	11/21/1934	10/9/1935	2/1/1936	Sunk	5/4/1943
Emanuele Pessagno	PS	Navigatori	Destroyer	Cantiere Navale Riuniti (C.N.R.) Ancona	10/9/1927	8/12/1929	3/10/1930	Sunk	5/29/1942
Antonio Pigafetta	PI	Navigatori	Destroyer	Cantieri Navali del Quarnaro (C.N.Q.), Fiume	12/29/1927	11/10/1929	5/1/1931	Captured	10/1/1944
Vettor Pisani	PN	Pisani	Submarine – Medium Range	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	12/3/1925	11/24/1927	6/16/1929	Removed from Service	9/9/1943
Platino	PT	Platino	Submarine – Coastal	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	11/20/1940	6/1/1941	10/2/1941	Removed from Service
Pleiadi	PL	Spica tipo Alcione	Torpedo Boat	Societa Anonima Bacini e Scali Napoli, Napoli	1/4/1937	9/5/1937	7/4/1938	Sunk	10/14/1941
Pola		Zara	Cruiser – Heavy	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	3/17/1931	12/5/1931	12/21/1932	Sunk	3/28/1941
Polluce	PV	Spica tipo Alcione	Torpedo Boat	Societa Anonima Bacini e Scali Napoli, Napoli	2/13/1937	10/24/1937	8/8/1938	Sunk	9/4/1942
Pomona	C 45	Gabbiano	Corvette	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	5/16/1942	11/18/1942	4/4/1943
Pompeo Magno		Capitani Romani	Cruiser – Light	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	9/23/1939	8/24/1941	6/4/1943	Removed from Service	5/1/1950
Porfido	PO	Platino	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	11/9/1940	8/23/1941	1/24/1942	Sunk	12/6/1942
Premuda (ex Dubvronik)		Premuda	Destroyer	Yarrow, Glasgow
Procellaria	C 12	Gabbiano	Corvette	Societa Anonima Cantieri Cerusa, Genova-Voltri	1/14/1942	9/4/1942	11/29/1942
Procione		Orsa 1a Serie	Torpedo Boat	Societa Anonima Bacini e Scali Napoli, Napoli	2/15/1936	1/31/1937	3/30/1938	Scuttled	9/9/1943
Provana	PR	Marcello	Submarine – Oceanic	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	2/3/1937	3/16/1938	7/25/1938	Sunk	6/17/1940
Pugnale		Ariete	Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	1/9/1943	8/1/1943	7/7/1944	Captured	9/9/1943
Quintino Sella	SE	Sella	Destroyer	Pattison, Napoli	10/12/1922	4/25/1925	3/25/1926	Sunk	9/11/1943
R.D.12		R.D.	Minesweeper	Tosi, Taranto
R.D.13		R.D.	Minesweeper	Poli, Chioggia
R.D.16		R.D.	Minesweeper	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
R.D.17		R.D.	Minesweeper	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
R.D.18		R.D.	Minesweeper	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
R.D.20		R.D.	Minesweeper	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
R.D.21		R.D.	Minesweeper	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
R.D.22		R.D.	Minesweeper	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
R.D.23		R.D.	Minesweeper	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
R.D.24		R.D.	Minesweeper	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
R.D.25		R.D.	Minesweeper	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
R.D.26		R.D.	Minesweeper	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
R.D.27		R.D.	Minesweeper	Tosi, Taranto
R.D.28		R.D.	Minesweeper	Tosi, Taranto
R.D.29		R.D.	Minesweeper	Tosi, Taranto
R.D.30		R.D.	Minesweeper	Tosi, Taranto
R.D.31		R.D.	Minesweeper	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
R.D.32		R.D.	Minesweeper	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
R.D.33		R.D.	Minesweeper	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
R.D.34		R.D.	Minesweeper	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
R.D.35		R.D.	Minesweeper	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
R.D.36		R.D.	Minesweeper	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
R.D.37		R.D.	Minesweeper	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
R.D.38		R.D.	Minesweeper	Arsenale Navale, Napoli
R.D.39		R.D.	Minesweeper	Tosi, Taranto
R.D.40		R.D.	Minesweeper	Tosi, Taranto
R.D.41		R.D.	Minesweeper	Tosi, Taranto
R.D.42		R.D.	Minesweeper	Tosi, Taranto
R.D.43		R.D.	Minesweeper	Tosi, Taranto
R.D.44		R.D.	Minesweeper	Tosi, Taranto
R.D.55		R.D.	Minesweeper	Migliardi, Savona
R.D.56		R.D.	Minesweeper	Migliardi, Savona
R.D.57		R.D.	Minesweeper	Migliardi, Savona
R.D.58		R.D.58	Minesweeper	Danubius, Fiume
R.D.59		R.D.58	Minesweeper	Danubius, Fiume
R.D.6		R.D.	Minesweeper	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
R.D.60		R.D.58	Minesweeper	Danubius, Fiume
R.D.7		R.D.	Minesweeper	Tosi, Taranto
R10		R	Submarine – Transport	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	2/24/1943	7/13/1943		Stricken
R11		R	Submarine – Transport	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	3/10/1943	7/6/1944		Stricken
R12		R	Submarine – Transport	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	5/13/1943	9/29/1944		Stricken
R3		R	Submarine – Transport	Tosi, Taranto	3/1/1943	9/7/1946		Stricken
R4		R	Submarine – Transport	Tosi, Taranto	3/1/1943	9/30/1946		Stricken
R5		R	Submarine – Transport	Tosi, Taranto	3/25/1943			Stricken
R6		R	Submarine – Transport	Tosi, Taranto	3/25/1943			Stricken
R7		R	Submarine – Transport	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	3/1/1943	10/31/1943		Stricken
R8		R	Submarine – Transport	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	3/1/1943	12/28/1943		Stricken
R9		R	Submarine – Transport	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	3/6/1943	2/27/1944		Stricken
Raimondo Montecuccoli		Condottieri tipo Montecuccoli	Cruiser – Light	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	10/1/1931	8/2/1934	6/30/1935		6/1/1964
Attilio Regolo		Capitani Romani	Cruiser – Light	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	9/28/1939	8/28/1940	5/14/1942	Removed from Service	7/26/1948
Remo	RE	R	Submarine – Transport	Tosi, Taranto	7/21/1942	3/21/1943	6/19/1943	Sunk	7/15/1943
Renna	C 24	Gabbiano	Corvette	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	5/31/1942	12/5/1942		Captured	9/9/1943
Bettino Ricasoli	RC	Sella	Destroyer	Pattison, Napoli	1/11/1923	1/29/1926	12/11/2026	Transferred	3/1/1940
Rigel		Ariete	Torpedo Boat	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	7/15/1942	5/22/1943	1/23/1944	Captured	9/9/1943
Francesco Rismondo (ex Osvetnik)	RI	Osvetnik	Submarine – Coastal	Loires, Nantes (France)		1/14/1929	4/1/1941	Scuttled	8/9/1943
Roma		Littorio	Battleship	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	9/18/1938	6/9/1940	6/14/1942	Sunk	9/9/1943
Romolo	RO	R	Submarine – Transport	Tosi, Taranto	4/5/1942	3/28/1943	6/19/1943	Sunk	7/18/1943
Rosolino Pilo		Rosolino Pilo	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente	1/1/1913	1/1/1915	1/1/1915
Rubino	RU	Sirena	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Navali del Quarnaro (C.N.Q.), Fiume	9/26/1931	3/29/1933	3/21/1934	Sunk	6/29/1940
S 1 (ex U 428 )		S	Submarine – Coastal	Danziger Werft Danzig (Germany)	8/14/1942	3/11/1943	6/26/1943	Captured
S 2 (ex U 746)		S	Submarine – Coastal	Schichau, Danzig (Germany)	7/15/1942		7/4/1943	Captured
S 3 (ex U747)		S	Submarine – Coastal	Schichau, Danzig (Germany)	8/19/1942		7/17/1943	Captured
S 4 (ex U 429)		S	Submarine – Coastal	Danziger Werft Danzig (Germany)	9/14/1942		7/14/1943	Captured
S 5 (ex (U 748)		S	Submarine – Coastal	Schichau, Danzig (Germany)	8/20/1942		7/31/1943	Captured
S 6 (ex U430)		S	Submarine – Coastal	Danziger Werft Danzig (Germany)	10/5/1942	4/22/1943	8/4/1943	Captured
S 7 (ex U749)		S	Submarine – Coastal	Schichau, Danzig (Germany)	9/28/1942	3/30/1943	8/14/1943	Captured
S 8 (ex U1161)		S	Submarine – Coastal	Danziger Werft Danzig (Germany)	10/27/1942		8/25/1943	Captured
S 9 (ex U 750)		S	Submarine – Coastal	Schichau, Danzig (Germany)	9/29/1942		8/26/1943	Captured
Saetta	SA	Dardo 1a Serie	Destroyer	Cantieri del Tirreno (C.T.), Genova-Riva Trigoso	5/27/1927	1/17/1932	5/10/1932	Sunk	2/3/1943
Sagittario	SG	Spica tipo Perseo	Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Navali del Quarnaro (C.N.Q.), Fiume	11/14/1935	6/21/1936	10/8/1936
Ammiraglio Saint Bon	SB	Ammiragli	Submarine – Oceanic	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	9/16/1939	6/6/1940	3/12/1941	Sunk	1/5/1942
Salpa	SA	Argonauta	Submarine – Coastal	Tosi, Taranto	4/23/1930	5/8/1932	12/12/1932	Sunk	6/27/1941
San Giorgio		San Giorgio	Obsolete Ship	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare	7/4/1907	7/27/1908	7/1/1910	Scuttled
San Marco		San Giorgio	Obsolete Ship	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare				Captured	9/9/1943
San Martino		Palestro	Destroyer	Orlando, Livorno
Santorre Santarosa	SN	Bandiera	Submarine – Medium Range	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	5/1/1928	10/22/1929	7/29/1930	Scuttled	1/20/1943
Nazario Sauro	SU	Sauro	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente	2/9/1924	5/12/1926	9/23/1926	Sunk	4/3/1941
Simone Schiaffino		Rosolino Pilo	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente
Antonio Sciesa	SC	Balilla	Submarine – Oceanic	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	10/20/1925	8/18/1928	4/12/1929	Scuttled	11/6/1942
Scimitarra	C 33	Gabbiano	Corvette	Breda, Venezia	2/24/1942	9/16/1942	5/15/1943
Scipione Africano		Capitani Romani	Cruiser – Light	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	9/28/1939	1/12/1941	4/23/1943	Removed from Service	8/9/1948
Scirè	SR	Adua	Submarine – Coastal	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	1/30/1937	1/6/1938	4/25/1938	Sunk	8/10/1942
Scirocco	SC	Maestrale	Destroyer	Cantieri del Tirreno (C.T.), Genova-Riva Trigoso	9/29/1931	4/22/1934	10/21/1934	Wrecked	3/23/1942
Scure	C 62	Gabbiano	Corvette	Breda, Venezia	10/20/1943
Sebenico (ex Beograd)		Sebenico	Destroyer	Loires, Nantes (France)
Serpente	AU	Argonauta	Submarine – Coastal	Tosi, Taranto	4/23/1930	2/28/1932	11/12/1932	Scuttled	9/12/1943
Settembrini	ST	Settembrini	Submarine – Medium Range	Tosi, Taranto	4/16/1928	7/28/1930	1/25/1932	Sunk	9/9/1943
Ruggiero Settimo	SO	Settembrini	Submarine – Medium Range	Tosi, Taranto	4/16/1928	3/29/1931	4/25/1932	Removed from Service	9/9/1943
Sfinge	C 47	Gabbiano	Corvette	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	6/20/1942	9/1/1943	5/12/1943
Sibilla	C 49	Gabbiano	Corvette	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	6/20/1942	3/10/1943	6/5/1943
Sirena	SI	Sirena	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	5/1/1931	1/26/1933	10/2/1933	Scuttled	9/9/1943
Sirio	SI	Spica tipo Perseo	Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Navali del Quarnaro (C.N.Q.), Fiume	11/12/1934	11/16/1935	3/1/1936
Smeraldo	SM	Sirena	Submarine – Coastal	Tosi, Taranto	5/25/1931	7/23/1933	11/29/1933	Sunk	9/15/1941
Solferino		Palestro	Destroyer	Orlando, Livorno
Solta (ex Meljine)		Arbe	Minelayer	Kraljevica, Jugoslavia
Spada		Ariete	Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	1/9/1943	7/1/1943	2/12/1944	Captured	9/9/1943
Sparide		Tritone	Submarine – Coastal	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	4/25/1942	2/21/1943	8/7/1943	Scuttled	9/9/1943
Speri	SP	Mameli	Submarine – Medium Range	Tosi, Taranto	9/28/2025	5/25/1928	8/20/1929	Stricken	2/1/1942
Spica	SP	Spica	Torpedo Boat	Societa Anonima Bacini e Scali Napoli, Napoli	1/14/1942	1/30/1944	9/8/1944	Captured	9/9/1943
Spica		Ariete	Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Navali del Quarnaro (C.N.Q.), Fiume	1/14/1942	1/30/1944	9/8/1944	Captured	9/9/1943
Spigola		Tritone	Submarine – Coastal	Tosi, Taranto	6/10/1943			Stricken
Spingarda	C 36	Gabbiano	Corvette	Breda, Venezia	3/14/1942	3/22/1943		Captured	9/11/1943
Squadrista (later Corsaro)	SQ	Soldati 2a Serie	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	9/4/1941	9/12/1941		Captured	9/9/1943
Squalo	SQ	Squalo	Submarine – Medium Range	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	10/10/1928	1/15/1930	10/6/1930	Removed from Service	9/9/1943
Stambecco	C 57	Gabbiano	Corvette	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	3/4/1943
Stella Polare		Ariete	Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Navali del Quarnaro (C.N.Q.), Fiume	4/1/1942	7/11/1943	1/15/1944	Captured	9/9/1943
Strale	ST	Dardo 1a Serie	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente	2/20/1929	3/26/1931	2/6/1932	Wrecked	6/21/1942
Strolaga	C 53	Gabbiano	Corvette	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	3/15/1943			Captured	9/9/1943
Capitano Tarantini	TA	Liuzzi	Submarine – Oceanic	Tosi, Taranto	4/5/1939	1/7/1940	3/16/1930	Sunk	12/15/1940
Taranto (ex Strassburg)		Taranto	Obsolete Ship	Wilhelmshaven, (Germany)		8/24/1911	10/9/1912	Scuttled	9/9/1943
Enrico Tazzoli	TZ	Calvi	Submarine – Oceanic	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	9/16/1932	10/13/1935	4/18/1936	Sunk	5/18/1943
Tembien	TE	Adua	Submarine – Coastal	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	2/6/1937	2/6/1938	7/1/1938	Sunk	8/2/1941
Tersicore	C 69	Gabbiano	Corvette	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	4/15/1943
Tifone	TF	Orsa 2a Serie	Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	6/17/1941	3/31/1942	7/11/1942	Captured	5/7/1943
Tigre	TI	Leone	Destroyer	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	1/23/1922	8/7/1924	10/10/1924	Scuttled	4/4/1941
Topazio	TP	Sirena	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Navali del Quarnaro (C.N.Q.), Fiume	9/26/1931	5/15/1933	4/1/1934	Sunk	9/12/1943
Luigi Torelli		Marconi	Submarine – Oceanic	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	2/15/1939	1/6/1940	5/15/1940	Captured	9/8/1943
Torricelli	TL	Brin	Submarine – Oceanic	Tosi, Taranto	12/23/1937	3/26/1939	5/7/1939	Sunk	6/23/1940
Toti	TO	Balilla	Submarine – Oceanic	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	1/26/2025	2/20/1927	9/20/1928	Stricken	4/2/1943
Trento		Trento	Cruiser – Heavy	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	2/8/1925	10/4/1927	4/3/1929	Sunk	6/15/1942
Tricheco	TR	Squalo	Submarine – Medium Range	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	11/10/1928	9/11/1930	6/23/1931	Sunk	3/18/1942
Trieste		Trento	Cruiser – Heavy	Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino, Trieste	6/22/1925	10/24/1926	12/21/1928	Sunk	4/10/1943
Triglia		Triglia	Minesweeper	Deutsche Werft, Amburgo (Germany)
Tritone	TN	Tritone	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	5/15/1941	1/3/1942	10/10/1942	Sunk	1/19/1943
Tuffetto	C 51	Gabbiano	Corvette	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	3/15/1943	8/25/1943	3/3/1944	Captured	9/9/1943
Turbine	TB	Turbine	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente	3/24/1925	4/21/1927	8/27/1927	Scuttled	9/9/1943
Turchese	TC	Perla	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	9/27/1935	7/19/1936	9/21/1936	Stricken	9/9/1943
Stefano Turr		Stefano Turr	Motor Torpedo Boat	C.M.A., Marina Pisa
Uarsciek	UR	Adua	Submarine – Coastal	Tosi, Taranto	12/2/1936	9/19/1937	12/4/1937	Sunk	12/15/1942
Uebi Scebeli	US	Adua	Submarine – Coastal	Tosi, Taranto	1/12/1937	10/3/1937	12/21/1937	Sunk	6/29/1940
Ugliano (ex Marjan)		Arbe	Minelayer	Kraljevica, Jugoslavia
Ugolino Vivaldi	VI	Navigatori	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente	5/16/1927	1/9/1929	3/6/1930	Sunk	7/10/1943
Uragano	UR	Orsa 2a Serie	Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	6/14/1941	5/3/1942	9/26/1942	Sunk	2/3/1943
Urania	C 65	Gabbiano	Corvette	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	10/1/1942	4/21/1943	8/1/1943
Antoniotto Usodimare	US	Navigatori	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente	6/1/1927	5/12/1929	11/21/1929	Sunk	6/8/1942
VAS 201		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Baglietto, Varazze
VAS 202		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Baglietto, Varazze
VAS 203		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Baglietto, Varazze
VAS 204		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Baglietto, Varazze
VAS 205		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Baglietto, Varazze
VAS 206		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Baglietto, Varazze
VAS 207		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Baglietto, Varazze
VAS 208		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Baglietto, Varazze
VAS 209		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
VAS 210		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
VAS 211		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
VAS 212		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
VAS 213		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
VAS 214		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Picchiotto, Limite d’Arno
VAS 215		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
VAS 216		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
VAS 217		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
VAS 218		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
VAS 219		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
VAS 220		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
VAS 221		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Soriente, Salerno
VAS 222		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Soriente, Salerno
VAS 223		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Soriente, Salerno
VAS 224		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Soriente, Salerno
VAS 225		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Celli, Venezia
VAS 226		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Celli, Venezia
VAS 227		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Celli, Venezia
VAS 228		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Celli, Venezia
VAS 229		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Celli, Venezia
VAS 230		Baglietto 68 ton 1a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Celli, Venezia
VAS 231		Baglietto 68 ton 2a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Baglietto, Varazze
VAS 232		Baglietto 68 ton 2a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Baglietto, Varazze
VAS 233		Baglietto 68 ton 2a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Baglietto, Varazze
VAS 234		Baglietto 68 ton 2a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Baglietto, Varazze
VAS 235		Baglietto 68 ton 2a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Baglietto, Varazze
VAS 236		Baglietto 68 ton 2a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Baglietto, Varazze
VAS 237		Baglietto 68 ton 2a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Costaguta, Genova-Voltri
VAS 238		Baglietto 68 ton 2a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Costaguta, Genova-Voltri
VAS 239		Baglietto 68 ton 2a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
VAS 240		Baglietto 68 ton 2a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
VAS 241		Baglietto 68 ton 2a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
VAS 242		Baglietto 68 ton 2a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare
VAS 243		Baglietto 68 ton 2a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Soriente, Salerno
VAS 244		Baglietto 68 ton 2a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Soriente, Salerno
VAS 245		Baglietto 68 ton 2a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Soriente, Salerno
VAS 246		Baglietto 68 ton 2a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Celli, Venezia
VAS 247		Baglietto 68 ton 2a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Celli, Venezia
VAS 248		Baglietto 68 ton 2a serie	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Celli, Venezia
VAS 301		VAS 301	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Ansaldo, Cerusa Voltri
VAS 302		VAS 301	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Ansaldo, Cerusa Voltri
VAS 303		VAS 301	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Ansaldo, Cerusa Voltri
VAS 304		VAS 301	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Ansaldo, Cerusa Voltri
VAS 305		VAS 305	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Ansaldo, Cerusa Voltri
VAS 306		VAS 305	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Ansaldo, Cerusa Voltri
VAS 307		VAS 305	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Ansaldo, Cerusa Voltri
VAS 308		VAS 305	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Ansaldo, Cerusa Voltri
VAS 309		VAS 305	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Ansaldo, Cerusa Voltri
VAS 310		VAS 305	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Ansaldo, Cerusa Voltri
VAS 311		VAS 305	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Ansaldo, Cerusa Voltri
VAS 312		VAS 305	Anti Submarine Patrol Vessel	Ansaldo, Cerusa Voltri
Vedetta		Vedetta	Minesweeper	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
Vega	VG	Spica tipo Perseo	Torpedo Boat	Cantieri Navali del Quarnaro (C.N.Q.), Fiume	11/14/1935	6/21/1936	10/12/1936	Sunk	1/10/1941
Velella	VL	Argo	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	12/9/1935	12/18/1936	8/31/1937	Sunk	9/7/1943
Velite	VL	Soldati 2a Serie	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	4/19/1941	8/31/1941	8/31/1942	Transferred	7/24/1948
Veniero	VN	Marcello	Submarine – Oceanic	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	1/23/1937	2/14/1938	6/5/1938	Sunk	6/7/1942
Vespa	C 26	Gabbiano	Corvette	Navalmeccanica, Castellammare	5/4/1942	11/22/1942	9/2/1943	Captured	9/11/1943
Vesuvio		Etna	Cruiser – Light	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	8/26/1939	8/6/1941
Vigilante		Vedetta	Minesweeper	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone
Vincenzo G. Orsini		Sirtori	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Genova-Sestri Ponente
Vincenzo Gioberti	GB	Oriani	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	1/2/1936	7/19/1936	10/27/1937	Sunk	8/9/1943
Vittorio Alfieri	AL	Oriani	Destroyer	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Livorno	4/4/1936	12/20/1936	12/1/1937	Sunk	4/28/1941
Vittorio Veneto		Littorio	Battleship	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	10/28/1934	7/25/1937	4/28/1940	Removed from Service	2/1/1948
Volframio	VO	Platino	Submarine – Coastal	Tosi, Taranto	12/16/1940	11/9/1941	2/15/1942	Scuttled	9/9/1943
Vortice	VR	Tritone	Submarine – Coastal	Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (C.R.D.A.), Monfalcone	1/3/1942	2/23/1943	6/21/1943	Removed from Service	9/9/1943
Zaffiro	ZA	Sirena	Submarine – Coastal	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	9/16/1931	6/28/1933	6/4/1934	Sunk	6/9/1942
Zagaglia	C 64	Gabbiano	Corvette	Breda, Venezia	2/1/1944
Zara		Zara	Cruiser – Heavy	Odero-Terni-Orlandi (O.T.O.), Muggiano (La Spezia)	7/4/1929	4/27/1930	10/20/1931	Sunk	3/28/1941
Zeffiro	ZF	Turbine	Destroyer	Ansaldo, Sestri Levante	4/29/1924	5/27/1927	5/25/1928	Sunk	7/5/1940
Nicolò Zeno	ZE	Navigatori	Destroyer	Cantieri Navali del Quarnaro (C.N.Q.), Fiume	6/5/1927	8/12/1928	5/27/1930	Sunk	9/9/1943
Zoea	ZE	Foca	Submarine – Medium Range	Tosi, Taranto	3/3/1936	12/5/1937	2/12/1938	Stricken	9/9/1943

The Sinking of the Esperia

December 5, 2023 by Cristiano D'Adamo

Introduction
War Diary
S.S. Esperia

Introduction

The official war record of the Italian Navy states: “The most painful loss of the month of August 1941 was, undoubtedly, the SS Esperia of over 11,000 t., sunk by a submarine when it was already in sight of the port of Tripoli.” The official Italian war record, as published in “La Difesa del Traffico con l’Africa Settentrionale” (The Protection of the Traffic with North Africa) reads:

“The convoy left Naples on the 19th of August at 02:00 AM, and included the passenger ships Marco Polo, Esperia, Neptunia and Oceania and it was routed east of Malta (Sicilian Channel, Island of Pantelleria, Kerkennah Islands). Starting from its departure in Naples, the convoy was escorted by the destroyers Vivaldi (lead) Da Recco, Gioberti, Oriani. The Vivaldi had aboard, for the occasion, Rear Admiral Amedeo Nomis di Pollone, Commander at Sea for the mission. After 1:30 PM, the convoy was reinforced by the torpedo boat Dezza and, after 2:50 PM at the beginning of the more dangerous section of the crossing slightly to the north of Marettimo, by the destroyers Maestrale, Grecale and Scirocco.

Moreover, during daylight navigation, both in the Tyrrenhian and in the Sicilian Channels, the convoy was escorted by airplane S. 79 and CR 42 and, in the later afternoon of the 19th, by seaplanes Cant Z 506 for antisubmarine protection. From 5:20 PM to 6:30 PM, north of Pantelleria, the convoy endured two successive underwater attacks, and both times the torpedoes, timely sighted by the convoy’s lookouts, were avoided with prompt maneuvers. The Vivaldi and the Gioberti pursued the enemy submarines for approximately one hour without appreciable results.

The 20th of August at 01:00 AM, the destroyers Maestrale and Grecale returned to port to refuel, and the destroyers Vivaldi, Da Recco, Oriani, Gioberti and Scirocco, along with the torpedo boat Dezza were left in charge of defending the convoy. At 8:30AM, when the convoy was entering the safe channel to Tripoli (a navigational path leading to port and free of mines), the escort was augmented with the arrival of the torpedo boat Partenope and two MAS.

After daybreak, Cant Z 501s had also resumed circling over the naval formation, providing for submarine protection. During the approach to Tripoli, the convoy was preceded by a group of mine sweepers that had already searched the approaching route for several hours. The Italians, undoubtedly, had taken all the necessary precautions to guarantee the safety of their vessels, but unfortunately not even such a large deployment of defensive measures succeeded in avoiding the convoy being attacked by a British submarine.

From British documentation, it turns out that in those days there were three submarines in ambush in the area immediately surrounding the “safe” route to Tripoli: UNIQUE (Lieutenant-Commander R.D. Cayley, D.S.O.), P. 32 (Lieutenant D.A.B. Abdy) and P. 33 (Lieutenant R.D. Whiteway-Wilkinson, D.S.C.). The fact was not exceptional, as English submarines were generally in ambush in the special points of the Italian traffic with Libya. The boats P. 32 and P. 33 were both lost, but the UNIQUE, avoiding the convoy’s defensive screen, succeeded in positioning itself close enough to the MV Esperia to torpedo it.

Admiral Nomis di Pollone, Commander at Sea, reported:
“At 10:20 AM of August 20, the convoy including the SS Marco Polo and Esperia, and the MV Neptunia and Oceania, escorted by the destroyers Vivaldi, Gioberti, Da Recco, Oriani, Scirocco, the Torpedo boat Dezza and two MAS from Tripoli were preceded by the pilot, torpedo boat Partenope, at a point 11miles for true bearing 318° from the beacon of Tripoli, and proceeded at a speed of 17 knots on safe route n. 3 (true course 138). The formation was flown over by aerial defenses composed of 2 Cant Z 501 and 2 fighters.

All the units in the convoy, excluding the pilot, were zigzagging and although the convoy was already on the safe route, it had to be maintained in formation due to the frequent presence of submarines near the Libyan coast. Upon initiating the approaching procedures, the Oriani launched six depth charges to scare off any enemy.

At 10:20 AM, without having sighted the periscope, the Esperia detected the wave of a torpedo to the left perfectly aiming at the ship. Before it was possible to execute any evasive maneuver, the Esperia was hit by a torpedo forward of the bridge; the explosion was immediately followed by the explosion of two others torpedoes, one to the center of the ship (boiler room) and the other one aft. The Esperia immediately began leaning to the left; it remarkably lost headway very quickly, coming to a stop approximately 40° to the left of the original course. The other units in the convoy, as prescribed, continued on due course to port and the Marco Polo raised the signal “I T” (follow me) increasing to full speed ahead. Such a quick decision by the convoy’s commander was very opportune since going astray from the prescribed route could have brought the convoy in dangerous waters due to defensive mine fields.

In the meantime, aboard the Esperia the crew was trying to put in sea the lifeboats, but the maneuver succeeded only partially because of the excessive list and the residual headway of the ship. At 10:31 the Esperia completely pulled down to the left side and sank with the prow low without generating too much gurgle.

At first the explosions against the side of the Esperia were of indeterminate nature, since an observer from any other ship could have assumed a mine, as well as a torpedo, or perhaps bombs from a high flying airplane. A few minutes later, bombs dropped at about 1,000 meters to the left of the Esperia made everyone realize that the planes were after a submarine and that torpedoes had caused the explosions.

I then ordered the Oriani, Scirocco and Dezza to approach the area of the shipwreck and begin the rescue operations, while the Gioberti proceeded with the MAS to give hunt to the submarine, assisted later on by the Da Recco, which at first I had designated to accompany the convoy on the escape route.

At 12:00 three tugs and some motor-sail boats from Tripoli reached the place. Meantime, since the greater part of the shipwreck had been recovered by the units in the convoy, I ordered these units to direct for Tripoli in order to avoid further risks of attack by submarine, leaving in place the Dezza to protect the crafts from Marilibia (Italian Naval Command in Libya) .

People rescued by the:
Vivaldi 76
Oriani 254
Scirocco 471
Dezza 61
Naval units from Tripoli 277
Total 1,139

Observations and proposals – the circumstances described in which the attack has taken place induce us to assume that the submarine executed a launch at a short distance, probably utilizing hydrophones. It is possible that the enemy knew of the arrival of the convoy, since it had been attacked the previous evening by a submarine near Pantelleria with the launch of two torpedoes… “.

The SS Marco Polo, and MV Neptunia and Oceania, as previously said, after the attack of the Unique, continued on to Tripoli entering port at 12:30 PM. They quickly carried out the disembarkation of men and materials and then the three cargo vessels left Tripoli at 5:00 PM of the 21st and reached Naples under the escort of the destroyers Vivaldi, Da Recco, Oriani, Gioberti, Scirocco.”

War Diary of Lt. Fabrizio Romano

August 18, 1941. – At 1530, I arrive at the Pisacane Pier riding a motorcycle with my buddy Raffaele “Fefè” di Russa. As I get into the harbor area, I hear my name called by a voice I know well. It’s Peppino Passarella, whose brother is Doctor Fabrizio, a Captain in the Medical Corps, from my own Regiment and due to leave for North Africa with me: he’s my cousin on my mother’s side. He shouts his greeting to me. I get off the motorbike and I approach him; he’s with his brother and his father-in-law, Mr. Rotundo, who’s seeing off his son, Doctor Antonio Rotundo, also a Medical Corps Captain, bound for North Africa with us. We exchange warm greetings. Captain Rotundo is to embark on the Motor Vessel Esperia.

As for us, i.e., Lieutenant Raffaele di Russa, my close friend and brother in arms since the start of the war, Captain Fabrizio Passarella, MD (my cousin, as I have explained), and myself, we are scheduled to embark on “Neptunia”. In saying our goodbyes, I notice that Dr. Rotundo’s father is emotionally distressed: he hugs his son repeatedly, and says he’s really sorry we’re not all sailing together. Captain Rotundo himself, when we hug before embarking aboard our ships, tells me again how disappointed he is to sail on Esperia. Could it be a foreboding of the tragedy that will soon unfold? As I walk away from him, I shout: “See you in Tripoli!”

We get into the harbor. The accommodation ladders teem with military personnel. Our ship makes a very good impression on Fefé and me.
As I am about to climb aboard the ship, another very pleasant, unexpected encounter makes me even gladder. One of my closest childhood friends, Bruno Mazzarelli, is sailing on my ship; we were together in high school and through university. He is an attorney, he recently got married, and he volunteered to go to North Africa.

Before we embark we are greeted by His Excellency General Rosi, 6th Army Commander, and General Piazzoni, C.O. of our motorized Division “Trieste”. We are all issued small flags with our nation’s colors.
At 1730, after completion of the troops’ embarkation procedures, we board the ship. The stateroom assigned to me and my friend Fefé is spacious, with two bunks. Fefé points out to me that it would be easy to get out through the two portholes, located near his bunk… just in case we have to abandon ship in a hurry. As we try to verify whether our bodies’ bulk allows for a quick egress maneuver, we are pleased to notice that a rope ladder and a thick line hang outboard, near the portholes.

According to the scuttlebutt we got yesterday, during the visit paid by the Colonel commanding our Regiment to the ship, we should get underway tomorrow morning, around 0500. So everyone waits for nightfall without any undue apprehension, since for now we are safe from torpedoes and we’ll be able to spend the night resting in our staterooms and living spaces.
Around 1930 I have a rather good meal, sharing my table with my friends Fefé and Bruno Mazzarelli. From 2100 on, we rest in our staterooms, fully intending to get a good night’s sleep. The rope latter and the thick line are still hanging there near the portholes, which we leave open. The light breeze that barely moves the harbor’s sultry air makes them swing rhythmically.

August 19. – I wake up with a start. My wristwatch shows 0310. To my amazement, I realize the ship is steaming regularly and quite fast.
Where are we, by now? How long has the ship been underway? I’m sure we’re quite far from our safe harbor in Naples! Should we put our lifejacket on and get topside? I wake Fefé to ask him if he knows what’s up. He replies with an indistinct muttering which clearly conveys to me that he’s as clueless as I am about our present position and what we should do. What’s more important, he wants to sleep even more badly than I do, so I decide to follow his example. “Live Dangerously!” I exhort the slumbering Fefé, wishing him goodnight with one of Mussolini’s favorite slogans, and I peacefully go back to sleep myself.

At 0700 we hold reveille in our stateroom. Now that our brains are engaged, we consider the risk we took during the night, and after calling each other irresponsible, Fefé and I engage in a long and highly technical discussion about using the lifejacket. We also discuss whether, if we are attacked by aircraft or submarines, it would be advisable to stay in our stateroom and, above all, about the best way to bring with us some waterproof bags originally meant to carry ice, given to us by my physician brother Vittorio. We decide that we will dive, if the need arises, wearing the short trousers and the bush jacket, and we will place the bag with cognac, sugar and cookies in one of the jacket’s pockets. After a frugal breakfast of coffee, milk, and jam, everyone spreads out on the ship’s decks. The sea is very calm. The air is crystal clear and visibility is excellent.

Our convoy comprises the following ships: Esperia, Oceania, Neptunia, Marco Polo. Our regiment is embarked aboard the latter three ships: on Neptunia, the Regimental Staff and 1st Battalion; on Oceania, the 2nd Battalion, and Marco Polo the 3rd Battalion. Quite a few Germans are also sailing aboard each of the ships. Around 1030 we sight some fairly distant wakes in the water. There are three of them; they travel almost parallel, at moderate speed, in the direction of our convoy. Most of the onlookers at first think they’re dolphins, but the ship’s watchstanders know better. The signal bridge immediately puts up a complex signal made up of colored flags, which translated into everyday speech means: “Torpedo wakes, port side!”.
Almost at the same time, we notice that our ship turns suddenly and at a very fast rate, imitated by Marco Polo, which is nearly parallel to our own Neptunia. In the meantime the general alarm has been sounded on all ships. Everyone fits his lifejacket more snugly to his body. The minutes tick by slowly, filled with trepidation; but after a while, the all clear signal is given. That was close! Dolphins, schmolfins, I say!

The danger of having to abandon ship starts hanging over us all like Damocles’ sword. On the ship, everyone exchanges comments. Of course we all swear we were the first to sight the deadly wakes, and in fact many of us presume they actually alerted the bridge watchstanders and strut around as if they saved the ship from being torpedoed. Now that the danger is behind us, this whole thing is degenerating into a farce.
As always, our Commanding Officer, Colonel Cesare Fabozzi, distinguishes himself by his truly monumental calmness. This excellent, professional soldier commands his regiment more with his heart than with ironclad discipline and he deserves to be briefly described in this war diary.
He is a huge, highly decorated man; battle-scarred, he is one of our best known regimental commanders. Although he knows several foreign languages, off duty he always speaks his native Neapolitan dialect, accompanied by the typical mimicry that goes with it. He is a born optimist, but he firmly believes in the influence of jinxing and of so-called unlucky days. In every situation he has always shown great calm and an equally large dose of common sense.

On the occasion of this journey, he – as always – sees happy tidings from any event that is even slightly out of the ordinary. From the first day he set foot on MV Neptunia, where he took command of military personnel, he considered the omens very favorable, because MV Esperia’s arrival was held up by repair work in a shipyard, needed after an air attack: so our convoy’s sailing date had been moved from the 17th to the 18th. “That date [the 17th] was grossly jinxed !” he’d whispered to me with his characteristic open smile, usually followed by a no less original boisterous laugh, which came in evenly spaced staccato bursts. By expressing out loud his wholehearted approval for the opportune date change, he had – in a sense – transfused into me his conviction that for our Regiment, fate would continue to be very benign, as it had been on the Western alpine front. The torpedoes’ failure to hit us therefore found him at his battle station, calm and ever more optimistic.

The 19th was not totally uneventful: around 1700, a new alarm was sounded. Two torpedoes had been launched against “Marco Polo”, another ship in our convoy, but they missed their target. That evening, after dinner, though the recent dangers we had been through should have made us anxious, we retired to our stateroom. We did, however, stay dressed and we kept our lifejackets at hand.

August 20. – At 1022 a formidable explosion roils the water. It is immediately followed by two more very loud bangs.
Our attention is totally focused on the ship to our left: it’s Esperia.
After the first explosion a huge column of water rises heavenwards, about 65 feet up. The stricken ship lists to starboard, but she stills moves forward. The escorting destroyers, which tried to cover our treacherous route with sudden, very fast course changes, now all converge in the direction of the beautiful, condemned ship. She was hit by no less than three torpedoes!
We see a thick, dense column of black smoke rise from a destroyer. She got hit herself, and now she starts listing, then quickly sinks: her death throes are incredibly short.

Our eyes are all on Esperia. Given the time of day, visibility is perfect. From the sky, with very quick dives, the planes do their best to assist in rescuing personnel off the stricken ship, and above all they try, by releasing a veritable torrent of depth charges, to flush the enemy submarine from its lair in the depths and destroy it. A puff of white smoke, rising from the water, leads us to believe that the submarine has also been mortally wounded. The water is coated with a film of fuel oil. Just a few minutes have gone by. Esperia, after listing even further to starboard, sinks rapidly, without any visible eddies, and disappears from our view forever. When the tragic moment comes, we all stand rigidly at attention. The signal, ordered by bugle by our ship’s Captain, finds all soldiers in the Regiment motionless in the final salute to the beautiful ship as she disappears beneath the waves, taking so many brothers in arms with her.

From the time of the first explosion, which occurred at 1022, no more than eight minutes have elapsed: at 1030 the only tangible evidence that Esperia ever existed is flotsam and a few survivors in the water.
Our ship sails on, no longer escorted by the destroyers, which stay behind to complete their rescue work. We are very close to Tripoli’s shore: the coast of Africa we have all been yearning for is now in sight. Our hearts are deeply moved. We all stand motionless, speechless, in our places.
The very present danger of a torpedo attack on our ship no longer worries us, shaken as we are by the terrible vision of our Esperia’s end, burnt indelibly in our eyes.

My cousin, Fabrizio Passarella, is at my side. Like me, he has also experienced the ship’s tragic end from start to awful finish. We look into each other’s eyes, and without saying a word we share the same, terribly painful feeling of the tragic fate that befell our mutual friend, Doctor Antonio Rotundo, the one we had said farewell to when he embarked on Esperia. We try to check our emotions and we rush to our respective muster station. I, along with my friend Raffaele di Russa who has joined me, hurry to the bridge where, together with the Colonel and the Adjutant Captain Borsi, we remain until we reach Tripoli’s harbor.

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Original in Italian provided by Mr. Fabrizio Cao and translated by Sebastian De Angelis

S.S. Esperia

Built 1920
Shipyard Società Esercizio Bacini (Cantieri del Tirreno, Riva Trigoso)
Call sign (W/T) IBUK
Owner Società Anonima di Navigazione Adriatica
Naval Department Genoa
Register 1500
Length 527′ 11”
Beam 61′ 11”
Draught 23′ 7”
Engine 2 turbines, 10 boiles, 56 burners
HP 18,000
Propellers 2
Comsuption 172
Maximum Speed (knots) 20
Gross Registered Tonnage (g.r.t.) 11398
Net Register Tonnage (n.r.t) 5963
Carrying Capacity 2900
Holds 3 x 3451 Cubic Yards
Passengers 375

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Data provided by Mr. Franco Prevato.

The Loss of the Galilea

December 5, 2023 by Cristiano D'Adamo

The three years of naval warfare in the Mediterranean which saw the British and Italian navies face each other was, for the most part, a war of convoys. All the battles, engagements and other episodes of war which characterized these eventful three years were directly or indirectly related to the shipment of personnel and materiel from and to the front.
Usually, the burden of heavy losses and disastrous incidents rested with those involved in transporting more than those obstructing. A clear confirmation of this statement can be found in the heavy British losses in the defense, and then the retreat from Greece and Crete. Furthermore, the convoys to Malta are another proof that, whenever asked to defend a convoy or organize transports in general, the British Navy was neither more nor less successful than the Regia Marina.

The substantial difference between the roles of the two navies can be traced back to politics more than military reasons. The first blatant Italian mistake was, in addition to the moral aspect of the whole affair, the invasion of Greece. This ill-conceived campaign demanded vast shipment of war material from the mainland to Albania. Although the actual route was very short, Albania did not have enough facilities to allow for the unloading of the merchant ship.

The second mistake was, and this can be debated either way, the missed occupation of Tunisia. After the surrender of France, it was thought that by using Tunisian ports the routes to North Africa could be made more secure and, of course, much shorter. This proposed occupation was vetoed by Hitler even though, after the Allied landings in western North Africa, it was eventually accomplished. The strategic alternative, which called for the occupation of Malta, never materialized. So the Italian Navy was left transporting supplies to North Africa over longer routes easily within reach of the Malta-based airplanes and ships.

These perilous journeys, conducted by an ever decreasing number of vessels under ever more difficult circumstances, are the untold story of a conflict which, in such a tragic way, touched the lives of so many people. One of these journeys of misery and death started from the port of Piraeus, continued through Lutraki and the Strait of Corinth. The ship Galilea left Corinth the evening of the 27th of March, 1942 along with the ships Crispi and Viminale. Near Patrass, the convoy was joined by the ships Piemonte, Ardenza and Italia. The convoy left Patrass at 1 PM on the 28th of March under the auxiliary escort Città di Napoli, the destroyer Sebenico and the torpedo boats San Martino, Castelfidtardo, Mosto and Bassini . The Regia Aeronautica provided reconnaissance and aerial support until sunset.

The limited escort can be explained by the chronic shortage of escort vessels that the Regia Marina was already experiencing. Before the beginning of the war, Italy had built a new series of destroyers, but this was too little and too late. Most of the vessels in service had already logged thousands of hours and machinery was prone to failures. Furthermore, the general antisubmarine capabilities of these vessels were limited and their number, especially toward the end of the conflict, became dramatically small.
The Galilea was a passenger ship belonging to the Adriatica Società Anonima di Navigazione based in Venice and Trieste. Built in 1918 by the San Rocco shipyard of Trieste with the name of Pilsa, it was sold to the Trieste-based company in 1935 and christened Galilea. Documents from Lloyds of London describe the ship as a liner with two propellers and steam engines with a displacement of 8,040 t., a length of 443’8″, width of 53’2″ and a drought of 25″11″. The nominal speed was 13.5 knots and room for 47 passengers in first class and 148 in second.

During this period the Galilea had been designated as a hospital ship. In this function, it had been designated as the transport for part of the Battaglione Gemona of the famous Julia alpine division (Italian alpine troops are called “Alpini”). Specifically, distributed between first and second class and the various decks were personnel of the 629, 230, 814 MASH, 8 Health Section and 8th group assistance. This battalion, after the Greek campaign where it was assigned to the defense of the Channel of Corinth, was scheduled to join another Mussolinian adventure as part of the Italian Army in Russia.

The journey went on regularly despite the continuous and frequent explosions of depth charges. At 6:30 PM, the convoy passed Cape Ducati while the weather conditions were deteriorating with increasing rain and patches of thick fog. At 7:00 PM the convoy left the single line formation and was organized in two lines with the Viminale leading to port and the Galilea to starboard about 600 meters apart.

Despite the fact that the convoy was in complete darkness, it fell prey to the British submarine HMS Proteus, commanded by LtCdr Phillip Stewart Francis. This vessel had left Alexandria the 12th of March and was scheduled to be on patrol until the 24th in the Gulf of Taranto. At the end of this fruitless patrol, the boat was ordered to the Strait of Otranto where she sank the Galilea. After this sinking, the Proteus continued her patrol and on the 30th sank the Bosforo (3,648 tons). The submarine returned to Alexandria on the 4th of April.

The attack was swift. The steamship Galilea was hit by a torpedo on her starboard which created a hole of about 6 meters by 6 just below the bridge in compartment number 2. The ship immediately began to list about 15 degrees. The ship’s commander attempted to reach the nearby Islands of Passo and Antipasso but the maneuver was impeded by the bad weather and the damages received. Similarly to most war vessels, the ship was not equipped with enough lifeboats for most of her passengers. The bad weather made matters even worse. The rest of the convoy was quickly ordered to leave the scene of the attack, while one of the two destroyers began bombing the enemy submarine, with little positive result.
The ship’s agony continued until 3:50 AM on the 29th of March when eventually it sank. The sinking is officially reported to have taken place on 93.04 N 20.05 E. Even if the ship did not sink until the 29th, it is officially reported as having been lost on the 28th. The torpedo boat left behind attempted to rescue part of the survivors, but the cold water of the wintry Mediterranean and the presence of the submarine made it very difficult. The following morning, MAS 516 and two minesweepers arrived from the base of Prevesa, along with a Red Cross hydroplane from Brindisi which crashed during a landing maneuver . The escort units reported having damaged an enemy submarine, a fact which cannot be confirmed by the official British records.

Of the 1,275 man aboard the Galilea only 284 were rescued. The Battaglione Gemona lost 21 officers, 18 petty officers and 612 alpine troops. Along with the “Alpini” perished some Italian “Carabinieri” (Military Police) and Greek prisoners of war. The rest of the convoy reached Bari on the 29th.
Between May 1941 and August 1943, during the period described as “occupation garrisons,” the navy transported 377,425 men and 870,625 tons of war material between Italy and the Albanian-Greek ports. Of these, 1,546 men and 6,224 tons of materiel were lost. One can easily see that the sinking of the Galilea amounted to almost 70% of all Italian losses. Although the overall percentage of Italian losses is relatively low (.2%), one can comprehend the magnitude of this tragedy.

The following morning rescue operations continued but it was now too late. The news of the disaster soon reached the Friuli region of Italy from where most of the ‘Alpini” had come. The sorrow and the despair felt then can still be felt today. Many of the soldiers were never found, while the bodies of others were washed onto the Greek shores. Once again, the war machinery had devoured brave Italian men as it had done before, and would again later. Throughout the war Allied and Axis troops shared this horrible fate equally.

Dedicated to the memory of Virginio Tonelli

The Sinking of the Battleship Roma

December 23, 2023December 5, 2023 by Cristiano D'Adamo

On September 9th 1943, the day following the proclamation of the armistice, the Italian battlegroup, under the command of Admiral Carlo Bergamini, was attacked in the waters of the Gulf of Asinara by a formation of German bombers. During the attack, the ship was struck and the commander at sea, along with a great number of officers, petty officers and sailors perished, in all 1.253 men.

The battleship R.N. Roma in 1943

How did it happen? Why was the most modern and most powerful Italian battleships sunk by just one bomb? Why did so many loose their lives?

September 3rd, 1943. Gen. Castellano, on behalf of Marshal Badoglio and the Gen. Bedeli Smith, representing Gen. Eisenhower, secretly signed in Cassibile (Sicily) the so-called “Short Military Armistice”. The document was composed of 13 clauses and the fourth one called for «the immediate transfer of the Italian fleet and the Italian airplanes to those places that will be designated by the allied Command with the details of their disarmament, that will be decided by the Allied forces». Adm. Raffaele de Courten, Minister of the Navy, along with the commanders responsible of the other branches, was called by Prime Minister Badoglio, who informed them that «negotiations are in progress to conclude an armistice with the Anglo-Americans», but that the news must be kelpt absolutely secret.

September 5th, 1943. The Head of the Armed Forces, General Ambrosio, mentioned to de Courten that the conclusion of the armistice and its declaration were to be expected between the 10th and the 15th of September , probably on the 12th or 13th and that most probability the fleet would be relocated to La Maddalena (Sardinia), where the King would most probably come with the royal family and part of the Government.

September 6th, 1943. De Courten received confirmation from Ambrosio that such a course of action should be implemented if events hamper the actions of the government and the military leaders so recommend. Consequently, Supermarina ordered that the two destroyers, the Vivaldi and Da Noli be stationed in Civitavecchia at dawn on September 9th, ready to sail in two hours. Two corvettes were stationed in Gaeta, and two MAS in Fiumicino (near the estuary if the Tiber River). The morning of the 7th, De Courten called a meeting in Rome for all admirals reporting to the Naval High Command (Supermarina). By this time, he still did not know that the armistice had been signed on September 3.

More and more, evident signs predicted an allied offensive against the southern coast of Italy. Twenty submarines were deployed along the possible approach routes of the convoy and they were put in a state of alarm.

September 7th, 1943. De Courten called a meeting at the Ministry of the Navy. Attendees included the Naval High Commander, Adm. Carlo Bergamini. During the meeting, de Courten did not consider it opportune to inform all present of the negotiations in progress for the armistice because such information was considered highly secret. With the attendees, he defined a conventional signal that would be used to order the scuttling of the fleet.

September 8 th, 1943. As soon as confirmation of the beginning of the allied landing in Salerno was received, de Courten gave orders to the Commander at Sea, Adm. Carlo Bergamini, (who in the meantime had returned aboard the Roma in Spezia), to fire up the boilers and be ready to sail at 2:00 PM. Anticipating an offensive the following day, orders were given to coordinate operations with the Regia Aeronautica and the Luftwaffe.

De Courten was called by the supreme commander General Ambrosio, who informed him that the Allies had rejected the proposal to transfer the fleet to La Maddalena, but that they had allowed one cruiser and four destroyers to be left to the disposal of the King. Nevertheless, he added that he would continue to insist on the La Maddalena issue, and that he still hoped to succeed in convincing the Allies. Finally, he told him to wait for orders to leave La Spezia with the battle group in about six hours.

De Courten was then called to the Quirinale (Royal Palace) for a meeting directed by the King. Gen. Ambrosio informed the audience that the armistice had been signed on September 3 with the agreement that a specific day for implementation would be communicated based on the mutual operational needs of the Italian and the Anglo-American.

At 18:30, Radio Algiers releases the news of the armistice to the world.

At 19:45 Badoglio made the following radio announcement: “The Italian Government, recognizing the impossibility of continuing the uneven struggle against the overwhelming enemy power, with the intent of saving further and more serious calamities to the Nation, has asked Gen. Eisenhower, commaner in chief of the Allies forces, for an armistice. The request has been accepted. Consequently every action of hostility against the allied armed forces must stop from the Italian armed forces in every place. They (the Italian forces), however, will react to possible attacks of any other origin».

According to the clauses of the armistice, the Italian ships, bearing black circular panels in sign of surrender, would be to transferred to Malta to await their final destiny. The situation had been completely turned upside-down. A few hours before, the Regia Marina was prepared to go to sea and fight the Allies. Not even the commander. Admiral Carlo Bergamini, had been made aware of the developments of the political situation. The highest secrecy, desired by Gen. Vittorio Ambrosio, had had its results.

Adm. Sansonetti gave orders to the fleet to reach the agreed allied ports but without “deliverering of the ships and lowering of the flag”. To convince friends and enemies alike, he transmitted his orders in clear..

Gen. Ambrosio asked the Anglo-Americans that the Fleet, for technical reasons, be moved to La Maddalena and that everything be ready for the docking of the ships.

Aboard the ships the excitement reached a dangerous level. Bergamini had to issue orders forbidding anyone from boarding the ship without proper notification and authorization. “No one should ask for directives”, he announced, “They will come when needed”. In the end, it was decided to call all admirals and commanders to a meeting. It was 10 PM.

The departure of the fleet, given as imminent during the day, had been postponed several times. Tension amongst the crew was at its worst. Bergamini took the situation under control and confirmed to the admirals and commanders the news of the armistice and summarily mentioned his telephone calls with Rome. He reminded everyone of the supreme duty of obedience so paramount in such a dramatic time.

September 9th, 1943. At 3 PM the fleet left for La Maddalena. It did not hoist the black signs of the surrender. At the same time, in the Gulf of Salerno, the Anglo-American operation “Avalanch” had begun.

Three battleships left La Spezia: the Roma, with Adm. Bergamini aboard, the Vittorio Veneto and Littorio (renamed Italia after July 25, 1943) with Adm. Garofolo. Three cruisers (Eugenio di Savoia, Adm. Oliva; Montecuccoli and Regolo) and eight destroyers (Legionario, Grecale, Oriani, Velite, Mitragliere, Fuciliere, Artigliere and Carabiniere). The Fleet was maintained at about twenty kilometers from the western coast of Corsica at a speed of 22 knots. At dawn, an allied plane spotted the fleet. At 8:00 AM Adm.. Meendsen Bohlken, commander of the German forces in La Spezia, gave the alarm to Berlin: «The Italian fleet has departed during the night to surrender itself to the enemy».

At noon on the 9th the Fleet , with the ships in a line formation, was in sight of the Bocche di Bonifacio. Bergamini took a 90-degree left turn toward la Maddalena, but at 13.40 PM he received news that La Maddalena had been occupied by German forces. Without hesitation, Bergamini reversed course 180 degrees.

At 2:00 PM, Bergamini was in sight of the Asinara. Meantime more reconnaissance planes were spotted. Unexpectedly, from five thousand meters, airplanes dropped a few bombs without striking any of the ships

From lstres (Marsiglia) 15 two-engine Donier 217 KIIs from the 3rd Squadron of the 100° group took off. Each airplane was equipped with a type FX-1400 bomb. This bomb had been designed in 1939 by Doctor Kramer and was originally named FritzX. The FX-1400, which was also knows as the SD 1400, was a high penetration 1400-kilo device with four small wings, tail controls and a rocket motor. Near the tail a remote control system was also installed. The control was operated by the airplane from which the bomb had been launched. The bomb, with 300 kilograms of explosives, was 3,30 meter long .

At 15.30 the first bomb was directed toward the Littorio (named Italia after July 25 1943) and it fell near the battleship temporarily blocking the rudder. The ship was then controlled with the auxiliary rudder. The point of the attack was about 14 miles southwest miles of Cape Testa (Sardinia).

The rocket bombs were a great surprise. Not only were they extremely precise, but the fact that they were dropped at 60 degrees instead of the usual 80 created confusion. This new technique tricked the Italian officers into believing that the German intentions were not offensive. This mistake was fatal, considering that the Italians were under order to fight back only if attacked.

Only after a demonstration of such evident hostility from the Germans, did the Roma give the signal of «air alarm». The antiaircraft batteries, first from the right, then from the left, opened swift fire, but it was too late! The airplanes were just above the ships and in that position they were safe.

At 15.45 the Roma was hit on the right side. The bomb burst into sea after having crossed the whole hull and the ship’s speed was reduced to 10 knots.

At 15.50 the Roma was struck again by a second bomb. This one exploded in the forward deposits of the big caliber complexes. The ship was fatally wounded. A column of flames and smoke rose for a thousand meters. The turret n. 2 (1.500 tons) along with all of its occupants and the command tower were projected aloft and tilted to the right side. It was the end for Bergamini and his staff. The ship began to tilt to the right side. It was a horrendous show of death and destruction. The majority of the men were burnted alive.

At 16.12 the Roma turned upside-down, br

Read Sea

December 23, 2023December 5, 2023 by Cristiano D'Adamo

The Regia Marina in East Africa

The primary mission for the Regia Marina in East Africa was the interdiction of naval traffic coming from the Indian Ocean and directed to North Africa and the Near East. Despite the tenacious efforts offered by the Duke of Aosta and his man, the Italian forces, under continuos British attach, withdrew from Ethiopia and Eritrea, thus allowing the British to close on the Red Sea.

During the brief conflict, Italian naval forces were continuously hampered by technical malfunctions, especially aboard submarines. Especially damaging were the failure in the air conditioning systems as it was shown by the capture of the submarine Galilei. Towards the end of March 1941, the Italian vision of a second Roman Empire saw its demise with the last few days of Italian possessions in Eastern Africa. With English troops near entering Asmara, an Italian surrender was inevitable, but the local command of the Regia Marina had to decide on the future of the few remaining units.

The only seaworthy units still operating, the 3rd Squadron Destroyers had barely enough fuel to reach Saudi Arabia and face interment, or fight a last very desperate battle against English forces in Port Sudan, thus causing disruption to the Suez Canal bound sea traffic.

The Manin, Sauro and Battisti left port while the few remaining submarines took to sea in a desperate attempt to make the long journey to the French ports on the Atlantic (La Rochelle). The colonial ship Eritrea sailed to Japan, where it arrived in Kobe on March 22nd, after 9,555 miles and 754 hours on navigation. All other units were scuttled or destroyed.

The sloop Eritrea

The Battisti, after years of ceaseless action and poor maintenance, failed not longer after having left port victim of a mechanical malfunction. The Sauro and the Manin sailed on and on April 3rd were the target of a fierce aerial attach where the Sauro was a complete lost. Soon after, the Manin, short of anti-aircraft ammunitions, was finally stricken by two bombs and soon after sunk.

Part of the brave crew of this last Italian fighting units in the Red Sea was rescued by the British destroyer Flamingo, while others, after an agonizing ordeal, reach Saudi Arabia were they faced internment.

This action was a last desperate act of courage and the end of any Italian attempt to interfere with Allied traffic through the Suez Canal. This military failure was to have a grave consequence for the Axis forces because it allowed for the British to maintain control over Egypt, from which, eventually, they drove the Axis forces out of North Africa.

RAMB II
Italian Naval Forces in Eritrea

Destroyers “Belva” class:
Pantera
Tigre
Leone

Destroyers “Patrioti” class
Nullo
Manin
Sauro
Battisti

Ocean-going Submarines
Archimede
Galilei
Torricelli
Ferraris
Galvani
Guglielmotti

Costal Submarines
Perla
Makallè

Colonial Ships
Eritrea
Ramb I
Ramb II

Admirals

December 7, 2023December 5, 2023 by Cristiano D'Adamo

Admirals

First Name	Last Name	Title	Rank	DOB	DOD
Carlo	Bergamini		Ammiraglio di Armata		9/9/1943
Romeo	Bernotti		Ammiraglio di Armata		3/18/1974
Domenico	Cavagnari		Ammiraglio di Armata		11/2/1966
Salvatore	Denti Amari	Duca di Piraino	Ammiraglio di Armata
Angelo	Jachino		Ammiraglio di Armata		12/3/1976
Vladimiro	Pini		Ammiraglio di Armata
Arturo	Riccardi	dei Conti Nob	Ammiraglio di Armata
Ferdinando	di Savoia	Duca di Genova	Ammiraglio di Armata
Guido	Bacci		Ammiraglio di Squadra
Carlo	Balsamo di Specchia Normandia		Ammiraglio di Squadra
Luigi	Bianchieri		Ammiraglio di Squadra		12/12/1950
Bruto	Brivonesi		Ammiraglio di Squadra
Inigo	Campioni		Ammiraglio di Squadra		5/24/1944
Ferdinando	Casardi		Ammiraglio di Squadra
Alberto	Da Zara		Ammiraglio di Squadra
Raffaele	De Courten	Conte	Ammiraglio di Squadra		8/23/1978
Mario	Falangola		Ammiraglio di Squadra
Ildebrando	Goiran		Ammiraglio di Squadra
Antonio	Legnani		Ammiraglio di Squadra
Giotto	Maraghini		Ammiraglio di Squadra
Alberto	Marenco di Moriondo		Ammiraglio di Squadra
Riccardo	Paladini		Ammiraglio di Squadra
Antonio	Pasetti		Ammiraglio di Squadra
Silvio	Salza		Ammiraglio di Squadra
Luigi	Sansonetti		Ammiraglio di Squadra
Aimone	di Savoia	Duca di Spoleto	Ammiraglio di Squadra	3/1/1900
Eduardo	Somigli		Ammiraglio di Squadra
Ettore	Sportiello		Ammiraglio di Squadra
Vittorio	Tur		Ammiraglio di Squadra
Enrico	Accoretti	Marchese	Ammiraglio di Divisione
Giuseppe	Bertoldi		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Antonio	Bobbiese		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Lorenzo	Bonetti		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Mario	Bonetti		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Paolo	Borgatti		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Emilio	Brenta		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Bruno	Brivonesi		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Gaetano	Catalano Gonzaga di Cirella		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Carlo	Cattaneo		Ammiraglio di Divisione		3/29/1941
Oscar	Di Giamberardino		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Emilio	Ferreri		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Giuseppe	Fioravanzo		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Lorenzo	Gasparri		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Carlo	Giartosio		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Massimo	Girosi		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Alberto	Lais		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Priamo Ugo	Leonardi		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Giuseppe	Lombardi		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Pellegrino	Matteucci		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Francesco	Maugeri		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Augusto	Mengotti		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Amadeo	Nomis di Pallone	Conte	Ammiraglio di Divisione
Romeo	Oliva		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Angelo	Parona		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Gino	Pavesi		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Carlo	Pinna		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Guido	Porzio Giovanola		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Franco	Rogadeo		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Giuseppe	Romagna Manoia		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Luigi	Rubartelli		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Giuseppe	Sparzani		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Gustavo	Strazzeri		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Manlio	Tarantini		Ammiraglio di Divisione
Antonino	Toscano		Ammiraglio di Divisione		12/13/1941
Mario	Adami	Dr.	Tenente Generale Navale
Giorgio	Guidoni		Tenete Generale Navale
Arnaldo	Miele		Tenete Generale Navale
Umberto	Pugliese		Tenete Generale Navale		7/15/1961
Arstotele	Bona		Contrammiraglio
Onorato	Brugnoli		Contrammiraglio
Stanislao	Caraciotti		Contrammiraglio		9/9/1943
Gaetano	Correale		Contrammiraglio
Lorenzo	Daretti		Contrammiraglio
Carlo	Daviso di Chaversond		Contrammiraglio
Carlo	De Angelis		Contrammiraglio
Ferruccio	Ferrini		Contrammiraglio
Sergio	Fontana		Contrammiraglio
Franco	Garofalo		Contrammiraglio
Luigi	Longanesi Cattani		Contrammiraglio
Giuseppe	Manfredi		Contrammiraglio
Federico	Martinengo		Contrammiraglio		9/9/1943
Luigi	Mascherpa		Contrammiraglio
Pietro	Parenti		Contrammiraglio
Romolo	Polacchini		Contrammiraglio
Umberto	Rouselle		Contrammiraglio
Arturo	Solari		Contrammiraglio
Angelo	Valori Piazza		Contrammiraglio
Federico	Vicedomini		Contrammiraglio
Massimiliano	Vietina		Contrammiraglio
Franco	Zannoni		Contrammiraglio
Pietro	Lodolo		Ammiraglio di Squadra
Pietro	Barone		Ammiraglio di Squadra

Assignments

First Name	Last Name	Rank	Assignment	From	To	Notes
Enrico	Accoretti	Ammiraglio di Divisione	Comando 9a Divisione	4/7/1943		Recreated to group all the Littorios
		Ammiraglio di Divisione	Sottocapo di Stato Maggiore
Guido	Bacci	Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando Circoscrizione Alto Tirreno
		Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando Accademia Navale
Pietro	Barone	Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando Base Navale di Messina
Carlo	Bergamini	Ammiraglio di Armata	Comando in Capo Forze Navali da Battaglia	4/1/1943
		Ammiraglio di Armata	Comando in Capo 1a Squadra	1/7/1943	9/9/1943
		Ammiraglio di Armata	Comando in Seconda Forze Navali	1/12/1942
		Ammiraglio di Armata	Comando 5a Divisione	11/7/1941	1/7/1943
		Ammiraglio di Armata	Comando 9a Divisione	5/7/1940	12/9/1941	Included only the Littorio
		Ammiraglio di Armata	Direttore Generale Armamenti Navali
Romeo	Bernotti	Ammiraglio di Armata	Presidente del Comitato Ammiragli
		Ammiraglio di Armata	Presidente del Consiglio Navale
Luigi	Bianchieri	Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando 8a Divisione	9/21/1943
Emilio	Brenta	Ammiraglio di Divisione	Comando 5a Divisione	4/8/1943	9/21/1943
Bruno	Brivonesi	Ammiraglio di Divisione	Comando 3a Divisione	4/24/1941	11/13/1941
		Ammiraglio di Divisione	Comando Accademia Navale
		Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando 5a Divisione	4/25/1940	11/7/1941
		Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando Circoscrizione dello Ionio e Basso Adriatico
Inigo	Campioni	Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando in Capo 1a Squadra	8/15/1939	12/9/1940
		Ammiraglio di Squadra	Sottocapo di Stato Maggiore
Ferdinando	Casardi	Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando 7a Divisione	8/27/1940	8/1/1941
		Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando 2a Divisione	5/24/1940	7/5/1940	Ceased to exist – Renamed 4th Division
		Ammiraglio di Squadra	Vice Presidente del Consiglio Navale
		Ammiraglio di Squadra	Personale
Carlo	Cattaneo	Ammiraglio di Divisione	Comando 1a Divisione	12/13/1940	3/29/1941	Ceased to Exist after Matapan
		Ammiraglio di Divisione	Comando 6a Divisione	8/30/1940	12/9/1940	Ceased to exist after the torpedoing of the Duilio
		Ammiraglio di Divisione	Comando 3a Divisione	5/26/1940	8/28/1940
Domenico	Cavagnari	Ammiraglio di Armata	Presidente del Comitato Ammiragli
		Ammiraglio di Armata	Capo di Stato Maggiore
Alberto	Da Zara	Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando Superiore Forze Navali	9/21/1943
		Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando 5a Divisione	9/21/1943
		Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando 7a Divisione	3/7/1942	4/25/1943
		Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando Gruppo Duca d’Aosta	9/6/1940
		Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando Gruppo Di Giussano	5/30/1939
Carlo	De Angelis	Contrammiraglio	Comando Accademia Navale
Raffaele	De Courten	Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando 8a Divisione	1/1/1943	3/14/1943
		Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando 7a Divisione	8/1/1941	3/7/1942
		Ammiraglio di Squadra	Capo di Stato Maggiore
Salvatore	Denti Amari	Ammiraglio di Armata	Presidente del Comitato Ammiragli
Aimone	di Savoia	Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando Circoscrizione Alto Tirreno
		Ammiraglio di Armata	Comando Circoscrizione Alto Adriatico
Mario	Falangola	Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando Flotta Sommergibili	7/20/1939	12/10/1941
		Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando in Capo Squadra Sommergibili	7/20/1939
Giuseppe	Fioravanzo	Ammiraglio di Divisione	Comando 8a Divisione	3/14/1943	9/21/1943
		Ammiraglio di Divisione	Comando 5a Divisione	1/7/1943	4/8/1943
Ildebrando	Goiran	Ammiraglio di Squadra	Presidente del Consiglio Navale
		Ammiraglio di Squadra	Presidente del Consiglio Navale
		Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando Circoscrizione Alto Tirreno
Angelo	Jachino	Ammiraglio di Armata	Comando in Capo 1a Squadra	1/12/1942	1/7/1943
		Ammiraglio di Armata	Comando in Capo Forze Navali da Battaglia	12/9/1940	4/1/1943
		Ammiraglio di Armata	Comando in Capo 2a Squadra	9/12/1940	1/7/1943
		Ammiraglio di Armata	Comando in Capo 2a Squadra	7/25/1940	9/12/1940
		Ammiraglio di Armata	Presidente del Comitato Ammiragli
Antonio	Legnani	Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando Flotta Sommergibili	12/10/1941
		Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando 8a Divisione	8/5/1939	6/21/1941
		Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando in Capo Squadra Sommergibili
Pietro	Lodolo	Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando Circoscrizione dello Ionio e Basso Adriatico
Giuseppe	Lombardi	Ammiraglio di Divisione	Comando 8a Divisione	6/21/1941	3/14/1943
		Ammiraglio di Squadra	Presidente del Consiglio Navale
		Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando Circoscrizione Alto Tirreno
Alberto	Marenco di Moriondo	Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando 4a Divisione	5/24/1940	10/3/1941
Pellegrino	Matteucci	Ammiraglio di Divisione	Comando Gruppo Littorio	12/10/1940	2/1/1941
		Ammiraglio di Divisione	Comando 1a Divisione	1/13/1940	12/13/1940
Amadeo	Nomis di Pallone	Ammiraglio di Divisione	Divisione Siluranti	9/21/1943
Romeo	Oliva	Ammiraglio di Divisione	Comando 7a Divisione	4/25/1943
Riccardo	Paladini	Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando in Capo 2a Squadra	8/16/1939	7/25/1940
		Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando Circoscrizione dello Ionio e Basso Adriatico
		Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando Accademia Navale
Angelo	Parona	Ammiraglio di Divisione	Comando 3a Divisione	11/13/1941	7/25/1943
		Ammiraglio di Divisione	Personale
Antonio	Pasetti	Ammiraglio di Squadra	Armamenti
Vladimiro	Pini	Ammiraglio di Armata	Comando Circoscrizione Basso Adriatico
Guido	Porzio Giovanola	Ammiraglio di Divisione	Comando 4a Divisione	10/3/1941	1/12/1942	Ceased after the loss of the Da Barbiano and Da Giussano – Merged with the 8th Division
Arturo	Riccardi	Ammiraglio di Armata	Presidente del Comitato Ammiragli
Arturo	Riccardi	Ammiraglio di Armata	Capo di Stato Maggiore
Franco	Rogadeo	Ammiraglio di Divisione	Personale
Luigi	Sansonetti	Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando 3a Divisione	8/28/1940	4/24/1941
		Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando 7a Divisione	8/3/1939	8/27/1940
		Ammiraglio di Squadra	Vice Presidente del Consiglio Navale
		Ammiraglio di Squadra	Sottocapo di Stato Maggiore
Eduardo	Somigli	Ammiraglio di Squadra	Vice Presidente del Consiglio Navale
		Ammiraglio di Squadra	Sottocapo di Stato Maggiore
		Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando Circoscrizione dello Ionio e Basso Adriatico
Antonino	Toscano	Ammiraglio di Divisione	Personale
Vittorio	Tur	Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando Circoscrizione Basso Adriatico
		Ammiraglio di Squadra	Comando Forze Speciali

Naval Operations

December 6, 2023December 4, 2023 by Cristiano D'Adamo

Battle of Mid-August- Operation Pedestal

December 21, 2023December 4, 2023 by Cristiano D'Adamo

August 10th-15th, 1942

After the heavy losses of the battle of mid-June, the British continue supplying Malta only by plane or with the few tons of cargo that the legendary minelayer Welshman could deliver. In a new attempt to supply Malta with food and ammunitions, the British organized a new convoy of almost 60 American and British ships.

R.N. Bolzano

In addition to the battleships Rodney and Nelson, the British deploy four aircraft carriers; the Eagle, Furious, Indomitable and the Victorious, the heavy cruisers Manchester, Nigeria and Kenya and the anti aircraft cruiser Cairo. Light cruisers and 25 destroyers provided protection for a convoy of 14 cargo ships, including three American. The convoy, mostly originating from Gibraltar, consolidates just south of the Baleary Islands where Italian and German submarines go to the attack, the later sinking the aircraft carrier Eagle.

H.M.S. Eagle

On August 12, Axis air forces unleashed a massive attack which brought about the sinking of a cargo ship and other damage. Near Bizerte, just like it had happened during the Battle of Mid-June, the heavier escort turned back, leaving the defense of the convoy to 4 cruisers and 10 destroyers. On the evening of the 12th, two Italian submarines, the Dessie and the Axum, sink the cruiser Cairo and damage two cargo ships, the Ohio and Brisbane Start, and also damage the cruisers Nigeria and Kenia. This was a terrible blow which caused great chaos in the convoy. The same night, Italian motor boats sink the cruiser Manchester and 5 cargo ships. The following day, axis planes sink one more cargo ship.

Missing from the battle were the Italian battleships which, by now, had reached one of the highest points of the fuel crisis. Supermarina, well aware of the limited supplies of fuel left scattered amongst the several Italian naval depots, decided to deploy only lighter units which included the 3rd Division with the Bolzano, Gorizia e Trieste and the 7th with the Eugenio di Savoia, Montecuccoli and Attendolo.

The Italian 7th cruiser Division

The Italian naval force was to have intervened near Pantelleria, but Supermarina was alarmed by the increased air defenses now based in Malta. At this point a quarrel between the Italian and German naval officers and their counterpart in the air force caused the naval forces to be relegated to a secondary role. The air force inability to provide for air coverage would have left the Italian ships to the mercy of the Malta bombers, so a return to port was ordered. While in transit in the Tyrrhenian, the cruisers Bolzano and Attendolo were attacked by a British submarine which scores two hits.The Bolzano, fearing a fire which was quickly reaching one of the magazines, was beached on the island of Panarea and was later rescued, while the Attendolo, having lost the entire bow, made it to port under its own engines.

On the 13th, of the original 14 ships, three reached Malta while the Ohio and the Brisbane Start followed unescorted several hours later. The British Admiralty quickly realized that operations of this scale were too costly and would not be repeated. On the Italian side, despite the stunning victory, the feeling of an imminent demise was beginning to sink in. The inability of the fleet to fully display its power and especially the inability of axis air force to provide for cover clearly demonstrated that the tide had turned. Ultimately, Malta was still alive while any hope to maintain North Africa was quickly fading away.

Order of Battle

Force F

Convoy WS.21S

Freighters: MV Empire Hope, MV Dorset, MV Wairangi,MV Rochester Castle, Waimarama, Brisbane Star, MV Port Chalmers, Almeria Lykes, Santa Elisa, MV Clan Ferguson, MV Glenorchy, Melbourne Star, MV Deucalion
Oil tanker: Ohio
Destroyer escort from Britain to Gibraltar: Keppel, Malcolm, Amazon, Venomous, Wolverine
Force Z – heavy ships, returning to Gibraltar before entering enemy aircraft range

Battleships
Nelson
Rodney

Aircraft carriers
Victorious (6 Sea Hurricanes, 16 Fulmars, 12 Albacores)
Eagle (16 Sea Hurricanes)
Indomitable (damaged) (10 Martlets, 24 Sea Hurricanes, 16 Albacores)
Total 74 fighters, 28 torpedo bombers

Light cruisers
Charybdis, Phoebe, Sirius

19th Destroyer Flotilla
Laforey, Lightning, Lookout, Quentin, Eskimo, Tartar, Wilton, Westcott, Wrestler, Somali, Wishart, Zetland, Ithuriel, Antelope, Vansittart
Force X

10th Cruiser Flotilla (light)
Nigeria (damaged), Kenya (damaged), Manchester (severely damaged and scuttled), Cairo (sunk)

6th Destroyer Flotilla
Ashanti, Intrepid, Icarus, Foresight (severely damaged and scuttled), Fury, Derwent, Bramham, Bicester, Ledbury, Pathfinder, Penn
Ocean tug
Jaunty

Force Y – two merchant ships with escort making overnight run from Malta to Gibraltar

Freighters: Troilus, Orari
Destroyers: Matchless, Badsworth
Force R

Fleet oil tankers: RFA Brown Ranger, RFA Dingledale

Corvettes
Jonquil, Spiraea, Geranium, Coltsfoot

Ocean tug
Salvonia

Malta Escort Force

17th Minesweeping Flotilla
HMS Speedy, Hythe, Hebe, Rye

Motor launches: ML 121, ML 126, ML 134, ML 135, ML 168, ML 459, ML 469

10th Submarine Flotilla
Safari, Unbroken (off Milazzo and Palermo)
United, HMS P222, HMS P31, HMS P34, HMS P46, Utmost (between Malta and Tunisia)

Operation Bellows

Aircraft carrier
Furious (38 Spitfires to 11 August)
Reserve Escort Group

Destroyers
Keppel, Westcott, Venomous, Malcolm, Wolverine, Amazon, Wrestler, Vidette

Operation MG 3

Convoy MW 12 (Port Said section)
3 merchant vessels: 2 cruisers, 10 destroyers as escort
Convoy MW 12 (Haifa section)
1 Merchant vessel: 2 cruisers, 3 destroyers as escort

Operation MG 4

Rhodes attack force
2 cruisers, 4 destroyers
Aircraft operational on Malta

9 fighter squadrons
3 torpedo-bomber squadrons
4 bomber squadrons
2 reconnaissance squadrons
38 Spitfires (ex-Furious) from 11 August

Italian and German

Naval forces

3rd Cruiser Division (Messina)

Heavy Cruisers
Gorizia, Bolzano, Trieste

Destroyers
Aviere, Geniere, Camicia Nera, Legionario, Ascari, Corsaro, Grecale

7th Cruiser Division (Cagliari)

Light cruisers
Eugenio di Savoia, Raimondo Montecuccoli, Muzio Attendolo (severely damaged)

Destroyers
Maestrale, Vincenzo Gioberti, Alfredo Oriani, Fuciliere

Minelaying
Lanzerotto Malocello (to mine Sicilian Narrows)
8th Cruiser Division (Navarino)

Light cruisers
Luigi di Savoia Duca degli Abruzzi, Giuseppe Garibaldi, Emanuele Filiberto Duca d’Aosta

Destroyers
5

Submarines

Italian
Bronzo, Ascianghi, Alagi, Dessiè, Avorio, Dandolo, Emo, Cobalto (sunk), Otaria, Axum, Asteria, Brin, Volframio, Granito, Dagabur (sunk), Giada (damaged), Uarsciek, Velella

German
U-73, U-205, U-333

Light forces

2nd MS Squadron
MS 16, MS 22, MS 23, MS 25, MS 26, MS 31

15th MAS Squadron
MAS 549, MAS 543, MAS 548, MAS 563
1

8th MAS Squadron
MAS 556, MAS 553, MAS 533, MAS 562, MAS 560

20th MAS Squadron
MAS 557, MAS 554, MAS 564, MAS 552

S-boats
S 30, S 59, S 58, S 36

Aircraft on Sicily and Sardinia

Regia Aeronautica
287th, 146th, 170th, 144th, 197th squadriglie (90 torpedo bombers, 62 bombers, 25 dive-bombers, 151 fighters)

Luftwaffe
Fliegerkorps II (328 dive bombers, 32 bombers, 96 fighters)

Battle of Mid-June – Operation Harpoon

December 21, 2023December 4, 2023 by Cristiano D'Adamo

June 2nd-16th, 1942

Once again the British attempt to supply the besieged island of Malta, which is close to starvation. This time the strategy calls for two simultaneous convoy to sail to the island, one from Alexandria and one from Gibraltar. The Alexandria convoy (west bound) departed on June 13. A naval group of 8 cruisers and 27 destroyers was deployed to protect a convoy of 10 cargo ships. Having lost all of their battleships in the Eastern Mediterranean, the British try to fool the axis forces by sending along the old target ship Centurion fully armed with wooden turrets and fake guns.

R.N. Vittorio Veneto

Unusually for the British, axis air forces are immediately able to detect the convoy. Soon after, axis air forces damaged a cargo ships and sunk another one. Meantime, the Italian fleet is alerted and ordered to sea. On the 14th, a large Italian squadron left Sicily and a second one Taranto. The battleships Littorio and Vittorio Veneto, along with the cruisers Gorizia, Trento, Garibaldi and Aosta, were escorted by only 10 destroyers. The shortage of destroyers, at this point in the war, was already dramatic. The Taranto group was quickly sighted by a British submarine, and British aerial forces conducted several attacks. During one of these incursions, the cruiser Trento was hit by a torpedo which left it immobilized.

Later, the Italian squadron was the target of more attacks, including the first appearance of American B-24 Liberators. The only score was a direct hit on one of the Littorio’s turrets which easily withstood the blast. On the British side, a combined axis attack accomplished the sinking of the destroyer Hasty (U-boat) and the damaging of the cruiser Newcastle (e-Boat). After having mistakenly thought the Italians in retreat, the British officer in command, Admiral Vian, quickly realized the situation and ordered an “avoiding action”. To all effects, this action amounted to a full retreat.

H.M.S. Newcastle

On the 16th, the cruiser Trento, powerless in the water, was sunk by a British submarine with a great loss of lives. Axis air forces sank the destroyers Airedole and Nestar and damaged the cruiser Arethusa and Birmingham, while a U-boat sank the cruiser Hermione.

The Battle of Pantelleria

Due the British retreat, the Italian squadron sailed back to Italy with the Littorio receiving a hit from an aerial torpedo. The damage was very limited, and the ship did not loose speed. On the other side of the Mediterranean, in what is often referred to as the “Battle of Pantelleria”, the British left Gibraltar in full force with 2 aircraft carriers, , Argus and Eagle, 4 cruisers, Cairo, Kenya, Liverpool and Charibdis and 10 destroyers, plus minor escort vessels in defense of 6 cargo ships.

R.N. Littorio

On the 14th the first cargo ship was sunk by axis planes, while the cruiser Liverpool was damaged. As usual, near Tunisia, the British forces split with the heavier forces returning to Gibraltar. Meantime, Supermarina had dispatched the 7th division based in Palermo. The cruiser Eugenio di Savoia and Montecuccoli, along with 5 destroyer went to the attack. On the 15th the Italian formation sighted the British just South of Pantelleria.

The 10,843 ton Cruiser Eugenio di Savoia

There is disagreement between the official Italian and British reports, especially regarding the cause and seriousness of the damage. Nevertheless, British naval units, and especially the destroyer HMS Bedouin and HSM Partridge received numerous hits from the Italian cruisers. An Italian S 79 later sank the Bedouin. The vast majority of damage to the merchant vessels was the result of Axis aerial attacks, which damaged the American ship Kentucky and sunk the Chant. On the 16th only the Welshman, the Cairo and 4 destroyers made it to Malta along with the only surviving cargo the Trailis, with many losses caused by minefield. Undoubtedly, the Battle of Mid-June was an Italian success, though the Italian fleet spent the very last supplies of fuel oil left bringing about a virtual paralysis. The shortage of fuel, mostly due to the erratic German supply, would become so dramatic that this battle is the last one which sow the Italian battleships in action.

Edited by Cristiano D’Adamo & Marc De Angelis

2nd Battle of the Sirte

December 21, 2023December 4, 2023 by Cristiano D'Adamo

March 22nd, 1942

While the Axis blockade of Malta was ripening its fruits, on March 20, 1942 the British sent a convoy of four cargo ships escorted by the anti-aircraft cruiser Carlisle and six destroyers from Alexandria to the besieged island. Later in the day, a second formation of three cruisers and four destroyers strong, commanded by Admiral Vian, also left the British base. Seven additional destroyers were also dispatched from Tobruk.

R.N. Littorio
(La Spezia in summer 1943)

On the 21st, the British land forces launched an attack intended to divert Axis reconnaissance schedule. Also, the Royal Navy had small units patrolling the waters outside Tunis, and a formation, including an aircraft carrier, just off the Balearic Islands. The smaller units off Tunis were later intercepted off Cape Bon with one torpedo boat sunk by airplanes and a second one captured, after having surrendered, in Bone. The cruiser Cleopatra, part of Vian’s force, was sighted by Italian submarines on the 21st, and Supermarina sounded the alarm. The 3rd division, including the cruisers Gorizia, Trento and Bande Nere, along with four destroyers were joined by the battleship Littorio and its escort of four destroyers.

On the 22nd, the cruiser Penelope and a destroyer left Malta heading east. At this point, all British forces were at sea. The Littorio group was sighted by a British submarine patrolling off Taranto, giving the British forces an early warning. Due to fierce weather, the Italian formation could not achieve more than 22 knots, and one of the escorts left due to an engine breakdown. In the afternoon, the 3rd Division sighted the British who wrongly identified the cruisers as battleships. The Italian formation then maneuvered to draw the British towards the Littorio. For more than an hour the two formations chased each other while the wind grew even stronger. Past 4:00 PM, the Littorio joined the fighting, causing the British to quickly withdraw behind thick smoke. British destroyers made several desperate runs against the Littorio, but the battleship’s 15″ guns inflicted serious damage. The Littorio itself received a smaller caliber shell which did not inflict any damage.

The 5,450 tons cruiser Cleopatra of the Dido Class

With darkness approaching, Admiral Iachino in command of the Italian forces broke off the engagement. According to British reports, the Cleopatra had its after turret demolished by the Bande Nere. The destroyer Havock was, for a time, left dead in the water by a direct hit. The destroyer Sikh was also hit, along with the Lively, Legion, Lance and Kingston. Also the cruisers Euryalus and Penelope were considerably damaged. The Italian force, along with the minor damage to the Littorio, lost on the way back to port the destroyers Scirocco and Lanciere to the incredibly violent sea.

Damage to the Battleship Littorio

The following days, the German and Italian Air Forces started a series of raids which brought about the sinking of the Clan Campbell, and the near sinking of the Breconshire. Also, while attempting to salvage the Breconshire, the destroyer Southworld entered an Italian minefield and sunk to the bottom. The following days, due the continuing air bombardments, the destroyer Legion, the cargo Breconshire, Pampas and Talbot were sunk. Of the almost 26,000 tons of cargo intended for Malta, only about 5,000 made it to port.

The debate is still on whether Admiral Iachino could have achieved a more striking success. In his defense, sea conditions were such that any naval artillery hit was more due to luck than marksmanship; still the British were able to reach Malta. Ultimately, the combined naval and air axis forces were able to impede the refurbishing of Malta, thus continuing its isolation.