List of Allied ships lost to Italian surface vessels in the Mediterranean (1940–1943)
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The following is a list of Allied ships sunk, wrecked or captured at sea by surface vessels of the Regia Marina during the battle of the Mediterranean. The list includes vessels lost to the combined action of surface warships and airpower.
List of ships
Cruisers
| Name and date of loss | Italian unit(s) involved | Type of weapon | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 HMS York[1]Souda Bay, Crete 26 March 1941 |
MTM motor boats Destroyers Francesco Crispi and Quintino Sella (motherships) |
Explosive charges | Sunk in shallow waters Further damaged by Luftwaffe aircraft Salvage operations cancelled on 28 April 1941[2] |
| HMS Manchester[3] Operation Pedestal Cape Bon 13 August 1942 |
Motor Torpedo Boats MS 16 and MS 22 |
Torpedo | Scuttled by her own crew |
Destroyers
| Name and date of loss | Italian unit(s) involved | Type of weapon | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| HMS Mohawk[4] Tarigo Convoy Kerkennah Islands 16 April 1941 |
Destroyer Luca Tarigo | Torpedo | Scuttled by HMS Jervis |
| HMS Kingston[5] Second Battle of Sirte Southeast of Malta 22 March 1942 |
Battleship Littorio | Naval gunfire | Limped to Malta badly hit, laid up in drydock Further damaged by Luftwaffe aircraft[6] Declared a total loss on 11 April 1942[7] |
| HMS Bedouin[8] Operation Harpoon South of Pantelleria 15 June 1942 |
Cruisers Montecuccoli and Eugenio di Savoia |
Naval gunfire | Disabled in battle and taken in tow by destroyer HMS Partridge Tow slipped when Italian cruisers reappeared Finished off by a S.M.79 torpedo bomber |
| HMS Eridge[9] El Daba, Egypt 29 August 1942 |
Motor Torpedo Boat MTSM 228 | Torpedo | Disabled, towed to Alexandria by destroyer HMS Aldenham Declared a constructive total loss |
| HMS Pakenham[10] Cigno Convoy Southwest of Sicily 16 April 1943 |
Torpedo boats Cassiopea and Cigno |
Naval gunfire | Scuttled by HMS Paladin |
Motor Torpedo Boats
| Name and date of loss | Italian unit(s) involved | Type of weapon | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| MTB 639[11] Kelibia, Tunisia 28 April 1943 |
Torpedo boat Sagittario | Naval gunfire | Also strafed by Axis aircraft Scuttled by MTB 637 |
| MTB 316[12] Operation Scylla Strait of Messina 17 July 1943 |
Cruiser Scipione Africano | Naval gunfire | Lost with all hands |
Merchant ships
| Name and date of loss | Italian unit(s) involved | Type of weapon | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 Athinai, 2,897 ton[13]Strait of Messina 20 October 1940 |
Torpedo boat Simone Schiaffino[14] |
Seized at sea | Confiscated, renamed Palermo Sunk by Allied aircraft while under German control in 1944 |
 Desmoulea, 8,120 ton[15]
Between Avgo and Crete |
Torpedo boats Lupo and Libra |
Torpedo | Disabled, beached at Souda Bay Towed to Port Said Further damaged by Luftwaffe aircraft Spent the rest of the war as a harbor ship in Bombay |
 Pericles, 8,400 ton[16]Souda Bay, Crete 26 March 1941 |
MTM motor boats Destroyers Crispi and Sella (motherships) |
Explosive charges | Sunk in shallow waters, disabled, eventually refloated Lost in a gale while towed to Alexandria on 14 April 1941 |
| Kentucky, 9,308 ton[17][18] Operation Harpoon South of Pantelleria 15 June 1942 |
Cruisers Montecuccoli and Eugenio di Savoia Destroyers Ascari and Alfredo Oriani |
Naval gunfire Torpedo |
Previously crippled by Axis airstrikes Abandoned by her crew and escorts when the Italian squadron approached them[19] |
| Burdwan, 6,069 ton[17][20] Operation Harpoon South of Panteleria 15 June 1942 |
Cruisers Montecuccoli and Eugenio di Savoia Destroyers Ascari and Oriani |
Naval gunfire
Torpedo |
Previously crippled by Axis airstrikes Abandoned by her crew and escorts when the Italian squadron approached them[19][21] |
| Glenorchy, 8,982 ton[22][23] Operation Pedestal Cape Bon 13 August 1942 |
Motor Torpedo Boat MS 31 | Torpedo | |
| Wairangi, 12,400 ton[24][23] Operation Pedestal Cape Bon 13 August 1942 |
Motor Torpedo Boats MAS 552 and MAS 554 |
Torpedo | |
 Almeria Lykes, 7,773 ton[25][23]Operation Pedestal Cape Bon 13 August 1942 |
Motor Torpedo Boat MAS 554 | Torpedo | |
| Santa Elisa, 8,379 ton[26][23] Operation Pedestal Cape Bon 13 August 1942 |
Motor Torpedo Boats MAS 557 and MAS 564 |
Torpedo Machine gun fire |
Submarines
| Name and date of loss | Italian unit(s) involved | Type of weapon | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| HMS Odin[27] 14 June 1940 |
Destroyer Strale | Depth charges Ramming |
|
| HMS Grampus[28] 16 June 1940 |
Torpedo boat Polluce | Depth charges
Naval gunfire |
|
| HMS Orpheus[29] 19 June 1940 |
Destroyer Turbine | Depth charges | |
| HMS Phoenix[30] 16 July 1940 |
Torpedo boat Albatros | Depth charges | |
| HMS Oswald[31] 1 August 1940 |
Destroyer Ugolino Vivaldi | Ramming | |
| HMS Rainbow[32] 4 October 1940 |
Cargo ship Antonietta Costa |
Ramming | |
| Proteus[33] 29 December 1940 |
Torpedo boat Antares | Ramming | |
 Free French Narval[34]5 January 1941 |
Torpedo boat Clio | Depth charges | |
| HMS Union[35] 20 July 1941 |
Torpedo boat Circe | Depth charges | |
| HMS Cachalot[36] 30 July 1941 |
Torpedo boat Generale Achille Papa | Ramming | |
| HMS Tempest[37] 12 February 1942 |
Torpedo boat Circe | Depth charges Naval gunfire |
Captured, sank while in tow |
| HMS P38[38] 23 February 1942 |
Torpedo boat Circe | Depth charges Naval gunfire |
Also strafed by Italian aircraft |
| HMS Upholder[39] 14 April 1942 |
Torpedo boat Pegaso | Depth charges | |
| HMS Thorn[40] 7 August 1942 |
Torpedo boat Pegaso | Depth charges | |
| HMS P222[41] 12 December 1942 |
Torpedo boat Fortunale | Depth charges | |
| HMS P48[42] 25 December 1942 |
Torpedo boats Ardente and Ardito | Depth charges | |
| HMS Turbulent[43] 6 March 1943 |
Torpedo boat Ardito | Depth charges | |
| HMS Thunderbolt[44] 14 March 1943 |
Corvette Cicogna | Depth charges | |
| HMS Sahib[45] 24 April 1943 |
Torpedo boat Climene Corvette Gabbiano |
Depth charges | Also bombed by Luftwaffe aircraft |
| HMS Saracen[46] 14 August 1943 |
Corvettes Euterpe and Minerva | Depth charges | Also strafed by Italian aircraft |
Minor landing craft
| Type and date of loss | Italian unit(s) involved | Type of weapon | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Several minor landing craft[47] Operation Agreement Tobruk 14 September 1942 |
Torpedo boats Castore and Generale Carlo Montanari armed tug Vega[48] 4 motorbarges |
Seized at sea |
At least two powerboats manned by Royal Marines were rounded up at sea by the Italian squadron while attempting to sail back to Alexandria[49][50][51] |
Ships sunk by manned torpedoes from Olterra[nb 1]
| Name and date of loss | Type of ship | Aftermath |
|---|---|---|
| Camerata[52] 4,875 ton Gibraltar 8 May 1943 |
Steamer | Hull refloated in 1947[53] Sold to a Spanish company, rebuilt as Campo Grande[54] |
| Pat Harrison[52] 7,000 ton Gibraltar 8 May 1943 |
Liberty ship | Constructive total loss |
| Thorshøvdi[52] 9,900 ton Gibraltar 4 August 1943 |
Tanker | Broken in two. Aft and fore sections towed to Britain, rebuilt in 1947 as Giert Torgersen[55] |
| Harrison Grey Otis [52] 7,700 ton Gibraltar 4 August 1943 |
Liberty ship | Constructive total loss |
Footnotes
- ^ Olterra was an Italian auxiliary vessel used as a stationary mothership for manned torpedoes at Algeciras Bay.
References
- ^ "HMS York, British heavy cruiser, WW2". www.naval-history.net. Archived from the original on 2015-10-26. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
- ^ Navy, corporateName=Royal Australian. "H.M. Ships Damaged or Sunk by Enemy Action in WWII". www.navy.gov.au. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- ^ Woodman, Richard (2000). Malta Convoys, 1940–1943. John Murray. pp. 422–23. ISBN 0-7195-6408-5.
- ^ Brown, David (2013). The Royal Navy and the Mediterranean: Vol.II: November 1940-December 1941. Routledge. p. 91. ISBN 978-1136341205.
- ^ Bagnasco, Ermingo (2011). The Littorio Class: Italy's Last and Largest Battleships. Seaforth Publishing. p. 218. ISBN 978-1848321052.
- ^ Fitzsimmons, Bernard (1978). The Illustrated encyclopedia of 20th century weapons and warfare, Volume 14. Columbia House. pp. 1489.
- ^ "HMS Kingston". www.hmscavalier.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2015-11-22. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- ^ "HMS Bedouin". www.hmscavalier.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- ^ "HMS Eridge". www.hmscavalier.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- ^ Evans, Arthur S. (2010). Destroyer Down: An Account of HM Destroyer Losses 1939-1945. Pen & Sword Maritime. pp. 157. ISBN 9781848842700.
- ^ Reynolds, Leonard C. (1998). Dog Boats at War: Royal Navy D Class MTBs and MGBs 1939-1945. Sommerset: Sutton Publishing. pp. 53–55. ISBN 0750924543.
- ^ Reynolds, L. C.; Cooper, H. F. (1999). Mediterranean MTBs at War: Short MTB Flotilla Operations 1939-1945. Sommerset: Sutton Publishing. pp. 72–73. ISBN 0750922745.
- ^ "SS Athinai". Wrecksite. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
- ^ Colombo, Lorenzo. "Con la pelle appesa a un chiodo: Simone Schiaffino". Con la pelle appesa a un chiodo. Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- ^ Biagini, Antonello; Frattolillo, Fernando (1989). Diario storico del Comando supremo: 1.1.1941 - 30.4.1941 (in Italian). Ufficio storico della Marina Militare. p. 233.
- ^ Greene, Jack; Massignani, Alberto (1998). The Naval War in the Mediterranean. London: Chatam Publishing. p. 141. ISBN 1-885119-61-5.
- ^ a b Bragadin, Marc'Antonio (1957). The Italian Navy in World War II. Annapolis: United States Naval Institute. p. 184. ISBN 0-405-13031-7.
- ^ Thomas, David A. (1999). Malta Convoys. Leo Cooper. p. 157. ISBN 0850526639.
- ^ a b Grehan, John; Mace, Martin (2013). The War at Sea in the Mediterranean 1940–1944. Pen and Sword. pp. 150–53. ISBN 978-1-47383-736-2.
- ^ Archives, The National. "The Discovery Service". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 2018-09-10. Retrieved 2018-09-10.
- ^ Mattesini, Francesco. "LA BATTAGLIA AERONAVALE DI MEZZO GIUGNO" (in Italian): 90 – via Academia.edu.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ Woodman (2000), pp. 424-25
- ^ a b c d Thomas (1999), p. 176
- ^ Woodman (2000), p. 427
- ^ Greene & Massignani (1998), p. 254
- ^ Wodman (2000), 430
- ^ "HMS Odin (N 84) of the Royal Navy - British Submarine of the O class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Archived from the original on 2010-06-16. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- ^ "HMS Grampus (N 56) of the Royal Navy - British Submarine of the Porpoise class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Archived from the original on 2010-06-16. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- ^ "Orpheus - Submarine - (1927-1940)". Retrieved 21 December 2015.
- ^ "HMS Phoenix (N 96) of the Royal Navy - British Submarine of the P class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Archived from the original on 2010-06-19. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- ^ "HMS Oswald (N 58) of the Royal Navy - British Submarine of the O class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Archived from the original on 2010-06-16. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- ^ "HMS Rainbow (N 16) of the Royal Navy - British Submarine of the R class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Archived from the original on 2010-06-16. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- ^ "RHS Proteus (Y 3) of the Royal Hellenic Navy - Greek Submarine of the Proteus class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Archived from the original on 2010-06-19. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- ^ Greene & Massignani (1998), p. 128
- ^ "HMS Union (N 56) of the Royal Navy - British Submarine of the U class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Archived from the original on 2010-06-19. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- ^ "HMS Cachalot (N 83) of the Royal Navy - British Submarine of the Porpoise class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Archived from the original on 2017-01-27. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- ^ "HMS Tempest (N 86) of the Royal Navy - British Submarine of the T class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Archived from the original on 2016-01-03. Retrieved 2015-12-22.
- ^ "HMS P 38 (P 38) of the Royal Navy - British Submarine of the U class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Archived from the original on 2010-06-20. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
- ^ Evans, A. S. (2010). Beneath the Waves: A History of HM Submarine Losses 1904-1971. Pen and Sword. pp. 312–13. ISBN 978-1848842922.
- ^ "HMS Thorn (N 11) of the Royal Navy - British Submarine of the T class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Archived from the original on 2016-12-02. Retrieved 2015-12-22.
- ^ "HMS P 222 (P 222) of the Royal Navy - British Submarine of the S class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Archived from the original on 2016-03-24. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
- ^ "HMS P 48 (P 48) of the Royal Navy - British Submarine of the U class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Archived from the original on 2017-11-30. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
- ^ "HMS Turbulent (N 98) of the Royal Navy - British Submarine of the T class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Archived from the original on 2016-01-18. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
- ^ "HMS Thunderbolt (N 25) of the Royal Navy - British Submarine of the T class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Archived from the original on 2016-03-28. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
- ^ "HMS Sahib (P 212) of the Royal Navy - British Submarine of the S class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Archived from the original on 2016-01-10. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
- ^ "HMS Saracen (P 247) of the Royal Navy - British Submarine of the S class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Archived from the original on 2015-12-17. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
- ^ Vitale, Massimo Adolfo (1959). L'Italia in Africa: serie storico-militare, Volume 2 (in Italian). Istituto poligrafico dello Stato. pp. 188–89.
- ^ Mattesini, Francesco. "L'operazione Daffodil nel piano Agreement" (PDF) (in Italian). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-12-08.
- ^ Smith, Peter C (1987). Massacre at Tobruk: The British Assault on Rommel, 1942. Stackpole Books. pp. 144 and 213. ISBN 0811750558.
- ^ "Two captured powerboats displaying the Italian flag - Tobruk 1942". Archived from the original on 2016-01-31. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
- ^ Smith, Professor of Health Policy Imperial College Business School & Institute for Global Health Peter C. (2014-05-14). Massacre at Tobruk: The British Assault on Rommel, 1942. Stackpole Books. p. 173. ISBN 9780811750554. Archived from the original on 2018-09-15. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
{{cite book}}:|first=has generic name (help) - ^ a b c d Brown, David (2013). The Royal Navy and the Mediterranean: Vol.II: November 1940-December 1941. Routledge. p. 178. ISBN 978-1136341205.
- ^ "Salving the Camerata on Fixed Price Basis". Shipbuilding & Shipping Record. 70. 1947.
- ^ "Spanish Shipping News". Fairplay International Shipping Journal. 178. 1952.
- ^ "M/T Thorshøvdi - Norwegian Merchant Fleet 1939-1945". www.warsailors.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2016-02-20.
Categories:
- CS1 Italian-language sources (it)
- CS1 errors: missing periodical
- CS1 errors: generic name
- Articles with short description
- Short description is different from Wikidata
- Regia Marina
- Maritime incidents in 1940
- Maritime incidents in 1941
- Maritime incidents in 1942
- Maritime incidents in 1943
- International maritime incidents
- Lists of World War II ships
- Battle of the Mediterranean
- World War II shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea
- Lists of shipwrecks