In this section, we cover actions of some of the submarines of the Italian Navy and the I.J.N. Any additional information is welcome.

ITALIAN BOATS

22 June, 1940 the Italian submarine CAPPONI under CC Romeo Romei sank the 1,888 ton Swedish steamer ELGÖ. The first torpedo missed the ship entirely, so the submarine fired two rounds of 102mm gunfire which hit. They then fired more torpedoes and sank the ship.

10 November, 1940 CAPPONI, still under Romei, attacked the Royal Navy battleship HMS RAMILLIES and her battle group. Two torpedoes were fired and detonations were heard after nearly three and a half minutes. There was no confirmation of any hits or damage; certainly no sinking.

JAPANESE BOATS

30 May, 1942 the I.J.N. submarine I-20 under Yamada, launched a midget submarine which penetrated the roadstead at Diego Suarez and fired torpedoes at both the 29,150 ton British battleship HMS RAMILLIES and the 6,993 ton British tanker BRITISH LOYALTY. Both were hit. The battleship sustained damage, and the tanker sank onto the shallow bottom. It was raised and repaired.

5 June, I-20 sank the 5,086 ton Panama motorship JOHNSTOWN.

8 June, 1942 I-20 sank the 5,209 ton Greek steamer CHRISTOS MARKETTOS

11 June, I-20 sank the 7,926 ton British steamer MAHRONDA.

12 June, 1942 I-20 sank the 2,052 ton Panamanian steamer HELLENIC TRADER.

12 June, I-20 sank the 5,063 ton Brit motorship CLIFTON HALL

30 June, I-20 sank the 4,854 ton Norwegian steamer GOVIKEN.

30 June, I-20 sank the 5,311 ton Brit tanker STEAUA ROMANA

7 November, 1942 I-20, now under KK I. Yoshimura, damaged the 2,227 ton American steamer MAJABA. The ship was beached and later salved and repaired.

29 November, I-20 (and also I-16) launched midget subs into the anchorage at Lunga Point. The 6,198 ton Amer. transport ALCHIBA was hit, but was beached, salved and repaired.

31 August, 1943 I-20, now under KL Susumu Otsuka, damaged the 10,872 ton American tanker W. S. RHEEM.