Italian Submarines

21 June 1940 the Italian submarine MOROSINI under command of CC Alfredo Criscuolo claimed the sinking of an 8,000 ton steamer 65 miles from C. Palos. They heard an end of run detonation followed by a heavy explosion. No confirmation of any ship sunk or damaged.

14 July 1941, MOROSINI, now under the command of CC Athos Fraternale, sank the 5,358 ton British steamer RUPERT de LARRINAGA at 36 degrees 18'N x 21 degrees 11'W

15 July 194 1, MOROSEVI & Fraternale sank the 4,402 ton British steamer LADY SOMERS at 30 degrees 44'N x 17 degrees 33'W. This was one of the famous 'Lady' ships of the Canadian National Railway, one of which took the abdicated King Edward VIII, later Duke of Windsor, to the Bahamas where we was Governor General. Actually, this was his place of exile, thanks to the Churchill Government getting tired of his public comments that England should and probably would, surrender to Germany.

12 March '42, MOROSINI & Fraternale sank the 5,966 ton British steamer STANGARTH at 22 degrees 00'N x 65 degrees 00'W. When there are no minutes behind the degrees, that usually means an approximate position.

16 March 1942, MOROSINI and Fratemale sank the 6,341 motor tanker (Netherlands) OSCILLA, at 19 degrees 15'N x 60 degrees 25'W.

23 March '42, MOROSINI & Fraternale sank the 9,741 ton British steam tanker PEDER BOGEN at 24 degrees 41'N x 57 degrees 44'W.

30 June 1942, MOROSINI, now under command of TV Francesco d'Alessandro, sank the 5,327 ton Netherlands motor ship TYSA at 25 degrees 33'N x 57 degrees 53'W. d'Alessandro attacked with torpedo and deck guns, and had reported that this ship was 10,000 tons.

MOROSINI had only two more months to live. She was lost in the Bay of Biscay to unknown causes in late August of 1942. This was a very busy and successful submarine in World War II, under three Skippers. For the IJN. submarine actions, look further on in this issue.

I. J. N. Submarines

20 January 1942, the U.N. submarine I-159 under the command of Kapitanleutnant K. Yoshimatsu sank the 4,184 ton Norwegian steamer EIDSVOLD off Christmas Island. The first five torpedoes missed, but the sixth hit and broke the ship in two. She sank in shallow water.

25 January 1942, U.N. submarine I-159, still Yoshimatsu, entered Sabang Roads, sank one British freighter (tonnage and name not reported) and captured part of the crew.

1 March 1942, U.N. submarine I-159, still Yoshimatsu, sank the 1,035 ton Netherlands steam freighter ROSEBLOOM at 00 degrees 15'N x 86 degrees 50'E.

These were the only attacks initiated by I-159 or Yoshiinatsu, even though I-159 survived the war. She was surrendered at the end of hostilities and destroyed.