Platon Alexiades Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 At 0210 hrs on 24 July 1940, the submarine Mameli opened fire on a large merchant ship (estimated at 10,000 tons) in position 37°40' N, 17°50' E (or about 90 miles SSE of Crotone). The target was on course 200 degrees. Firing was stopped after the 14th round as the gun jammed. The vessel was later ascertained to be Italian (perhaps going to Tripoli?). Can anyone supply the identity of this ship? Thanks. Platon Alexiades Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corto Maltese Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 After a quick look at my sources I'm sorry to confirm that I don't have found any interesting information. I can only say that on 25 July 1940, at the 9 pm, the p/fo Rampino leaves Genoa to Benghazi. The ship arrived safe at her destination on 2 august at 10 pm. I do not think possible that the Mameli has met this ship. Tomorrow I'll try to find something useful. Long John Silver and Platon Alexiades 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francesco De Domenico Posted April 7, 2015 Report Share Posted April 7, 2015 Sul volume "La difesa del traffico con l'Africa settentrionale", USMM, 1958, da cui proviene immagino la nota sul RAMPINO (un trawler, difficile scambiarlo per una grande nave), non ci sono indicazioni. Platon Alexiades 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platon Alexiades Posted April 7, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2015 Ciao Francesco e Corto, Many thanks for your input. Perhaps a ship coming from Brindisi or Bari? Platon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loligo Posted April 7, 2015 Report Share Posted April 7, 2015 E' impossibile pensare al RAMPINO troppo piccolo, non risulta nessun movimento di navi scortate e mi è difficile pensare ad una nave italiana di 10000tonnellate (stazza o portata ? ) navigante isolata e senza scorta in quelle acque. Perchè non pensare anche a un mercantile greco , jugoslavo o di altra nazionalita ????? Luiz and Platon Alexiades 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corto Maltese Posted April 7, 2015 Report Share Posted April 7, 2015 Turrini in his book Sommergibili Italiani tra le due guerre mondiali, UDAP, Roma, 1990 pag. 136 says that Mameli failed to reach the steamer because too fast. Platon Alexiades 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platon Alexiades Posted April 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2015 E' impossibile pensare al RAMPINO troppo piccolo, non risulta nessun movimento di navi scortate e mi è difficile pensare ad una nave italiana di 10000tonnellate (stazza o portata ? ) navigante isolata e senza scorta in quelle acque. Perchè non pensare anche a un mercantile greco , jugoslavo o di altra nazionalita ????? Turrini in his book Sommergibili Italiani tra le due guerre mondiali, UDAP, Roma, 1990 pag. 136 says that Mameli failed to reach the steamer because too fast.The estimation of 10,000 tons could of course be wrong. It was not uncommon for submariners to overestimate the size of their targets especially during the night. I have a note from Admiral Falangola in the Maricosom files which mentions (without naming it) that "il piroscafo incontrato dal Mameli nella notte sul 24 Luglio era nazionale..." and then adds that it was going from italy to Libya. So we can eliminate an enemy or a neutral ship. Luiz and Platon Alexiades 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francesco Mattesini Posted April 9, 2015 Report Share Posted April 9, 2015 (edited) Coinfermo che si trattava di un piroscafo italiano, diretto in Libia, ma non sono riuscito a trovarne il nome, Lo stesso sommergibile MAMELI, che aveva effettuato l'attacco fortunatamente non riuscito, nel corso della medesima missione, il 1° agosto 1040 affondò il neutrale piroscafo greco ROULA (1044 tsl) .a sud di Creta. Francesco Mattesini Edited April 9, 2015 by Francesco Mattesini Platon Alexiades 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platon Alexiades Posted April 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2015 Many thanks Francesco! Very odd as I cannot find an Italian ship going to Libya on that day. Another mystery to solve! Platon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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