278^, 279^, 281^ & 283^ Squadriglia Aerosiluranti

[Alien 61]

Which were the British ships struck, since 1940 to 1941, by the Italian Torpedo Bomber Squadrons 278, 279, 281 & 283?

[Alien 61]

It's for a personal research on those four Torpedo Bomber Squadrons.
Any answer?

[Valerio]

278^ Squadriglia Aerosiluranti (since 1940 to 1941):
1940, Sept. 17: battle cruiser “KENT” heavily damaged by Lieutenants Buscaglia and Robone;
1940, Oct. 14: battle cruiser “LIVERPOOL” heavily damaged by Captain Erasi;
1940, Dec. 3: battle cruiser “GLASGOW” damaged by Captain Erasi and Lieutenant Buscaglia;
1941, Sept. 27: cargo ship “IMPERIAL STAR” sunk by Captain Magagnoli;

279^ Squadriglia Aerosiluranti (since 1940 to 1941):
1941, Aug. 27: battle cruiser “PHOEBE” damaged by Captain Marini;
1941, Dec. 1: destroyer “JACKAL” heavily damaged by Captain Marini and by Lieutenants Strani and Coci;
1941, Dec. 5: cargo ship “CHAKDINA” sunk by Lieutenant Ranieri;

281^ Squadriglia Aerosiluranti (since 1940 to 1941):
1941, April 18: oil tanker “BRITISH SCIENCE” sunk by Lieutenant Cimicchi;
1941, May 8: motorship “RAWNSLEY” heavily damaged by Lieutenants Greco and Faggioni;
1941, Aug. 11: netlayer ship “PROTECTOR” damaged by Lieutenant Forzinetti;
1941, Aug. 20: oil tanker “TURBO” sunk by Lieutenants Graziani and Forzinetti;
1941, Nov. 23: L.S.I. “GLENROY” heavily damaged by Captain Buscaglia;

283^ Squadriglia Aerosiluranti (since 1940 to 1941):
1941, July 23: battle cruiser “MANCHESTER” heavily damaged by Lieutenant Pandolfi;
1941, July 23: destroyer “FEARLESS” sunk by Lieutenant Cipriani;

Ciao

Valerio

[Alien 61]

Thanks for your accurate reply!
A question: the HMS "Nelson" was struck by pilots belonging to the 281^ Squadriglia Aerosiluranti, just?

[Valerio]

No, the battleship "NELSON" was heavily damaged by the 108° Gruppo belonging to the 36° Stormo: in particular, the battleship was struck by Colonel Seidl and Captain Tomasini.

[Alien 61]

Thank you for informations!

[Valerio]

I realize now that my first answer was imprecise.
In fact, I forgot that in 1941, near La Galite island, Lieutenants Focacci and Barioglio (283^ Squadriglia Aerosiluranti), sunk the cargo ships "EMPIRE GUILLEMOT" (October 14) and "EMPIRE PELIKAN" (November 14).

[Alien 61]

Are you sure? Weren't the "Empire Pelikan" and the "Empire Guillemot" sunk near La Galite by the 108° Gruppo?

[Valerio]

The "EMPIRE GUILLEMOT" and the "EMPIRE PELIKAN" were sunk near La Galite by pilots (Lieutenants Focacci and Barioglio) belonging to the 283^ Squadriglia Aerosiluranti (130° Gruppo Autonomo A.S.).

Source: Bollettino d'Archivio dell'Ufficio Storico della Marina Militare, marzo 2002, da "I successi degli Aerosiluranti Italiani e Tedeschi in Mediterraneo nella 2^ Guerra Mondiale", di F. Mattesini, pag. 9-94.

The british cargo ship attacked in 1941 near La Galite island by pilots belonging to the 108° Gruppo was really the "EMPIRE DEFENDER", sunk on Nov. 15 by Major Buri (256^ Squadriglia Aerosiluranti, 108° Gruppo, 36° Stormo).

[Alien 61]

Thanks for your official source's report!
It's really interesting for my research on the 1940-1941 activity of those Italian torpedo bombers squadrons. Thanks!

Regards,
Andrea

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a complement: Camerati aerosiluranti.
Source: Ali di Guerra Nº 2 junio de 1941.
Cheers. Raúl M .

[Urmel]

278^ Squadriglia Aerosiluranti (since 1940 to 1941):
1940, Sept. 17: battle cruiser “KENT” heavily damaged by Lieutenants Buscaglia and Robone;
1940, Oct. 14: battle cruiser “LIVERPOOL” heavily damaged by Captain Erasi;
1940, Dec. 3: battle cruiser “GLASGOW” damaged by Captain Erasi and Lieutenant Buscaglia;
1941, Sept. 27: cargo ship “IMPERIAL STAR” sunk by Captain Magagnoli;

279^ Squadriglia Aerosiluranti (since 1940 to 1941):
1941, Aug. 27: battle cruiser “PHOEBE” damaged by Captain Marini;
1941, Dec. 1: destroyer “JACKAL” heavily damaged by Captain Marini and by Lieutenants Strani and Coci;
1941, Dec. 5: cargo ship “CHAKDINA” sunk by Lieutenant Ranieri;

281^ Squadriglia Aerosiluranti (since 1940 to 1941):
1941, April 18: oil tanker “BRITISH SCIENCE” sunk by Lieutenant Cimicchi;
1941, May 8: motorship “RAWNSLEY” heavily damaged by Lieutenants Greco and Faggioni;
1941, Aug. 11: netlayer ship “PROTECTOR” damaged by Lieutenant Forzinetti;
1941, Aug. 20: oil tanker “TURBO” sunk by Lieutenants Graziani and Forzinetti;
1941, Nov. 23: L.S.I. “GLENROY” heavily damaged by Captain Buscaglia;

283^ Squadriglia Aerosiluranti (since 1940 to 1941):
1941, July 23: battle cruiser “MANCHESTER” heavily damaged by Lieutenant Pandolfi;
1941, July 23: destroyer “FEARLESS” sunk by Lieutenant Cipriani;

Ciao

Valerio

Some additions in bold.

1940, Sept. 17: heavy cruiser “KENT” heavily damaged by Lieutenants Buscaglia and Robone, rejoined Home Fleet October 1941;
1940, Oct. 14: light cruiser “LIVERPOOL” heavily damaged by Captain Erasi;
1940, Dec. 3: light cruiser “GLASGOW” damaged by Captain Erasi and Lieutenant Buscaglia, rejoined fleet in February 1941, but restricted to 24 knots until more extensive refit in 1942;
1941, Sept. 27: cargo ship “IMPERIAL STAR” sunk by Captain Magagnoli;

279^ Squadriglia Aerosiluranti (since 1940 to 1941):
1941, Aug. 27: light cruiser “PHOEBE” heavily damaged by Captain Marini, rejoined Home Fleet July 1942;
1941, Dec. 1: destroyer “JACKAL” heavily damaged by Captain Marini and by Lieutenants Strani and Coci, under repair to April 1942;
1941, Dec. 5: Armed Boarding Vessel“CHAKDINA” sunk by Lieutenant Ranieri, with heavy loss of life (at least 400 men): http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarl ... c7-17.html ;

281^ Squadriglia Aerosiluranti (since 1940 to 1941):
1941, April 18: oil tanker “BRITISH SCIENCE” sunk by Lieutenant Cimicchi;
1941, May 8: motorship “RAWNSLEY” heavily damaged by Lieutenants Greco and Faggioni;
1941, Aug. 11: netlayer ship “PROTECTOR” damaged by Lieutenant Forzinetti;
1941, Aug. 20: oil tanker “TURBO” sunk by Lieutenants Graziani and Forzinetti;
1941, Nov. 23: L.S.I. “GLENROY” heavily damaged by Captain Buscaglia, beached off Matruh, repairs took until early 1943;

283^ Squadriglia Aerosiluranti (since 1940 to 1941):
1941, July 23: light cruiser “MANCHESTER” heavily damaged by Lieutenant Pandolfi, rejoined Home Fleet in May 1942;
1941, July 23: destroyer “FEARLESS” sunk by Lieutenant Cipriani;