February 1944
| February | Allied Forces were held in check at Monte Cassino. |
Italian submarine patrols in the Mediterranean during February 1944
| Platino (2 February) | Platino (16-24 February) | Nichelio (25 February…) |
The threat of U-boats in the Western Mediterranean had not diminished, as the famous light cruiser HMS Penelope (nicknamed HMS “Pepperpot”) was torpedoed and sunk by U-410 (OL Fenski) on 18 February, about 20 miles northwest of Ischia. But their days were numbered. U-410 was destroyed during an air raid on Toulon, and Fenski, who was the top ace in the Mediterranean, took over command of U-371 only to be sunk in April, on his first outing with this boat, but he survived.
While undocking at Taranto after a refit, Corridoni (T.V. Giandaniele Asquini) was damaged and required docking again. She would be ready at the end of March to sail for Aden where she would be used for A/S training.
During the night of 20 February, Platino (T.V. Vittorio Patrelli Campagnano) landed three SOE agents (Operation IAGO) south of Cortelazzo. The following night six OSS agents (mission ‘Zella’) were landed near Comacchio (Special Operations FALSTAFF and CORDELIA). Mission ‘Zella’ included Antonio Farneti, Celso Minardi, and the radio operator Alberto Grimaldi. They were caught by the Germans on 28 July and executed.
Nichelio (T.V. Ugo Esmenard) landed ten SOE agents north of Pesaro at midnight 27/28 February (Special Operation ADVENT).
The beginning of February saw Dandolo, Mameli, Marea, Tito Speri, and Vortice proceeding toward Bermuda, escorted by the destroyer escort USS Neunzer (DE-150). During the passage, Neunzer took the time to exercise with her former enemies: Mameli on the 2nd and 9th, Vortice on the 5th and 11th, and Dandolo on the 7th of the month. The destroyer also refuelled Tito Speri on the 6th and Mameli on the 7th. During the exercises, Lt. John E. Greenbacker, the commanding officer of Neunzer, noted that Vortice (T.V. Giovanni Manunta) had successfully evaded the destroyer by backing up in her wake, the disturbance making the submarine very difficult to locate. This was a U-boat tactic unknown to the Americans. On 13 February, the five submarines arrived at Bermuda to join SubRon [Submarine Squadron] Seven for A/S training with Task Group 23.1. The following day, the French submarine Le Centaure arrived for the same purpose. Underlining the tensions between the two navies, the French commanding officer, L.V. Tual, called the commandant of the U.S. Naval Operating Base, Rear Admiral Ingram Cecil Sowell, to signify his desire that the crews of the submarines not mix.
Initially, Dandolo, Marea, Vortice, and the US submarines R-5, R-6, R-7, and R-15 formed Submarine Division 72. Mameli came under British control but, in April 1944, would be transferred to the Americans. Plagued by defects, the old Tito Speri would not be seaworthy before July, when she would sail for Portsmouth (New Hampshire) for more permanent repairs.
Loss of UIT 23 (ex-Reginaldo Giuliani)
On 15 February, the German submarine UIT 23 (ex-Reginaldo Giuliani, OL Werner Striegler), with a mixed crew of German and Italian sailors, was proceeding in the Malacca Straits when she was intercepted by the submarine HMS Tally Ho (Lt L.W.A. Bennington, DSO, DSC, RN). Three torpedoes were fired from a range of 3,500 yds. Striegler had sighted the enemy submarine but did not take evasive action in time. The U-boat was hit by a torpedo astern and sank in ten seconds. Fourteen survivors, including Striegler and two Italian ratings, were picked up by Arado 196 seaplanes; thirty-one were killed or missing.