Italian Harbor Patrol Craft And Cacciasomergilbili 1944-45

[ptdockyard]

I am interested in finding photos and information (dimensions, armament, lists) on small escorts used by the Marina Nazionale Repubblicana around the west coast of Italy (Genoa, Livorno, La Spezia) in 1944-45. A few of these vessels are:

 

-CS.14 "Antonio Landi". I have a few pictures from "Storia Militare" but none that show the whole ship. There was a small book published by one of the crew, also. The photos I found are all taken from the deck and do not show the ship itself. I have two photos of her rigged as a three masted schooner.

 

I made a model from what information I had:

 

I had to guess on the after part of the ship

 

-CS13 "Meta". Any photos or information about the armament would be appreciated

 

-I understand the RSI operated some small vessels similar to the German "hafenschutz" craft, mostly modified civilian craft armed with a few guns. One vessel I am pretty sure was the tug "Palmira", formerly the "Balena". Here is a picture of her around 1917:

 

One source placed her in the local security flotilla for Genoa in 1944. Does anyone have information (photos!!) on her or any other small harbor patrol craft used by the MNR in Genoa, LaSpezia, Livorno or any other port in this area?

 

Thanks!

 

Dave G

The PT Dockyard

http://www.ptdockyard.com

[de domenico]

Well, you're in luck today, notwithstanding it being a Friday the 17th (which in Italy brings ill luck).

ANTONIO LANDI (1936) , ex VITTORIA (1926, Monteponi owner), ex SIVE (1919, O. Gernandt owner), a big 3-masted auxiliary-engined schooner (ketch or goletta) of 415 grt, built in 1919 by G. & H. Bodewes at Martenshoek (Netherlands), owner Carlo Landi of Savona, requisitioned by the Regia Marina on 8.11.1940 at Genoa, at first as V.106 (Vigilanza foranea, or offshore patrol), until Sept. 1941, then as an auxiliary subchaser as AS.(AntiSom) 107, one of the first ASs to be fitted with (German or Italian) sonar. In German hands Sept. 1943, taken over by the Kriegsmarine. Grounded in Marina di Carrara on 26.11.1943, salved and repaired, 16.5.1944 with UAS(UbootAbwehrSchule, or ASW School)-Ausbildungsstelle (Training Station) Varignano, sunk at Genoa by Allied air attack on 4.9.1944. Post-war raised, repaired, in 1952 renamed ORETO for Sicula Azionaria, 1966 PIETRO ALIBONI for G. Aliboni, broken up La Spezia 1.10.1974.

There is a photo of her, camouflaged and complete with three masts, as employed by the Varignano (La Spezia) antisom school in 1942, on USMM's "Navi Mercantili Perdute", 1997. Will be posted on Monday, too.

Edited December 18, 2010 by de domenico

[Lefa]

Were we talking about Masters? :s02:

Here we go with the masted Antonio Landi:

 

[ptdockyard]

:s20:

[de domenico]

META was a small passenger motor vessel, built 1929 by Cantieri Navali Franco Tosi at Taranto, 243 grt, in service 2.1930 with Soc. Partenopea An. di Navigaz., Naples. Requisitioned on 24.5.1940 at Naples by the Regia Marina, at first as F.55 (pilotaggio Foraneo, or offshore escort) and from April 1941 as the rescue/hospital ship S.4 (and, as such, unarmed), based first at Augusta and then, from June 1941, in Libya until Jan. 1943, when she was in need of a refit. On 9 Sept. 1943 she got to La Spezia from Viareggio, was sabotaged there. 11.1943 taken over by the Kriegsmarine, 8.12.1943 commissioned as the auxiliary hospital ship M.A.A. 616 ELBA. 1944 reconverted into an escort ship for the RSI Navy as C.S. 13. On 1.7.1944 heavily damaged at La Spezia in an air attack, decommissioned. Raised and repaired in 10.1947. 6.1972 to Soc. di Nav. Lignano Marittima, Trieste, 1976 to Contramar SpA, Ravenna. Stricken from RINa (Registro Italiano Navale) in 1980.

A picture (in passenger service, post-war) to follow on Monday. Also a sketch by Maurizio Brescia, from "Le navi ospedale italiane 1935-1945" (2010).

 

As for BALENA/PALMARIA, your photo comes from the classic "Italian Warships of World War I" by Aldo Fraccaroli (Ian Allan, 1970), to whom credit must always be given for his painstaking and reliable research work (the same cannot be said for several Almanacchi and Almanacchi Storici, I'm afraid). A tug, built in 1911 by Nylands Verkstad, Christiania/Oslo, as CORRAL for a Chilean owner, 286 grt. Purchased on 23.3.1917 by the Regia Marina as the vedette-boat/minesweeper BALENA (1 x 76mm/40). Kept in service post-war as a tug, renamed PALMARIA on 8.5.1933. In German hands at Genoa on 9 Sept. 1943. Found scuttled there in May 1945.

Edited December 18, 2010 by de domenico

[Lefa]

A drawing about Meta as an hospital ship:

 

Edited December 18, 2010 by Lefa

[ptdockyard]

Thank you. Great information. Does anyone have any idea ho the Meta was armed?

 

I think I found a picture of the Palmaria around 1944. It is in the book " IL BTG."RISOLUTI" DELLA X MAS " and says it is of the Landi. If you look at the bow configuration and the portholes, it looks an awful lot like the Balena/Palmaria

 

 

I have a model/mold master of the Palmaria almost done :s10:

 

 

Were the RSI Cacciasomergilbili and harbor escorts ever used to escort coastal convoys? I am interested to know if RSI warships other than MAS and VAS boats ever fought Allied naval vessels.

 

 

Dave G

the PT Dockyard

http://www.ptdockyard.com

[de domenico]

Mio buon Lefa, posso dirle che è un piacere collaborare con lei? :s02:

[Lefa]

Caro Maestro, non faccio altro che cercare di suguire le sue orme! :s51:

 

[edit]

 

A note on Meta: it could worth a shot looking for pictures of the "middle June battle", where the hospital ship Meta rescued HMS Bedouin's shipwrecked sailors.

In that same episode, Meta had been air-attacked while the british sailors were already onboard.

Edited December 19, 2010 by Lefa

[de domenico]

The Battle of Pantelleria has just been the subject of a piece in two parts in "Storia Militare", Oct. and Nov. 2010, by Enrico Cernuschi. META is mentioned there as rescuing 205 survivors of HMS BEDOUIN and being later the target of a mistaken attack by a Ju 88 of KGr 606, which luckily missed. Unfortunately, no pictures: that's why I propose to send the sketch by Maurizio Brescia. Thanks, anyway, Lefa.

Edited December 20, 2010 by de domenico

[de domenico]

Drawing by Maurizio Brescia. Pictures to follow.

 

 

"Le Navi Ospedale Italiane 1935-1945", Storia Militare, Albertelli Edizioni Speciali, 2010

Edited December 20, 2010 by de domenico

[de domenico]

Two photos from naviearmatori.net. The first of META as a rescue ship comes from a Ufficio Storico M.M. issue, 1952, Carandin collection. The second, in Pozzuoli harbour in the '50s, is by HORO2006.

 

Edited December 20, 2010 by de domenico