As the ship colonial Eritrea "cage the British Navy in 1941, the eve of the fall of the Italian naval base of Massawa, a unit flag a desperate mission to try to avoid capture by British forces: the distant Japan through the Indian Ocean and the seas of Southeast Asia. Epic of a ship and its brave crew, through a thousand perils, they managed to carry through an undertaking that, both in terms of nautical and military, has assumed the characteristics of a real record.
When towards the end of January 1941 the military situation in Italian East Africa began ad aggravarsi e fu subito chiaro che la grande offensiva scatenata dalle forze britanniche di stanza in Sudan avrebbe prima o poi investito anche la base navale di Massaua (Eritrea), Supermarina attuò alcuni provvedimenti, preventivamente studiati, relativi all'abbandono della base da parte di tutte quelle unità, civili e militari (italiane ma anche di nazionalità tedesca), in grado di raggiungere porti neutrali o amici. Tuttavia, ai responsabili delle forze navali italiane di Massaua (nella fattispecie, l'Ammiraglio Bonetti) fu subito chiaro che il tentativo di sfuggire alla morsa nemica sarebbe riuscito soltanto ad un numero relativamente modesto di unità, cioè a quelle dotate di autonomia e attrezzature sufficienti ad affrontare le crossing that would lead due to safety.
As concerned the military team, the only suitable vessels to undertake such a difficult mission (the neutral ports or close friends were those of the French colony of Madagascar) appeared to be the colonial ship Eritrea and the former banana Ramb I and Ramb II which had been recently converted into auxiliary cruisers. After analyzing all the possible routes to be flown, groped Supermarina decided to make the three units (which were all among those in better condition and the only armed) crossing the longest and most difficult: what was supposed to lead them in the Far East, where they could find refuge with the sorgitori controlled from the ally Japanese.
Preparations for the three units was made official in early February and, first, a large group of engineers and sailors was commissioned to begin work immediately on reviewing the hull, engine and armament of the equipment on board, in and the stewardship of basic supplies to ships with everything you need (fuel, spare parts, ammunition, food, drinking water and medicines) for the mission.
Of the three units that for technical and military and Manning was perhaps the best able to undertake such a long mission to Eritrea was: a very modern ship (it was put into service June 28, 1937) designed to specific tasks colonial. Without taking anything away from the two Ramb that being too good hulls, but were not designed to perform jobs that included acts of war. The presence in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean for several British military bases and several warships of the Royal Navy, it was understood that the mission of the three Italian ships would have probably led to the encounter and confrontation with the enemy: any that would be transformed into a true disaster for the civilian ships Ramb that little could be done against the British military ships.
Eritrea, for its part, was not a fearsome warship, but precisely because of its "military" would could, however, get along better. Of course, only in the case of a meeting with his subtle enemy units. The armament of Eritrea was, in fact, sufficient to counter the firepower of a minesweeper, a torpedo boat or, at best, a fighter. Evaluate all the solutions to give the best technical and operational efficiency to the ship, Admiral Bonetti worked to ensure that the crew had been chosen for it with great care, gave the command to an officer of the unit examined experience: captain of a frigate Marino Iannucci at the end of January had been specially come from Italy aboard a special three-engined Savoia Marchetti SM75 at long range.
SHIP COLONIAL "ERITREA"
The colonial ship Eritrea was, as mentioned above, a unit rather modern and successful. Set July 25, 1935 in Castellammare di Stabia shipyard, it was launched on September 20 the following year, then entering into service June 28, 1937. The ship measured 96.90 meters, 13.32 meters was wide and had a dive of 4.73 meters. The boat displaced 3,117 tons and was equipped with two diesel engines of 7,800 horsepower electric motors and 2 of 1,300 horses, which allowed a maximum speed (diesel) of 20 knots and a (electric) 11. The autonomy of 'Eritrea had 6,950 miles of sea to 11.8 knots (Diesel). And the board armament consisted of four 120 mm guns (Two twin turrets, fore and aft, partially shielded), 2 40 mm semi-automatic guns. anti-aircraft guns and two 13.2 mm. antiaircraft. The crew consisted of 13 officers and 221 sailors.
shy of Japan and Germany THEIR COLLABORATION
Before getting into the story of the Mission of Eritrea, it is appropriate to the context of political-military situation of the period, in close relation with the events and concomitant with the attitude of the Japanese diplomat, nation to which the Italian government had requested the assistance necessary for the success of the mission in Eritrea and Ramb I and Ramb II. At first (autumn 1940), willingness to cooperate from Tokyo had appeared at the top of Supermarina (body to which it was, of course, the coordination of all operations involving the Italian units) almost certain.
However, after a few months (between February and March 1941), the Japanese Alliance government decided to take a step back, forcing the command of the Director to suddenly change a few details about the operation of the three units combined. In this case, when the Japanese military attaches in Rome came to know it was going to Supermarina not only to escape its ships stationed at Massawa in the direction of the Far East, but to make them during the crossing, acts of war against isolated British ships, Tokyo immediately informed his total disapproval, threatening to withdraw any promise made earlier.
For this reason, on 11 March '41, which is well after the departure of three ships from Massawa (Eritrea, on that date and Ramb II were preparing to move from the Indian Ocean the Moluccan Sea, while Ramb I - commanded by Lieutenant-Bonezzi already lying at the bottom of the sea having been intercepted and sunk by a British cruiser in the west of the Maldives Leader February 27), Supermarina had to talk to the commanders of the two remaining units (the Rambo II was commanded by Lieutenant Mazzella) to strictly refrain from any offensive action.
countermand which was given for two specific reasons: the absolute desire expressed by Japan not to antagonize Britain and the United States and in the presence of German raiders Indian Ocean that has long supported, more or less secretly, at bases nipponiche Pacific. In fact, it was also the attitude, just as clearly contrary, Admiralty Germanic (who feared an intrusion of Italian troops, however, belligerently inefficient in areas battered by its highly efficient "pirates") to make Supermarina desist from his plans offensive . In this regard, it should be noted that, in early March of '41, the head of the connection of the Kriegsmarine in Rome, Admiral Weichold, Supermarina warned about "the inappropriateness of a diplomatic and technical arrangement - that of Eritrea and the two Ramb entrust the task to 'warfare' in Indian Ocean or Pacific Ocean - which could disrupt seriously the relationship between Germany, Italy and Japan ": a council, the German admiral who took on the tone and substance, the characteristics of a real order of the Royal Command (formerly strongly against the employee Germany for supplies of heating oil) did not have the strength to ignore. A one-way trip
The Massawa Eritrea to leave the base at dusk on 18 February and the following evening to easily exceed the narrow Bab el Mandeb, escaping air reconnaissance basic English in Aden. On 22, when the ship is about 250 miles from the coast of Somalia, the Marine commander Iannucci is forced to order the "action stations" for the sighting of a unit unknown, found at a distance of about 30 km. After a quarter of an hour, the commander clarify the situation, some with binoculars distinguishing characteristics of the ship that turns out to be a big 12/14.000 tons of English auxiliary cruiser, allegedly armed with several pieces of 152 mm.
Fortunately, the English units (after having, in turn, spotted the Eritrea) makes a sudden movement of removal, giving the clear impression that it wants to avoid confrontation. The behavior of the enemy which facilitates Iannucci now turn to starboard Eritrea, favoring the removal. The Italian team is breathing a sigh of relief. However, at 19.23 the next day the patrol Eritrea sight, off the island of Socotra, another ship that travels at lights off. The men return to their battle stations. The feeling of Iannucci is in fact to be faced with a "warning light" class Pathan.
coupling at a distance of 6,000 meters, the Italian commander near and tries to leave, but he realizes that the enemy ship is not going to leave the eye contact, perhaps to run other units on site war. Iannucci knows that in that quadrant of the ocean are often escorted British convoys operating along the routes Socotra-Mombasa and Mahe-Bombay. The risk of being intercepted by overwhelming enemy forces is very high. The voltage on board rooms. The gunners, their guns in position 120 and also the guns from 40 to 13.2 and those are ready to fire. The lookouts scan the horizon, but the visibility is very low due to darkness.
The dashboard, next to some sailors, guards also a very strange character, a forty Ascar Eritrean named Shun Mohammed Omar, a tall, thin man with the white turban on his head. He is the only element of color embarked on Eritrea. Mohammed is often consulted by his teammates. Rumours say that it is equipped with a special extrasensory intuition. In tragic circumstances such as this, the sailors, race notoriously superstitious, they appeal not only to what is known but also unknown. Mohammed looks at the dark, without batting an eyelash, in total silence, then turns to his companions and we assure them whispering, "Do not worry, the enemy ship will not open fire." And so it happens. The commander
Iannucci, after having tried in vain to break away from the English, always at his heels, trying to lengthen the distance that separates it from Eritrea (the two boats were traveling almost parallel and at a distance of even two kilometers). The situation was too dangerous. At any moment the guns of the enemy ship may open fire. The Italians have always gunners at their posts, but would prefer to avoid a fight Iannucci. A lucky shot could hit the opponent some vital organ of the ship or worse (on the deck are, among other things settle down, as many as 750 additional barrels of oil shipped to Massawa to increase the autonomy of the vessel) and jeopardize the entire mission.
So, better release and protected by a smoke screen. And thus the straight side by side with Eritrea to the south, pushing the smoke in a few minutes to wrap completely. Bewildered by the sudden maneuver Iannucci, the British ship does not open fire and tries to work around the curtain to windward and then turn left and get back in touch. But the maneuver failed because Eritrea can vanish into the night. As Iannucci told the commander: "to 23.00, after most accurate scans, my patrol noticed that the enemy had been sown. The mission was therefore entitled to Eritrea and ventured into the Indian Ocean, south-south east, leaving behind the island of Socotra, and the enemy with an inch of his nose.
On 8 March 1941, after 16 days at sea rather quiet during which Eritrea does not cross the enemy ships, the Italian unit reaches the waters south of Java between the large island in the Netherlands and the small islet of Christmas. Everything is going well: The morale is very high and the drive motors do not seem fatigued by the long voyage. Eritrea is almost half of his journey. The commander Iannucci wrote in his diary: "In three days I will be in the seas of Malaysia. Routes and steps are required, I did not like the Indian Ocean can avoid being spotted by some enemy ship and escape by choosing the route that most suits in 360 degree horizon.
are obliged to provide for the camouflage of the ship. And excluding that can transform Eritrea into a commodity, it remains for me to try sull'almanacco naval military unit belonging to a neutral country that has a shape quite similar to ours. "After a few hours of careful research, Annuario Iannucci is a beautiful photograph of Pedro Nunez, a warning light that Portuguese, it looks like a lot of Eritrea. The choice Iannucci part of a ship Lusitanian is not random. Portugal has in fact the eastern half of Timor island (the western one is under Dutch rule) and as a belligerent nation can not send in those waters (to be crossed by Eritrea) vessel military, without which the British Navy if they worry too much.
To try to match as closely as possible to the external characteristics of the two units, Iannucci Eritrea will raise a mock bow tripod and built a fake piece of the same side along the aft section of deck. "In addition, put on two stays of the foremast so that they have a diameter of a foot, and instead of them sleeping on the deck side I moved more to the center, so that the tripod appears well apart. At the aft railing Finally, I put the legs para painted gray like the rest of the hull. " Do these changes, Eritrea has almost similar to Pedro Nunez. Meanwhile, the navigation and the ship proceeds goes to the Italian island of Sumba, located west of Timor.
On March 11, Iannucci receives from telecifrato Supermarina suggest that the passage along the channel between Timor and the small island of Alor and then go into the Banda Sea. On March 14, after rounding the west coast of the island of Buru and be able to withdraw to the west of the Isle of Waigeo, Eritrea out of the Banda Sea, and finally enters the Pacific Ocean, pointing strongly towards the north-east . On 16 March, the ship is left to his right the Isle of Yap (Western Caroline Islands) and continues its sailing north towards the Bonin Islands, which reaches 18 days. The
Eritrea hours sailing in an area under the control of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Unless some unlikely but unpleasant encounter with some British unit, the long mission seems to turn out the best way. And so it is. A few days after having left behind the Bonin, the Italian colonial ship reached Kobe. To welcome and celebrate the commander Iannucci and his crew are not many. Only a small and discreet diplomatic delegation and the Italian military is waiting on a pier. The conclusion of the epic mission to Eritrea should not arouse too much noise in fact.
This is the wish expressed by the Government and the Navy in Tokyo which, curiously, in those days in secret are finalizing the details of a possible surprise attack on the Anglo-American forces in Asia.
Alberto Rosselli
The experimental life of the royal ship Eritrea
letter written by a ship's electrician and shipped from Singapore October 27, 1945. The cruiser
Colonial "ERITREA"
Classified Cruiser was designed in 1934 by Major-General of Naval Engineers Icilio d'Esposito, set the following year at the Naval Shipyard of Castellammare di Stabia and delivered to the Navy 10 February 1937 . He had a full load displacement of 3,117 tons. It was equipped with a dual propulsion: the main consists of two diesel engines of the power of 7,000 hp and the secondary, coupled on the same axis, formed by two electric motors powered by a group 650 hp diesel-dynamo Two systems secured to the vessel a speed of 20 knots, with the simultaneous operation of two systems and 18 knots with diesel engines only. - Its autonomy was about 7,000 miles at a speed of 11.8 knots. - He was armed with four guns 120/45, 2 machine guns and 4 40/39 13.2 mm. The crew consisted of 234 men including 13 officers
designed for service in hot climates of the colonies, had a multi-role weapons of war, having to be able to perform functions of notice-escort, mine-laying submarines and support.
His first mission was significant in June 1937, the outbreak of the English Civil War. There was then sent to the Mediterranean Western Australia. At the end of the year, accomplished the mission was intended to Pola.
the beginning of 1938, raising the banner of CV Mario Zambon, Higher Naval Commander in Italian East Africa, was deployed to Massawa in support of the Submarine Base. and in the employment office operated until the imminence of Eritrea by the British troops.
After completion of the maintenance apparatus to the hull and engine, shipped food and water and reduced the crew, taking on board the only essential personnel, the ship was ready to face his most difficult and demanding mission
the night of 19 February 1941, under the command of the CF Jannucci Marino, across secrecy, leaving Massawa with orders to force the Anglo-French naval blockade and reach the ally Japan. ( continues )
Marino Iannucci
L 'Admiral Marino Iannucci was born in Castro Volscian April 15, 1900 from a family of small farmers. Teenager he joined the Royal Naval Academy and completed his studies in 1919 with the rank of Ensign. It was taken on board many ships in which the matured experience of navigation and finally the following year, he was appointed Lieutenant on the ship St. Marco. Promoted to Commander Captain took command of the warship Eritrea. Immediately after the war, promoted to the rank of Admiral, was appointed president of the Territorial Military Tribunal of La Spezia. Dall 'in October 1952 to his death in Genoa September 15, 1953, was Director-BOATS. RN Eritrea Eritrea
The was a ship of the Navy who took part in World War II submarines equipped for the support and suitable for mine laying.
The construction of the unit was at the factories of shipbuilding in Castellammare di Stabia, where the hull was set July 25, 1935. Launched September 20, 1936 the ship entered service June 28, 1937. The propulsion engine was 2 7,800 horsepower diesel electric propulsion and 2 of 1,300 horses, which allowed the diesel propulsion a maximum speed of 20 knots and with the electric propulsion of 11 knots. The autonomy of the propulsion diesel was 6,950 miles at 12 knots. The armament consisted of four 120 mm guns in two twin turrets, partially shielded, one fore and one aft, 2 semi-automatic 40mm anti-aircraft guns and two 13.2 mm anti-aircraft gunner. The crew consisted of 13 officers and 221 sailors.
was destined to the port of Massawa in the Red Sea, at the Naval Command in Italian East Africa, remaining there until February 18, 1941 when Supermarina gave the order to reach the 'Far East by forcing the English blockade.
The unit, commanded by the captain of a frigate Marino Iannucci, Massawa left the following evening easily surpassed the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb, escaping from the British air reconnaissance base in Aden. 22, when the ship was about 250 miles off the Somali coast was sighted unit unknown, presumably a British auxiliary cruiser after that, in turn, spotted the maneuver Eritrea effected a sudden expulsion, giving the clear impression want to avoid confrontation. However, at 19.23 the next day the patrol Eritrea sight, off the island of Socotra, another English units. The commander Iannucci to disengage from the English, turn to starboard to the south, pushing the smoke that enveloped completely in a few minutes to Eritrea. The British ship opened fire instead tried to work around the curtain to resume after the contact, but the operation failed because Eritrea was able to vanish into the night. Together
from Massawa Eritrea had left two other vessels, the Rambo I, which sank Feb. 27 from the cruiser HMNZS Leander and New Zealand RAMB II. For the success of the mission in Eritrea and RAMB surviving Japanese collaboration was needed and a willingness to cooperate on the part of Japan linked to Italy by the Tripartite Pact was almost certain. However, between February and March 1941, The Tokyo government decided to take a step back, forcing the Navy to change some details of the transaction. Agreed with the Japanese, the Italian units, during the crossing, should refrain from any action against pirate isolated British ships, threatening otherwise to withhold any cooperation. This is because Japan did not want to alienate Britain and the United States views the presence of German raiders in the Indian Ocean that has long supported, more or less secretly, Japanese bases in the Pacific. Even the command of the Kriegsmarine had shown their concern that raiders interfere in Italian waters battered by their raiders and invited the commands of the Royal Navy to desist in their drive to take any action privateer during the transfer, an invitation that the Command of the Royal Navy, heavily dependent on Germany for supplies of oil, could not, so the two ships who were involved in the transfer mission on 11 March was given by Supermarina ordered to refrain from any action privateer.
Continuing the journey, then having to necessarily pass through the waters of Malaysia across the Strait of Malacca to switch from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific, to escape the chasing enemy units the crew resorted to camouflage the vessel becoming almost completely resembling a Pedro Nunez warning-light Portuguese that looked a lot Eritrea. Portugal had the eastern half of Timor island (while the West was under Dutch rule) and as a belligerent nation could not send any military ship in those waters without the Royal Navy is worried that much.
On March 14, passing along the channel between the island of Timor and Alor entering the Banda Sea in Eritrea after rounding the west coast of the island of Buru finally entered the Pacific Ocean heading for the Northeast. After leaving to the right of the Yap, a group of islands in the Caroline March 16 March 18, Eritrea achieved an area under the control of the Imperial Japanese Navy, arriving a few days later Kobe allowing them to get free in Japan. To welcome and celebrate the Eritrea and its crew was only a small and discreet diplomatic delegation and the Italian military on a pier. The conclusion of the epic mission to Eritrea was not to arouse too much noise in fact.
After the armistice of 8 September 1943, Eritrea, still under the command of Marine Iannucci escaped fled to India from Japan where he was interned by the British maritime authorities.
then returned to Italy after the war, in 1948, in compliance with the terms of the peace treaty was ceded to France. .
It joined the Marine Nationale 12 February 1948 the ship was renamed the Francis Garnier Aviso cebbe classified and assigned a distinctive optical F 730. The
Francis Garnier participated in the war in Indochina with the task of Commons. Undergone a complete renovation from 1951 to 1953, with the end of French rule in Indochina took part from 1954 to the evacuation operation of French citizens from leaving Saigon in 1955 Tonkin. From 1956 to 1957 took place the work in a shipyard in Japan before being intended for use in the French colonies in the Pacific. From 1959 to 1960 underwent a new round of work at the British base of Diego Garcia. Intended to Papeete on the island of Tahiti in French Polynesia, the Francis Garnier was placed in reserve on 1 January 1966 to be expelled the following October 5. Used as a target in a nuclear test carried out nell'atollo of Mururoa, the Francis Garnier sank October 29, 1966 at 16:15 hours of Mururoa. The wreck lies about 1300 meters deep.
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RN Rambo I
RAMB The ship I was a banana fast Italian merchant navy at the outbreak of World War II was converted into an auxiliary cruiser. It was built in Ansaldo Sestri Ponente shipyard in 1937. The Ministry of the Colonies of the Kingdom of Italy had the need to transport in metropolitan bananas produced in Somalia, then Italian colony, so he ordered four Aveve units that had sufficient autonomy to make the journey from Mogadishu to Naples without intermediate stops and at full load. Based on these needs were built four reefers that were to be managed by the Royal Banana Monopoly Company (Rambo), two in the Ansaldo Shipyard in Genoa Sestri Cantieri Riuniti and two from the Adriatic to Monfalcone. Under previous laws, since the construction of the units was the possibility of transforming them into auxiliary cruisers, with 4 pieces of 120/40mm deck. The materials for the militarization of the vessels were placed in storage for two units and Massawa in Naples for the other two. On 10 June 1940, the date of entry into the war the only of four vessels to be in the Mediterranean was the Rambo III and the other three were in the Red Sea, thus without any means of connecting with the mainland.
the Rambo I after the declaration of war June 10, 1940 were made available to the Naval Command Italian East Africa. The conversion of banana in auxiliary cruiser was made in the Eritrean port of Massawa, and was armed with two guns and two 120/40 mm 13.2 mm anti-aircraft gunner. With the fall of Italian East Africa, the Rambo I, along with the colonial ship Eritrea and Rambo II, left for the Far East. Match
from Massawa to the command of Lieutenant Bonezzi the "Rambo I" met February 27, 1941 on its route to New Zealand cruiser HMNZS Leander which begins to strike with five blanks. So Rambo I was sunk and her crew, 113 sailors, including the commander, were rescued from the cruiser and landed in New Zealand following nell'Atollo Addu and subsequently transferred as prisoners of war in captivity in Colombo in Ceylon with Pearleaf the tanker.
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RN II RAMB
RAMB II The ship was a banana fast Italian merchant navy at the outbreak of World War II was converted into an auxiliary cruiser. It was built at Cantieri Riuniti of 'Adriatico Monfalcone nel 1937. Il Ministero delle Colonie del Regno d'Italia aveva la necessità di trasportare nel territorio metropolitano le banane prodotte in Somalia, all'epoca colonia italiana, per questo motivo ordinò quattro unità che dovevano aveve un'autonomia sufficiente per effettuare il percorso da Mogadiscio a Napoli senza soste intermedie ed a pieno carico. In base a queste necessità furono costruite 4 navi frigorifere che dovevano essere gestite dalla Regia Azienda Monopolio Banane (RAMB), due nei cantieri Ansaldo di Genova-Sestri Ponente e due dai Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico di Monfalcone. In base a disposizioni legislative precedenti, fin dalla costruzione delle unità era prevista la possibilità di trasformarle in incrociatori ausiliari, 120/40 with 4 pieces of the deck. The materials for the militarization of the vessels were placed in storage for two units and Massawa in Naples for the other two. On 10 June 1940, the date of entry into the war, the Rambo III was the only one of four ships that was found in the Mediterranean while the other three were in the Red Sea and thus without any means of connecting with the mainland .
the Rambo II after the declaration of war June 10, 1940 was made available to the Naval Command Italian East Africa. The conversion of banana in auxiliary cruiser was made in the Eritrean port of Massawa, and was armed with two guns and two 120/40 mm 13.2 mm anti-aircraft gunner. With the fall
Italian East Africa, the Rambo II, along with the colonial ship Eritrea and the Rambo I, left for the Far East. The Ramb I was sunk February 27, 1941 New Zealand from the cruiser HMNZS Leander, and March 23 following the Rambo II arrived in Kobe, Japan. Soon after, the Rambo II underwent a complete renovation to operate as a privateer in the Pacific Ocean.
After the armistice of 'September 8, 1943, the Rambo II was taken over by the Japanese Imperial Navy and renamed Calitea II, serving for the Japanese until January 12, 1945 when it was sunk by an American plane.
( source)
Bibliography
Marino Iannucci, Adventure Eritrea , 1. ed. 1951, 2. ed. Rome, Maritime Magazine, 1985
