Italian submarine Michele Bianchi

Michele Bianchi was a Marconi-class submarine of the Italian Regia Marina that saw action in the Second World War. The submarine, (pennant number BH), was launched on 3 December 1939.[3] Her first war patrol took place in the Mediterranean Sea from 15 August to 3 September 1940. Michele Bianchi sailed on 27 October 1940 and reached the Strait of Gibraltar on 3 November. The attempted transit to the Atlantic was detected by Royal Navy forces; and Michele Bianchi took refuge in the neutral port of Tangier. Michele Bianchi sailed from Tangier on 12 November and reached Bordeaux on 18 December 1940. Michele Bianchi sank three ships on her first BETASOM patrol from Bordeaux; but the next patrol from 30 April to 30 May 1941 was unsuccessful. After sailing from Bordeaux on 4 July 1941, Michele Bianchi was sunk with all hands by HMS Tigris on 5 July.[4]

Ships sunk by Michele Bianchi[4]
Patrol Date Ship Flag Tonnage Notes
4th 14 February 1941 Belcrest  United Kingdom 4,517 Freighter from Convoy SC 21; no survivors
4th 24 February 1941 Huntingdon  United Kingdom 10,946 No casualties
4th 27 February 1941 Baltistan  United Kingdom 6,803 Freighter; 18 survivors from a crew of 69
Total:22,266

History
Italy
Name: Michele Bianchi
Builder: CRDA (Monfalcone, Italy)
Launched: 3 December 1939
Fate: Sunk on 5 July 1941
General characteristics
Class and type: Marconi-class submarine[1][2]
Displacement:
  • 1,175 long tons (1,194 t) standard
  • 1,465 long tons (1,489 t) full load
Length: 76.5 m (251 ft)
Beam: 6.81 m (22.3 ft)
Draught: 4.72 m (15.5 ft)
Propulsion:
  • Diesel engines, 3,600 hp (2,685 kW) (surfaced)
  • Electric motors 1,500 hp (1,119 kW) (submerged)
  • 2 shafts
Speed:
  • 17.8 knots (33.0 km/h; 20.5 mph) surfaced
  • 8.2 kn (15.2 km/h; 9.4 mph) submerged
Complement: 57
Armament:

References
  1. Conway p 306
  2. Bagnasco p161
  3. Kafka & Pepperburg p.791
  4. "Regia Marina Italiana". Cristiano D'Adamo. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
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