Italian submarine Berillo

Captain Camillo Milesi Ferretti
Occupation(s)	Naval officer, submarine commander
Years active	1940 (at least)
Known for	Commanding the Italian submarine Berillo during World War II until its sinking in October 1940

Italian submarine Berillo belonged to the Perla-class submarine series and was constructed for the Royal Italian Navy (Regia Marina) during the 1930s. Its name was inspired by the gemstone Beryl.

Design and description

The Perla class represented a continuation of the earlier Sirena class design. These submarines had a surfaced displacement of approximately 680 metric tons (670 long tons) and a submerged displacement close to 844 metric tons (831 long tons). Their length measured 60.18 meters (197 ft 5 in), with a beam of 6.45 meters (21 ft 2 in) and a draft of around 4.7 meters (15 ft 5 in).

For propulsion on the surface, they utilized two diesel engines, each rated at about 600 brake horsepower (447 kW), each connected to its own propeller shaft. When submerged, propulsion was provided by two electric motors delivering roughly 400 horsepower (300 kW) each. These submarines could achieve speeds up to 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) while surfaced and approximately 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h; 8.6 mph) when submerged. Their operational range extended to about 5,200 nautical miles (9,600 km; 6,000 mi) at a cruising speed of 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) on the surface, while underwater endurance allowed for around 74 nautical miles (137 km; 85 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph).

Armament included six internal torpedo tubes measuring 53.3 centimetres (21.0 in), with four located in the bow and two in the stern. Each tube had one reload torpedo available, totaling twelve torpedoes onboard. For surface engagements, a single deck gun of 100 millimetres (3.9 in) caliber was installed. The anti-aircraft defense comprised one or two pairs of machine guns, each with a caliber of 13.2 millimetres (0.52 in).

Construction and career

The submarine Berillo was constructed by CRDA at their shipyard located in Monfalcone. Her keel was laid on 14 September 1935, she was subsequently launched on 14 June 1936, and final completion occurred on 5 August 1936.

Once commissioned, Berillo initially joined the 35th Squadron stationed at Messina, before transferring to Augusta. During 1936, she undertook a rigorous endurance training cruise across the central Mediterranean, visiting ports such as Tobruk, Benghazi, Marsa el Hilal, Bardia, Leros, and Naples.

Between January and September 1937, Berillo took part in three operational missions during the Spanish Civil War. On 1 January, under Captain Vittorio Prato’s command, she departed from Naples for her first patrol near Cartagena, returning around 17 or 18 January without encountering any targets. Her second mission began on 5 August from Augusta, commanded by Captain Andrea Gasparini, patrolling northwest of Pantelleria between Cape Lilibeo and Cape Bon. Over eleven days on station, she recorded 45 contacts and launched attacks. On 14 August, she fired two torpedoes at a steamer but failed to score a hit. She returned to base two days later. The third mission commenced on 28 August off Cartagena, concluding on 6 September with no sightings of enemy vessels.

In 1938, Berillo was redeployed alongside submarines Iride and Onice to the Red Sea naval base at Massawa in Eritrea.

By spring 1939, she had returned to the Mediterranean base at Taranto, before being reassigned to Augusta.

Command of Berillo passed to Captain Camillo Milesi Ferretti in January 1940.

At the onset of Italy's involvement in World War II, Berillo, together with Gemma and Onice, formed part of the 13th Squadron (I Submarine group) based at La Spezia, though operating from the port of Augusta. Early wartime patrols in the central Mediterranean yielded no enemy contacts.

On 13 July 1940, she was dispatched with larger submarines such as Morosini, Nani, and Comandante Faà di Bruno to patrol east of Gibraltar, but encountered no adversaries. A subsequent deployment off Malta also failed to detect any enemy shipping.

On 18 September 1940, Berillo received orders to patrol near Sidi Barrani and Marsa Matruh in support of Italy’s Egyptian campaign. En route to her designated area, the submarine suffered multiple mechanical failures: initially her stern pump malfunctioned but was swiftly repaired; subsequently, her aft hydroplanes broke down but were fixed despite leaving steering impaired. She reached her patrol zone north of Ras Ultima on 25 September.

No contacts were made during the first two days. However, on the evening of 27 September after surfacing, both diesel engines stalled unexpectedly. The crew managed only a partial restart of the port engine. Over the following two days, Berillo proceeded using electric motors while attempting unsuccessfully to restore the diesels. At 21:30 on 29 September, a radio message reported a dispersed enemy task force nearby comprising a battleship, an aircraft carrier, five cruisers, and nineteen destroyers. Despite limited speed—approximately 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph)—the submarine advanced northward about 60 miles (97 km) to reach her newly assigned sector off Sidi Barrani by 07:00 on 30 September. Later that day after surfacing, her starboard engine resumed operation. At dawn on 1 October she submerged again and remained at periscope depth throughout the day without spotting targets. That evening upon surfacing to recharge batteries and refresh air supplies, an oil pump failure occurred while restarting diesels. The crew worked through the night addressing this issue along with recurring port engine troubles.

Around 03:00 enemy vessels were finally detected: British destroyers HMS Havock and HMS Hasty, approximately 6,000 meters (6,600 yd) away and returning to Piraeus after escorting Convoy AN-4. Remaining surfaced, Captain Milesi Ferretti maneuvered closer toward the ships traveling at an estimated speed of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph).

Closing to roughly 800 meters (870 yd), Ferretti commanded a torpedo launch; however, electric firing mechanisms failed necessitating manual deployment. Despite time passing without explosions indicating misses, enemy destroyers detected the attack. At about 600 meters (660 yd), two additional torpedoes were fired but again failed to hit targets—one passed beneath a destroyer without detonating. Attempting stern tube launches amid evasive maneuvers ordered hard starboard; British forces simultaneously illuminated Berillo with four searchlights while opening fire. Though shots missed directly hitting the submarine, they compelled abandonment of the assault. A crash dive was ordered as one destroyer accelerated aggressively intending to ram.

Submerging rapidly to approximately 90 meters (300 ft) within 32 seconds triggered depth charge counterattacks that disabled electrical systems including intercoms and pressure gauges as well as damaging diving planes. Buoyancy control issues ensued causing depth fluctuations between 135, rising briefly after compressed air release to about 40 meters.

Subsequent depth charges inflicted further damage—engines and propellers were knocked out; a fire erupted aft along with hull breaches allowing water ingress. The vessel oscillated between depths of 50 and 100 meters with occasional descents reaching 120–130 meters. One attack forced Berillo down even deeper—possibly beyond 170 meters.

Captain Ferretti ordered full air blow in an attempt to regain positive buoyancy; gradually the submarine ascended and surfaced at approximately 05:30 on 2 October listing about 45°. Attempts by two crew members to open hatches failed due to structural deformation caused by damage sustained.

British destroyers promptly opened fire upon the surfaced submarine; one shell disabled her deck gun while another penetrated the conning tower killing two sailors attempting hatch access. The impact dislodged the hatch enabling remaining crew members to evacuate before Berillo sank at roughly position 33°09′N 26°24′E, some 120 nautical miles (220 km; 140 mi) north of Sidi Barrani.

References

• Bagnasco, Erminio (1977). World War Two Submarines. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-962-6.
• Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's Complete Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
• Frank, Willard C. Jr. (1989). "Inquiry 12/88". Warship International. XXVI (1): 95–97. ISSN 0043-0374.
• Giorgerini, Giorgio (2002). Men Beneath the Surface. History of Italian Submarine Service from Origins to Present (Second ed.). Mondadori. ISBN 88-04-50537-0.
• Pollina, Paolo (1963). Italian Submarines 1895–1962. Rome, Italy: SMM.
• Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Naval Chronology 1939–1945: The Sea War History of World War Two (Third Revised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.

External links

• Regia Marina The Italian Navy during World War II