Lot:
174
57th Contemporary and International Art Auction
3rd Session: Graphics, Philately and Sports Memorabilia
The Sub VENIERO (2nd) was one of the 11 “ocean going” submarines of the class “Marcello” (name of the first boat, eponymous for the class), a successful class built by the C.R.D.A. shipyard in Monfalcone, Gorizia (9 units) and OTO of Muggiano, La Spezia (2 units) between 1937 and 1939. The VENIERO was built in Monfalcone, laid down on 23 January 1937, launched on 14 February 1938 and delivered to the Regia Marina (Royal Navy) on 6 June of the same year. The technical specifications were: - Hull : “Bernardis” Design – Pressure Double Hull – Max Diving Depth: 100m (with safety factor 3 - Displacement: 1059 t (surfaced) – 1313 t (submerged) – Dimensions: 73 m (length) – 7.20 m (beam) – 5.09 m (draft) – Engine Power: 3000 HP (surf.) – 1100 HP (subm.) – Max speed: 17.4 kts (surf) – 8 kts (subm) – Range: 7500 NM at 9.4 kts – 2500 NM at 17 kts (surf.); 120 NM at 3 kts – 8 NM at 8kts (subm.) - Armament: 8 x 533 mm torpedo tubes (4 bow and 4 aft); 2 x 100 mm/47 cal. deck guns (1 bow and 1 aft of the turret); 2 x 13.2 mm Anti-Aircraft single machine guns (in pilot bridge, at aft) - Crew: 57 sailors (7 officers)
In the Atlantic the Veniero completed 6 offensive operations. On 18 December 1940 it torpedoed and then sank the 2883-ton Greek steamship “ANASTASSIA” by deck gun, but rescued 9 shipwrecked sailors. On 24 March 1941, it sank the 2104-ton British steamship “AGNETE MAERSK” by deck gun since the three torpedoes it had launched failed to explode, probably because of the shallow draft of the ship. When it was decided to bring 11 of the ocean going submarines back to the Mediterranean, where the situation required an increase in the number of subs, the Veniero was included in the list. Thus, on 8 August 1941, under the command of the new Captain, Lieutenant Elio Zappetta, the boat departed for Italy and arrived in La Spezia on 22nd remaining there three months for repairs. In the Mediterranean the boat completed 7 missions, one was on 19 December 1941 to transport 50 tons of foodstuff from Taranto to Bardia, in Cyrenaica. The Veniero's last mission started on 17 May 1942, when it left Cagliari (Sardinia) to go on patrol off the Balearic Islands. On the 29th, at 16.25, it sent a discovery signal. At 23.30 it sent another signal but it was incomprehensible. From this time on, all contacts were lost. The boat was probably sunk on 7 June 1942 in the waters between the Balearic Islands and Sardinia. After the war from British sources it was learnt that an Italian submarine had been attacked by a “Catalina” type aircraft in the early hours of 7 June 1942. The same day, just before 12:00 noon, the same submarine had undergone another attack while navigating on the surface, visibly damaged. Since in the position, the day and the hours when the two attacks had taken place, there were no other Italian submarines, it is reasonable to assume that the submarine attacked by the British planes was indeed the VENIERO. There were no survivors.
Price:
120 €
+ buyer's premium
24%
plus shipment costs