Okay, I now have some decent information from Enrico, based on the war diaries of Comando Supremo and Supermarina.
Quote:
COMANDO SUPREMO
21 Aug 42 Samsonetti communicates that he has given orders to refuel Sportivo and Bianchi.
Fassio convoy leaves Piraeus, followed by Pugliola which is sailing alone.
Fassio was attacked from the air on 22 Aug, afternoon and late evening, and during the night 22 and 23 August.
23 Aug 42 06.15 hours convoy Sportivo, Bianchi and Stige reaches Piraeus.
23 Aug 42 Fassio arrives at Tobruk unscathed.
SUPERMARINA
20 Aug 42 09.20 hours Pugliola leaves Piraeus. Arrives Tobruk23 Aug 42 11.45 hours escorted by Ct Pigafetta and da Verrazano and the Tp Procione.
21 Aug 42 Tanker A. Fassio leaves Suda 21 August at 14.30 hours arrives Tobruk 23 August at 11.45 hours, together with the 8th Group of Motozattere (8 units Marinefährprähme - F-Lighters) [my note: there were only seven registered as arriving in Tobruk] Escort: Tp Lupo.
21 Aug 42 [my note: this is a date error and should be 20 August] Convoy Sportivo, Bianchi, Stige escorted by Ct Turbine and Tp Lince leaves Tobruk between 18.20 hours and 19.20 hours direct to Piraeus. Attacked by aircraft at 03.40 hours 21 August without results [my note: this would have been while off Tobruk]. 21 Aug 12.50 hours 12.50 hours Turbine and Lince chase a submarine contact following notification from an escorting plane.
23 Aug 42 06.15 hours convoy arrives at Piraeus, during the last stretch also escorted by MS 41.
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Still some confusion.
1) The heavy escort noted for Pugliola and the identical time of arrival at 11.45 hours at Tobruk would indicate to me that her and the Fassio convoy were basically travelling together at least on the last stretch.
2) There seem to be at least four separate air attacks, three on Fassio and one on the Sportivo convoy. Noting the time difference these would have been 22/23 August mid-afternoon/mid-evening/night (Fassio) and 21 August 02.40 hours (Sportivo)
3) Sportivo convoy's stop in Crete is not mentioned.
MS 41 was an Italian boat, but based on a German design (explaining the labelling as 'Tedesco'), S-2, based on which Germany built eight boats for the Kingdom of Yugoslavia which were captured, taken into the Regia Marina in 1941, and used as blueprint for the Regia Marina's MS design:
https://regiamarina.net/mas-vas-and-ms/
https://schnellbootnet.jimdofree.com...-s-boot-typen/
Hope this helps. I have alerted Lorenzo to this discussion.
All the best
Andreas