Warhawks vs. Italian Navy destroyers

[Lagarto]

In the book on 79th Fighter Group by Don Woerpel, published by Schiffer, I read that on 30th April 1943, off Tunisian coast, as many as three Italian destroyers were bombed and actually sunk by Warhawks of 79th and 57th Fighter Groups. Could anyone confirm/deny/provide any further info?

Thank you in advance

[Darius]

Hello Lagarto,

from http://www.wlb-stuttgart.de/seekrieg/43-04.htm,

29.4.– 13.5.1943
Mittelmeer
Endkampf um Tunis und Bizerta. Bei letzten Versuchen, Nachschub nach Afrika zu bringen, werden am 30.4. vor Kap Bon die Zerstörer Pancaldo (it., FKpt. Ferrieri-Caputi †) und Hermes (dt., FKpt. Rechel, RK) mit je 300 Mann an Bord und Lampo (it., KKpt. Albanese) mit einer Ladung Munition von alliierten Flugzeugen wiederholt angegriffen, Pancaldo und Lampo sinken, Hermes wird fahruntüchtig eingeschleppt. Bei Rettungsaktionen versenken Jabos die ital. MAS 552 und Ms 25. Am 30.4. versenken die brit. Zerstörer Nubian und Paladin vor der sizil. Küste den dt. Transporter Fauna (575 BRT). Das dt. Räumboot RA 10 (ex-brit. MTB 314) wird am 30.4. bei einem Luftangriff vor La Goulette (Tunesien) versenkt.

So Pancaldo and Lampo sunk, Hermes (ZG3) damaged, towed to Tunis, there she was destroyed a few days later.

There´s a book about Hermes operations: Afrika Zerstörer ZG3 Hermes.

Greetings
Darius

[Lagarto]

Thank you Darius, that's the info I was looking for!

Hopefully you can also help me, or anyone around, clarify another claim by Warhawk pilots. As stated in the book "Chackertail Clan, The 325th Fighter Group in North Africa and Italy", on 5th August 1943, off Sardinia, a couple of 325th FG's Warhawk pilots attacked and were actually credited with sinking "a Nazi submarine".

I'm quoting from the aforementioned book:
"Lt. William R. Elliott spotted it first, dove on it and strafed the coning tower, causing an explosion. The other two Warhawk pilots, Lts. Ritter and Hartley, followed him and got in a number of long bursts. The stern of the craft was lift in the air, and the sub disappeared under the water, leaving a large oil slick. At the time they thought that they had merely damaged it, but later they were given full credit for sinking it"

Could it be a German (or an Italian) boat, and was it actually sunk, or rather crash-dived under fire?

[Darius]

Hello Lagarto,

sorry, I can´t find any sinking of a submarine for this date.
But you can try this forum: http://uboat.net/forum/list.php?f=3.

Greetings

Darius

[Lagarto]

Yes indeed Gudmundur of Uboat.net identified the submarine in question for me (not sunk but badly shot-up)

[Monaco]

just out of interest, what was the number of the u-boat and had there been any casualties?

greetings

monaco

[Lagarto]

U-593 Due to extensive damage it was forced to return to France.

[Monaco]

O.K.
this is why her 13th patrol was so short. U.593 left Toulon on 27 July and returned there (base of 29. U-Flottillie) on 08.08.43. U.593 was remarkably successful for a german sub. in the Mediterrean. She sank 2 destroyers, 2 landing ships, 1 minesweepers (= 5 warships with 6152t) and 9 merchants (41.384 grt) and damaged 1 ship (4853 grt) in 17 patrols (3 Atlantic including 1 to the US East Coast, 1 transfer to the Med., 13 in the Med.). U.593 was sank on 13.12.43 after a very long chase and all her crew survived.

thanks for your info!!!

it´s just another bit of history and one of the few cases that fighter aircraft damaged a german U-boat.

Regards

Monaco

[Monaco]

Just do add another fact:
U.593 (CO: Kapitänleutnant Kelbing, holder of the Knbight´s Cross) was out of action for more than a month. She left Toulon for operations against the Salerno bridgehead only on 15.09.43.

Monaco