Four days aboard the Vittorio Veneto

by Cristiano D'Adamo and Salvatore Romano

Appendix I

APPENDIX I

1. The Vittorio Veneto

(a) Cleanliness. The ship's living space were clean, the officer’s quarters scrupulously so. The messdecks were dull. The heads were well fit-feed out, but choked easily. Washing conditions for the crew would have been very good if it was not for the lack of water at sea.
The ship’s company kept themselves clean, all of them paying particular attention to their feet.

(b) Bombs. There were two large circular plates about 15’ to 20' across either side of the forecastle where 3 bombs had hit; 2 port together and 1 starboard. They had been dropped by Liberators about June last. The repairs appeared to have been well executed. The bombs exploded on the Middle deck.

(c) Gunnery Readiness
In harbour - at Merca Sarooh, A.D.P. and about half close range continually closed up.

In harbour - at Alexandria. By day A.D.P. and (half a day experience only). quarter 7 close range closed up.

By night, none.

At sea - All close range apparently at second degree.
90mm (3.9”) and 152m (6”) in two watches, but watch off stays in vicinity of guns.

The Low Angle armament was not manned.

(d) Damage Control at Sea.
Skeleton D.C. parties kept closed up, but many doors through closed to, were in no way clipped.

(e) Handling the Ship.
On the whole, the ship was well handled, though one or two turns in succession were badly executed, and officers of the watch were apt to swing past their course when zig-zagging.
For some reason there seemed to be distinct reluctance to go astern on the engines.

(e) Telephones
A very extensive telephone system has been installed. However, I did not see it being put to much use. The exchange was an automatic dialing one. There were direct phones as well. After speaking for a few minutes, speech was apt to become blurred.
One of the commissioned gunners remarked that “there was far too much reliance place on Electrical Equipment, and that if it failed they would be finished”. "

(f) German Origins.
Much or the equipment was of German origin, or built under license to German firms

Admiral’s Name: Ammiraglio di Divisione, Enrico Accorretti.

Captain's Name: Capitano di Vascello, Corso Pecori Giraldi.

2. Radar

There was a general lack of knowledge of the potentialities of Radar. Many of the more junior officers knowing nothing about it. The Admiral was well impressed by K.G.V's (Kin George V) shots fired blind by Radar at one of our own planes during the night of the 15th.
The only Radar set in the ship would not work - it was a L.A. Range Finder.

3. Gunnery Barrage.

The ship's gunnery officer said that he normally fired barrages as follow:-

He told me in fast French, and although I made notes later, I cannot be certain that the ranges are accurate).

Angle of sight - For low level attack 50°
For other attacks 50°

Ranges - 152™ gun 8,000 metres [meters]
90mm gun 2,500 metres [meters]

He said that his close range ammunitions was self distinctive (destructive) at 1,500 metres.

4. Politics

a) Officers.
Mussolini was unpopular, also the fascist party. The Admiral's Secretary said to me “I hope England wil realize that Fascism and Italy are not one". He added, "In Germany it is different, Nazism and Germany are one”. The Secretary had just spent two years in Germany. The King appeared to be popular, Badoglio, slightly lees so. I was definitely wanted to believe that Fascism has been expunged. I am not certain that it is so. On two occasions in the Officer's mess, I was greeted with the Fascist salute.

(b) Men.
Some had been in three wars, Spain, Abyssinia and world war No. 2; and blamed Mussolini and Fascism for their plight. They did not seam interested in politics, except as far as it concerned themselves or their families.

5. Morale.

Officers and men seemed cheerfully resigned to their fate, and the man pleased that war was over for Them; all were eager for news of their families.
Many officers were keen to help fight the Germans out of Italy, and proudly showed me, in the Italian news sheet they produced each day, the paragraphs showing that Italians were fighting the Germans in the North of Italy.
The ratings seem to be afraid of air attacks, particularly "Dive Bombing'. The sinking of the ROMA had undoubtedly made a big impression on all.
The men were keen to show the places where signs still remained of the bombs hits scored by the Liberators, and seemed almost proud of them.
Grew on average, very young and seemed to be mostly conscript. One stated reason ships did not often put to sea, was the inability of Italians to provide air cover and the unwillingness of the Germans to provide it, except when German ships present. Greatly impressed with air escort provided on the trip. Not particular about smoking and lights on the upper deck at night.

6. The Italia.

This ship was first named the LITTORIO, but was renamed on July the 29th of this year. She was not so well handled at sea as the VITTORIO VENETO, but this may have been due to bomb damage, and her greater draught forward.
THE ITALIA was hit by (?) 2 bombs off Corsica on her way to Malta: I could see the damage caused by one; on the starboard side of the forecastle. A temporary repair had been affected by means of a large plug. The bomb landed near the ship's aide, and came out again through the flare.

7. Personalities

The Admiral was very friendly, but did not strike me as been forceful, or domineering. He has an unfortunate twitch (St Vitus’ Dance ) which does not seem to worry him very much. I saw him loose his temper twice. On one occasion when he had not been informed of the landing of a wounded rating, and another time when, during the night, one of the cruisers started to flash with a very bright light. In one occasion he really let fly in the best continental manner, and it was quite half an hour before he calmed down. At all other times he was quit, but inclined to be crotchety. His staff treated him as rather a joke from time to time, and had a good laugh at his expense.
The Admiral’s initiative was either lacking, or it was severely cramped by his seniors. This was most noticeable. He was pro-English, liked English books, particularly letters of Lord Collingwood whom he admired. He said that his wife was even more pro-British. Before his present employment as second-in-command of the Spezia Battle Squadron, he was at the Admiralty at Rome, and before that, Had the Cruiser Squadron, wearing his flag in the LUIGI DI SAVOIA DUCA DEGLI ABRUZZI.
The Admiral said he was certain that much in the near future depended on the King and Marshall Badoglio. He was convinced that it would be a calamity if either of them were to fall into German hands. He speaks moderate English. Age 55. Apt to be untidy.

The Captain
A quit man, with a strong personality, very brief and to the point, dealt firmly with the Admiral. He spoke good English, though did not always wish to understand what was being said to him. Of smart appearance. He was apt to tret me very formally; in complete contrast to the Admiral, and managed to convey the impression of being somewhat stand-offish. I felt he was stunned by the surrender of his fleet.

The Commander
Appeared to be rather a nonentity. Quite and reserved, spoke poor English, and moderate French. Friendly, and pleasant, but like nearly all his compatriots that I met, capable of the gross procrastination.

The Assistant Commander
A dominant personality, with Prussian appearance. Evidently told the Commander what to do, and the latter used to agree quite meekly. Spoke no English, and little French.

The Gunnery Officer
Spoke no English, but good French. Seemed efficient. Quite, and pleasant character. Did not appear to know much of Radar.

The Medical Officer
The Senior Medical Officer in the ship was a Surgeon Lieutenant Commander. He was captured by us in our Abyssinian campaign in 1941 and repatriated by us two years later, so that he had been out of our hands 4 months when he surrendered with the rest of the Fleet.
He did not like the conditions of the Prisoner of War Camp in the Sudan, complaining chiefly of boredom. He is very fed up with life, but does not appear to bear us any ill will. He speaks quite good English and French.

The Junior Officers
Many of these spoke English to varying extent, and nearly all of them French. The age of some of the Midshipmen was noticeable, they must have been a full 30 years. There seemed to be no distinction between hostilities only and continuous service

The Warrant Officers.
Seamed on the whole friendly. They asked my Leading Signalman to give them a short address in English, which he was not able to do.
Many of the officers had served in the Merchant Navy, or had traveled in peace time, and there was a wide understanding of the British point of view.

8. Engineering.

There appears to have been trouble since the ship commissioned, with the condensers. The principle would seem to have been that enough water was carried to last out the few days that the ship was at sea.
Movements seem to have been restricted, owing to a lack of oil fuel, and such fuel as did come was from Germany, but of poor quality.

9. Paravanes.

Both Battleships were fitted, but the Admiral stated that they were rarely streamed, and doubted if enough sailors knew the drill for streaming, to get them out in reasonable time. However, the Vittorio Veneto's were not working, as one of the towing wires had parted while the ship was at Spezia, and apparently there were no spares, and the Italia’s were damaged by bombs.
The Admiral said, that when, they were at Spezia and came out for practices, they dare not slow down for Paravanes, (apparently the Italian ships must nearly stop to recover or stream Paravanes) as there were always two submarines waiting outside. On one occasion they had slowed down, and all that saved his ship - so he said - was a destroyer stopping the torpedoes and getting sunk instead. He seemed to have little faith or patience in Paravanes.

10. Food.

This seemed quite adequate, was well served; action messing at sea seemed very successful. Galleys were claen; shortage of meat did not prevent steaks being served in the Admiral's mess. Sailors food, plain and without such variety, mainly Maccaroni, Spaghetti, Rice and brown bread.

11. Air Raids.

Apparently Air Said Shelters at Leghorn and Genoa were or are inadequate; those at Milan and Turin are said to be good.
Some of the crew volunteered the information that they thought English bombing was better (more accurate) than the American, especially at Pisa and Genoa.
Generally they stated, large casualties had been caused by air raids on Italy, but they conceded that English bombing had been obviously directed against Military targets.
The flag Lieutenant had been wounded in the leg in an air raid ashore, and declared, but for that he would have been appointed the command of a Torpedo Boat.

12. Shortages.

Shortages that were mentioned most, or were most evident, included

Soap - as a result of this, the rig for officers of complete white has been abolished in favor of blue trousers and white jacket.

Tea - The substitute was terrible.

Coffee - The substitute was poor, the coffee served at sea was supposed to be the genuine product.

Rubber - There appeared to be plenty of substitutes and of good quality.

Tobacco - The stronger tobacco supplied was not liked. Apparently the Navy gets preference in supply.

Clothing - Uniforms seemed to be scarce.

Leather - Nearly all the sailors wore clogs.

13. The sinking of the Roma

This was caused by a Rocket Propelled Bomb. The occurrence had shaken the Italians, and imbued a hate against the Germans more than anything else seem to have done.

14. Position of the Admiral in the Line

If there are two Admirals present in a line of ships, the senior takes guide and the junior takes the stern position in the line. But for this Admiral Accorretti commented that he would not be alive.

15. Photographs.

I was able to take 24 photographs during the last few hours of may stay; these I handed over to Lieutenant Coote R.N.V.R., attached to force "H", on the l7th September.

16. Attitude to the Germans.

One of the Warrant Officers said that "The Germans ware strong enough to last out 6 months for they had taken everything from the conquered countries they wanted and destroyed the rest. People in those countries were starving". He stated that "He had visited France, , the Balkans and Germany - the latter had shortages, but the people were fairly content." He said that "The Germans had no respect for anything but themselves and their property, they cared nothing for civilians".

17. Listening to the News.

There was not much faith placed in the B.B.C, News, because, from time to time obvious mistakes had been made which had made then distrust the B.B.O. However, they did not trust the Rome news much either.

18. Entertainments.

I saw one Italian film of very inferior quality on the Quarter Deck. It appeared to be largely glorifying Italian Youth Movements, and the audience often booed and hissed. The officers seemed to tolerate it, some occasionally laughing. At the and large number of the crew booed and hissed in spite of the presence of the Admiral and Captain. There were two performances, and a very large number attended. I gathered that normally, 3 or so different films were shown each week and that a stock of 5 3 was carried on board. Officers and men attended the same performance.

19. The Artigliere.

This destroyer was originally named the "Black Shirt” or the Italian version of the word. It had had its named changed to its present form on the 29th July of this year.

20. The comments of the senior signal rating of the Liasion Party.
V/S equipment very poor, particularly lamps which were crude in type and of very low brilliance.
Skill of staff fairly high as regards practical work, but handicapped by the equipment and its arrangement.
The system of controlling signals was almost the same as our; signals being reported simultaneously to the Admiral and Captain.
There were a large number of Warrant officers and Senior rating who carried out all the practical work.
Signals were decoded by officers only, apparently a cumbersome system causing delays. Some R/T used, and it is apparently [missing text].

Memorandum



	© 1996-2007 REGIAMARINA (TM) - Terms and Conditions