From Zvonimir Freivogel & Achille Rastelli, "Adriatic Naval War 1940-1945", Despot Infinitus, Zagreb, 2015:

"In the evening of 23 September the first convoy from Italy reached Split to evacuate imprisoned Italian soldiers, including the steamers DIOCLEZIANO (former Yugoslav IVO MATKOVIC), BORSINI (ex SRBIN), CORFU (ex KUMANOVO), PERSANI and RISAGNO (ex SITNICA), escorted by the torpedo boat ARETUSA and the corvette CHIMERA."

(...)

"Italian prisoners were embarked on [the] other five steamers [STON sailed with convoy from Bari but went to Sutivan on Brac instead of embarking Italian refugees at Split] during the night of 23/24 September and the convoy left Split for Italy, but was attacked in the morning near Vis by German bombers. BORSINI suffered lighter damages, but the heavily damaged DIOCLEZIANO was to be stranded on Bisevo to prevent her sinking. The corvette CHIMERA was damaged too, but she rescued survivors from DIOCLEZIANO, assisted by the tug CAPODISTRIA and by three motor sailing coasters arriving from Italy with another convoy coming to evacuate the personnel from Lastovo."
(...)
"During these operations, in addition to the DIOCLEZIANO German aircraft sank the freighters DUBAC and POTESTAS (5084 grt) that was bringing refugees fronm the Albanian harbour of Sarande to Brindisi. "



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/28/2019 03:10AM by de domenico.