Italian MZ at Port Mahon

[kgvm]

According to the Chronik des Seekrieges in the Italian group interned at Post Mahon in September 1943 were three MZ:
"MZ 85", "MZ 780" and "MZ 800". The group left Port Mahon for Malta 15.01.1945:
http://www.wlb-stuttgart.de/seekrieg/45-01.htm
But there exists no "MZ 85". Has anybody the correct number of this boat and can confirm that "MZ 800" was at Port Mahon, too? If so, she cannot be identical with the German "F 800".

[Peter K.]

Nach Tullio MARCON liesen sich MZ-778 und MZ-780 in Port Mahon internieren, MZ-742 und MZ-800 (letztere nach einem kurzen Zwischenstopp auf den Balearen) in Barcelona.
Im Jänner 1945 liefen MZ-778, MZ-780 und MZ-800 gemeinsam aus Port Mahon aus.

siehe auch hier

[kgvm]

Thanks, Peter, even if we now have another mystery:
"MZ 742" is said to have been lost 27.09.1943 off Salerno:
http://www.historisches-marinearchiv.de/projekte/landungsfahrzeuge/marinefaehrprahm/ausgabe.php?where_value=1227

02.06.2013:
Link korrigiert.
t-geronimo

[de domenico]

Yes, Klaus Guenther, she was among the MZs which sailed from Viareggio and Bocche di Magra in the morning of Sept. 9 southbound. She stayed for a time at Capraia island, near Elba, then sailed south. She was in use by the Allies when lost on Sept. 27 due to press of weather carrying cargo between Capri and the Salerno beaches. I'll have more deails soon.

[de domenico]

Now then: MZ 778 & 800 sailed from Marina di Carrara (not Viareggio) early on Sept. 9, while MZ 742 & 780 did the same from Bocche di Magra nearby; in all, eight MZs sailed and formed two southbound convoys. The faster one (three MZs) was intercepted by BRANDENBURG and POMMERN at mid-morning off the Secche della Meloria and diverted to Leghorn, while the slower one (five MZs), following a less coastwise route, reached Capraia island, just north of Portoferraio, Elba island, late on Sept. 9.  They made a short trip to Portoferraio and back (11/12 Sept.), hoping to join the other Italian naval forces there, but were discouraged by the confused situation found at the base. Then they went different ways.
MZ 742 was briefly grounded on Sept. 12 with the intention of abandoning her, but refloated the next day and went south by slow steps via Montecristo, Ponza and Ventotene islands to Capri, in Allied hands, which she reached on Sept. 25. She foundered in bad weather however on Sept. 27 in the Gulf of Salerno due to overloading.
MZ 778 & 800 sailed together from Capraia late on Sept. 12 for Menorca, from where they diverted to Barcelona for internment (Sept. 15).
MZ 780 sailed alone from Capraia on Sept. 14, reaching Mallorca on Sept. 16 where she joined other Italian warships (ATTILIO REGOLO etc.) interned there.
MZ 781 was abandoned at Capraia with a steering failure; she was recovered after the Allied occupation of the island (June-July 1944).
The two MZs at Barcelona were released by the Spanish authorities and sailed on 16 Jan. 1945, MZ 780 from Mallorca on 17 Jan. 1945. All three went to Algiers (19 Jan.) and from there to Taranto (23 Jan. 1945).
Sources: Tullio Marcon "I muli del mare" and Giuliano Marenco "Le navi da guerra italiane internate alle Baleari dopo l'8 settembre".

[Darius]

Hallo kgvm,

nur damit die Themen "verlinkt" bleiben:
http://forum-marinearchiv.de/smf/index.php/topic,9262.0.html




Darius

[Darius]

Hallo zusammen,

die MZ-Datensätze sind aktualisiert.



Darius