Carlo Bergamini (admiral)
Encyclopedia
Carlo Bergamini was an Italian
admiral.
, Bergamini became a Guardiamarina (ensign) in 1908. He participated in the Italian-Turkish war as an officer on the armoured cruiser Vettor Pisani
. During World War I
, he was the chief of artillery on the cruiser Pisa. In 1918 he received a silver medal for his bravery during an operation off the coast of Albania
.
In the time between World War I
and World War II
, he rose to the rank of Ammiraglio di Divisione. In those years Bergamini was also the commander of the destroyer Giacinto Carini.
(known in Italy as the Battle of Cape Teulada) on board the battleship Vittorio Veneto
. After a brief time at the Italian high command he was again named commander of 9 Naval Division (flagship Vittorio Veneto) and then head of 5th Naval Division (flagship Caio Duilio
).
On 5 March 1943, he became head of Squadra Navale (the whole Italian fleet), replacing Admiral Angelo Iachino
.
In the early hours of 8 September 1943, the fleet was poised to oppose the Allied landing at Salerno
; later that evening, he was told of the Italian Armistice. He was ordered to reach Allied controlled Tunisia
and his fleet left La Spezia
, for the Italian controlled naval base at La Maddalena
.
On 9 September 1943, Bergamini received news that La Maddalena had fallen to the Germans. The fleet then headed for Tunisia
. Later that afternoon, Bergamini's fleet was attacked by a wing of German bombers near Porto Torres
. Bergamini's flagship Roma
did not open fire immediately, following orders from Pietro Badoglio
; when the ships opened fire it was clear that the German planes were staying out of range of the Italian anti-aircraft guns. Subsequently, Roma was hit by a Fritz X
guided bomb, a weapon unknown to the Italians at the time. Bergamini, the ship's captain and 1,350 other crew members were killed when the ship exploded and sank.
Bergamini was buried at sea near the island of Asinara
. The Italian frigate Carlo Bergamini, launched 1960, was named for him. The first of the Italian Marina Militare
FREMM multipurpose frigate
will also be named in his honor.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
admiral.
Early life
Born in San Felice sul PanaroSan Felice sul Panaro
San Felice sul Panaro is a comune in the Province of Modena in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 40 km northwest of Bologna and about 25 km northeast of Modena.-Characteristics:...
, Bergamini became a Guardiamarina (ensign) in 1908. He participated in the Italian-Turkish war as an officer on the armoured cruiser Vettor Pisani
Vettor Pisani
Vettor Pisani was a Venetian admiral.-Biography:He was in command of the Venetian fleet in 1378 during the war against the Genoese, whom he defeated off Capo d'Anzio; subsequently he recaptured Kotor, Šibenik and Rab, which had been seized by the Croatians and Hungarians, the allies of the Genoese...
. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he was the chief of artillery on the cruiser Pisa. In 1918 he received a silver medal for his bravery during an operation off the coast of Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
.
In the time between World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he rose to the rank of Ammiraglio di Divisione. In those years Bergamini was also the commander of the destroyer Giacinto Carini.
World War II
While Italy remained neutral, Bergamini headed the 4th and then the 9th Naval Division. He then became the Chief of Staff of the 1st Squadra Navale. He participated in the Battle of Cape SpartiventoBattle of Cape Spartivento
The Battle of Cape Spartivento, known as the Battle of Cape Teulada in Italy, was a naval battle during the Battle of the Mediterranean in the Second World War...
(known in Italy as the Battle of Cape Teulada) on board the battleship Vittorio Veneto
Italian battleship Vittorio Veneto
Vittorio Veneto was the lead ship of her class of battleships that served in the Regia Marina during World War II. She was named after the Italian victory at Vittorio Veneto, during World War I.-Construction:...
. After a brief time at the Italian high command he was again named commander of 9 Naval Division (flagship Vittorio Veneto) and then head of 5th Naval Division (flagship Caio Duilio
Italian battleship Caio Duilio
Caio Duilio was an Italian that served in the Regia Marina during World War I and World War II. She was named after the Roman fleet commander Gaius Duilius. Caio Duilio was laid down on 24 February 1912 and after a year and two months of construction, she was launched on 24 April 1913...
).
On 5 March 1943, he became head of Squadra Navale (the whole Italian fleet), replacing Admiral Angelo Iachino
Angelo Iachino
Angelo Iachino was an Italian admiral during World War II.-Early life and career:Born at Sanremo, Liguria, Iachino entered the Italian Naval Academy at Livorno in 1904, and graduated in 1907....
.
In the early hours of 8 September 1943, the fleet was poised to oppose the Allied landing at Salerno
Salerno
Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
; later that evening, he was told of the Italian Armistice. He was ordered to reach Allied controlled Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
and his fleet left La Spezia
La Spezia
La Spezia , at the head of the Gulf of La Spezia in the Liguria region of northern Italy, is the capital city of the province of La Spezia. Located between Genoa and Pisa on the Ligurian Sea, it is one of the main Italian military and commercial harbours and hosts one of Italy's biggest military...
, for the Italian controlled naval base at La Maddalena
La Maddalena
La Maddalena is a town and comune located on the island with the same name, in northern Sardinia, part of the province of Olbia-Tempio, Italy.-The town:...
.
On 9 September 1943, Bergamini received news that La Maddalena had fallen to the Germans. The fleet then headed for Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
. Later that afternoon, Bergamini's fleet was attacked by a wing of German bombers near Porto Torres
Porto Torres
Porto Torres is a comune and city in northern Sardinia, in the Province of Sassari.It is situated on the north coast about 25 km east of the Gorditanian promontory , and on the spacious bay of the Gulf of Asinara.-History:...
. Bergamini's flagship Roma
Italian battleship Roma (1940)
Roma, named after two previous ships and the city of Rome, was the fourth Vittorio Veneto-class battleship of Italy's Regia Marina...
did not open fire immediately, following orders from Pietro Badoglio
Pietro Badoglio
Pietro Badoglio, 1st Duke of Addis Abeba, 1st Marquess of Sabotino was an Italian soldier and politician...
; when the ships opened fire it was clear that the German planes were staying out of range of the Italian anti-aircraft guns. Subsequently, Roma was hit by a Fritz X
Fritz X
Fritz X was the most common name for a German guided anti-ship glide bomb used during World War II. Fritz X was a nickname used both by Allied and Luftwaffe personnel. Alternate names include Ruhrstahl SD 1400 X, Kramer X-1, PC 1400X or FX 1400...
guided bomb, a weapon unknown to the Italians at the time. Bergamini, the ship's captain and 1,350 other crew members were killed when the ship exploded and sank.
Bergamini was buried at sea near the island of Asinara
Asinara
Asinara is an Italian island of in area. The name is Italian for "donkey-inhabited", but it is thought to derive from the Latin "sinuaria", and meaning sinus-shaped. The island is virtually uninhabited. The census of population of 2001 lists one man. The island is located off the north-western...
. The Italian frigate Carlo Bergamini, launched 1960, was named for him. The first of the Italian Marina Militare
Marina Militare
The Italian Navy is the navy of the Italian Republic. It is one of the four branches of military forces of Italy; formed in 1946, from what remained of the Regia Marina . As of 2008, the Italian Navy had 35,200 active personnel with 180 commissioned ships, 19 Floating Docks, and 123 aircraft...
FREMM multipurpose frigate
FREMM multipurpose frigate
The FREMM Multipurpose Frigate is a ship designed by DCNS/Armaris and Fincantieri to operate in anti-air, anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare, and be capable of carrying out deep strikes against land targets.The French Navy plans to operate eleven FREMM frigates, and the Marina...
will also be named in his honor.