The torpedoing of the Greek Cruiser»Elli»,15 Aug 1940

On the eve of the Feast of the Virgin Mary in 1940, the Italian submarine «Delfino» torpedoes and sinks the Greek cruiser «Elli» in the port of Tinos…

In August 1940, World War II was about to complete one year. Greece, ruled by Ioannis Metaxas, may have maintained a neutral stance, but it was obvious that it was on the side of England, which at the time was being severely tested by Luftwaffe air attacks. Fascist Italy, an ally of Nazi Germany, with its powerful fleet claimed primacy in the Mediterranean Seas from Great Britain.

The order to torpedo the «Helli», a light cruiser («airship» in interwar parlance), was given by the Italian commander of the Dodecanese, Cesare Maria De Vecchi, a leading figure in the Fascist Party of Italy who must have been aware of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. The Italian submarine Delfino,» commanded by Lieutenant Commander (Giuseppe Aicardi) departed from the naval base in Partheni, Leros, on the evening of August 14, with the mission to attack enemy ships in Tinos, Syros and then block the Corinth Canal.

In the morning hours of August 15, the Italian submarine was found outside the port of Tinos «under diving», with the intention of torpedoing the passenger ships «Elsi» and «Esperos», which were carrying pilgrims, but the Italians considered them warships and therefore hostile. From the periscope, Aicardi saw a warship arrive at the port and did not let the opportunity go to waste, as he declared after the war. It was about the cruiser «Elli», which was sailing to Tinos for the festivities of Megalochari.

At 8.25 am, a short time before the procession of the image of the Virgin and while there were many people on the beach, the «Delfino» hit the Greek warship with three torpedoes. The single torpedo found its target, but critically hit the Greek ship in the engine room and oil tanks. An hour later, the «Elli» sank, despite the efforts of the crew to keep it afloat. The other two torpedoes missed and exploded on the quayside. The Delfino’s attack killed one petty officer and eight sailors from the Elli, while 24 were injured. A woman, who was on the beach, died of a heart attack after the second torpedo exploded on the quayside.

After carrying out its mission, the «Delphino» was removed without its identity being known. After a few hours, he sailed to Syros, but was immediately idle, as there was no ship in the port of the island. The «Delfino» hastily returned to Leros by order of the Italian authorities, canceling its mission to Corinth. The operation does not appear to have been known to the political authorities in Rome (except perhaps Mussolini). The foreign minister, Galeazzo Ciano, wrote in his memoirs that the sinking of the Greek ship was due to De Vecchi’s audacity.

The Metaxas government kept the conclusion of the investigation absolutely secret, so as not to provoke Italy and disturb the neutrality of Greece. Finally, it was made public on October 30, 1940, two days after the Italian attack on Greece. Nevertheless, from the first moment, the Greek public had no doubts about the nationality of the submarine.

The Italians kept a fishy silence about their responsibility for the torpedoing. In fact, they authorized their naval attaché in Athens to convey their condolences to the Greek government, assuring that no Italian submarine was in the central Aegean at that time.

The Italian press, government-controlled since 1927, tried to mislead public sentiment by initially spreading the idea that it was a British provocation to drag Greece into war as in 1916. They even used the case of Lord Kitchener’s death in 1916 to show that the British political leadership adopts Machiavellian methods to achieve its goals. They even peddled the blatant lie that a British submarine sank the Elli because the government had not repaid it, despite the fact that the liner was American-built and Great Britain had nothing to do with it. Finally, they instigated the issue of Chamouria in Albania on the occasion of the death of an Albanian bandit, whom they presented as a patriot who murdered the Greek regime, in an attempt to turn the hostile climate against them, but in vain. Both in Greece and abroad, the common belief is that the Italians are the perpetrators of the torpedoing.

On the same day of the torpedoing, two Italian planes attacked the steamer «Frido» off Bali, Crete, seven miles east of Panormos and only two miles off the coast. The bombers’ bombs missed but exploded so close that they shattered all the glass on board.

In 1950, as part of war reparations, Italy granted Greece the light cruiser «Eugenio Di Savoia», which was renamed «Elli» in June 1951 and raised the Greek flag. In the mid-1950s, the wreck of «Elli» was partially raised and sold for scrap metal. In 1985, Greek divers discovered at the bottom of Tinos the remains of the Italian torpedo that sank the «Elli». The find is exhibited at the Piraeus Maritime Museum.

The chronicle of the torpedoing of Hellas on August 15, 1940
August 1, 1940: In view of the frequent heated incidents caused by the Italians, there is concern and intense consideration as to whether a warship should be sent to Megalochari, Tinos for the celebration of the Fifteenth of August.

August 9, 1940: Not sending a warship to pay the customary honors would be perceived as weakness and fear would strike popular sentiment. It is therefore decided by the General Staff of the Navy that the cruiser «Elli» will sail to Tinos and will normally participate in the celebration of Megalochari. At the same time, the competent officers are given instructions for strict security measures.

August 14, 1940, evening: Thousands of believers have gathered in the decorated Chora of Tinos, in the illuminated Holy Church of Evangelistria an all-night service is held, the last preparations for the Festival are completed.

August 15, 1940, 01.00: The «Elli» departs from the port of Milos where it is anchored on its way to Tinos, where it is expected to arrive at dawn. The crew is on constant alert and the Governor remains on the bridge throughout the voyage.

August 15, 1940, 06.25 The cruiser arrives at Tinos and anchors 550 meters outside the green lighthouse of the jetty, since the depth of the harbor did not allow further approach. The position in which he is forced to be is precarious and all possible security measures are taken (tightly closed, ready for immediate departure, anti-aircraft on standby, etc.).

15 August 1940, 06.45: Concerns confirmed. A fighter aircraft, of the «Gans» type, without national insignia flies over the area. «Elli» anti-aircraft monitors his movements. The order is clear: not to open fire unless attacked.

15 August 1940, 08.00: The episode has ended. The preparations of the prayer appointed to accompany the Holy Icon in the litany are completed. The Greek flag is raised. The Agima on deck inspection time is moved to 08:45 instead of the originally scheduled 08:30 (a decision that will prove to be a lifesaver). According to the schedule, the ceremony is scheduled to take place at 10:30.

In the meantime, the Divine Liturgy is being celebrated in the Holy Church of Evangelistria (which will not be interrupted even afterwards), a festive atmosphere prevails, the litany is being prepared and over 10,000 believers have flooded the church and the port.

15 August 1940, 08.25: Loud explosion followed by loud roar, cruiser vibrates from bow to stern. The alarm is blocked and never goes off. The Governor in his cabin initially thinks it is an internal explosion. It is quickly established that Elli has been hit by a torpedo in the middle of her starboard section, under the boiler room which exploded. By luck, the same does not happen in the nearby ammunition depot, a possibility that would have disastrous consequences for the whole of Tinos.

15th August 1940, 08.35: Two new torpedoes, probably initially aimed at the anchored and crowded steamers «Elsis» and «Esperos», hit the reef and the jetty. There is pandemonium at the port. The gathered crowds run to the northern part of the city for cover.
The cruiser has heeled 10–15 degrees. Water constantly enters from its right reefs. A breach has been created in the deck by the explosion. Equipment failures follow one another. Engineers in the boiler room find instant death, crew members are trapped, doors are warped and won’t open, electrical and mechanical parts don’t work.

The Governor requests a tow from the passenger ships in the port, but they must first empty the people. As time goes by, the gradient grows. For towing, it is necessary to haul up the anchor, which is not possible since there is no steam. The time-consuming effort to mechanically break the chain begins.
Injured crew members have been thrown overboard and are being picked up by boats and private vessels. The Governor and the crew make every effort to save «Elli». The first attempt to tow from a gas tank is fruitless.

15 August 1940, 09.10: «Esperos» approaches for towing. The governor judges that, given the slope, the venture is extremely dangerous. He gives the order to abandon ship. On the deck of the sinking ship, officers and crew, before abandoning, in attention stance, shout: «Long live HELLAS» and Captain Hatzopoulos bids farewell to the crew, determined to follow Helli to her wet grave. He is finally saved by Yparchos (first mate) who takes him away by force.

15th August 1940, 10.20: After the failed attempt of «Esperus» to tow it, the cruiser Elli is lost at the bottom of the Aegean Sea.

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