- Francesco Mimbelli
Francesco Mimbelli (16 April 1903
Livorno – 26 January 1978 inRome ) was an Italian Naval officer who fought inWorld War II .ervice
Crete
Mimbelli was a commander of a Torpedo boat destroyer flotilla which fought in the
Battle of Crete he was responsible for defending a convoy to Crete in the face of superior British forces. [ [http://www.regiamarina.net/engagements/lupo/lupo_us.htm Reference] ]Black Sea
He was also the commander of the Italian naval force based in the
Black Sea , where he commanded a force of MAS boats. The Italian flotilla was responsible for sinking two submarines and a transport ship. They also torpedoed the Soviet cruiser "Molotov" which was not repaired until after the end of the conflict. [ [http://www.regiamarina.it/blacksea.htm Reference 1] ] [ [http://www.comandosupremo.com/Blacksea.html Reference 2] ]Post War
In 1946 Mimbelli was appointed captain of the Cruiser Giuseppe Garibaldi, He was subsequently promoted to
Rear Admiral and became commander of the Italian Naval academy. He retired as aVice Admiral in 1964. [ [http://www.marina.difesa.it/storia/movm/Parte06/Bio06/MOVM6087b.htm Reference in Italian] ]Commemoration
In 1992 the new
Italian destroyer Francesco Mimbelli of the De la Penne class was named in his honour.Footnotes
References
* [http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/9226/heroes.html Heroes of the Italian Navy]
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