Giovanni Barbini
| Giovanni Barbini | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
25 June 1901 Venice, Veneto, Italy |
| Died | 26 September 1998 (aged 97) Rosignano Marittimo, Tuscany, Italy |
| Allegiance |
 Kingdom of Italy
|
| Service/branch |
 Regia Marina Marina Militare
|
| Years of service | 1922–1956 |
| Commands held |
|
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | |
Giovanni Barbini (June 25, 1901 – September 26, 1998) was an Italian naval officer during World War II.
Barbini was born in Venice on June 25, 1901. After graduating as a sea captain at the Nautical Institute of Venice in 1921, in 1922 he enlisted in the Italian Royal Navy to carry out his military service; in November 1922, after attending the reserve officer course, he became a midshipman. He was promoted to Ensign in June 1923; having decided to pursue a naval career, he remained in the Navy beyond his compulsory service time. In the following years he served on both surface vessels and submarines, as well as in shore assignments at the Northern Adriatic Naval Command, the San Bartolomeo Specialist School in La Spezia, the San Marco Regiment and the Pula Naval Command. He was promoted to Sub-Lieutenant in March 1927 and to Lieutenant in November 1936. On November 19, 1939 he assumed command of the torpedo boat Angelo Bassini, which he still commanded when Italy entered World War II on June 10, 1940.
Having been given command of the torpedo boat Nicola Fabrizi, on the night between November 11 and 12, 1940 Barbini was escorting a convoy in the Southern Adriatic, when the latter came under attack by four light cruisers and two destroyers under Vice Admiral Henry Pridham-Wippell. In the ensuing battle, while the escort leader in the auxiliary cruiser RAMB III whitdrew after firing a few shots, Barbini counterattacked twice with guns and torpedoes (that could not be fired due to the damage suffered), in an attempt to draw enemy fire on his ship and distract the British force from the merchant ships. Fabrizi was heavily damaged, and was ultimately unable to prevent the convoy's destruction; on fire and slowly sinking, the torpedo boat limped into Vlorë (Italian: Valona). Barbini had been seriously wounded at the beginning of the battle, but despite serious blood loss from a wounded leg, he refused medical aid until the fighting was over, and maintained command of his ship until it was safely moored in harbour. For his determined defense of the convoy in the face of a superior enemy, Barbini was awarded the Gold Medal of Military Valor.
...
Wikipedia