In 1921 he graduated in engineering in the Polytechnic University of Milan; he then commanded a torpedo boat squadron.[2] In 1926, after promotion to lieutenant commander, he served as the executive officer on the cruiser Libia, deployed to the Far East, and then he commanded the Italian Naval Detachment in Tientsin from May 1927 to May 1928.[1][2] Between 1928 and 1929, with the rank of commander, he was the commanding officer of the destroyersFrancesco Nullo and Turbine.[1] He was then assigned for some time to the Naval Arms and Armaments Office in the Ministry of the Navy; in 1934 he attended the Naval Warfare Institute.[2] In 1935-1936 he participated in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, in command of the light cruiser Taranto.[1][2]
After a period as the commander of the Assab Naval Command, Gasparri was promoted to captain and repatriated; he was assigned for a period to the Taranto Naval Base.[1][2] Between 1937 and 1938 he commanded the 1st Destroyer Squadron, and from June 1938 to January 1940 he served as the commanding officer of the battleship Conte di Cavour.[1][2]
World War IIedit
When Italy entered World War II, Gasparri was serving as the head of the artillery service in the Naval Arms and Armaments Inspectorate, a role that he kept after his promotion to rear admiral in July 1941.[1][2] He was then given command of the Fleet Destroyer Group, and in this role he participated in a number of escort missions (escorting both supply convoys to North Africa and capital ships), receiving another Silver Medal of Military Valor.[1][2]
On 3 January 1943 he was promoted to vice admiral.[1][2] On 28 March 1943 Gasparri was in Naples for an inspection when the motorshipCaterina Costa, moored in the harbour and laden with fuel and ammunition, caught fire for unclear reasons.[1] Gasparri took the initiative to distance some barges laden with ammunitions from the blazing ship, in order to avoid a worse disaster in case of an explosion, but Caterina Costa blew up while this attempt, personally directed by Gasparri, was still underway.[1][2] He was killed in the explosion along with some 600 people, whereas about 3,000 were wounded; he was posthumously awarded the Gold Medal of Military Valor.[1]
lorenzo, gasparri, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, december. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Lorenzo Gasparri news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2016 Learn how and when to remove this message Lorenzo Gasparri 25 April 1894 28 March 1943 was an Italian admiral during World War II Lorenzo GasparriBorn 1894 04 25 25 April 1894Naples Campania ItalyDied28 March 1943 1943 03 28 aged 48 Naples Campania ItalyAllegiance Kingdom of ItalyService wbr branch Regia MarinaYears of service1912 1943RankAmmiraglio di Divisione Vice Admiral Commands heldItalian Naval Detachment in Tientsin Francesco Nullo destroyer Turbine destroyer Taranto light cruiser Assab Naval Base 1st Destroyer Squadron Conte di Cavour battleship Fleet Destroyer GroupBattles warsWorld War I Adriatic Campaign Battle of Durazzo 1918 Second Italo Ethiopian War World War II Battle of the MediterraneanAwardsGold Medal of Military Valor posthumous Silver Medal of Military Valor twice Early life and career editGasparri was born in Naples in 1894 and was admitted to the Livorno Naval Academy in February 1912 1 2 After graduating as an ensign in 1914 he was promoted to sub lieutenant in 1915 and he participated in World War I on board the battleships Vittorio Emanuele and Roma the protected cruiser Libia and the armoured cruiser San Giorgio 1 2 By 1918 he was a lieutenant and the fire control officer on San Giorgio as such he took part in the Battle of Durazzo where he received a Silver Medal of Military Valor 1 2 At the end of the war he participated in the occupation of parts of the eastern Adriatic coast by Italian forces 1 In 1921 he graduated in engineering in the Polytechnic University of Milan he then commanded a torpedo boat squadron 2 In 1926 after promotion to lieutenant commander he served as the executive officer on the cruiser Libia deployed to the Far East and then he commanded the Italian Naval Detachment in Tientsin from May 1927 to May 1928 1 2 Between 1928 and 1929 with the rank of commander he was the commanding officer of the destroyers Francesco Nullo and Turbine 1 He was then assigned for some time to the Naval Arms and Armaments Office in the Ministry of the Navy in 1934 he attended the Naval Warfare Institute 2 In 1935 1936 he participated in the Second Italo Ethiopian War in command of the light cruiser Taranto 1 2 After a period as the commander of the Assab Naval Command Gasparri was promoted to captain and repatriated he was assigned for a period to the Taranto Naval Base 1 2 Between 1937 and 1938 he commanded the 1st Destroyer Squadron and from June 1938 to January 1940 he served as the commanding officer of the battleship Conte di Cavour 1 2 World War II editWhen Italy entered World War II Gasparri was serving as the head of the artillery service in the Naval Arms and Armaments Inspectorate a role that he kept after his promotion to rear admiral in July 1941 1 2 He was then given command of the Fleet Destroyer Group and in this role he participated in a number of escort missions escorting both supply convoys to North Africa and capital ships receiving another Silver Medal of Military Valor 1 2 On 3 January 1943 he was promoted to vice admiral 1 2 On 28 March 1943 Gasparri was in Naples for an inspection when the motorship Caterina Costa moored in the harbour and laden with fuel and ammunition caught fire for unclear reasons 1 Gasparri took the initiative to distance some barges laden with ammunitions from the blazing ship in order to avoid a worse disaster in case of an explosion but Caterina Costa blew up while this attempt personally directed by Gasparri was still underway 1 2 He was killed in the explosion along with some 600 people whereas about 3 000 were wounded he was posthumously awarded the Gold Medal of Military Valor 1 Notes edit a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Dizionario Biografico Uomini della Marina a b c d e f g h i j k l m Lorenzo Gasparri Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lorenzo Gasparri amp oldid 1221991867, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
