Italian built Persian warships underway towards Persia in September-October 1932

Persian gunboat/sloop Babr 1930. Postcard Chocolate La Estrella

British heavy cruiser HMS Hawkins©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

The Political Agency&H.B.M.’s Consulate, Muscat [captain R.G. Alban] wrote on 26 September 1932 to the Council of Regency, Muscat State that the Persian warships were underway from Europe to the Persian Gulf and would visit Muscat between ‘now’ and Muscat. In case of bad weather they would put in at Murbat or Masirah island.

The Persian minister for Foreign Affairs informed on 31 August 1932 the British Legation that the Persian warships would leave Naples, Italy on 15 September 1932 bound for Mohammerah [Khorramshahr] and planned to visit underway Corfu, Corinth, Aden, Mabella, Merbate, Nasura and Muscat. By bad weather the could seek shelter at Maballa, Merbate and Masira.

The British Resident at Bushire informed the British Political at Muscat in a telegram dated 5 October 1938 that the commanding officers were lieutenant commanders, the remainder lieutenants all serving in the Italian navy. On 13 October he sent by telegram the names of the Italian officers. Senior officer was major Bayendor, commanding officers lieutenant commanders Giorgio and Patalano and lieutenants Campagnoli, Roccano and Casciole Duscaglia. The British Shoreham-class sloop HMS Fowey would meet them at Muscat.

The British minister at Teheran informed the political resident at Bushire on 7 October that according to the contract the Italian officers were to deliver the ships to the Persian government and stayed in Persia one month afterwards. He spoke about around 20 officers and 30 petty officers. If the Persian government wanted to engage officers or petty officers for a longer service than just for technical capacities and to be dressed in Persian uniforms.

When the British cruiser HMS Hawkins visited Abadan in December 1932-January 1933 there were just three Italian officers left in the Persian Navy. Lieutenants Bucconi and Campagnoli were instituting the Persian Naval Training Establishment for ratings at Mohammerah. Major Dezan of the Italian Naval Corps of Constructors was establishing the naval base at Mohammerah. All were dressed in plain clothes in respect for the Persian wish ‘that they should appear to be running their own navy, and are unlikely to serve afloat.”

Source

Quatar Digital Library. File 9/21. British consulate Muscat.