This was already answered directly but I include it for the benefit of the forum members and my answer to Jordi back in 2012 was incomplete:

Hello Bertram,

The only details I can add is that the convoy [SALPI, NIRVO and ALBISOLA escorted by the auxiliary LOREDAN] sailed from Civitavecchia at 1130 on 8 February 1942 for Cagliari. At the time, SALPI was believed to have been torpedoed by a submarine off Cape Ferraro at 1538/9 but there were none in the vicinity. The most likely explanation was that she ran in a minefield (probably the one laid by HMS RORQUAL on 20.10.1941). I do not have any photo of this ship [I see that you have contacted Francesco De Domenico who would be a good source]. She had a civilian crew of 22 with 11 military, so possibly the latter were either passengers or perhaps manning anti-aircraft guns but her name does not show up on a list of armament fitted to Italian merchant ships and auxiliaries. Perhaps the list is wrong or not updated.
I would suggest to check her file at the Ufficio Storico as you will find at least some info on her armament if any (the file will not have any photograph but perhaps one can be found at the fototeca in the same building). After her sinking, LOREDAN picked up nine survivors (two of them wounded) and one corpse, another twenty reached the coast in a boat, so that in all four men were lost. The weather was very rough on this day so only the hospital ship SORRENTO could look for survivors and small vessels could not join the search. The remaining ships of the convoy reached Cagliari at 2250/9

Best regards,

Platon