[1] Between 1911 and 1912 Sansonetti, a young sub-lieutenant, fought in the Italo-Turkish war; he led a company of sailors in the landing at Tripoli, earning a Bronze Medal of Military Valor.

Sansonetti left the command of the 3rd Cruiser Division in April 1941, and in July he became Deputy Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy.

[1] He played a major role in the planning of the Regia Marina's strategy in the following two years, especially in the convoy war for the supply of Axis forces in North African Campaign.

[1] When Italy signed an armistice with the Allies, on 8 September 1943, and Germany launched Operation Achse in order to occupy Italy and neutralized the Italian armed forces, Sansonetti remained at the naval headquarters in Rome (Supermarina) and assumed provisional command over the naval forces, while the Chief of Staff, Admiral Raffaele de Courten, followed Victor Emmanuel III in his escape towards Brindisi.

[1] On 25 September Sansonetti left Rome and headed south on foot; he crossed the frontline and reached Brindisi, where the king and the government had taken refuge, after a dangerous and eventful journey.