Sicily, 4ª Pattuglia, 112ª Nuotatori Compagnia, X Arditi Reggimento

Allied Forces

• Allied Landing forces on Sicily

Axis Forces

• X Arditi Reggimento
  • 112ª Nuotatori Compagnia
    • 4ª Pattuglia

Operation

In May 1943, with an Anglo-American landing seeming imminent, the II Battalion deploys to Sicily and stations itself in Acireale. The 111ª Paracadutisti Compagnia sets up in the town centre (Villa Comunale), while the 112ª Nuotatori Compagnia takes position in Santa Maria La Scala on the coast, and the 120ª Compagnia Speciale occupies nearby Capo Mulini, also by the sea.

At the close of July, as what Montgomery will later describe as “the hardest battle in Sicily” rages between the Simeto River and Fossato Buttaceto near Catania, the Germans ask the Arditi to launch a demonstrative action behind British lines. The objective is to strike Allied ammunition and fuel depots so that the resulting explosions might spread confusion among the Anglo-American forces and reduce pressure on Catania. Indeed, the British advance soon settles into simply waiting for the Italian-German withdrawal.

For this mission, they select the 4ª Pattuglia of 112ª Nuotatori Compagnia, led by Lieutenant Cesare Artoni, a native of Augusta who knows the area intimately. Artoni, 33 years old and the son of an Army officer, previously serves in the Spanish Civil War as a machine-gun platoon commander. During that conflict, a bullet passes through his chest, continues into one of his men’s legs, and yet he refuses treatment, insisting the fight go on. He earns a Bronze Medal for Military Valour for his conduct. At the outbreak of war, he is recalled to service, becomes a Lieutenant, and oversees defensive works at Pachino with the 243° Battaglione Costiero, which bears the brunt of the Allied landings. Bored with fortifications, he volunteers for the new Arditi force.

On the evening of July 30^th, 1943, Artoni’s patrol of ten Arditi Nuotatori departs Giardini (Giardini Naxos – Albergo Nazarò) aboard three Regia Marina assault craft, escorted by three motor torpedo boats under the command of Capitano di Vascello Lenzi. They reach the coast south of Brucoli, near Capo Campolato, and transfer into two inflatable dinghies under cover of darkness. The current, however, carries them off course, causing one dinghy to crash into rocks. Although they manage to save some equipment, the other dinghy drifts away on the tide along with three carrier pigeons intended for communication. Now stranded, drenched, and lacking an exit route, they seek refuge in a nearby cave, only to discover it filled with evacuees from Augusta. Mistaking the Arditi for stragglers, these civilians provide vital details about local British positions and the safest routes ahead.

Marching in good order, the Arditi pass directly beneath the nose of a British camp, an anti-aircraft battery, and then extensive Allied depots of ammunition and fuel. Darkness disguises them, and the British briefly mistake them for their own troops, an error not uncommon in the confusion of war. Artoni memorises the targets and continues another five kilometres to his family home in Contrada Celona, where his relatives hide the patrol in a shed for the day. He, in civilian clothing, gathers information on British deployments and solves the matter of escaping by acquiring a boat.

Shortly before 22:00 on July 31^st, 1943, the Arditi position themselves near the outer perimeter of the enemy camp. Lieutenant Artoni makes a final inspection of his men’s gear, then divides the patrol into three teams and signals the attack. All three groups infiltrate the camp undetected, bypass the sentries, and deploy their explosives as planned.

Once the charges are set, the men head for the predetermined rendezvous and move towards the coast to begin their withdrawal. They all make it for the agreed rendezvous at the boat, but discover there are no oars. Time is short: midnight has passed, and the explosives are due to detonate imminently. Tearing planks from the boat’s benches, they improvise paddles. The boat, however, is old and takes on water, forcing them to bail as they row away. Around 01:30, while heading out to sea towards Catania, they see and hear a powerful explosion ashore, proof the sabotage has succeeded.

They spend the night rowing, but by 08:00 on August 1^st, 1943, they have only reached the mouth of the Simeto River. Stripping off their uniforms, they hope British aircraft will mistake them for fishermen. A strong headwind drives them backwards, and British outposts spot them, launching mortar fire. Forced to abandon the boat, they scatter in the water as another plane appears and fires from above. Artoni orders each man to swim individually for the Italian lines, drawing on their arduous months of physical training. They eventually reach the 372° Battaglione Costiero, whose astonished troops see them staggering ashore after hours in the water. Just as he makes land, an exhausted Artoni is struck in the head by a mortar fragment and later transferred, wounded, to Santa Maria La Scala.

Despite the modest material damage to Montgomery’s vast resources, the raid has the psychological impact of a deft blow from a mere “gnat” against an “elephant,” forcing the British to pause their pursuit and await an Axis withdrawal from Catania. On August 13^th, 1943, the battalion crosses into Calabria and moves on to Rome.

The General Staff recognises the achievement of the raid by bestowing two Silver Medals on Lieutenant Artoni and the patrol’s deputy commander, Sergeant Salvatore De Filippo. The eight other Arditi involved each receive a Bronze Medal. General Alfredo Guzzoni, commanding the “Armed Forces Command of Sicily” and overseeing both Italian and German units on the island, also grants all participants a ten-day special leave in acknowledgment of their valour.

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