| Page Created |
| May 30th, 2022 |
| Last updated |
| June 2nd, 2022 |
| Additional Information |
| Decima Flottiglia Motoscafi Armati Siluranti Order of Battle Commanders Operations Equipment Multimedia References Interactive Page |
| Operations |
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| August 12th, 1940 – August 22nd, 1940 |
| Operazione Golfo di Alessandria 1 |
| 1° Flottiglia MAS |
| In July 1940, Admiral De Courten orders an operation against British naval forces, focusing on disrupting British dominance by targeting warships in Alexandria. The Italian 1° Flottiglia MAS prepares for this mission, deploying Siluro a Lenta Corsa, also known as slow-running torpedoes. The submarine Iride and the torpedo boat Calipso are tasked with transporting the equipment to the Gulf of Bomba. Due to the technical limitations of the Siluro a Lenta Corsa’s, Iride undergoes modifications, including external saddles to carry the torpedoes. Capitano di Vascello Mario Giorgini leads the mission, which involves four SLC teams along with a reserve unit. On August 22nd, 1940, while anchored in the Gulf of Bomba, Iride comes under attack by British Fairey Swordfish bombers from 824 Squadron. The submarine is hit and sinks in shallow waters, resulting in the death of 31 crew members. Tenente di Vascello Luigi Durand de la Penne leads a daring rescue operation, saving 15 survivors, including seven who are extracted from the wreckage through perilous diving efforts. The auxiliary ship Monte Gargano is also destroyed during the attack, but its crew survives, sustaining only minor injuries. Although the mission fails to achieve its objectives, it demonstrates the courage and determination of the Decima Flottiglia MAS. This operation serves as a catalyst for improvements in Siluro a Lenta Corsa technology and tactics. In response, British forces recognize the threat posed by these innovative craft and implement stronger harbor defenses and anti-sabotage measures. |
| September 21st, 1940 – September 30th, 1940 |
| Raid on Alexandria, Egypt. Submarine Gondar, with three Siluro a Lenta Corsa’s and four two-man crews. The ship is spotted by British and Australian destroyers. After a 12 hour attack it suffered heavy damage and is forced to the surface. Here the crew scuttled the submarine. The complete crew of the submarine and the troops of the Dexima Flottiglia MAS were captured. |
| September 24th, 1940 |
| Raid on Gibraltar. Submarine Sciré, with three Siluro a Lenta Corsa’s and four two-man crews. Raid was canceled when the fleet stationed there left the harbour. |
| October 21st, 1940 |
| Raid on Gibraltar. Submarine Sciré with three Siluro a Lenta Corsa’s and four two-man crews. The unit managed to enter the harbour. Two Siluro a Lenta Corsa’s were unable to attack any ships due to technical problems with the torpedoes and breathing equipment. Only one Siluro a Lenta Corsa managed to reach the battleship H.M.S. Barham. The charge exploded but did not cause significant damage. The two crewmen were captured by the British. The other four manage to escape to Spain and return to Italy. |
| March 25th, 1941 |
| Raid on Suda Bay, Crete. Destroyers Francesco Crispi and Quintino Sella, each carrying three Motoscafo da Turismo, Mocificato and their crew. Two MTM’s hit the H.M.S. York amidships. The ship was beached to prevent its loss but later scuttled by its crew. The Pericles was severely damaged and settled on the bottom. The ship sunk in april 1941. Another tanker and the cargo ship were also sunk. Two MTM’s missed their target. One of the missed targets was the Cruiser Coventry. All six of crew members survived but were captured. |
| May 25th, 1941 |
| Raid on Gibraltar. Submarine Sciré with threeSiluro a Lenta Corsa’s aboard. At Cadiz, Spain it embarked four two-man crews. At Gibraltar, they found no warships because the fleet had been ordered to hunt the German battleship Bismarck. The Siluro a Lenta Corsa’s again experienced technical problems as they tried to attack a freighter. The crew manage to escape to Italy via Spain. |
| May 25th, 1941 |
| Reconnaisance mission on the port of Valleta, Malta. |
| May 30th, 1941 |
| Raid on the post of Valetta, Malta. Operazione Malta. Aborted after a aircraft reconnaissance due to the lack of ships in the harbour. |
| June 26th, 1941 |
| Reconnaisance mission on the port of Valleta, Malta. |
| June 28th, 1941 |
| Raid on the post of Valetta, Malta. Operazione Malta. Aborted due oprational problems and motor failure of one of the vessels. |
| July 26th, 1941 |
| Raid on the port of Valletta, Malta. Operazione Malta Due. The raiding group consisted of the Aviso Diana, one Motoscafo Turismo Lento (MTL) with two Siluro a Lenta Corsa’s, two MAS boats, six Motoscafo Turismo (MTM’s) and one Motoscafo Turismo Silurante (MTS). The force was detected early on by a British radar installation, but the British coastal batteries held their fire until the Italians approached to close range. Fifteen crewmen were killed (including Commander Moccagatta), and eighteen captured. Only the Motoscafo Turismo Silurante (MTS) survived the raid. The other vessels was destroyed or captured by the British. |
| September 10th, 1941 |
| Raid on Gibraltar. Submarine Sciré with three Siluro a Lenta Corsa’s aboard. At Cadiz, Spain it embarked four two-man crews. The tankers Denbydale and Fiona Shell, and the cargo ship Durham. All six crewmen swam to Spain and returned to Italy. |
| December 3rd, 1941 – December 18th, 1941 |
| Raid on Alexandria, Egypt. Submarine Sciré with three SLC’s aboard. At the island of Leros in the Aegean Sea, it embarked three two-man crews. The unit entered the harbour and managed to sink the battleships H.M.S. Valiant, and H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth, the Norwegian tanker Sagona, and badly damaged the destroyer H.M.S. Jervis. All six crew members were captured. |
| April 29th, 1942 – May 14th, 1942 |
| Raid on Alexandria, Egypt. Submarine Ambra with three Siluro a Lenta Corsa’s aboard. At the island of Leros in the Aegean Sea, it embarked three two-man crews. They sank a British floating dock. The Ambra was spotted which caused the Siluro a Lenta Corsa crews to be captured before they could do furthermore damage. |
| June 1942 |
| During this period, the Xa Flotiiglia MAS set up a secret base within Villa Carmella in Spain. This base would be used for operations against Gibraltar. |
| June 13th, 1942 |
| Raid on Sevastopol. A military transport of the Soviet Union is sunk. |
| July 1942 |
| During this period, the Xa Flotiiglia MAS set up a secret Siluro a Lenta Corsa base within the merchant Ship Olterra. This ship was interned in the harbour at the of Algeciras near Gibraltar at the beginning of the war. For a while operations were limited since all materials had to be smuggled into the ship threw Spain. |
| July 13th, 1942 |
| Twelve men from Gruppo Gamma swam from Villa Carmella at the Spanish coast into Gibraltar harbour. Here they placed limpet mines on four merchant ships. The steamships Meta, Shuma and Baron Douglas are sunk. The steamship Empire Snipe is heavily damaged. All members return safely to Spain. |
| August 10th, 1942 |
| Raid on Haifa, Palestine. Submarine Sciré with three Siluro a Lenta Corsa’s aboard. While unloading the Siluro a Lenta Corsa’s the Scirè is hit by H.M.S. Islay with depth charges. The Scirè surfaces briefly before sinking during which time she was also shelled by No. 300 Coast Battery, Royal Artillery. |
| August 29th, 1942 |
| Raid on El Daba, Egypt. The destroyer H.M.S. Eridge was torpedoed at close range by an Motoscafo da Turismo Silurante Modificato (MTSM). The Eridge lost 6 crewmembers and was towed to Alexandria. There the ship was declared a constructive total loss. |
| December 4th, 1942 – December 12th, 1942 |
| Raid on the harbour of Algiers. Submarine Ambra with two Siluro a Lenta Corsa’s and ten crewmembers aboard. They were released to far from the harbour and attacked five ships outside the harbour. Sinking the steamships Ocean Vanquisher, Berta, and Armattan and the U.S.N. Military Transport N.59. They damaged the Tanker Empire Centaur. All crew members returned safely. |
| December 17th, 1942 |
| Raid on Gibraltar. Three Siluro a Lenta Corsa’s with three two-man crews left the Olterra to attack the British battleship, HMS Nelson, and the two aircraft carriers H.M.S. Formidable, and H.M.S. Furious in Gibraltar. The Siluro a Lenta Corsa’s were spotted, and a British patrol boat killed one Siluro a Lenta Corsa crew with a depth charge. Another British patrol boat spotted another Siluro a Lenta Corsa and captured its two crewmen. The remaining torpedo returned to the Olterra without its rear rider. |
| May 8th, 1943 |
| Raid on Gibraltar. Three Siluro a Lenta Corsa’s with three two-man crews leave the Olterra. They sink steamships Pat Harrison, Mahsud and Camerata. The Siluro a Lenta Corsa’s return safely to the Olterra. |
| June 30th, 1943 |
| Raid on Alexandria. Frogman sinks motorship Orion. |
| July 9th, 1943 |
| Raid on at Mersin, Turkey. Frogman sinks motorship Kaituna. |
| August 1st, 1943 |
| Raid at İskenderun, Turkey. Frogman sinks Norwegian cargo ship Fernplant. |
| August 3rd, 1943 |
| Raid on Gibraltar. Three Siluro a Lenta Corsa’s with three two-man crews leave the Olterra. They sink steamship Harrison Gray Otis and Stanridge and the tanker Thorshøvdi. All three Siluro a Lenta Corsa’s return to the Olterra. One of the crewmembers is captured. |