| Special Forces Operations in August 1940 |
| August 7th, 1940 – August 16th, 1940 |
| Reconnaissance Mission |
| Long Range Desert Group |
| Captain P.A. Clayton, with six New Zealanders, an Arab servant, Two Chevrolet WA 3O CWT 4 x 2. Their mission is a nine-day reconnaissance trip into Libya. They travel without a radio, sand mats or trays and armed with only two .303 Lewis machine guns. This sortie, combined with other intelligence sources, confirms the Italian lack of aggression, and enables General Wavell to advise London that the route of the reinforcement convoy carrying the 2nd and 7th Royal Tank Regiment to the Middle East could be altered to a longer, safer one. |
| 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. |