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Italian Commando Frogmen
COMSUBIN (''Comando Raggruppamento Subacquei e Incursori "Teseo Tesei"''; Divers and Raiders Group Command "Teseo Tesei") is the Italian Navy's special operations unit. Italy was the first nation to use frogmen and human torpedoes. The Royal Italian Navy's Naval Assault Divisions are considered to be the precursor of modern Naval Special Forces. Their record can be traced back to World War I and the operation against the Austrian-Hungarian Battleship ''Viribus Unitis'' in Pula Harbour in 1918. In World War II, famous operations include Suda Bay, Alexandria, Gibraltar, and Malta. Italy's frogman group originated in 1938 as the ''1a Flottiglia Mezzi d'Assalto'' (1st Flotilla Assault Vehicles), which was reformed in 1940 as the ''Decima Flottiglia MAS'' (10th Flotilla Assault Vehicles, ''X MAS''). Chronology :''See Operations of X MAS for Italian wartime frogman operations.'' After World War II ended, the victors forbade Italy from maintaining special operations personnel. The ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Special Forces
Special forces and special operations forces (SOF) are military units trained to conduct special operations. NATO has defined special operations as "military activities conducted by specially designated, organized, selected, trained and equipped forces using unconventional techniques and modes of employment". Special forces emerged in the early 20th century, with a significant growth in the field during the Second World War, when "every major army involved in the fighting" created formations devoted to special operations behind enemy lines. Depending on the country, special forces may perform functions including airborne operations, counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism, foreign internal defense, covert ops, direct action, hostage rescue, high-value targets/manhunt, intelligence operations, mobility operations, and unconventional warfare. In Russian-speaking countries, special forces of any country are typically called , an acronym for "special purpose". In the United State ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Luigi Faggioni
Luigi Faggioni (9 November 1909 – 23 May 1991) was an Italian naval officer during World War II, and an admiral in the postwar Marina Militare. Biography Faggioni was born in La Spezia in 1909. After graduating from the Nautical Institute of Camogli (Genoa), in August 1928 he began the course as a reserve officer in the Italian Navy, and in October 1929 he graduated as an ensign. He served for some time on torpedo boats and destroyers, and in 1931, after promotion to sub-lieutenant, he became a teacher in the C.R.E.M. ('' Corpo Regi Equipaggi Marittimi'', Corps of Royal Naval Crews) schools. In 1935 he was mobilized due to the needs associated with the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, and was assigned on the destroyer ''Zeffiro''. In 1937 he became lieutenant and was given command of MAS boats; in June 1939, after becoming aide to Prince Eugenio of Savoy, he organized an expedition in the East African lowland, earning a commendation for his organizational capacity. In June 1940, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
North Atlantic Council
The North Atlantic Council (NAC) is the principal political decision-making body of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), consisting of permanent representatives of its member countries. It was established by Article 9 of the North Atlantic Treaty, and it is the only body in NATO that derives its authority explicitly from the treaty. Powers and duties The North Atlantic Treaty gave the NAC the power to set up subsidiary bodies for various policy functions, including a defense committee to implement other parts of the treaty. Since 1952, the NAC has been in permanent session. The NAC can be held at the Permanent Representative Level (PermReps), or can be composed of member states' Ministers of State, Defense, or Heads of Government. The NAC has the same powers regardless of the formation under which it meets. The NAC meets twice a week: every Tuesday, for an informal lunch discussion; and every Wednesday for a decision-taking session. Usually, meetings occur amongst t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Marina Militare
"Fatherland and Honour" , patron = , colors = , colors_label = , march = ( is the return of soldiers to their barrack, or sailors to their ship after a leave) by Tommaso Mario , mascot = , equipment = , equipment_label = , battles = , anniversaries = 10 June – Sinking of the Austro-Hungarian battleship ''SMS Szent István'' by Luigi Rizzo , decorations = 1 Cavalier Cross of the Military Order of Savoy 3 Cavalier's Crosses of the Military Order of Italy 2 Gold Medals of Military Valor 1 Silver Medal of Military Valor 1 Gold Medal for Merited Public Honor , battle_honours = , commander1 = ammiraglio di squadra Enrico Credendino , commander1_label = Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy , commander2 = ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Decima Flottiglia MAS
The ''Decima Flottiglia MAS'' (''Decima Flottiglia Motoscafi Armati Siluranti'', also known as ''La Decima'' or Xª MAS) (Italian for "10th Assault Vehicle Flotilla") was an Italian flotilla, with commando frogman unit, of the ''Regia Marina'' (Italian Royal Navy) created during the Fascist regime. The acronym '' MAS'' also refers to various light torpedo boats used by the Regia Marina during World War I and World War II. Decima MAS was active during the Battle of the Mediterranean and took part in a number of daring raids on Allied shipping. These operations involved surface speedboats (such as the raid on Souda Bay), manned torpedoes (the raid on Alexandria) and ''Gamma'' frogmen (against Gibraltar). During the campaign Decima MAS took part in more than a dozen operations which sank or damaged five warships (totalling 72,000 tons) and 20 merchant ships (totalling 130,000 GRT). In 1943, after the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was ousted, Italy left the Tripartite Pac ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Raid On Alexandria (1941)
The Raid on Alexandria was carried out on 19 December 1941 by Italian Navy divers of the Decima Flottiglia MAS, who attacked and disabled two Royal Navy battleships in the harbour of Alexandria, Egypt, using manned torpedoes. Background On 3 December, the submarine of the Italian Royal Navy (''Regia Marina'') under the command of lieutenant Junio Valerio Borghese left the naval base of La Spezia carrying three manned torpedoes, nicknamed ''maiali'' (pigs) by the Italians. At the island of Leros in the Aegean Sea, the submarine secretly picked up six crewmen for them: Luigi Durand de la Penne and Emilio Bianchi ( ''maiale'' nº 221), Vincenzo Martellotta and Mario Marino (''maiale'' nº 222), and Antonio Marceglia and Spartaco Schergat (''maiale'' nº 223). Raid On 19 December, ''Scirè''—at a depth of —released the manned torpedoes from Alexandria commercial harbour, and they entered the naval base when the British opened their defenses to let three of their destroyers ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Raid On Souda Bay
The Raid on Souda Bay was an assault by Regia Marina, Italian Royal Navy explosive boats on Souda Bay, Crete, during the first hours of 26 March 1941. The motor boats were launched by the destroyers and on the approaches to the bay. After negotiating the Boom (navigational barrier), boom defences, the small craft attacked the Royal Navy heavy cruiser and the German occupation of Norway, Norwegian tanker ''Pericles''. The Allied vessels were both sunk in shallow waters by the explosive charges and eventually lost. Background Souda is a naturally protected harbour on the northwest coast of the island. It had been chosen as a target by the months before because of the almost continuous Allied naval activity there., page 77 Air reconnaissance had spotted a number of naval and auxiliary steamers at anchor in Souda Bay, Crete. On 25 March 1941, the Italian destroyers ''Francesco Crispi'' and ''Quintino Sella'' departed from Leros island in the Aegean Sea, Aegean at night, each on ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pula
Pula (; also known as Pola, it, Pola , hu, Pòla, Venetian language, Venetian; ''Pola''; Istriot language, Istriot: ''Puola'', Slovene language, Slovene: ''Pulj'') is the largest city in Istria County, Croatia, and the List of cities and towns in Croatia, seventh-largest city in the country, situated at the southern tip of the Istria, Istrian peninsula, with a population of 52,411 in 2021. It is known for its multitude of ancient Roman Empire, Roman buildings, the most famous of which is the Pula Arena, one of the best preserved Roman amphitheaters. The city has a long tradition of wine making, fishing, shipbuilding, and tourism. It was the administrative centre of Istria from ancient Rome, ancient Roman times until superseded by Pazin in 1991. History Pre-history Evidence of the presence of ''Homo erectus'' one million years ago has been found in the cave of Šandalja near Pula. Pottery from the Neolithic period (6000–2000 BC), indicating Colonization, human settlement, h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
SMS Viribus Unitis
SMS ''Viribus Unitis'' was an Austro-Hungarian dreadnought battleship, the first of the . "''Viribus Unitis''", meaning "With United Forces", was the personal motto of Emperor Franz Joseph I. ''Viribus Unitis'' was ordered by the Austro-Hungarian Navy in 1908 and was laid down in Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino shipyard in Trieste on 24 July 1910. ''Viribus Unitis'' was launched from the shipyard on 24 June 1911 and was formally commissioned into the Austro-Hungarian Navy on 5 December 1912. She spent her early career performing training missions and making trips to foreign ports. In June 1914, she carried Archduke Franz Ferdinand on a trip to Bosnia with his wife Sophie. During his visit to Sarajevo, he was assassinated by Gavrilo Princip in the event that caused the beginning of World War I. During World War I, ''Viribus Unitis'' took part in the flight of the German battlecruiser and light cruiser . In May 1915, she also took part in the bombardment of the Italian port ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Royal Italian Navy
The ''Regia Marina'' (; ) was the navy of the Kingdom of Italy (''Regno d'Italia'') from 1861 to 1946. In 1946, with the birth of the Italian Republic (''Repubblica Italiana''), the ''Regia Marina'' changed its name to '' Marina Militare'' ("Military Navy"). Origins The ''Regia Marina'' was established on 17 March 1861 following the proclamation of the formation of the Kingdom of Italy. Just as the Kingdom was a unification of various states in the Italian peninsula, so the ''Regia Marina'' was formed from the navies of those states, though the main constituents were the navies of the former kingdoms of Sardinia and Naples. The new Navy inherited a substantial number of ships, both sail- and steam-powered, and the long naval traditions of its constituents, especially those of Sardinia and Naples, but also suffered from some major handicaps. Firstly, it suffered from a lack of uniformity and cohesion; the ''Regia Marina'' was a heterogeneous mix of equipment, standards and p ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Human Torpedo
Human torpedoes or manned torpedoes are a type of diver propulsion vehicle on which the diver rides, generally in a seated position behind a fairing. They were used as secret naval weapons in World War II. The basic concept is still in use. The name was commonly used to refer to the weapons that Italy, and later (with a larger version) Britain, deployed in the Mediterranean and used to attack ships in enemy harbors. The human torpedo concept has occasionally been used by recreational divers, although this use is closer to midget submarines. History of common wartime models The concept of a small, manned submarine carrying a bomb was developed and patented by a British naval officer in 1909, but was never used during the First World War. The Italian Navy experimented with a primitive tiny sub (Mignatta) carrying two men and a limpet mine: this craft successfully sank Austro-Hungarian battleship SMS ''Viribus Unitis'' on 1 November 1918. The first truly practical human to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical region. Italy is also considered part of Western Europe, and shares land borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia and the enclaved microstates of Vatican City and San Marino. It has a territorial exclave in Switzerland, Campione. Italy covers an area of , with a population of over 60 million. It is the third-most populous member state of the European Union, the sixth-most populous country in Europe, and the tenth-largest country in the continent by land area. Italy's capital and largest city is Rome. Italy was the native place of many civilizations such as the Italic peoples and the Etruscans, while due to its central geographic location in Southern Europe and the Mediterranean, the country has also historically been home ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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