X Mas and the Attack on the Alexandria Port

[Ovidio]

Today, 10:30 PM, 79 years ago, 6 men, alone on their guided torpedoes, breached the port of Alexandria and sank two battleships and a tanker.
This is what the leader and his mate said when leaving the Sciré submarine:
Luigi Durand de la Penne:
How is it Bianchi?
All well, commander.
Are you scared?
Yes commander.
So am I. Good...let’s go.

Luigi Durand de la Penne and Emilio Bianchi, together with Vincenzo Martellotta, Mario Marino, Antonio Marceglia and Spartaco Schergat achieved the greatest individual victory in naval warfare history.
They are now forgotten...in a country that would need men like them more than air and water...
I am proud and thankful that I could meet a few of those men when I was a kid.
Can’t remember anything...but...
I always loved the tale of the Xa MAS. And try to think of them when my faith in this country starts fading.

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[Flying10uk]

HMS Queen Elizabeth was one which was later repaired I believe.

Someone else can google it if they wish.

[Ovidio]

Yes. The shallow waters saved her. But what a deed!!!
If you can, you should find the book from the commander of the submarine Sciré, later commander of the whole Xa MAS. It is unbelievable what those guys did with very little means.

[Flying10uk]

I suspect that Italy was unjustly underestimated by all sides during WW2, both Axis and Allied.

[Ovidio]

We have been at both extremes. Unbelievably inginious and brave and also horrendously sloppy and pavid.
It is tough if you love your country.
I gave my first son the following names:
Alessandro, from my dad. Great man!
Junio, from Junio Valerio Borghese, commander of the Sciré submarine and then of the whole Xa MAS. A Man. A patriot. A hero.
Teseo, from Teseo Tesei, the man who had the idea of the assault unit that became the Xa MAS. A crystal clear example of the purest kind of hero. He fell during the failed attack on the harbour of Malta. He and his second (Alcide Pedretti) had to mine the protective barriers outside the harbour and went with their guided torpedo. Had trouble along the way and were late on target, so, when the Barchini, the motorboats loaded with explosives, fired their engines, they put the fuze to zero and blew themselves up demolishing the barrier.
I gave him these names because I hope that the example of those three men will always shine in his conscience and help him find his way to be a Man. No matter what happens.

[Daan Kemp]

Those divers were some of the bravest of the brave, well trained, extremely resourceful, daring, etc.

[Bob Womack]

I was just reading about this in Churchill's account.


Bob

[Flying10uk]

The Italians made good mess tins, even the Germans liked them because they used them as well. The canteens weren't bad too; let down a little by the covers and straps.