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After the success at Souda Bay, the sinking of HMS York, the X° Flottiglia M.A.S. turned its attention to #Malta. Commander Moccagatta, leader of the Flotilla, and Major Teseo Tesei prepared an audacious plan to destroy the infrastructure of the Grand Harbor in La Valetta.
#WW2
#WW2
Commander Junio Valerio Borghese opposed the action, claiming it too dangerous and not worthy. In other words, the absence of valuable capital ships in the port was not worth the risk. However, the plan was approved and put in motion.
#Regiamarina #Malta #ww2
#Regiamarina #Malta #ww2
The plan went as follows: Tesei, with two SLC had to destroy the outer defenses of the harbor. This would have allowed a group of explosive motorboats to enter the inner harbor and conduct the attack.
#ww2 #attack #raid #malta #regiamarina
#ww2 #attack #raid #malta #regiamarina
On the 25th July 1941, they approached Malta on board the support ship Diana, accompanied by two MAS. The Diana then released 8 MTMs and one MTL carrying two Human Torpedo. MAS 451 towed the MTL. In the darkness of night, the group of MTMs and the MAS launched the attack.
#ww2
#ww2
The daring and incredibly audacious raid resulted in a complete failure. Land-based radar discovered the attacking units and coastal batteries commenced firing as the Italian Frogmen came in.
(Note: the MTMs are the explosive motorboats)
#ww2 #malta #regiamarina
(Note: the MTMs are the explosive motorboats)
#ww2 #malta #regiamarina
Teseo Tesei and Alcide Pedretti, attempting to buy precious time for the MTM force, sacrificed their lives by immediately detonating the explosive charge of their SLC. This suicide attempts was a hopeless attempt to destroy the harbor’s outer defenses blocking the MTMs.
After the explosion, the MTM group attacked, but coastal battery fire repealed them. Of the 50 men involved, 18 were captured, and 15 killed, including Commander Moccagatta. The raid was a huge blow to the X° M.A.S., its leader and the inventor of the "Maiali" had perished
