Decima Flottiglia MAS: The Best Commandos of the Second World War

• Previously unpublished accounts of the Italian frogmen force
  
  
• Many previously unpublished photos, personal accounts and stories
  
  
• Detailed accounts of ships destroyed and sunk by Decima Flottiglia MAS
  
  
• A highly interesting account of a little-known force

A group of determined human torpedoes, motorboat operators and assault swimmers fought bravely for Italy in the Second World War and inspired fear and respect from the British Navy. The actions of these men severely reduced British naval power in the Mediterranean. Even with small numbers and using relatively limited resources, the commandos were a very effective force in the war against the British. By the end of the war, these men would sink or disable over 73,000 tons of Allied warships and over 128,000 tons of merchant shipping.

The story of the Italian commandos is one of determination and bravery. Their tactics aroused confusion and nervousness with Allied commanders and their crews. Italy’s Decima Flottiglia Mas predates both the US Navy Underwater Demolition Teams that were formed in 1943 and forerunners of the better-known US Navy SEALs and the British Royal Marines Special Boat Service formed as an offshoot of the Special Air Service in 1941. Perhaps the determination and actions of the Decima Flottiglia Mas qualify them as the best commandos of the Second World War.

[custom_html] The story of Decima Flottiglia MAS is one of bravery and determination under the waters of the Mediterranean during the Second World War.
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[smallDescription]The story of Decima Flottiglia MAS is one of bravery and determination under the waters of the Mediterranean during the Second World War.
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[tabs] [tab title="AUTHOR(S)"]Walter S. Zapotoczny Jr. is an award-winning writer/editor with over 25 years’ experience and is the author of over 150 published articles and three books. Zapotoczny Jr. is a contributing writer and reviewer for several international publications and is a former historian with the US Army, specialising in military history and Holocaust studies. A native of Pennsylvania, he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with honours in world military history and a Master of Arts with honours in global history from the American Public University.

[/tab] [/tabs][collection.author]walter-s-zapotoczny-jr[/collection.author]