In the dark of night, on December 18, 1941, a team of Italian divers, known as the Decima MAS, slipped into Alexandria harbour, undetected, and attached limpet mines to the hulls of two British battleships, the HMS Valiant and HMS Queen Elizabeth. The resulting explosions sent shockwaves throughout the harbour, heavily damaging the warships and rendering them inoperative for several months.
The Mediterranean theatre of World War II was a crucial front, with the Axis powers seeking to control the vital shipping lanes and strategic ports. The British fleet, stationed in Alexandria, posed a significant threat to Italian and German interests. In response, the Italian Navy devised a plan to weaken the British naval presence, using their elite unit, the Decima MAS, to carry out a daring raid.
The raid on Alexandria harbour achieved significant success, crippling two of the British Navy's most powerful warships. This bold act of naval sabotage not only disrupted British operations in the Mediterranean but also boosted Italian morale and prestige.
The daring raid on Alexandria harbour captured the imagination of the Italian public, inspiring a sense of national pride and patriotism. The Decima MAS became celebrated as heroes, their bravery and cunning emblematic of the Italian spirit.
The Alexandria harbour raid shares similarities with other notable naval sabotage operations, such as the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour. Both events demonstrate the potential for surprise attacks to significantly impact the balance of power in wartime.
Commander Durham, in his memoirs, recalled the tense moments as the Italian divers attached the limpet mines to the battleships, noting the silence and darkness of the night made it seem like an " unreal, almost surreal" experience.
The success of the Decima MAS in Alexandria harbour led to increased investment in Italian naval special operations. The legacy of this daring raid continues to inspire and inform naval tactics and strategies to this day.
The raid on Alexandria harbour remains an testament to the ingenuity and bravery of the Italian divers, who, against the odds, inflicted significant damage on the British fleet. This remarkable feat of naval sabotage continues to captivate historians and military enthusiasts alike, serving as a reminder of the innovative tactics and strategies employed during World War II.
Commander Luigi Durham was a seasoned naval officer who led the Decima MAS team in the Alexandria raid. Born in 1896 in Naples, Italy, Durham joined the Italian Navy at a young age and quickly rose through the ranks due to his exceptional leadership skills and strategic thinking.
Durham's experience in naval sabotage operations began during World War I, where he was involved in several covert missions against the Austro-Hungarian Navy. His expertise in this field made him the perfect candidate to lead the Decima MAS team in the Alexandria raid.
Alexandria Harbour was a crucial strategic location during World War II, providing access to the Suez Canal and controlling the flow of oil and supplies between Europe and Asia. The harbour was also a vital base for the British Mediterranean Fleet, which was tasked with protecting Allied shipping lanes and supporting ground operations in North Africa.
The Italian Navy's ability to successfully attack the British fleet in Alexandria Harbour was a significant blow to British prestige and a major propaganda coup for the Axis powers. The raid highlighted the vulnerability of British naval assets in the region and forced the Royal Navy to re-evaluate its defensive strategies.
The daring raid on Alexandria Harbour captivated the Italian public, inspiring a sense of national pride and patriotism. The Decima MAS team was hailed as heroes, and their bravery and cunning were celebrated in newspapers, films, and literature.
The raid also had a significant impact on Italian art and culture, with many artists and writers drawing inspiration from the event. The Italian composer, Goffredo Petrassi, even wrote a symphony dedicated to the Decima MAS team, which premiered in Rome in 1942.
In 2012, a cache of declassified documents related to the Alexandria raid was released by the Italian government. These documents provide a fascinating insight into the meticulous planning and preparation that went into the operation.
One of the most interesting documents is a handwritten note by Commander Durham, detailing the team's movements and timings on the night of the raid. The note is a testament to the commander's calm and meticulous approach, even in the face of extreme danger.
Historians have long debated the significance of the Alexandria raid, with some viewing it as a major turning point in the war in the Mediterranean, while others see it as a minor skirmish in the larger context of World War II.
Recent scholarship has shed new light on the raid, highlighting the crucial role played by the Decima MAS team in disrupting British naval operations in the region. This new research has led to a re-evaluation of the raid's importance, with many historians now viewing it as a significant example of Italian naval innovation and bravery during World War II.