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 (Royal Italian Navy) created during the Fascist regime.
| Decima Flottiglia MAS | |
|---|---|
| Active | March 1941–September 1943 |
| Country | Italy |
| Branch | Regia Marina |
| Type | Commando frogman |
| Role | Human torpedo Raiding Sabotage |
| Nickname(s) | Xª MAS |
| Motto(s) | "Memento Audere Semper" (Remember to always be bold) |
| March | Inno della Xª MAS |
| Equipment | SLC "Maiale" torpedoes MTM "Barchini" motor assault boats |
| Engagements | Souda Bay, Gibraltar, Alexandria, Algiers, sank HMS York, and 20 merchant ships |
| Decorations | Golden Medal of Military Valour Individual decorations: 29 Golden Medals of Military Valor 104 Silver Medals of Military Valor 33 Bronze Medals of Military Valor |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Mario Giorgini Vittorio Moccagatta Ernesto Forza Junio Valerio Borghese |
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), human 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 Pact. Some of the Xª MAS men who were stationed in German-occupied northern and central Italy enlisted to fight for Mussolini's newly formed Italian Social Republic (Repubblica Sociale Italiana or RSI) and retained the unit title, but were primarily employed as an anti-partisan force operating on land. Other Xª MAS men in southern Italy or other Allied-occupied areas joined the Italian Co-Belligerent Navy as part of the Mariassalto (Naval Assault) unit.