Italian Navy & Air Force Elite Units & Special Forces 1940–45

Italian Navy & Air Force Elite Units & Special Forces 1940–45 cover

Italian Navy & Air Force Elite Units & Special Forces 1940–45

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Description

This volume assesses the formidable Special Forces fielded by Italy's navy and air force in World War II. Italian Navy Special Forces were particularly active and respected in the Mediterranean, where 10th Motor-Torpedo Boat Flotilla used frogmen, 'two-man torpedoes' and explosive ram-boats. The Italian Air Force formed a special commando unit, ADRA, before the 1943 surrender; it was tasked with attacking Allied airfields and communications in North Africa. Men from ADRA and Army paratroopers formed the new 'Folgore' Regiment, which also continued to fight alongside German forces until 1945. In both cases, the pro-Allied Italian forces also formed 'mirror' units to fight alongside US and British forces, including the Recce Squadron 'F'. Featuring rare photographs and specially commissioned artwork, this book tells the story of the little-known elite forces fielded by Italy's navy and air force in World War II, some of whose successors remain in service with today's Italian armed forces.

Table of Contents

Introduction /Navy units before September 1943 surrender: 10th MAS Flotilla – 'San Marco' Regiment – midget submarines /Air Force units before September 1943: ADRA – the 'Loretto' Battalion /Navy units after September 1943: 10th MAS – 'Decima Division' anti-partisan land force /Air Force units after September 1943: 'Folgore' Regiment /Navy and Air Force elite and special units under Allied control, 1943–45: 10th MAS Flotilla – Recce Squadron F /Bibliography /Index

Product details

Published 20 Jan 2013
Format Paperback
Edition 1st
Extent 64
ISBN 9781849088572
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 45 b/w; 13 col
Dimensions 248 x 184 mm
Series Elite
Short code ELI 191
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Pier Paolo Battistelli

Pier Paolo Battistelli earned his PhD in Military…

Illustrator

Mark Stacey

Mark Stacey was born in Manchester, UK, in 1964 an…

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