Decima Mas

[Linton]

A question for the Italian or anybody else knowledgable in the Italian Navy-what is the current status of the Decima Mas?

[TLAM Strike]

You mean those Italian Frogmen in WWII? They were disbanded on April 26, 1945.

[Linton]

Tlam what Italian naval unit does the sneaky stuff now?

[Perilscope]

Here is a short story in English of the Decima activities in WWII:
http://www.comandosupremo.com/Decima.html

This is in Italian, very good info but no much in pictures:
http://www.decima-mas.net/frames2.htm

The Xmas also had subs in their division, not only frogmen's.
http://www.subnetitalia.it/decimaambra.htm

The Decima was the first operational Navy Seals in the world.
Technically the XMas was never disbanded more than a few months, they just got renamed after Mussolini died.

I have here an Italian propaganda video of this very division, technically the XMas of today:
http://www.nettouring.com/images/pub...Italiana_6.avi

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Linton

Tlam what Italian naval unit does the sneaky stuff now?

COMSUBIN (Comando Raggruppamento Subacquei ed Incursori Teseo Tesei/ English: Teseo Tesei Underwater and Raiding Grouping Command)

COMSUBIN and Decima Flottiglia MAS could be considered one in the same but after Italy lost in WWII it was forbiden to have any SOF units and Decima MAS was officaly disbanded untill 1954 when Italy joined NATO. In 1960 COMSUBIN was officaly decided as the name for the unit.

[Perilscope]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

COMSUBIN

Ah! That is exactly the name of today's Italian Navy Seals, thanks TLAM!

Some cool stuff on the comsubin, "now that we know the name "
http://www.specwarnet.com/europe/comsubin.htm

[Bertgang]

Excellent links, I have little to add now.

Maybe a less known fact is that, thanks to the role played during the italian civil war on RSI side, the historical unit now is often seen as a sort of neo-fascist icon; I disagree, but I often have to see that.

When I see the usual short form for Christmas Day, I often laugh on the similarity with our "X Mas".

[Perilscope]

Originally Posted by Bertgang

Maybe a less known fact is that, thanks to the role played during the italian civil war on RSI side, the historical unit now is often seen as a sort of neo-fascist icon; I disagree, but I often have to see that.

When on the loser's side, even heroic behavior becomes act of evil for the eyes of the victors.
But not always:

The feats of the Italian frogmen brought much envy and respect from the British. When the British decided to create its own naval assault units, the trainees placed pictures of 10th Light Flotilla on their walls for inspiration.
Source:
The Mediterranean, World War Two - Time Life Books-A.B.C. Whipple; Alexandria, VA.