Maiale

Maiale. The Maiale, officially known as the Siluro a Lenta Corsa (SLC), was a pioneering human torpedo operated by the Regia Marina during the Second World War. Designed for covert attacks on enemy harbors, it became one of the most famous special weapons of the conflict, used primarily by the elite assault unit Decima Flottiglia MAS. Its most notable success was the crippling of the British battleships HMS *Valiant* and HMS *Queen Elizabeth* in the harbor of Alexandria in 1941.

Design and Development

The concept was conceived in 1935 by two officers of the Regia Marina, Teseo Tesei and Elios Toschi, inspired by earlier Italian experiments during the First World War. Development and construction were carried out in great secrecy at the San Bartolomeo torpedo workshop in La Spezia. The craft was essentially a modified torpedo, powered by an electric motor, with a detachable explosive charge in the nose and space for two crewmen in diving suits who rode astride it. The operators, trained by the Decima Flottiglia MAS, would guide the craft to its target, attach the warhead to the enemy ship's hull using clamps, and set a time fuse before attempting to escape.

Operational History

The Maiale entered service in the late 1930s, with its first major operation attempted against the British base at Gibraltar in 1939. The most famous and successful mission occurred on the night of 18–19 December 1941, when three Maiale launched from the submarine *Scirè* penetrated the heavily defended harbor of Alexandria. Operated by crews including Luigi Durand de la Penne and Antonio Marceglia, they placed charges beneath the battleships HMS *Valiant* and HMS *Queen Elizabeth*, and the tanker Sagona, causing severe damage that neutralized British naval power in the Mediterranean Sea for months. Other significant operations included attacks on Malta, Gibraltar, and Algiers.

Combat Performance

The performance of the Maiale was a mixture of brilliant success and frequent operational failure due to its inherent vulnerability and technical complexity. Its low speed and limited range required it to be transported close to its target by a mother submarine, such as the *Scirè* or Ametista, a perilous process. Environmental factors like strong currents, cold water, and harbor defenses including anti-submarine nets and patrols caused many missions to be aborted. However, when successful, its psychological impact and strategic effect were disproportionate to its size, as demonstrated at Alexandria and during raids on Gibraltar which damaged merchant vessels like the Fiona Shell.

Survivors and Legacy

Several examples of the Maiale survived the war. One is preserved at the Italian Navy Historical Museum in Venice, while others are displayed at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport and the Bundeswehr Military History Museum in Dresden. The design directly influenced the development of the British Chariot and was studied by other nations including Germany and Japan. The tactics and bravery of its operators, celebrated in Italy, established a lasting legacy for naval special forces, with the modern Comando Raggruppamento Subacquei e Incursori Teseo Tesei of the Marina Militare bearing the name of its co-inventor.

Variants and Operators

The primary operator was the Regia Marina's Decima Flottiglia MAS. Following the Armistice of Cassibile in 1943, the Kriegsmarine captured several Maiale and used them under the designation *Neger* in the Baltic Sea and the English Channel. The Italian Social Republic's navy also continued limited use. A later, improved model was the SSB (Siluro San Bartolomeo), with a larger warhead. Post-war, the basic concept evolved into modern swimmer delivery vehicles used by forces including the Marina Militare and the Special Boat Service.

Category:Torpedoes of Italy Category:World War II naval weapons of Italy Category:Human torpedoes