Decima Flottiglia.

This is coolbert:

In a previous blog entry I have mentioned the Italian Decima Flottigilia MAS. Italian frogmen from the World War Two [WW2] era.

Innovative naval warriors. Renowned for their elan' and combat effectiveness during WW2. Emulated by all other naval unconventional warfare [UW] fighters that have followed. Such as the U.S. Navy SEALS and underwater demolition teams, Russian naval Spetsnaz combat swimmers, etc.

Decima MAS, the original "frogmen", combat veterans who continued to fight even after Italian surrender in 1943.

One contingent, of course, allied with the fascist cause until the end of the war, acting as ground combat troops on the German side, as anti-partisan fighters. Noted for their fanaticism and brutal tactics.

A second contingent of Decima MAS, however, recruited and taking sides with the allied cause, continuing to see further combat action as "frogmen", in their traditional manner. Here thanks to Harry and KTB Sharkhunters, http://www.sharkhunters.com:

"The British and US Navy used Decima MAS veterans that had joined the Anglo-Americans in the south of Italy. With those men, the underwater assault team 'Marassalto' was formed. However, only a few actions were performed (one of those was the sinking of the incomplete aircraft carrier Aquila in Genoa Harbor.)."

"The men of 'Marassaslto' became consultants for the Royal Navy and built micro-submarines for them - - 'Chariots' - - a virtual copy of the SLC's, and they trained some British 'frogmen' to attack Japanese ships."

[SLC = Siluro a Lena Corsa. Slow Running torpedo. "'Micro=submarines' driven by two frogmen and able to overcome obstruction and anti-submarine nets in the harbors and also able to position explosive charges directly under the hulls of enemy ships."]

coolbert.