Mario Masciulli

Mario Masciulli
Born September 15, 1909
Livorno, Italy
Died October 16, 1991 (1991-10-17) (aged 82)
Caracas, Venezuela
Allegiance Italy Italy
Service/branch Regia Marina (Italian Royal Navy)
Years of service 1932–1945
Rank Major
Unit Decima Flottiglia MAS
Battles/wars

World War II

Awards Silver Medal of Military Valor

Mario Elbano Masciulli Manelli, Baron Miglianico (Livorno, Italy September 15, 1909 – Caracas, Venezuela October 16, 1991) was a prominent military engineer of the Italian Regia Marina, Major of Genio Navale and belonging to the recognized Decima Flottiglia MAS as director of the Office of Submarine Secret Weapons during Second World War. He was awarded the Silver Medal of Military Valor.

Biography

First Years, Military Career

Enter the Livorno Naval Academy in 1925, being number one in the entrance exam, among a large group of students. Later he was sent to the Polytechnic of Turin, where he earned with honors degree in Industrial Engineering, obtaining then a PhD in Mechanical Engineering.

1941, Office of Submarine Secret Weapons

World War II

For the start of the war in 1939, he was conducting technical studies aboard various war machines like the Battleship Andrea Doria and the Submarine Scirè where he familiarized with Prince Junio Valerio Borghese, by then commander of the submarine, who already knew of his years at the Academy. For 1940, he is requested directly by Borghese, to form part of the newly restructured Decima Flottiglia MAS. Along the captain Travaglini, step hold Office of Submarine Secret Weapons, where, after several losses and failed attacks on British base in Malta, made the improvement of the first human torpedoes SLC (Siluro a lenta Corsa, originally designed by Teseo Tesei), nicknamed "Maiale" (Pig, in English), eliminating the cause of many problems. He began construction of a similar design, but significantly higher characteristics, result of the experience gained and progress of science and industrial technology. Launched from a large submarine, two men maneuvered from a cockpit. Once near the boat, they place the explosives with a timer.[1] As Director of the Office of Submarine Secret Weapons he also designed and updated the MAS (Motoscafo Armato Silurante), motorboats between 20 and 30 tons displacement, a crew of 10 men armed with two torpedoes, plus several machine guns and occasionally a small caliber cannon.

The biggest success of the Maiale was attributed to that of December 19, 1941, when Lieutenant Luigi Durand de la Penne and Emilio Bianchi managed two maiale to take up the defense of the port of Alexandria, Egypt and severely damaged two British battleships (HMS Valiant and HMS Queen Elizabeth) Other weapons were designed and built by the Office of Submarine Secret Weapons: acoustic mines and incendiary bombs which were designed for pilots of the torpedoes could introduce them into enemy ports.

Italian manned torpedo "Siluro San Bartolomeo" displayed at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Gosport, UK..

Siluro San Bartolomeo

When using the Maiale Human Torpedo had noticed some limitations, demonstrating the need for an updated version. The improvement in the materials available for the assembly and parallel new technologies led to a far superior product to the point of not being able to identify and as an outgrowth of the "Siluro a Lenta Corsa" SLC Maiale. So the Siluro San Bartolomeo had born. The project was managed and developed by the engineer of the Genio Navale, Major Mario Masciulli, with the help of Captain G.N Travaglino, with help from engineer Guido Cattaneo. Also helping with the direction of Submarine Weapons Arsenal, La Spezia.[2]

Armistice, September 8, 1943

The new Badoglio government of Italy signed an armistice with the Allies. Further attacks on Gibraltar using the new and larger replacement for the SLC (the Siluro San Bartolomeo type), and a planned raid on New York City were called off due to the Italian surrender. Just three Siluro San Bartolomeo had been manufactured for the date of the Armistice between Italy and Allied armed forces, two remained in La Spezia and one was sent to Venice, which was found at the end of the war. Both of La Spezia were consigned to the La Castagna Task Force, an old battery of the Decima Flottiglia MAS under the command of Lieutenant Augusto Jacobacci (Siluro San Bartolomeo pilot). Those had been designated to attack Gibraltar, but the action was suspended with the Armistice.

1943, Siluro San Bartolomeo test

After War

The Engineer Mario Masciulli was injured in a leg and both hands, for a technical accident in 1943, while he was doing a personal test aboard a Maiale . After the war he was promoted to the rank of Colonel, always maintained close contact with Borghese . Later plays for several years as Director of the important company " Pirelli ", based in Milan. The company had already demonstrated their competence and high capacity when the engineer, as head of the Office of Submarine Secret Weapons, asking them material for the preparation of the costumes used by the "Frogmen" . In 1957 known in Milano, Italy the Vice Admiral Carlos Larrazabal, Venezuelan Military attache in Italy and brother of the next President Wolfgang Larrazabal. He then asked for his vast knowledge, to teach at The Naval Academy and decided to move and settle in Caracas.

The rest of his life he worked as an entrepreneur along with several Italians who had also belonged to the Regia Marina.

He died in Caracas, of natural causes on October 16, 1991, in peace .

See also

Bibliography

References

  1. ↑ Junio Valerio Borghese, Decima flottiglia MAS, Milano, Garzanti, 1959, pag. 149
  2. ↑ Greene, Jack. The Black Prince and the Sea Devils. Da Capo Press. pag 29.
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