XII Squadriglia MAS
Encyclopedia
The XII Squadriglia MAS (Italian
for "12th Assault Vehicle Squadron
") was a formation of the Italian Royal Navy (Regia Marina
) which served on Lake Ladoga
as part of the Axis siege of Leningrad
during World War II
.
, the invadion of the Soviet Union.
During the summer of 1941 the Germans advanced into the USSR on three broad fronts, towards Leningrad
in the north, Moscow
in the centre, and Kiev
in the south.
By August 1941 the German Army Group North
was on the outskirts of Leningrad, having occupied the Baltic states and northwest Russia, while the Finns had advanced south into the Viipuri peninsula, leaving the city surrounded and cut off from all communication by land. The city's only communication route was by water, over Lake Ladoga.
To service and preserve this route the Soviets collected a force of fleet of over 50 merchant vessels, protected by more than 40 escort vessels, with which they ran supply convoys to the city.
Against this the Axis had little response; their only offensive force was a single Finnish ship, the torpedo boat
Sisu, which was unable to interrupt the Soviet supply route.
In order to act against this supply route the Axis determined to build up a naval presence on the lake, and, recognizing the Regia Marina's expertise in small boat operations, requested the dispatch of a force of MAS boats
to the lake. In response the RM formed the XII MAS in April 1942.
, on the Tyrrhenian Sea.
XII MAS comprised four MAS boats and their crews and support staff, a total of 99 men, under the command of Capitano di Corvetta
Bianchini.
In May 1942 the force began the journey to the lake, loading the boats onto transports for the journey overland via the Brenner Pass
and Innsbruck
to Stettin, and by ship to Helsinki
. The final leg was by road to Sorlanlahti on Lake Ladoga, which served as the XII MAS’ base of operations. The squadron arrived on 22 June 1942, 12 monthe to the day after the opening of Barbarossa.
Already on the lake was the finnish torpedo boat Sisu, and a German force, Naval Detachment K
, composed of a number of minesweepers (KM) and armed barges (Siebel craft). The whole force was under the overall command of E Jarvinen, of the Finnish Army.
On 25 July MAS 526 was damaged in an accident, and was put out of action, reducing the force by a quarter.
On 14 August MAS 527 and 528 intercepted a force of three soviet gunboats; after an exchange of fire the MAS closed in and launched torpedoes, sinking one of the gunboats.
On 27 August MAS 527 encountered a Soviet convoy comprising two tugs pulling a train of barges, escorted by a third tug. MAS 527 shadowed this group and summoned help, and with the arrival of MAS 528 attacked with torpedoes, causing the barge train to blow up.
On 1 September MAS 529 met two Soviet gunboats while on patrol off Verkosaari island; she engaged them by gunfire, before retiring unharmed.
On 29 September MAS 528 and 529, commanded by Bianchini, encountered a Soviet convoy of a tug and barge train, escorted by a gunboat. They were able to manoeuvre into position to make a torpedo attack, but scored no hits.
During October the force was involved in providing support to the land forces, as winter approached, and on 30 October the lake became too frozen for operations to continue.
The XII MAS was evacuated from the base at Sorlanlahti, withdrawing to winter quarters at Reval.
The spring of 1943 saw a change in the war situation; the RM decided to transfer the XII MAS to the Mediterranean, though the three MAS boats were handed over to the Finnish navy rather than being transported back to Italy.
Despite the skill and enthusiasm which the MAS brought to this corner of the Eastern Front, they were unable to stop, or even seriously inconvenience, Soviet efforts to maintain supply route to Leningrad, and the winter of 1942/43 saw the Sinyavino offensive
and Operation Iskra, which led to an easing of the Soviet supply dilemma, though the siege was not completely lifted until January 1944.
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
for "12th Assault Vehicle Squadron
Squadron (naval)
A squadron, or naval squadron, is a unit of 3-4 major warships, transport ships, submarines, or sometimes small craft that may be part of a larger task force or a fleet...
") was a formation of the Italian Royal Navy (Regia Marina
Regia Marina
The Regia Marina dates from the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 after Italian unification...
) which served on Lake Ladoga
Lake Ladoga
Lake Ladoga is a freshwater lake located in the Republic of Karelia and Leningrad Oblast in northwestern Russia, not far from Saint Petersburg. It is the largest lake in Europe, and the 14th largest lake by area in the world.-Geography:...
as part of the Axis siege of Leningrad
Siege of Leningrad
The Siege of Leningrad, also known as the Leningrad Blockade was a prolonged military operation resulting from the failure of the German Army Group North to capture Leningrad, now known as Saint Petersburg, in the Eastern Front theatre of World War II. It started on 8 September 1941, when the last...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Background
On 22 June 1941 the Axis, led by Nazi Germany,launched Operation BarbarossaOperation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
, the invadion of the Soviet Union.
During the summer of 1941 the Germans advanced into the USSR on three broad fronts, towards Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
in the north, Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
in the centre, and Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
in the south.
By August 1941 the German Army Group North
Army Group North
Army Group North was a German strategic echelon formation commanding a grouping of Field Armies subordinated to the OKH during World War II. The army group coordinated the operations of attached separate army corps, reserve formations, rear services and logistics.- Formation :The Army Group North...
was on the outskirts of Leningrad, having occupied the Baltic states and northwest Russia, while the Finns had advanced south into the Viipuri peninsula, leaving the city surrounded and cut off from all communication by land. The city's only communication route was by water, over Lake Ladoga.
To service and preserve this route the Soviets collected a force of fleet of over 50 merchant vessels, protected by more than 40 escort vessels, with which they ran supply convoys to the city.
Against this the Axis had little response; their only offensive force was a single Finnish ship, the torpedo boat
Torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
Sisu, which was unable to interrupt the Soviet supply route.
In order to act against this supply route the Axis determined to build up a naval presence on the lake, and, recognizing the Regia Marina's expertise in small boat operations, requested the dispatch of a force of MAS boats
MAS (boat)
Motoscafo Armato Silurante , commonly abbreviated as MAS was a class of fast torpedo armed vessel used by the Regia Marina during World War I and World War II...
to the lake. In response the RM formed the XII MAS in April 1942.
Formation
Following the request to the RM for assistance in the lake operations the RM formed the XII MAS as a section of the famous Decima MAS. This took place in April 1942 at La SpeziaLa Spezia
La Spezia , at the head of the Gulf of La Spezia in the Liguria region of northern Italy, is the capital city of the province of La Spezia. Located between Genoa and Pisa on the Ligurian Sea, it is one of the main Italian military and commercial harbours and hosts one of Italy's biggest military...
, on the Tyrrhenian Sea.
XII MAS comprised four MAS boats and their crews and support staff, a total of 99 men, under the command of Capitano di Corvetta
Corvette Captain
Corvette captain is a rank in many navies which theoretically corresponds to command of a corvette . The equivalent rank in the United Kingdom, Commonwealth and USA is lieutenant commander...
Bianchini.
In May 1942 the force began the journey to the lake, loading the boats onto transports for the journey overland via the Brenner Pass
Brenner Pass
- Roadways :The motorway E45 leading from Innsbruck via Bolzano to Verona and Modena uses this pass, and is one of the most important north-south connections in Europe...
and Innsbruck
Innsbruck
- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
to Stettin, and by ship to Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
. The final leg was by road to Sorlanlahti on Lake Ladoga, which served as the XII MAS’ base of operations. The squadron arrived on 22 June 1942, 12 monthe to the day after the opening of Barbarossa.
Already on the lake was the finnish torpedo boat Sisu, and a German force, Naval Detachment K
Naval Detachment K
The Finnish Naval Detachment K was a flotilla that operated on Lake Ladoga during World War II.-Background:The Continuation War began in the summer of 1941. The Finns, who had operated naval units on Lake Ladoga before World War II, began reestablishing a flotilla on the lake as soon as their...
, composed of a number of minesweepers (KM) and armed barges (Siebel craft). The whole force was under the overall command of E Jarvinen, of the Finnish Army.
Action
The XII MAS commenced operations on 25 June 1942, making reconnaissance sweeps across the lake, landing observers behind soviet lines, and searching for submarines.On 25 July MAS 526 was damaged in an accident, and was put out of action, reducing the force by a quarter.
On 14 August MAS 527 and 528 intercepted a force of three soviet gunboats; after an exchange of fire the MAS closed in and launched torpedoes, sinking one of the gunboats.
On 27 August MAS 527 encountered a Soviet convoy comprising two tugs pulling a train of barges, escorted by a third tug. MAS 527 shadowed this group and summoned help, and with the arrival of MAS 528 attacked with torpedoes, causing the barge train to blow up.
On 1 September MAS 529 met two Soviet gunboats while on patrol off Verkosaari island; she engaged them by gunfire, before retiring unharmed.
On 29 September MAS 528 and 529, commanded by Bianchini, encountered a Soviet convoy of a tug and barge train, escorted by a gunboat. They were able to manoeuvre into position to make a torpedo attack, but scored no hits.
During October the force was involved in providing support to the land forces, as winter approached, and on 30 October the lake became too frozen for operations to continue.
The XII MAS was evacuated from the base at Sorlanlahti, withdrawing to winter quarters at Reval.
The spring of 1943 saw a change in the war situation; the RM decided to transfer the XII MAS to the Mediterranean, though the three MAS boats were handed over to the Finnish navy rather than being transported back to Italy.
Aftermath
Following its 1000 mile journey to its area of operations, XII MAS served on Lake Ladoga for a 90 day period, making 59 sorties, and engaging in 17 actions, during which they sank a Soviet gunboat (Bira class) and a merchant ship of 1300 tons.Despite the skill and enthusiasm which the MAS brought to this corner of the Eastern Front, they were unable to stop, or even seriously inconvenience, Soviet efforts to maintain supply route to Leningrad, and the winter of 1942/43 saw the Sinyavino offensive
Sinyavino Offensive (1942)
The Sinyavino Offensive was an operation planned by the Soviet Union with the aim of breaking the German blockade and establish a reliable supply line to Leningrad which was under siege for almost a year. At the same time, German forces were planning Operation Northern Light to capture the city...
and Operation Iskra, which led to an easing of the Soviet supply dilemma, though the siege was not completely lifted until January 1944.