Emergencies and World Disasters
How Six Men Sank Two Battleships - And Got Caught Minutes Later
26 min•24 juli 2026
Om avsnittet
How Six Men Sank Two Battleships - And Got Caught Minutes Later
Fear and awe collide in the shallow water of Alexandria where two battleships sank with their superstructures still visible above the surface; six men in rubber suits slipped into the harbor on human-guided torpedoes and within forty-eight hours every one of them was captured - how did they pull off such a precise strike against one of the world’s most heavily guarded anchorages?
In this episode, we tell the events of Operazione EA Three and follow the men, machines, and decisions that produced the attack and its immediate aftermath. You will hear how the teams reached Alexandria, what they used to attack HMS Valiant and HMS Queen Elizabeth, and why the Royal Navy kept silent for nearly six weeks - could a handful of men really paralyze the Mediterranean Fleet?
Person: Lieutenant Commander Junio Valerio Borghese
Unit: Decima MAS (Tenth Light Flotilla)
Date: 19 December 1941
Location: Alexandria harbor, Egypt
Vessels damaged: HMS Valiant and HMS Queen Elizabeth
- The attack began at 05:47 on 19 December 1941 and both battleships sank in very shallow water.
- Six Italian frogmen departed La Spezia aboard submarine Scirè on 3 December and reached release point about five nautical miles from Alexandria.
- Three human-guided torpedoes (maiali) were launched and each carried a two-man crew breathing from compressed-air sets.
- Admiral Andrew Cunningham had issued an alert at 10:25 on 18 December warning of possible attack by air, boat, or human torpedo and torpedo nets were deployed around both battleships.
- Every one of the six attackers was captured within forty-eight hours, while the Royal Navy did not announce the incident for nearly six weeks.
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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].
Fear and awe collide in the shallow water of Alexandria where two battleships sank with their superstructures still visible above the surface; six men in rubber suits slipped into the harbor on human-guided torpedoes and within forty-eight hours every one of them was captured - how did they pull off such a precise strike against one of the world’s most heavily guarded anchorages?
In this episode, we tell the events of Operazione EA Three and follow the men, machines, and decisions that produced the attack and its immediate aftermath. You will hear how the teams reached Alexandria, what they used to attack HMS Valiant and HMS Queen Elizabeth, and why the Royal Navy kept silent for nearly six weeks - could a handful of men really paralyze the Mediterranean Fleet?
Person: Lieutenant Commander Junio Valerio Borghese
Unit: Decima MAS (Tenth Light Flotilla)
Date: 19 December 1941
Location: Alexandria harbor, Egypt
Vessels damaged: HMS Valiant and HMS Queen Elizabeth
- The attack began at 05:47 on 19 December 1941 and both battleships sank in very shallow water.
- Six Italian frogmen departed La Spezia aboard submarine Scirè on 3 December and reached release point about five nautical miles from Alexandria.
- Three human-guided torpedoes (maiali) were launched and each carried a two-man crew breathing from compressed-air sets.
- Admiral Andrew Cunningham had issued an alert at 10:25 on 18 December warning of possible attack by air, boat, or human torpedo and torpedo nets were deployed around both battleships.
- Every one of the six attackers was captured within forty-eight hours, while the Royal Navy did not announce the incident for nearly six weeks.
To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.
© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].
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