Just wonder if someone could fill me with some details about these Greek islands (today according to my map called MEGISTI) which are dangerously close to the Turkish coast during World War II?
I know there was an ill-fated British commando raid on the islands and that from 1943 onwards they were used as an advance base for British commando and MTB raids on German-held Leros, Kos, Rhodos and Samos.
I'm particularly interested in the first raid, when the British managed to occupy the islands before the Italians re-claimed them back.
Lp,
Klemen
Castelrosso Archipel, 1941-1944
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Castelrosso Archipel, 1941-1944
US PGA Commentator - "One of the reasons Arnie (Arnold Palmer) is playing so well is that, before each tee shot, his wife takes out his balls and kisses them .... Oh my god!!!!! What have I just said?!!!"
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Lupo Solitario
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- Location: Italy, EU
I'm sorry, a little trouble....the named operation (namecode "Abstention") had been comlpetely treated in an article appeared in two issues on italian press in 2001 (written by a friend of mine BTW)...I can't find where I've put the second issue 
Enrico writes often in that magazine too and I think he could complete the story.
The incursion happened in late february 1941. The attacking force was formed by more or less 200 men of No 50 Commando embarked on two destroyers with two cruisers as escorts. The italian garrison wasformed by 30 sailors and 10 policemen without heavy weapons.
Strike force left Crete at 0100 of February 24th, 1941 and landed at 0300 of February 25th. The surprise failed and italian garrison reached to launch an SOS before surrending at 1000; they didn't reach to destroy some important naval codes which had been captured by brits. Italian losses 6 KIA and 7 WIA, british unknown.
The same morning Italian Air Force statrted to strike on british forces. Italian lost two bombers, briths naval forces had been retreated.
At 1500 an italian force of two destroyers and two torpediere left Rodi with about 100 men of 201st CCNN and IV/9th Infantry aboard. The italian force arrived at Castelrosso at 2100 surprising brits. While naval artillery fire expelled brits from town a little italian party landed and destroyed the radio station. In this moment, italian and british naval forces realized the reciprocate presence near the island. Either decide to retreat. Brits didn't land reinforces and Italian rembarked.
the next part when I'll find the article...
Enrico writes often in that magazine too and I think he could complete the story.
The incursion happened in late february 1941. The attacking force was formed by more or less 200 men of No 50 Commando embarked on two destroyers with two cruisers as escorts. The italian garrison wasformed by 30 sailors and 10 policemen without heavy weapons.
Strike force left Crete at 0100 of February 24th, 1941 and landed at 0300 of February 25th. The surprise failed and italian garrison reached to launch an SOS before surrending at 1000; they didn't reach to destroy some important naval codes which had been captured by brits. Italian losses 6 KIA and 7 WIA, british unknown.
The same morning Italian Air Force statrted to strike on british forces. Italian lost two bombers, briths naval forces had been retreated.
At 1500 an italian force of two destroyers and two torpediere left Rodi with about 100 men of 201st CCNN and IV/9th Infantry aboard. The italian force arrived at Castelrosso at 2100 surprising brits. While naval artillery fire expelled brits from town a little italian party landed and destroyed the radio station. In this moment, italian and british naval forces realized the reciprocate presence near the island. Either decide to retreat. Brits didn't land reinforces and Italian rembarked.
the next part when I'll find the article...
Hi Lupo,
No need for panick here, Lupo, hehe. The info that you have send to me is very good through here are some sub-questions of mine:
a.) What was the official designation of the Italian defence force (40 men) on the islands? Who was its CO?
b.) How come there were no Guardia di Finanza on the islands?
c.) What has happened with the captured force? were they taken by the British or lleft on the island?
d.)
e.)
Lp,
Klemen
No need for panick here, Lupo, hehe. The info that you have send to me is very good through here are some sub-questions of mine:
a.) What was the official designation of the Italian defence force (40 men) on the islands? Who was its CO?
b.) How come there were no Guardia di Finanza on the islands?
c.) What has happened with the captured force? were they taken by the British or lleft on the island?
d.)
How many men are we talking here about?IV/9th Infantry aboard.
e.)
This means that Italian land party also retreated from the islands and left them unoccupied???Brits didn't land reinforces and Italian rembarked
Lp,
Klemen
US PGA Commentator - "One of the reasons Arnie (Arnold Palmer) is playing so well is that, before each tee shot, his wife takes out his balls and kisses them .... Oh my god!!!!! What have I just said?!!!"
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Lupo Solitario
- Contributor
- Posts: 362
- Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2002 12:15 am
- Location: Italy, EU
All right, Klemen, your answers.....
a) no official designation, it was a radio station and an observation point of the navy with an NCO as commander
b) the 10 policemen were effectively 7 Carabinieri and 3 Finanzieri, I used this term to sum them
c) I ignore it, I hope there's something on the second part of the article
d) namely: 52 Blackshirts of 201st CCNN Battalion and 15 infantrymen of IV Battalion/9th Infantry Regiment
e) No, I wrote it fast yesterday and I've been unclear: that night there were either an italian naval force and a Britsh one that was taking reinforces.
The italian attack expelled commandos from Castelrosso village. Italian party made a sort of recognition, destroyed radio station and tryed to recover codes after that rembarked, leaving british on island. In the same time, the brit naval force renounced to land reinforces for the presence of italians.
In a word, it's really uncleared what happened at castelrosso that night. In my opinion either italian and english understood few about their situation and decided not to exaggerate. The italian move seem having been more a "probe" than a real counterinvasion.
Anyway at the morning of february 26th, we have two hundreds british on Castelrosso without a radio neither air or naval support...the next part when I'll find it
[/quote]
a) no official designation, it was a radio station and an observation point of the navy with an NCO as commander
b) the 10 policemen were effectively 7 Carabinieri and 3 Finanzieri, I used this term to sum them
c) I ignore it, I hope there's something on the second part of the article
d) namely: 52 Blackshirts of 201st CCNN Battalion and 15 infantrymen of IV Battalion/9th Infantry Regiment
e) No, I wrote it fast yesterday and I've been unclear: that night there were either an italian naval force and a Britsh one that was taking reinforces.
The italian attack expelled commandos from Castelrosso village. Italian party made a sort of recognition, destroyed radio station and tryed to recover codes after that rembarked, leaving british on island. In the same time, the brit naval force renounced to land reinforces for the presence of italians.
In a word, it's really uncleared what happened at castelrosso that night. In my opinion either italian and english understood few about their situation and decided not to exaggerate. The italian move seem having been more a "probe" than a real counterinvasion.
Anyway at the morning of february 26th, we have two hundreds british on Castelrosso without a radio neither air or naval support...the next part when I'll find it
[/quote]