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| Divers and Raiders Group Command "Teseo Tesei" | |
|---|---|
| Comando Raggruppamento Subacquei e Incursori "Teseo Tesei" (COMSUBIN) | |
 Personnel of COMSUBIN | |
| Active | 1939–present |
| Country |  Italy |
| Branch |  Italian Navy |
| Type | Special Forces |
| Role | Search and rescue Special operations Direct Action |
| Garrison/HQ | Varignano (HQ) |
| Motto | "E Fluctibus irruit in hostem" (From the sea we assault the enemy) |
| Engagements | World War II Iraq War War in Afghanistan Lebanon Wars UNOSOM |
| Decorations | 1Croci di Cavaliere all'O.M.I. 1MOVM 1Medaglia d'argento al valor di Marina 1Medaglia d'argento al valor civile |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Rear AdmiralPaolo Pezzutti |
| Notable commanders | AdmiralGino BirindelliM.O.V. AdmiralLuigi FaggioniM.O.V. |
COMSUBIN (Comando Raggruppamento Subacquei e Incursori "Teseo Tesei"; Divers and Raiders Group Command "Teseo Tesei") is theItalian Navy'sspecial operations unit.Italy was the first nation to use frogmen andhuman torpedoes. TheRoyal Italian Navy's Naval Assault Divisions are considered to be the precursor of modern Naval Special Forces. Their record can be traced back to World War I and the operation against theAustrian-Hungarian BattleshipViribus Unitis inPula Harbour in 1918.
In World War II, famous operations includeSuda Bay,Alexandria, Gibraltar, and Malta. Italy's frogman group originated in 1938 as the1a Flottiglia Mezzi d'Assalto (1st Flotilla Assault Vehicles), which was reformed in 1940 as theDecima Flottiglia MAS (10th Flotilla Assault Vehicles,10a MAS).
AfterWorld War II ended, the victors forbade Italy from maintaining special operations personnel. TheDecima Flottiglia MAS was disbanded but the training experience gathered during the war was not lost, it was preserved in units scattered across the newMarina Militare.
COMSUBIN is currently based in three detachments near the Gulf ofLa Spezia in theLiguria region of north-west Italy. In keeping with its traditions, the command has long been known for its acquisition and use of unconventional weapons and small arms, such as the ArmaliteAR-10.
Some nations including Italy continued to make and keephuman torpedoes after 1945.
Comsubin assisted in the investigation into the sinking of theBayesian (yacht).[1]
The headquarters provides the services and maintenance needed for the groups to fulfill their missions. Part of the headquarter is the Research Office, which researches, develops and procures the materials and means needed by the operational groups.[2]
TheOperational Raiders Group (Gruppo Operativo Incursori - GOI) is anitalian special forces unit and focuses on maritime special operations. The Raiders have four specific assignments:[2]
Raiders wear a green beret and are largely drawn from the ranks of the Navy'sSan Marco Marine Brigade.
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TheOperational Divers Group (Gruppo Operativo Subacquei - GOS) specialises in scuba diving with air to 60 m, oxygen to 12 m,nitrox to 54 m,heliox to 150 m, and to 300 m with a mini-submarine or a special suit. After World War II the unit de-mined Italy's northern ports ravaged by years of war and filled withmagnetic mines and ammunition onboard sunken ships. They accomplished the task by 1949, letting Italy's economy get back on track relatively quickly. Since World War II, they have performed de-mining and unexploded ordnance disposal operations across the world, especially in thePersian Gulf, the formerYugoslavia, andAlbania. Diver detachments operate from the navy'sminesweepers. They also specialise in rescuing personnel from stricken ships and submarines and assist the civil authorities in maritime rescue operations. Divers wear a medium blue beret.[2]
TheSpecial Naval Group (Gruppo Navale Speciale - COMGRUPNAVIN) supports and moves the raiders and the divers, with the aid of five ships:[3][2]
TheSchools Group (Gruppo Scuole) consists of the Divers School, Raiders School and Underwater andHyperbaric Medicine School.[2]
COMSUBIN (Comando Subacquei Incursori) is first and foremost a secret special operations unit. Its membership is a fairly well-guarded secret.
The Raiders are composed of volunteer officers and non-commissioned officers with an average age of 29 who are capable of:
After a member has qualified as a Raider, he may take up a number of specialisations including:
Former COMSUBIN Raiders may join other branches of the elite unit to continue serving the Navy or may join other parts of the military as instructors.Senior operators may transfer to the Italian Military Intelligence Agency "AISE" along with their other counterparts from the Army, Air Force and Carabinieri.
COMSUBIN Raiders have been deployed to these places:
The COM.SUB.IN. has a dedicated array of weaponry and equipment.[4]
| Components |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Fleet Command | ||
| Equipment | ||
| Schools | ||
| History and traditions | ||
| Related | ||
44°03′59″N9°50′51″E / 44.06639°N 9.84750°E /44.06639; 9.84750
