Premuda, 10 June 1918, very first light of dawn, the reason for the Navy day

(To Marina Militare)
09/06/19

Spring of the 1918, the fate of the Italian war is poised. After two years of frontal attacks, the Austrians have called the Germans to their aid: the defeat of Caporetto and the Italian defensive successes of the Piave and Monte Grappa have been followed in order. Now the situation is deadlocked.

On 1 March 1918, the young Admiral Horthy assumed command of the Austro-Hungarian Imperial-Royal Navy.

The chief of staff of our Navy, Admiral Paolo Thaon di Revel, knowing the mentality and the precedents of the adversary, follows this appointment with great interest, judging as probable and imminent a change of attitude and foreseeing that the usual prudence of the enemy will probably follow a header. The reason is clear: Vienna is starving, even worse than Berlin. Russia has surrendered, but there is no way to get its grain and oil across the Danube due to Italy and its allies' control of the Mediterranean. As for the morale of the Habsburg sailors, it is under the heels.

The Austrians thus plan a spectacular raid against the mobile barrier device of the Otranto channel, put in place by the Italian Navy with the collaboration of the Anglo-Frenchmen from the beginning of the war. The Hapsburgs expect to be able to surprise the Italians, obtaining a success to be resold, as propaganda, as a second Lissa. We are on the eve of the offensive on the Piave, and in the intent of the enemy an Italian naval defeat would have had serious moral consequences on the spirit of resistance of the whole country.

In the perspective of an enemy action, Admiral Thaon of Revel issues a synthetic dispatch, warning the Navy commands that the Austro-Hungarian line of conduct could be such as to expose "... to the imprudence of which we must be ready to take advantage ... we will take advantage of every enemy move to attack with submarines, destroyers, torpedo boats and MAS "

On the evening of June 9, 1918, the lieutenant captain Luigi Rizzo, already sunk, in December, of the Austrian battleship Vienna, receives the order to go out to sea with a section of MAS, on the 15th and 21st. This is the “usual assignment: exploration, ambush and mine search”. While the small Italian units move towards the patrol area, unbeknownst to them, the imperial fleet has left the port of Pula in force, heading south. There are 45 units, including all available battleships.

The 10 June 1918, MAS 15 and 21 are off the small Dalmatian island of Premuda. At 3.15 hours in the morning, the Italians spotted "... a big cloud of black smoke on the horizon". Not yet able to distinguish the type of ships, and by excluding that it could be of Italian units, the Rizzo captain legitimately supposed to be an exploding destroyer of explorers. Without any hesitation, the Italian commander orders to prevent the threat from being hidden from the enemy ships, to attack them by surprise and to open their way back fighting.

Dawn, the little light in favor of the MAS, when Rizzo signals to Ensign Aonzo, commander of the other unit, to prepare himself for the attack. The two small torpedoes advance slowly, moving against those that they consider a group of torpedo boats in exploration when, shortening the distances, they realize that they are in the presence of the Austrian naval battle team.

The sea is calm - perfect calm - visibility limited by a light haze: an unrepeatable situation, an indispensable "prey" for the Ace of the MAS with a taste for hunting, who without hesitation and with clear awareness of the evident disproportion of the forces in field, however, challenges the two battleships escorted by ten units that protect them from all sides. A few words in a low voice (at dawn every sound runs away) between the two units, and the engines slowly increase the number of revolutions. No "whiskers" in the bow. Internal combustion engines grab without problems. The Italians thus pass between two escort torpedo boats without being seen, thanks to good kinematics and great seafaring expertise. We are in the launch circle. Outside! The torpedoes descend into the water, the angle is perfect, textbook. The estimated distance of about 300 meters. 03.31 am, "Torpedoes hit, target hit!". As the commander of the Tegetthoff: "It was observed on the straight of the St. Stephen a flash of light accompanied by the thunder of an explosion ". Rizzo's MAS 15 hit the battleship St. Stephen, while the MAS 21 launches its torpedoes towards the Tegetthoff, which will only be saved for a malfunction of the burst of a torpedo, which strikes it without exploding.

Quick approach and route of removal! But now the two MAS are chased by a fighter that shoots on them, surprisingly Rizzo uses the only weapon still available on his MAS 15 to stop the enemy unit from pursuit, which is an anti-submarine bomb that explodes ahead of the hunting causes these to renounce by reversing the route.

While the St. Stephen, dying, sinks, the victorious MAS 15 and 21 return to the port of Ancona. The Monte Cappuccini Semaphore, just spotted, having seen the large flags hoisted on the MAS, sensed the victory and reported it to the Ancona Marine Command with the famous telegram, vibrant with enthusiasm: "15 miles N – NE, two speedboats unloaded with torpedoes but loaded with honor and glory are heading to port".

Premuda's action, due to its military and political consequences, is equivalent to a great battle won, which definitively changes the course of the First World War in favor of Italy and gives great prestige to the Navy which, from 1939 onwards, in memory of that event, celebrates its Day on 10 June. In recognition of the heroism shown in action, Commander Luigi Rizzo "di Premuda" is proposed for a second gold medal for military valor, after the one already paid for the sinking of the battleship Vienna. It is an unprecedented fact. Moreover, they point out to the court, that officer is of republican sentiments. "The composer Mario, who wrote the song of the Piave, is also. Good patriots ”, replied Vittorio Emanuele III signing, serenely, the decree.