Today is the anniversary of one of the most memorable feats of the Navy.
At the beginning of 1918 a new forcing operation was decided, even more daring than the forcing of Trieste, and the sinking of the battleship Wien. This operation was to be carried out in the Bay of Buccari, set inside a narrow channel near the main enemy bases.
A preliminary reconnaissance by seaplane over Pola, Fiume and Buccari made it possible to acquire an important photographic material showing the presence in Pula of 4 "Viribus", 3 "Radetzki", 3 "Erzherzog", one "Monarch", two explorers and various destroyers, 23 steamers in the port of Fiume and 4 ships in Buccari.
The night between 10 and 11 February, action was taken: a surprise raid to destroy the military and merchant ships that were in the Bay of Buccari, using the small but lethal Torpedo Armed Motorboats (MAS).
The MAS 94, 95 and 96 under the command of the frigate captain Costanzo Ciano, escorted by three naval groups of destroyers and explorers, carried out the long route between the two Adriatic coasts, for about 25 miles through narrow channels between the islands. enemies sailing then to arrive at night time to launch against the four merchant ships at anchor, which took place regularly without reaction from the opponent.
The attacking units then resumed the way back, arriving unscathed in Ancona. The Austrian ships, however, protected by torpedo nets did not report any damage. The poet Gabriele d'Annunzio, aboard the MAS 96 under the command of the lieutenant captain Luigi Rizzo, threw three bottles into the bay containing a mocking message that gave the action the nickname "Beffa di Buccari".
Even if no damage was caused, in fact, the company forced the enemy to engage in the search for new defense and surveillance strategies, and had "an incalculable moral influence".
After Buccari, even, the Austrian Navy Command attempted a direct attack against the MAS at the mooring in Ancona, having found that there were no other possibilities to hit the new weapon decisively. However, this attempt failed and the operation ended with the surrender of the Austrians.
It was on the occasion of this memorable enterprise that Gabriele d'Annunzio coined the immortal motto of the MAS "MEMENTO AUDERE SEMPER"
