COCKLESHELL 9
Olterra at Algeciras. A hatch in the hull allowed 10th MAS to commence its attacks against Gibraltar unseen.
Spain, from which they conducted operations against Gibraltar, including one on 10 September in which three ships were sunk. On 19 December, Lieutenant Luigi Durand de la Penne led an attack on Alexandria harbour resulting in the battleships HMS Valiant and Queen Elizabeth and a tanker being sunk and the destroyer HMS Jervis being damaged. In total 10th MAS sank or damaged five warships and 20 merchantmen during the war. However, there were also setbacks; on 26 July 1941 an attack on Valetta in Malta failed. Fifteen crewmen were killed, including Vittorio Moccagatta, and 18 captured. Churchill agitated for a similar capability and on 26 January 1942, Hasler was posted to the Combined
Lieutenant Luigi Durand de la Penne. HMS Valiant.
HMS Queen Elizabeth.