▁Marina ▁which ▁founded ▁the ▁first ▁special ▁forces ▁under water ▁f rog man ▁unit , ▁later ▁copied ▁by ▁the ▁Royal ▁Navy ▁and ▁United ▁States ▁Navy . ▁Capit ano ▁di ▁F reg ata ▁( Comm ander ) ▁Paolo ▁Alo isi ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁commander ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 ª ▁Fl ott iglia ▁Me z zi ▁d ' Ass al to ▁(" First ▁Ass ault ▁Ve h icle ▁Fl ot illa "), ▁formed ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 9 ▁as ▁a ▁result ▁of ▁the ▁research ▁and ▁development ▁efforts ▁of ▁Maj ors ▁T ese o ▁T ese i ▁and ▁Eli os ▁T os chi ▁of ▁the ▁naval ▁combat ▁engine ers . ▁The ▁two ▁res ur rect ed ▁Pa ol ucci ' s ▁and ▁Ros set ti ' s ▁concept ▁of ▁man ned ▁tor ped o es . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 4 1 , ▁Commander ▁Vitt orio ▁M occ ag atta ▁re - organ ised ▁the ▁First ▁Fl ot illa ▁into ▁the ▁Dec ima ▁Fl ott iglia ▁M AS , ▁and ▁divided ▁the ▁unit ▁into ▁two ▁parts ▁– ▁a ▁surface ▁group ▁operating ▁fast ▁explos ive ▁motor ▁boats , ▁and ▁a ▁sub - sur face ▁weapons ▁group ▁using ▁man ned ▁tor ped o es ▁called ▁S LC ▁( sil uri ▁a ▁l enta ▁cors a ▁or ▁" slow - running ▁tor ped o es ", ▁but ▁nick named ▁Ma iale ▁or ▁" P ig " ▁by ▁their ▁cre ws ), ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁" Gamma " ▁assault ▁sw imm ers ▁( nu ot atori ) ▁using ▁lim