▁G ino ▁Bir ind elli ▁received ▁the ▁Med aglia ▁d ' O ro ▁al ▁Val or ▁Milit are ▁( MO VM ), ▁his ▁second , ▁Dam os ▁P acc agn ini ▁received ▁the ▁Med aglia ▁d ' Ar gent o ▁al ▁Val ore ▁Milit are ▁( MA VM ). ▁▁ 1 9 4 1 ▁▁▁ ▁March ▁ 2 5 , ▁ 1 9 4 1 : ▁The ▁Italian ▁destroy ers ▁Cris pi ▁and ▁S ella ▁depart ed ▁L eros ▁island ▁in ▁the ▁A ege an ▁at ▁night , ▁each ▁carrying ▁ 3 ▁small ▁( 2 - ton ) ▁M T s ▁( M otos ca fo ▁da ▁Tur ismo ) ▁motor ▁assault ▁boats ▁of ▁the ▁Dec ima ▁M AS . ▁ ▁Each ▁M T ▁( nick named ▁b arch ini ▁or ▁" l ittle ▁boats ") ▁carried ▁a ▁ 3 0 0   kg ▁( 6 6 0   lb ) ▁explos ive ▁charge ▁in ▁its ▁bow . ▁The ▁one - p il ot ▁craft ▁were ▁launched ▁by ▁the ▁destroy ers ▁ 1 0 ▁miles ▁off ▁S uda ▁Bay , ▁Cre te , ▁where ▁several ▁British ▁Royal ▁Navy ▁war ships ▁and ▁auxili ary ▁ships ▁were ▁at ▁anchor . ▁The ▁M T s ▁were ▁spe cially ▁equ ipped ▁to ▁make ▁their ▁way ▁through ▁obst acles ▁such ▁as ▁tor ped o ▁n ets ; ▁the ▁pilot ▁ste ered ▁the ▁assault ▁craft ▁in ▁a ▁collision ▁course ▁at ▁his ▁target ▁ship , ▁and ▁jump ed ▁from ▁his ▁boat ▁before ▁impact ▁and ▁war head ▁det on ation .