TNT History Archives: Italian Navy Probed Çanakkale Defenses (July 1912)/Part I

During the Turkey-Italy War of 1911-1912, most of the action took

place in Libya.  But there were a number of other venues where the

opponents met, such as the island of Rhodes, Beirut and the Çanakkale 

(Dardanelles) Strait.

The commander of the Italian torpedo boat fleet that probed the 

Ottoman defenses at Çanakkale in July 1912, Capt. Enrico Millo,

wrote a report about the operation.  Herewith that report in English,

as translated from the Turkish translation (by Retired Turkish 

General Kadri Demirkaya in 1940) of a report on the entire War 

by Italian Capt. I. Revol (see a recent TNT series on Rhodes, 

based on this source.)

Commander Millo’s Report to the Navy Command About the Çanakkale 

Strait Raid 

Stampalia, 21 July 1912

At 4 o’clock on the morning of 14 July, based on an order I received, I 

departed from Stampelia Island to Parthani port on Leros Island, with 

the Pisani warship, the destroyers Borea and Nembo and the open-

water torpedo boats Spica, Centauro, Astore, Climéne and Pereo.  

At Parthani, after we unloaded some unnecessary equipment, I 

announced that I would board the Spica torpedo boat at the proper 

time in order to personally direct the reconnoiter mission.  Major 

Marzolo assumed temporary command on the Pisani warship and 

together with the Nembo and Borea destroyers they were to 

accompany the topedo boats to the entrance of the Çanakkale Strait, 

in order to provide support for this operation.

While we were within the Strait demonstrating our presence, these two 

destroyers were to remain outside the Strait. 

Because of inclement weather, I was forced to remain at Parthani until

the evening of the 17th, when the conditions improved and we weighed 

anchor, heading for Strati Island.  To the extent possible, we sailed with 

lights low and during the night.  I purposely chose Strati because it is 

isolated from other islands, away from the usual sea lanes and lightly 

populated.   It was the best place to hide out until evening, before 

heading for Çanakkale.

Limni, İmroz and Bozcaada were closer to my intended destination and 

logically the better choices, but on those islands I could not be certain 

that our illuminated telegraph-heliostat communications would not be 

seen by the enemy.   In any event, since I wanted to act in a quick, 

raiding fashion, I had to choose Strati.

 

Stampalia (Astipalaia) is southwest of Kos, bottom

right. Leros is north of Kos.  Strati (Agios Efstratios) 

is south of  Limnos, center toward the top.

The crew rested during the entire day of 18 July on Strati.  The  

furnaces were cleaned and everything prepared for the reconnoiter 

mission.    Shortly before departing from Strati, I transferred from the 

Pisani to the Spica and assumed command of the open-water torpedo 

boat fleet that would implement the operation.   I left the Pisani and 

the two destroyers with Major Merzolo.

Based on what we had previously agreed to do, the Pisani departed 

Strati at 1800 hours on 18 July, along with the two destroyers, and 

sailed at 12 MPH, followed by the torpedo boat fleet under my 

command.   The weather was good and the sea calm.  Some fog on 

the horizon made it very likely that we could not be spotted from 

Limni, İmroz or Bozcaada islands.  We proceeded  to the agreed-upon 

point in order to meet up at 2330 hours.

As we approached the Çanakkale Strait, two searchlights of the 

(Ottoman) external defense sites at Helles point (north), and one at 

Kumkale (south), came into view.  During our return there were two 

searchlights at Kumkale.  These searchlights made it easy for us to 

determine the entrance to the Strait. 

//END of PART ONE//