Prima dell'invasione : l'attivita dei "Combined Operation Pilotage Parties" (COPP) britannici [nel] Mediterraneo dal 1941 al 1944

Abstract

Amphibious operations usually evoke scenarios whose main protagonists are the ships which bombard the coast, troops and landing crafts. Very little mention is left for the men that opened the way for them. Detailed aerial photos represent the topography of the landing beaches, but do not provide guidance on any obstacles that may be present below the surface, close to the shoreline, that can pose a serious threat to the success of the operation. For this reason, an important preliminary activity for every amphibious operation, consists of a careful inspection of the seabed to determine the easiest and safest routes of approach at the selected beaches of the landing crafts loaded with troops and vehicles. In the Mediterranean, during World War II, most of this activity was carried out by the Royal Navy specialists belonging to a 'special organization called "Combined Operations Pilotage Parties" and abbreviated as COPP.