Malaysia Watch Forum
Main Forums => Links and Resources => Topic started by: kentkoh79 on September 12, 2012, 08:14:44 PM
-
For those who really interested to know more regarding the real history of Panerai , just sharing this very good article from a Rolex master point of view : Jake's Rolex world
"Panerai has a fascinating and colorful history which is woven in with the history of Rolex as well as with the Royal Italian Navy, the German Kampfschwimmer's and the Egyptian Army. Rolex and Panerai are thought by many as being distant cousins, but as we will learn, they are much more like brothers"
http://rolexblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/part-3-complete-history-of-rolex.html
-
For those who really interested to know more regarding the real history of Panerai , just sharing this very good article from a Rolex master point of view : Jake's Rolex world
"Panerai has a fascinating and colorful history which is woven in with the history of Rolex as well as with the Royal Italian Navy, the German Kampfschwimmer's and the Egyptian Army. Rolex and Panerai are thought by many as being distant cousins, but as we will learn, they are much more like brothers"
http://rolexblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/part-3-complete-history-of-rolex.html
Hi, Kent,
The above statement is all in the present tense...."they are much more like brothers...". My thought is, unless today there are some Rolex parts in the PAM (for example Rolex mainspring etc in a PAM111 or 112 etc), or PAM parts in Rolex (for example parts from PAM's in-house movement in a sub), can they still be realistically described as cousins or brothers? I wonder if there is another yet unfound article saying Zenith and Rolex are also brothers. My view is these products are as brotherly as me saying Bill Gates and Li Kashing are brothers.
-
Hi Endiku ,
Oh well , that is the author's point of view...My point of view is that without Rolex , there is no Panerai today . What I mean is that Rolex really played a crucial role in the initial developmental history of Panerai around year 1936. Panerai today most basic design and DNA ( its Radiomir "pillow case") was given and designed by rolex even though Rolex that time was not sincere enough and given Panerai the most ugly and abandoned design they never thought for production. ha ! BUt they also never predicted that the design that they given to Panerai after 70 years become 1 most the most unique and famous design among world of watches . Since the DNA of Panerai today is given and designed by Rolex , so can we called them distant cousins? brothers ? For me ....it is more like father and abandoned son ...ha ! since the Whole DNA of Panerai today ....is given birth by Rolex's abandoned design :)
-
The 'last' Panerai that was issued with a Rolex movement was the PAM00021, issued in 1997. Why 'last'? Well, Panerai still have some stock of old Rolex movements......
-
The 'last' Panerai that was issued with a Rolex movement was the PAM00021, issued in 1997. Why 'last'? Well, Panerai still have some stock of old Rolex movements......
Yes, the one with the rare Rolex 681?? movement but low PR of 38-40 hrs if I am not wrong. But with OP moving up the chain with its own movement, do you reckon we will see future PAMs with Rolex movements?
-
I don't Think Rolex would want to sell their movements to anyone at this moment.regards tony
The 'last' Panerai that was issued with a Rolex movement was the PAM00021, issued in 1997. Why 'last'? Well, Panerai still have some stock of old Rolex movements......
Yes, the one with the rare Rolex 681?? movement but low PR of 38-40 hrs if I am not wrong. But with OP moving up the chain with its own movement, do you reckon we will see future PAMs with Rolex movements?
-
The 'last' Panerai that was issued with a Rolex movement was the PAM00021, issued in 1997. Why 'last'? Well, Panerai still have some stock of old Rolex movements......
Yes, the one with the rare Rolex 681?? movement but low PR of 38-40 hrs if I am not wrong. But with OP moving up the chain with its own movement, do you reckon we will see future PAMs with Rolex movements?
Yes, the one with the Rolex 618. With its low pr of about 48 hours allows the lucky owners to connect with the watch more often then not. As for the future, who knows. All we know is that panerai still has stock of those old Rolex 618 movement.
-
Just wanna to add-on....The Pig - Maiali , a very interesting part of panerai history....a logo/symbol that all paneristi are dying for....why ?
(http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t477/kentkoh79/IMG_7565.jpg)
For those who are interested to find out the reason why Panerai watches with Maiali logo are highly sought-after can read the article from the link below :
http://rolexblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/chapter-3-complete-history-of-rolex_27.html
I just can't understand.....why the watch that was purposely designed for military usage 70 years ago ...and had gone through uncountable missions during world war II suddenly become a fashion watch today :)
-
Kentkoh79,
I would not say that all paneristi would die for the SLC logo or symbol. Some do and some don't. As for why watches with the SLC is popular, reasons are many, passion, history, cute, commercialism, ignorance, anything basically. Just make sure you get it for the right reasons.....
-
bro Hobbit ,
Agreed with u . Not all risti are looking for the maiali logo , bcoz the most hardcore risti only prefer the most basic and origin of panerai DNA .most of them only prefer 3,6,9,12 on the dial and no more ,no less. Pls correct me if i am wrong. I also believe that why the launching of PAM 372 last year caused such a stirr in the market wihich it is almost 95% identical to 6152 - the holy grail for most of the true and hardcore risti.
-
bro Hobbit ,
Agreed with u . Not all risti are looking for the maiali logo , bcoz the most hardcore risti only prefer the most basic and origin of panerai DNA .most of them only prefer 3,6,9,12 on the dial and no more ,no less. Pls correct me if i am wrong. I also believe that why the launching of PAM 372 last year caused such a stirr in the market wihich it is almost 95% identical to 6152 - the holy grail for most of the true and hardcore risti.
Most collectors like the base model with the zero being the most popular as it is as close as you can get to the 5218-201a logo. The base is the essence of simplicity, easy to read dial. Personally I prefer the luminor marina, the model with the sub seconds dial.
As for the 372, it was a long time coming and it is great to see it a regular production watch. As for it being the holy grail, I would not know. To me it is a nice watch that many have asked and waited for.
-
The connection between the two are more than meets the eye.
What does Rolex does really well?
1. Marketing
2. Association of a public event (sports, exploration, etc)
3. Image of a waterproof watch
The modern Panerai Company (Officine Panerai, I'll use short form OP from now) surprisingly have more of the same list
1. Marketing (it does it so well some ranked it as high as a fashion brand now)
2. Association with public figure, mostly celebrity (I remember seeing photo Disney's CEO wore a luminor to the board meeting)
3. Image of a WW2 watch
What's the different?
Oh yes. OP has use numerous 3rd party movement, just something on top of my head Zenith, Minerva, Omega, Rolex, Angelus, ETA, Valjoux, JLC and Piaget. There might be more as am don't think I remember it all.
Funny thing is Rolex was never taken seriously until the early 80s. When the Hongkie goreng it up. Ask someone who is above 65 years old what is the best brand back in the 50s, 60s or 70s almost no one will say Rolex. What you'll hear is Omega or Titoni. On an more up scale level maybe you'll hear the name Vacheron or Cartier, yup that's right Patek wasn't even there yet.
If we talk about the legendary robustness of Rolex watch, I'm afraid it only limit to the Sea-Dweller and Explorer 1. Not Sub cos up until the mid 60s Rolex still can't keep the Sub water tight pass 60m. Real diver use omega, blancpain or Doxa. It's the Sea-Dweller that show great improvement in water resistancy and Rolex had help, COMEX.
The way Panerai went about it is different. The old Panerai is predominantly an instrument manufacturer and supplier. The Italian Navy was one of their client and when the Navy request for a diving watch (an instrument back in the days). Panerai went to Rolex for the reason I believe
1. Panerai was selling Rolex watches in the little Firenze store.
2. Rolex was honking the waterproof ability of its watch so Panerai think "ok why not?"
3. Why risk screwing things up ourselves if there a best out in the market and is available for purchase.
The 1st batch of watches given to Panerai from Rolex did not pass the Navy's test. Water tideness was an issue and Rolex haven't solve it. 2 more batch were deliver over a period of 2 year. They were better but the issue still remain. What Guido Panerai (the man that helm panerai at the time) did on its own was they went into R&D to solve those issues. The famous crown guard is one. The super bright luminescence subtance Radiomir and Luminor is another.
Improvement also being make by experimenting with different case but I believe those are not sole Panerai effort.
The panerai watches were being put into real use way before any submariner since the Sub only enter into the market around 1953 (long way from WW2).
Yes they were not perfect but these Italians have balls and they made it, both the frogman and Guido Panerai show human spirit can withstand any obstacles.
Yes the Italian lose the war but that didn't stop the frogman for completing their mission and some gave their life to serve the country
Yes the Panerai Company never make a watch before this but that didn't stop Guido Panerai from trying. The frogman's lives depend on these instrument.
No one can take away this part of the history from panerai. Not rolex, not straps addicts, not the current corporate monkey of OP and not even the countless ridiculous SE that have been release can put a dent on it.
For these watches, the instrument that tied to the wrist of the 2 frogman who bravely set out the dark open water to sink a submarine that operate by 30 plus crew(maybe more). Like David vs Goliath, a story of bravery and heroism.
Now do you still care if they are big, ugly, poorly finish and only comes with leather straps? ::)
Regards
Tyler
-
The connection between the two are more than meets the eye.
What does Rolex does really well?
1. Marketing
2. Association of a public event (sports, exploration, etc)
3. Image of a waterproof watch
The modern Panerai Company (Officine Panerai, I'll use short form OP from now) surprisingly have more of the same list
1. Marketing (it does it so well some ranked it as high as a fashion brand now)
2. Association with public figure, mostly celebrity (I remember seeing photo Disney's CEO wore a luminor to the board meeting)
3. Image of a WW2 watch
What's the different?
Oh yes. OP has use numerous 3rd party movement, just something on top of my head Zenith, Minerva, Omega, Rolex, Angelus, ETA, Valjoux, JLC and Piaget. There might be more as am don't think I remember it all.
Funny thing is Rolex was never taken seriously until the early 80s. When the Hongkie goreng it up. Ask someone who is above 65 years old what is the best brand back in the 50s, 60s or 70s almost no one will say Rolex. What you'll hear is Omega or Titoni. On an more up scale level maybe you'll hear the name Vacheron or Cartier, yup that's right Patek wasn't even there yet.
If we talk about the legendary robustness of Rolex watch, I'm afraid it only limit to the Sea-Dweller and Explorer 1. Not Sub cos up until the mid 60s Rolex still can't keep the Sub water tight pass 60m. Real diver use omega, blancpain or Doxa. It's the Sea-Dweller that show great improvement in water resistancy and Rolex had help, COMEX.
The way Panerai went about it is different. The old Panerai is predominantly an instrument manufacturer and supplier. The Italian Navy was one of their client and when the Navy request for a diving watch (an instrument back in the days). Panerai went to Rolex for the reason I believe
1. Panerai was selling Rolex watches in the little Firenze store.
2. Rolex was honking the waterproof ability of its watch so Panerai think "ok why not?"
3. Why risk screwing things up ourselves if there a best out in the market and is available for purchase.
The 1st batch of watches given to Panerai from Rolex did not pass the Navy's test. Water tideness was an issue and Rolex haven't solve it. 2 more batch were deliver over a period of 2 year. They were better but the issue still remain. What Guido Panerai (the man that helm panerai at the time) did on its own was they went into R&D to solve those issues. The famous crown guard is one. The super bright luminescence subtance Radiomir and Luminor is another.
Improvement also being make by experimenting with different case but I believe those are not sole Panerai effort.
The panerai watches were being put into real use way before any submariner since the Sub only enter into the market around 1953 (long way from WW2).
Yes they were not perfect but these Italians have balls and they made it, both the frogman and Guido Panerai show human spirit can withstand any obstacles.
Yes the Italian lose the war but that didn't stop the frogman for completing their mission and some gave their life to serve the country
Yes the Panerai Company never make a watch before this but that didn't stop Guido Panerai from trying. The frogman's lives depend on these instrument.
No one can take away this part of the history from panerai. Not rolex, not straps addicts, not the current corporate monkey of OP and not even the countless ridiculous SE that have been release can put a dent on it.
For these watches, the instrument that tied to the wrist of the 2 frogman who bravely set out the dark open water to sink a submarine that operate by 30 plus crew(maybe more). Like David vs Goliath, a story of bravery and heroism.
Now do you still care if they are big, ugly, poorly finish and only comes with leather straps? ::)
Regards
Tyler
Well said Tyler :) just that some people won't appreciate what we are and what we have passion
for..
Stan
-
Bro, I guess people have problem with our "ugly" wife. :Laughing_on_floor:
Why? beats me ???
Regards
Tyler
Well said Tyler :) just that some people won't appreciate what we are and what we have passion
for..
Stan
-
Thanks Tyler for giving me a great history lesson :thumbsup:
-
Bro Tyler,
I dun think so our wife is "ugly" .... Maybe our wife is so beautiful and too sexy .... Until some of them cannot tahan and start calling her fashion watch ! ..... Ha...
-
Now you are hitting on my wife. I better hide her from you. ;D
Regard
Tyler
Bro Tyler,
I dun think so our wife is "ugly" .... Maybe our wife is so beautiful and too sexy .... Until some of them cannot tahan and start calling her fashion watch ! ..... Ha...
-
Tyler, 1st of all... Thank you for taking the time to type out a really detailed post.
I enjoyed reading it and I did learn a thing or two there.
Wouldn't it be better if all replies were of the same standard other than the usual sarcasm filled replies that we see?
-
Tyler,
Nice post about the history. At least Panerai effort was better than the British with Longines at their attempt to make a water resistant watch.
-
I hope for that too but we're not in a perfect world, are we?
I just have to take the lemon and make lemonade.
Thanks for the kind words. I suspect I make many mistake in the post. Some of the numbers are far from being exact but not deviate to the extend for the story to be false. Feel free to correct me if you found any error. :)
Regards
Tyler
Tyler, 1st of all... Thank you for taking the time to type out a really detailed post.
I enjoyed reading it and I did learn a thing or two there.
Wouldn't it be better if all replies were of the same standard other than the usual sarcasm filled replies that we see?
-
Tyler,
Nice post about the history. At least Panerai effort was better than the British with Longines at their attempt to make a water resistant watch.
:thumbsup:
-
The connection between the two are more than meets the eye.
What does Rolex does really well?
1. Marketing
2. Association of a public event (sports, exploration, etc)
3. Image of a waterproof watch
The modern Panerai Company (Officine Panerai, I'll use short form OP from now) surprisingly have more of the same list
1. Marketing (it does it so well some ranked it as high as a fashion brand now)
2. Association with public figure, mostly celebrity (I remember seeing photo Disney's CEO wore a luminor to the board meeting)
3. Image of a WW2 watch
What's the different?
Oh yes. OP has use numerous 3rd party movement, just something on top of my head Zenith, Minerva, Omega, Rolex, Angelus, ETA, Valjoux, JLC and Piaget. There might be more as am don't think I remember it all.
Funny thing is Rolex was never taken seriously until the early 80s. When the Hongkie goreng it up. Ask someone who is above 65 years old what is the best brand back in the 50s, 60s or 70s almost no one will say Rolex. What you'll hear is Omega or Titoni. On an more up scale level maybe you'll hear the name Vacheron or Cartier, yup that's right Patek wasn't even there yet.
If we talk about the legendary robustness of Rolex watch, I'm afraid it only limit to the Sea-Dweller and Explorer 1. Not Sub cos up until the mid 60s Rolex still can't keep the Sub water tight pass 60m. Real diver use omega, blancpain or Doxa. It's the Sea-Dweller that show great improvement in water resistancy and Rolex had help, COMEX.
The way Panerai went about it is different. The old Panerai is predominantly an instrument manufacturer and supplier. The Italian Navy was one of their client and when the Navy request for a diving watch (an instrument back in the days). Panerai went to Rolex for the reason I believe
1. Panerai was selling Rolex watches in the little Firenze store.
2. Rolex was honking the waterproof ability of its watch so Panerai think "ok why not?"
3. Why risk screwing things up ourselves if there a best out in the market and is available for purchase.
The 1st batch of watches given to Panerai from Rolex did not pass the Navy's test. Water tideness was an issue and Rolex haven't solve it. 2 more batch were deliver over a period of 2 year. They were better but the issue still remain. What Guido Panerai (the man that helm panerai at the time) did on its own was they went into R&D to solve those issues. The famous crown guard is one. The super bright luminescence subtance Radiomir and Luminor is another.
Improvement also being make by experimenting with different case but I believe those are not sole Panerai effort.
The panerai watches were being put into real use way before any submariner since the Sub only enter into the market around 1953 (long way from WW2).
Yes they were not perfect but these Italians have balls and they made it, both the frogman and Guido Panerai show human spirit can withstand any obstacles.
Yes the Italian lose the war but that didn't stop the frogman for completing their mission and some gave their life to serve the country
Yes the Panerai Company never make a watch before this but that didn't stop Guido Panerai from trying. The frogman's lives depend on these instrument.
No one can take away this part of the history from panerai. Not rolex, not straps addicts, not the current corporate monkey of OP and not even the countless ridiculous SE that have been release can put a dent on it.
For these watches, the instrument that tied to the wrist of the 2 frogman who bravely set out the dark open water to sink a submarine that operate by 30 plus crew(maybe more). Like David vs Goliath, a story of bravery and heroism.
Now do you still care if they are big, ugly, poorly finish and only comes with leather straps? ::)
Regards
Tyler
This post should have come in another thread but not too late to read it here. An interesting read indeed. At least now I know where the strange looking crown guard came from...
-
:thumbsup: nicely put, Tyler...
ok...no offense....but I heard this joke before....
Since these watches do not have a seconds hands....the divers wont be setting them in synchrony, like what we usually see in movies? ;D
-
Wow...I learn something new almost every time I logon to MWF.
Thanks, Tyler - for the most interesting history lesson. :Cheers:
Maybe someone can start a thread on watches that help win a war?
Or in the case of Japan & Germany, watches that helped their countries nearly win the war? ;D
Take care, Ciao! :thumbsup:
-
Actually the watch was primarily use for measuring bottom time(how much oxygen is left). There will be only 2 divers at a time on a SLC ("pig") since the diver are traveling together so they don't to synchronize watches. As for the second hand I suspect they give a full wound at every point of the mission.
Regard
Tyler
:thumbsup: nicely put, Tyler...
ok...no offense....but I heard this joke before....
Since these watches do not have a seconds hands....the divers wont be setting them in synchrony, like what we usually see in movies? ;D
-
19 December 1941: The Decima Flottiglia MAS attacked the port of Alexandria with three maiali (SLC). The battleships HMS Valiant and Queen Elizabeth (and an 8,000-ton tanker) were sunk in shallow water putting them out of action for many months.....
Just sharing the complete history
http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12100
Copy of a Letter of Lieut.Luigi de la Penne to his Mother and other details appertaining to this post
"My Dear Mother: By the time you receive this letter I will be
dead. I volunteered for a dangerous mission which failed..."
This was the first of three letters written by Lieutenant Luigi
Durand de la Penne of the Italian Navy two weeks before Christmas
1941. A second announced success, a third that he was a prisoner of
war. When the mission ended, the appropriate letter would be posted.
De la Penne, twenty-seven, a handsome, athletic six-footer was
about to embark on an undertaking that ranks high in the annals of
courage: he was to be the leader of a six man party in a barehanded
attack on British naval power at Alexandria. Pitting twelve stone
men against 32,000 ton battleships he was destined to win a single
naval victory and the admiration of its principal victim.
De la Penne's assignment was to sink main elements of British sea
power in the Mediterranean at a critical moment in history. The
British had just lost a battleship and an aircraft carrier to
submarines. The remaining two mediterranean battleships had taken
sanctuary in Alexandria harbor. De la Penne and his fellow
volunteers were to ride midget submarines - called "pigs" right into
the harbour and attack the ships there.
(http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t477/kentkoh79/p4_zps892c8d60.jpg)
Each "pig" was twenty two feet long and twenty one inches in
diameter. Propelled by silent electric motors they had a speed of
two to three m.p.h., a range of ten miles. a detachable warhead
carrying 660 pounds of explosive. once in the harbor the teams were
to attach explosive charges to hulls then escape if possible.
The odds that any of them would return were slim. De la Penne and
his men were advised to make wills and pack belongings for shipment
home in case they didn't return. No officer of the group was
supposed to be married. "But,. de la Penne says, "I disliked the
idea of dying without leaving a son behind." So he proposed to
Valeria Butti, pretty daughter of a prominent Genoa family. After a
secret ceremony de la Penne reported back for duty.
On 18th December the three teams were aboard the submarine
Scire', lying on the sea floor outside Alexandria harbor. Latest
intelligence reports confirmed that the battleships HMS Valiant and
HMS Queen Elizabeth were in the harbour. De La Penne and his
crewman, Petty Officer Emilo Bianchi, where to take the Valiant,
Lieutenant Amtonio Marceglia and Spartaco Schergat, the Queen
Elizabeth, Lieutenant Vincenzo Martellotta and Mario Marino where to
attack a 16,000 ton fleet tanker, and then scatter floating
incendiary bombs in the hope that oil from the tanker would set the
entire harbour on fire. After completing their work, the teams were
to swim ashore, steal a fishing boat and rendezvous on the 24th
December with an Italian submarine.
(http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t477/kentkoh79/p2_zpsa5bae0d5.jpg)
The HMS Queen Elizabeth battleship
(http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t477/kentkoh79/p5_zps408fea8c.jpg)
yeah...yeah...time for action !!
Shortly before 9 p.m. the crews struggled into there tight rubber
suits. Their little craft moved slowly towards the harbor
lighthouse. As they sat astride the pigs, only their heads protruded
above water. Time fuses were to be set. The tanker would go up at
about 5.55 a.m., the Valiant at 6.05, the Elizabeth at 6.15. There
was still time for the men to eat - possibly their last meal. From
sealed canisters, they extracted cold chicken, bread and small
bottles of champagne.
Now the moment had come to move in closer to the steel net which
guarded the harbour entrance. The pigs had pneumatic cutting shears,
but they were noisy and nets where frequently festooned with
explosive charges. While de la Penne hesitated, pondering his next
move, the lighthouse and the harbour suddenly lit up - ships were
about to enter!
As the net parted, de la Penne said : "Lets go! Three destroyers
appeared out of the darkness. The three pigs followed, tossing
wildly in the destroyers wake. Once inside the frog men set about
spotting their targets. De la Penne approached the Valiant - and ran
into a protective net. he and Bianchi tried to lift it. It was too
heavy. There was only one solution :
to try to roll themselves and there pig over the top without being
discovered. To their relief, the maneuver was successful. They
promptly submerged. The best place for the change was under No. 1
turrent. To get a final check on position, de la Penne surfaced,
unreeling a coil of cord which would guide him back to the pig. When
he returned to the depths the pig refused to start. Suspecting that
the cord had fouled the propeller he turned to Bainchi to signal him
to clear it. Bianchi was gone! De la Penne went to work alone.
The explosive warhead was still 100 feet out of position. Working
with bare hands numb and cold, de la Penne started inching his 660
pound burden through the mud. After nearly an hour of back breaking
work the charge was in position but de la Penne was too exhausted to
attach it to the hull. However since it was on the bottom only five
feet under the ship, he felt sure it would work. The time was now 3
a.m. - three hours to go before the explosion.
Almost at the point of collapse, he surfaced with a faint splash.
It was enough to alert the deck watch on the Valiant. Instantly a
searchlight pin pointed him. There was a hail of bullets. Spotting
an anchor buoy, de la Penne swam for its protection. Behind it was
Bianchi. His breathing apparatus had failed, he had lost
consciousness, bobbed to the surface, revived and swum to the buoy.
Soon a boat picked the two men up. At 3.30 a.m. they were
questioned on the quarter deck by the Valiants executive officer.
Beyond giving rank and serial number, both prisoners refused to
divulge any information. They were separated and de la Penne was
imprisoned in a store room on a lower deck of the Valiant - almost
directly over the warhead. Braced by a glass of rum and a packet of
cigarettes, he watched the minutes tick away 5.30, 5.40....
There was a rumble in the distance. Martellotta's team had blown
up the fleet tanker. Her entire stern was torn away, and a destroyer
lying alongside was also damaged, but the incendiaries failed to
work. It was now 5.54 eleven minutes to go. De la Penne pounded on
his cell door, asking to be taken to the ships commander, Captain
Charles Morgan. "your ship will blow up in ten minutes," he said. "I
have no desire to kill men unnecessarily. I suggest you get all
hands on deck."
"Where is the charge placed?" Morgan asked. "if you refuse to
answer, I must send you back below." De la Penne refused, for if
Morgan knew that the charge was lying on the bottom, he could move
the Valiant out of danger. As he was taken back to his cell, the
ship's loudspeaker system ordered all hands on deck.
De la Penne kept his eyes glued to his watch. His life, quite
likely was ticking away. had he set the fuse properly? Of course, it
was impossible to set it to the exact second. At 6.06, the charge
exploded. The Valiant shook convulsively and filled with smoke. De
la Penne was hurled across his cell and knocked out momentarily
unconscious. When he revived, he saw that his cell door had been
blown open. he made his way on deck unnoticed, fixed his eyes on the
Queen Elizabeth near by. At 6:15 there was a terrific explosion.
Magceglia had placed the charge directly under the Queen Elizabeths
engine room, and oil gushed from her stacks showering the harbour
and the Valiant. Since the anchorage was shallow, all three ships
settled on the bottom remaining nearly upright.
(http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t477/kentkoh79/p3_zps5530a0ff.jpg)
The HMS Queen Elizabeth battleship
At this moment the Italian Navy was supreme in the Mediterranean,
and with the protection its cruisers could give, there should have
been no insurmountable problems about supplying German and Italian
troops in North Africa. But those cruisers never ventured out, and
for an astonishing reason. Air reconnaissance pictures taken next
day were correctly interpreted by Italian intelligence officers:
Valiant was listing to port : Queen Elizabeth was down by the bows;
both clearly, were seriously damaged. But Mussolini overruled his
experts. The ships, he decreed, were unharmed. Since his world could
not be challenged, the Italian fleet remained at port, and missed
its golden opportunity.
The British did everything possible to support Mussolini's folly.
While frantic work was done on the jagged forty-foot holes in the
two warships, calm reigned on the surface. Both ships kept up steam.
Band concerts and receptions were held on deck. But it was more than
a year before either was again ready for action.
Meanwhile, the six Italian frogmen had all been taken prisoner.
De la Penne was sent to Cairo, thence to Palestine, where he escaped
to Syria. He was caught and place aboard an India bound ship. In
India, he escaped once more and was again picked up.
An occasional letter got through from his wife. One gossiped
happily about the clever things "Renzo" had done. Renzo was the name
of de la Pennes younger brother, and he wondered about his wifes
sanity. He didn't know he had a year old son of that name.
De la Penne was released shortly after Italy made peace with the
Allies in 1943. He joined the Allied side, helped to thwart plans of
retreating Germans to block the harbor at la Spezia. He and others
slipped in and sank the ships there before they could be manoeuvred
into the harbour entrance for scuttling.
One day in 1945, there was an extraordinary ceremony. Crown
Prince Umberto of Italy was about to pin his nation's highest
decoration the Medaglia d'Ore on de la Penne's chest. From those in
attenance a man stepped forward - Vice Admiral Sire Charles Morgan,
British commander of naval forces in the area, former skipper of the
Valiant. Thanks to de la Penne's warning, not a life had been lost
among the Valiant's 1,700 man crew.
Sometimes....i do believe that we can appreciate our toy more....if we can understand a bit of the history behind it.. :)
(http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t477/kentkoh79/0C64227F-8685-444C-A538-70D7A7B68B84-1129-000002EB74F67011_zps557965da.jpg)
-
Wow! Thanks, Kentkoh79.
That's a truly fascinating piece of history.
Made me appreciate the "pig" in the Pam.
Lots more to learn.
Take care, Ciao! :thumbsup:
-
The connection between the two are more than meets the eye.
What does Rolex does really well?
1. Marketing
2. Association of a public event (sports, exploration, etc)
3. Image of a waterproof watch
The modern Panerai Company (Officine Panerai, I'll use short form OP from now) surprisingly have more of the same list
1. Marketing (it does it so well some ranked it as high as a fashion brand now)
2. Association with public figure, mostly celebrity (I remember seeing photo Disney's CEO wore a luminor to the board meeting)
3. Image of a WW2 watch
What's the different?
Oh yes. OP has use numerous 3rd party movement, just something on top of my head Zenith, Minerva, Omega, Rolex, Angelus, ETA, Valjoux, JLC and Piaget. There might be more as am don't think I remember it all.
Funny thing is Rolex was never taken seriously until the early 80s. When the Hongkie goreng it up. Ask someone who is above 65 years old what is the best brand back in the 50s, 60s or 70s almost no one will say Rolex. What you'll hear is Omega or Titoni. On an more up scale level maybe you'll hear the name Vacheron or Cartier, yup that's right Patek wasn't even there yet.
If we talk about the legendary robustness of Rolex watch, I'm afraid it only limit to the Sea-Dweller and Explorer 1. Not Sub cos up until the mid 60s Rolex still can't keep the Sub water tight pass 60m. Real diver use omega, blancpain or Doxa. It's the Sea-Dweller that show great improvement in water resistancy and Rolex had help, COMEX.
The way Panerai went about it is different. The old Panerai is predominantly an instrument manufacturer and supplier. The Italian Navy was one of their client and when the Navy request for a diving watch (an instrument back in the days). Panerai went to Rolex for the reason I believe
1. Panerai was selling Rolex watches in the little Firenze store.
2. Rolex was honking the waterproof ability of its watch so Panerai think "ok why not?"
3. Why risk screwing things up ourselves if there a best out in the market and is available for purchase.
The 1st batch of watches given to Panerai from Rolex did not pass the Navy's test. Water tideness was an issue and Rolex haven't solve it. 2 more batch were deliver over a period of 2 year. They were better but the issue still remain. What Guido Panerai (the man that helm panerai at the time) did on its own was they went into R&D to solve those issues. The famous crown guard is one. The super bright luminescence subtance Radiomir and Luminor is another.
Improvement also being make by experimenting with different case but I believe those are not sole Panerai effort.
The panerai watches were being put into real use way before any submariner since the Sub only enter into the market around 1953 (long way from WW2).
Yes they were not perfect but these Italians have balls and they made it, both the frogman and Guido Panerai show human spirit can withstand any obstacles.
Yes the Italian lose the war but that didn't stop the frogman for completing their mission and some gave their life to serve the country
Yes the Panerai Company never make a watch before this but that didn't stop Guido Panerai from trying. The frogman's lives depend on these instrument.
No one can take away this part of the history from panerai. Not rolex, not straps addicts, not the current corporate monkey of OP and not even the countless ridiculous SE that have been release can put a dent on it.
For these watches, the instrument that tied to the wrist of the 2 frogman who bravely set out the dark open water to sink a submarine that operate by 30 plus crew(maybe more). Like David vs Goliath, a story of bravery and heroism.
Now do you still care if they are big, ugly, poorly finish and only comes with leather straps? ::)
Regards
Tyler
Tyler, thanks for a very good read.
Although i have stayed away from most of the action, i just need to applaud you for your great effort. Well done my friend :thumbsup:
-
Superb read guys. Thanks for sharing. :thumbsup:
-
Decima Flottiglia MAS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decima_Flottiglia_MAS)
A lot of history books highlight the massive defeats suffered by the Italian Armed forces during WW2, but few know of the exploits of the Italian COMSUBIN.
Amazing! :Cheers: :o :thumbsup: