The success at Suda created a new sense of confidence within the inner circles of Rome's politicians, who were resentful over the fact that only about fifty miles south of Sicily, for as far back they could remember, English military forces were enjoying an unchallenged presence on the Island of Ma.. The Italians felt that Malta was the thorn on their back, that the English were thumbing their noses with daring derision. Wanting to get even oce and for all, Borne gave orders to launch an attack on Maga with the expectation of achieving the results similar to those at Suda

After Mussolini ordered the attack, the officers of the 10th Flotilla were not unanimous on the idea. Borghese and Giobbe objected on the ground that there were not enough targets of importance, while Moccagatta and Tesei reasoned on its behalf: the idea of surprise and of sending a massage! The final decision came on the side of the latter two and the plan of action quickly received support from Rome.

On July 25, 1941, members of the 10th gathered at the Sicilian port of Augusta. The destroyer Diana (Mussolini'( private yacht now modified for the 10th) was loaded with various types of speed-boats, human torpedoes, and other weapon systems. Moccagatta was in charge: the other frogmen were: Captain Bruno, the doctor, Giorgio Giobbe, Teseo Tesei, Alcide Pedretti, Franco Costa, and Luigi Berla, along with eight more.