Collar Tabs - Xª Flottiglia MAS Bn. San Marco, Summer Version

Summer Collar Tabs – San Marco Battalion

These collar patches feature a bright red wool base and a golden metallic emblem: the winged lion of Saint Mark above a horizontal sword—an unmistakable mark of Italy’s naval infantry elite.

Worn between 1941 and 1943, especially in campaigns in North Africa, the Aegean, and along the Adriatic, these summer patches were sewn onto light canvas jackets, ideal for hot climates.

One legendary story comes from the defense of Tobruk, where a small San Marco unit held off larger British forces in a last-stand defense, earning comparisons to the U.S. Marines. In the heat and dust, the patches remained a proud sign of identity—more than insignia, they were a banner of commitment and valor.