Description

During World War II, Germany, Japan, and Italy built approximately 2,000 small, inherently stealthy, naval craft to perform special operations and conventional naval missions. Much more numerous and more technically advanced than their Allied counterparts, they saw service worldwide, operating in the Pacific, Mediterranean, Black Sea, Indian Ocean, North Sea, and the English channel. Manned by courageous crews, these vessels made daring attacks on Allied ships in heavily protected anchorages using torpedoes and mines. Most notable were attacks against Gibraltar – launched from an Italian cargo vessel interred in nearby neutral Spain that had been converted into a clandestine support base and equipped with an underwater hatch – and Pearl Harbor. They were used against shipping in coastal waters and, near the end of the war, in desperate attempts to offset their opponents' overwhelming naval superiority during the US advance across the Pacific and the Allied amphibious landings in France and Italy. This volume will detail the history, weapons, and operations of German, Japanese, and Italian midget submarines.

Product details

Published Jun 20 2014
Format Ebook (Epub & Mobi)
Edition 1st
Extent 48
ISBN 9781472801241
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Series New Vanguard
Short code NVG 212
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Jamie Prenatt

Jamie E. Prenatt is a senior analyst in the Depart…

Author

Mark Stille

Mark Stille is the author of numerous Osprey title…

Illustrator

Paul Wright

Paul Wright has painted ships of all kinds for mos…

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