don't know if it is a widely known fact, so I'll post some info I found about italian submarines during WW2.
Royal Itialian Navy had 172 active boats during WW2. They sunk 132 merchant ships (665.317 tonn.) and 18 military ships (28.950 tonn.) - different sources give different data.
128 submarines were lost.
First italian success in the conflict was HMS "Calypso" (cruiser) which was sunk by Smg. "Bagnolini" on 12th of June 1940. Since fall of 1940 italian subs based in Bordeaux started operations in the Antlantic Ocean. Italian command was known as "BETASOM" with 21 submarines.
One of the most spectacular actions was taken by Smg. " Scire' " which brought to the port of Alessandria (Egypt), the assault team who heavily damaged "HMS Valiant" and "HMS Queen Elizabeth".
Some of italian subs operated near U.S. east coast, what effected in sinking of several U.S. merchant ships (68.000 tonn.).
In 1943 italians started operations in the Indian Ocean.
After collapse of fascism in Italy on the 25th of July 1943, remaining operational subs were seized by the Kriegsmarine and by Japanese Navy in the Far East. Several subs managed to enter Allied ports.
The midget submarines in the Med were exceptional and pointed the way for the allied ones.The Italians pioneered the use of frogmen and human torpedoes. Great Britain and Germany soon followed. Italy's frogman group were formed in 1938, 1a Flottiglia Mezzi d'Assalto (1st Flotilla Assault Vehicles), which was renamed in 1940 as the Decima Flottiglia MAS (10th Flotilla Assault Vehicles, X-MAS).
Sunday 28 March 2010
Italian one man subs
don't know if it is a widely known fact, so I'll post some info I found about italian submarines during WW2.
Royal Itialian Navy had 172 active boats during WW2. They sunk 132 merchant ships (665.317 tonn.) and 18 military ships (28.950 tonn.) - different sources give different data.
128 submarines were lost.
First italian success in the conflict was HMS "Calypso" (cruiser) which was sunk by Smg. "Bagnolini" on 12th of June 1940. Since fall of 1940 italian subs based in Bordeaux started operations in the Antlantic Ocean. Italian command was known as "BETASOM" with 21 submarines.
One of the most spectacular actions was taken by Smg. " Scire' " which brought to the port of Alessandria (Egypt), the assault team who heavily damaged "HMS Valiant" and "HMS Queen Elizabeth".
Some of italian subs operated near U.S. east coast, what effected in sinking of several U.S. merchant ships (68.000 tonn.).
In 1943 italians started operations in the Indian Ocean.
After collapse of fascism in Italy on the 25th of July 1943, remaining operational subs were seized by the Kriegsmarine and by Japanese Navy in the Far East. Several subs managed to enter Allied ports.
The midget submarines in the Med were exceptional and pointed the way for the allied ones.The Italians pioneered the use of frogmen and human torpedoes. Great Britain and Germany soon followed. Italy's frogman group were formed in 1938, 1a Flottiglia Mezzi d'Assalto (1st Flotilla Assault Vehicles), which was renamed in 1940 as the Decima Flottiglia MAS (10th Flotilla Assault Vehicles, X-MAS).
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