Axis Midget Submarines: 1939-45

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.

Jamie E. Prenatt is a senior analyst in the Department of Defense. He has over 30 years of military and civilian intelligence experience and has served in a wide range of analytic, leadership, and representational assignments. He holds an MA in Government/National Security Policy from Georgetown University and has a particular interest in weapon systems development. He has taught military history, wargaming, and historical miniature painting at the Smithsonian Institution for several years and intelligence studies at the university level. Mark E. Stille (Commander, United States Navy, retired) received his BA in History from the University of Maryland and also holds an MA from the Naval War College. He has worked in the intelligence community for 35 years including tours on the faculty of the Naval War College, on the Joint Staff and on US Navy ships. He is currently a senior analyst working in the Washington DC area. He is the author of numerous Osprey titles, focusing on naval history in the Pacific.

"Lavishly illustrated...This is a very interesting book, highly relevant to post-war harbor defense, and highly recommended." --Bolling Smith, The Coast Defense Journal "The authors revealed the story in a well organized and easily read text. Original artwork brings some of the great missions to life, and displays the vessels in beyond what most photographs can. The photographic choices are very interesting. Many are useful for modelers and artists. This book should be welcome to those interested in Axis special forces, naval operations, submarines and torpedoes." --Frederick Boucher, KitMaker Network "In this book the authors have done a superb job of covering the development and deployment of all the various types of Axis midget submarine (and there ware more than you'd think). The book has a lot of superb period photos of these craft and this is additionally enhanced by some excellent art work ... an excellent title and one that I'm sure you will find a fascinating read." --Scott van Aken, www.modelingmadness.com "Details the naval history and weapons of the approximately 2,000 small, stealthy submarines built by German, Japan and Italy during World War II." --Model Retailer "Axis Midget Submarines covers just what the title says, midget submarines from Italy, Germany and Japan.This is an excellent book and well illustrated with a great sense of history. I recommend it to all fans of the submarine and especially midget subs." --Dave Morrissette, IPMS/USA Reviews