Italian Assault Craft, 1940-1945

Italian Assault Craft, 1940-1945
Author: Erminio Bagnasco
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
Total Pages: 234
Release: 2023-06-30
Genre: History
ISBN: 1399056115

In stark contrast to the rather modest performance of its large surface fleet in the Second World War, the Italian Navy’s smallest units achieved its most spectacular successes. It made a specialty of unconventional methods of attack – explosive motor boats, human torpedoes and miniature submarines – that were employed with ingenuity and daring to surprise, discomfort and baffle the enemy. In December 1941 the whole balance of the naval war in the Mediterranean was altered by six frogmen riding three of the SLC craft they called maiale (‘pigs’) who penetrated Alexandria harbor to cripple the battleships Valiant and Queen Elizabeth, surely one of the most impressive ratios of results to resources in naval history. This book is the first complete history of these craft, both the details of the technology and the history of their deployment. Beginning in the Great War with the extraordinary ‘jumping’ boats designed to scale harbor boom defenses, the story takes in the inter-war development of both lightweight surface craft and underwater systems from small submarines to ‘Gamma’ assault divers. By way of comparison, equivalent developments in other navies are analyzed, including the British ‘chariots’ which were little more than copies of the Italian SLCs. Every operation by these craft is described, cataloging the forces involved and the results, from high-profile successes like the sinking of the cruiser York by explosive motorboat to lesser-known incidents – the use of such craft by the Israelis as late as 1948 for example. Many were carried out by the famous Decima MAS, a unit as legendary in Italy as the SAS in Britain, and this book provides a comprehensive chronicle of their activities. Originally commissioned by CABI Cattaneo that designed and built most of these craft, Italian Assault Craft benefited from unrestricted access to the company’s archives, technical drawings, and photo collection so it is replete with rarely seen illustrations. Very much secret weapons in their day, they are here revealed in full detail for the first time.

Italian Assault Craft, 1940-1945

Italian Assault Craft, 1940-1945
Author: Erminio Bagnasco
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2023-04-29
Genre:
ISBN: 9781399056083

In stark contrast to the modest performance of its large surface fleet in World War II, the Italian Navy's smallest units achieved its most spectacular successes. It made a specialty of unconventional methods of attack--explosive motorboats, human torpedoes, and miniature submarines--that were employed with ingenuity and daring to surprise, discomfort and baffle the enemy. In December 1941, the whole balance of the naval war in the Mediterranean was altered by six divers riding three of the SLC craft they called maiale ('pigs') who penetrated Alexandria harbor to cripple the battleships Valiant and Queen Elizabeth, surely one of the most impressive ratios of results to resources in naval history. This book is the first complete history of these craft, both the details of the technology and the history of their deployment. Beginning in the Great War with the extraordinary 'jumping' boats designed to scale harbor boom defenses, the story takes in the inter-war development of both lightweight surface craft and underwater systems from small submarines to 'Gamma' assault divers. By way of comparison, equivalent developments in other navies are analyzed, including the British 'chariots' which were little more than copies of the Italian SLCs. Every operation by these craft is described, cataloguing the forces involved and the results, from high-profile successes like the sinking of the cruiser York by explosive motorboat to lesser-known incidents - the use of such craft by the Israelis as late as 1948 for example. Many were carried out by the famous Decima MAS, a unit as legendary in Italy as the SAS in Britain, and this book provides a comprehensive chronicle of their activities. Originally commissioned by CABI Cattaneo that designed and built most of these craft, Italian Assault Craft benefited from unrestricted access to the company's archives, technical drawings, and photo collection so it is replete with rarely seen illustrations. Many secret weapons in their day are revealed here in full detail for the first time.

Naval Power in the Twentieth Century

Naval Power in the Twentieth Century
Author: N.A.M. Rodger
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 296
Release: 2016-07-27
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1349138606

It is a century since Mahan and his disciples taught the world that a battlefleet was indispensable to a great power. Great and not so great powers still keep powerful navies today, but we have no generally-accepted principles to explain why. In this book historians and naval officers from Britain, the United States and other countries study the use of naval power over a century, and ask what it is for, and what it can do. It will be essential reading for modern historians, policy-makers and strategists.

A Life of Admiral of the Fleet Andrew Cunningham

A Life of Admiral of the Fleet Andrew Cunningham
Author: Michael Simpson
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 222
Release: 2020-09-23
Genre: History
ISBN: 1000159116

This book presents an account of the life of naval commander Andrew Cunningham, the best-known and most celebrated British admiral of the Second World War. It supplements Cunningham's papers by Cabinet and Admiralty records, papers of his service contemporaries and of Churchill.

Mussolini’s Navy

Mussolini’s Navy
Author: Maurizio Brescia
Publisher: Seaforth Publishing
Total Pages: 257
Release: 2012-09-30
Genre: History
ISBN: 1848321155

This book is a complete guide to the Regia Marina, the navy with which Italy fought the Second World War. Starting with the historical background, it describes how the navy developed, how it was organised, the facilities that supported it, and the operations it conducted both before and after the armistice in 1943. It also details all its ships, with full technical particulars, plans and photos. Furthermore, there are chapters on special topics like camouflage; uniforms, decorations and insignia; and a 'who's who' of important naval personalities; and the reference value of the book is enhanced by a comprehensive bibliography and guide to sources. The illustration is a noteworthy feature of the book as the author's collection of naval photographs is one of the best in Italy. He is also a fine draughtsman, and his ship plans and colour illustrations are both detailed and accurate, adding a particular appeal for modelmakers. Of all the main combatant navies of this era, the Italian is probably the most poorly represented in English publications, so this comprehensive handbook will be especially welcomed by the naval history community.

Arming the Warship

Arming the Warship
Author: Iver P. Cooper
Publisher: McFarland
Total Pages: 306
Release: 2024-11-04
Genre: History
ISBN: 1476694990

In the 16th century, warships engaged at close range, sometimes with yards touching, and small arms fire and hand-to-hand combat were at least as important as the "great guns." As time went on, the big guns became more decisive and increased in destructive power, range and accuracy. This book explores how naval armament, armor, ballistics and gunnery evolved from the 16th to 20th centuries from a scientific and technological perspective. It examines the functional aspects--the guns and their distribution on warships, the propellants, the projectiles and so forth--and examines the development of each.

Mussolini's Navy

Mussolini's Navy
Author: Maurizio Brescia
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Total Pages: 561
Release: 2012-09-30
Genre: History
ISBN: 1473816505

“A simply magnificent book describing the Italian Navy of the Second World War, profiling all classes of vessels, from battleships . . . [to] submarines.” —Pegasus Archive This book is a complete guide to the Regia Marina, the navy with which Italy fought the Second World War. Starting with the historical background, it describes how the navy developed, how it was organized, the facilities that supported it, and the operations it conducted both before and after the armistice in 1943. It also details all its ships, with full technical particulars, plans and photos. Furthermore, there are chapters on special topics like camouflage; uniforms, decorations and insignia; and a “who’s who” of important naval personalities; and the reference value of the book is enhanced by a comprehensive bibliography and guide to sources. The illustration is a noteworthy feature of the book as the author’s collection of naval photographs is one of the best in Italy. He is also a fine draughtsman, and his ship plans and color illustrations are both detailed and accurate, adding a particular appeal for modelmakers. Of all the main combatant navies of this era, the Italian is probably the most poorly represented in English publications, so this comprehensive handbook will be especially welcomed by the naval community. “An overview of the wartime Italian Navy, including its bases and organization, ships and aircraft . . . an enjoyable book.” —Warships International Fleet Review “A major achievement and a milestone in the renaissance of Italian Naval history . . . [the] book is a gem and is thoroughly recommended.” —The Navy Vol 75

Midget Submarines of the Second World War

Midget Submarines of the Second World War
Author: Paul Kemp
Publisher: Chatham Publishing
Total Pages: 136
Release: 1999
Genre: History
ISBN:

The author looks at why major navies engaged in the development of midget submarines during World War II.

The Littorio Class

The Littorio Class
Author: Ermingo Bagnasco
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Total Pages: 696
Release: 2011-07-18
Genre: History
ISBN: 1473819474

“An important work for anyone interested in warship design, the naval side of World War II in the Mediterranean, or modern Italian history.”—New York Military Affairs Symposium For its final battleship design Italy ignored all treaty restrictions on tonnage and produced one of Europe’s largest and most powerful capital ships, comparable with Germany’s Bismarck class, similarly built in defiance of international agreements. The three ships of the Littorio class were typical of Italian design, being fast and elegant, but also boasting a revolutionary protective scheme—which was tested to the limits, as all three were to be heavily damaged in the hard-fought naval war in the Mediterranean; Roma had the unfortunate distinction of being the first capital ship sunk by guided missile. These important ships have never been covered in depth in English-language publications, but the need is now satisfied in this comprehensive and convincing study by two of Italy’s leading naval historians. The book combines a detailed analysis of the design with an operational history, evaluating how the ships stood up to combat. It is illustrated with an amazing collection of photographs, many fine-line plans, and colored artwork of camouflage schemes, adding up to as complete a monograph on a single class ever published. Among warship enthusiasts, battleships enjoy a unique status. As the great success of Seaforth’s recent book on French battleships proves, that interest transcends national boundaries, and this superbly executed study is certain to become another classic in the field. “A very impressive piece of work.”—History of War “An essential book for all naval history enthusiasts.”—Firetrench

While They Were Young-A History of St .Charles and Her Service Personnel 1940-1945

While They Were Young-A History of St .Charles and Her Service Personnel 1940-1945
Author: Kevin J. Gaffney
Publisher: iUniverse
Total Pages: 330
Release: 2009-12
Genre: History
ISBN: 1440194823

Kevin Gaffney of St. Charles, is pleased to announce his book entitled, While They Were Young-A History of St. Charles and Her Service Personnel 1940-1945. After more than two years of research and writing, Kevin is pleased with the final product that includes 2 DVDs of additional photos. The book includes a history of St. Charles from 1940 including contributions of the citizenry prior and during WWII, the personal accounts of many soldiers and service personnel, letters from the front, and information pertaining to those wounded in action and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. The book will be available for sale at the St. Charles Heritage Center (630-584-6967) starting January 23, 2010 with a portion of the sales being donated to the Center by the author. The author will be conducting book signings and donating a copy of the book and DVD to the St. Charles Heritage Center, St. Charles Library and to at least two families of veterans. The price of the book is as follows: hardcover $32.95, soft cover $22.95, e-book $6.00. The DVDs are $10.00 per DVD. Kevin currently works as an adjunct professor of criminology at Judson University and for the Office of Regional Counsel, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. His government experience also included work for the U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Unit in Chicago and the CFTC, Enforcement Division, in Washington, DC. He has taught U.S. History at two Christian high schools. He received his BA in political science from Stetson University and his MPA in public administration from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. Kevin also has recorded professionally two CDs of trumpet music. Sony Music has included his version of the Star Spangled Banner in its recording selection, "Bonds Listen to This". Kevin serves on the St. Charles Heritage Board of Directors as Vice-President and also with the St. Charles Park Foundation. He has a passion to tell the stories of service personnel from not only WWII, but of other wars as they relate to St. Charles. Kevin currently resides with his family in St. Charles, Illinois, where he was born. His next book, to be published in the near distant future, will tell the story of St. Charles and her service personnel during WWI. He is also compiling additional material of WWII letters that will compliment the current title in another book also to be available next year. Requests for book signings and presentations pertaining to the book may be made by calling Kevin at 630-584-4797.