MIDGET SUBMARINES OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR

A detailed developmental and operational history of the human torpedoes, submersibles and midget submarines of Italy, Germany, Japan and Britain during World War II * Detailed data tables and operational summaries * Comprehensive collection of illustrations including rare Italian photographs * A selection of specially commissioned cutaway drawings * A separate set of large-scale plans for modelmakers of the British X-Craft and the German "Seehund" midget submarines. The history of midget submarines, submersibles and human torpedoes is one of the most fascinating areas of naval warfare in World War II. Originating with the Italian "Mignatta" human torpedo of World War I, designed to attack enemy ships lying in defended harbours, by 1945 almost all the major combatants had made some use of craft of this type, ranging from the British "X-Craft", which crippled the German battleship "Tirpitz" in a Norwegian fjord and sank the Japanese cruiser "Takao", to the Japanese "Kaiten" suicide weapon, the equally desperate German submersibles the "Neger" and "Marder", and the slightly more successful "Seehund" midget submarine. This book deals with each type of craft separately, dividing them into human torpedoes (Italian "Maiale", British "Chariot"), submersibles (German "Biber" and Japanese "Kaiten"), and true midget submarines (British "X-Craft" and Japanese "Ko-Hyoteki"). The author examines the reasons why the belligerents engaged in midget submarine construction and operations, and details all the classes of craft that were built, also examining post-war developments. Together with its superb plans and drawings, this book is essential reference for all naval historians, enthusiasts and modelmakers with an interest in one of the most daring and dangerous forms of naval warfare.