Axis Midget Submarines: 1939-45/Сверхмалые подводные лодки стран оси: 1939-45

Издание на английском языке
Overshadowed by the U-boat war in the North Atlantic, the story of Axis midget craft - manned torpedoes and midget submarines - has received little attention outside specialist naval circles. Most surprising is the sheer number of vessels built: Italy, Germany, and Japan constructed approximately 2,000. Of these, only the five Japanese midget submarines that took part in the attack on Pearl Harbor are relatively well known. Although their mission was a failure, the nine crewmen who did not survive were elevated to the status of “war gods” by the Japanese, much to the consternation of the naval aviators responsible for the vast majority of the attack.
As at Pearl Harbor, many Axis midget craft attacks were unsuccessful. Although not intended to be suicide craft, the survival rate of these vessels and their brave crews - at least in the beginning - was appallingly low. While provision was made to recover them after their missions, frequently the best the crews could hope for was captivity in a prisoner-of-war camp.
Italy had some spectacular successes in the Mediterranean Sea. Ultimately, however, these and other more minor contributions by Axis midget craft did not make a decisive contribution to the war. Midget craft still have a role today as an important tool for special operations forces, research vessels, cargo transports for narco-traffickers, and playthings for the ultra-wealthy.

Contents
Introduction
Origin
Italy
History and Doctrine
Manned Torpedo Development
Manned Torpedo Wartime Service
Midget Submarine Development
Midget Submarine Wartime Service
Prototypes and Concepts
Analysis and Conclusion
Germany
History and Doctrine
Manned Torpedo Development
Manned Torpedo Wartime Service
Midget Submarines
Prototypes and Concepts
Analysis and Conclusion
Japan
History and Doctrine
Midget Submarine Development
Midget Submarine Wartime Service
Analysis and Conclusion
Bibliography
Index