Betasom: Italian Submarines in the Battle of the Atlantic, 1940-1945 by Marek Sobski

Length: 372 pages, including bibliography

Mr. Sobski continues his chronicle of Mussolini's War with this study of Italy's submarine deployments from Bordeaux, France. He starts by telling us of the different classes of Italian Navy submarines. There were several classes with only two or three boats in them. Sobski tells us of their two 100mm deck guns, their torpedo tubes, 4 forward and 4 aft. They also had large conning towers, which ended up being cut down as experience dictated.

We are also told of the Italians hydrography work which let them know about the current they'd fight when passing through the Strait of Gibraltar. This helped them when deployment time came. Their first move into the Atlantic, after declaring war, was straight into the region around the Azores and then straight home again. After the fall of France, they get a base created for them at Bordeaux with German help.

We then get told of their deployment during the winter of 1940-41 to the west of Ireland and Scotland. Terrible weather leads to men being swept overboard, and to lack of kills. The Germans the send them to the Central and South Atlantic, where they had much better luck in sinking lone ships, and the entry of the U.S. into the war allows them to make many kills in the Carribean.

We also read of the epic voyage of 4 Italians subs stranded in Eritrea, and their journey around the Cape of Good Hope to get to Bordeaux. There is also the tales of the subs sent to Japanese bases, and their fates. Sobski also gives the blockade running Italian merchant ships and their travel from Japan and the Dutch East Indies to France. We are also given the roll call of honor for the lost subs and their commanders.

Mr. Sobski gives us a lot of detail on the subs and their kills. It can be overwhelming. That's really the only fault I can give, other than some translation errors, such as "Air Force Cross" when he likely meant "Distinguished Flying Cross", especially since it was a U.S. Navy flyer he was taking about.

I give this 4 stars out of 5.

 

This sounds like a good read. Will add it to my list.

 

Thanks.

 

Recieved a copy in the mail tonight. Just had a quick look through it, but it seems to be a good read. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

No sweat.