ORIGINAL: warspite1
ORIGINAL: Hotschi
...and have just started Struggle for the Middle Sea by Vincent P. O'Hara.
warspite1
I enjoyed this book - it provides a look at the main naval engagements in the Mediterranean Sea in WWII, and the OOB for each, in a concise one-volume work.
However, I fundamentally disagree with O'Hara's view on the performance of the Regia Marina in WWII. One his arguments to support his view is that, unlike the German or Japanese navies, the RM ended the war largely intact..... a) not sure why that is a good measure for a country that lost the war. b) the RM fought the Royal Navy's reputation and not the RN as it existed, stretched to the limits, in WWII. Had they been more aggressive, they could, and should, have hurt the RN more.
Finished that one, good book. Regarding your points, I don't think that losing the war invalidates saying that a fleet stayed largely intact - which is true for the Regia Marina. For example, at the armistice, all its battleships bar the one sunk at Tarento were still in service. I would also say that the RM's mission was not to fight a "reputation" of an enemy fleet, in this case the RN, but to carry out a defined mission - which was to keep open the sea lanes between Italy and it's African colonies/conquests. The Regia Marina was hampered by lack of fuel - the war against Russia has cut it off from its main fuel source and henceforth Italy was completely dependant on Germany for fuel. The coordination between Italian navy and Air Force was abysmal, the RM had no radar, it's ships were of short range. Despite all this, the RM actually
did carry out its assigned mission, no matter how hysterically that over-rated "desert-fox" Rommel complained to his superiors.
Remember, O'Hara says the RM "stayed largely intact", he does not say the RM was "victorious". And maybe the Royal Navy should have done better
Anyway, this book makes me want to read more, especially about all
the numerous French Fleets (Free and Vichy, as well as actions after Vichy's downfall) and about the Italian fleets actions as Allied co-belligerent.
Now reading Edward Young's
One of our Submarines - Young was the first R.N.V.R. officer who got his own submarine command, HM submarine "Storm". It's his autobiography of his wartime service. Information about the RN's submarine operations is rare as far as I can tell. I'd wish it receives more coverage in books.
And I think I should dig deeper into the Royal Navy stuff. Any recommendations?
