Naval Frogmen

Wartime Underwater Operations

Nonfiction, History, Military, Pictorial, Naval, World War II
Cover of the book Naval Frogmen by T. J. Waldron, James Gleeson, Fonthill Media
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: T. J. Waldron, James Gleeson ISBN: 1230001928815
Publisher: Fonthill Media Publication: September 23, 2017
Imprint: Language: English
Author: T. J. Waldron, James Gleeson
ISBN: 1230001928815
Publisher: Fonthill Media
Publication: September 23, 2017
Imprint:
Language: English

The first modern frogmen were the Italian commando frogmen of Decima Flottiglia MAS which was first in action in 1940. They were nicknamed Uomini Rana, Italian for frogmen, because of their swimming frog kick style and because their fins looked like frogs’ feet. Their success against Royal Navy warships was a shock to the British Admiralty which took up the challenge and by 1942 the Royal Navy had their own frogmen with manned torpedo Chariots.

Many of the early frogmen’s breathing sets were German pilots’ oxygen cylinders recovered from shot-down Luftwaffe planes Royal Navy frogmen began with the torpedo chariots, but later moved to midget submarines known as X-craft. On 20 September 1943 two four-man X-craft set out to attack the Tirpitz in Kåfjord in Norway which was badly damaged by limpet mines.

This fascinating and well-written book chronicles the use of frogmen during the Second World War, predominantly describing the Royal Navy operatives. It details their training, their various attacks, and the use of frogmen to clear the D-Day beaches of underwater obstacles, and the clearance of mines, booby traps and wrecks in harbours. By the end of the war, the British human torpedo operations had earned their participants 20 medals and 16 men had been killed.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

The first modern frogmen were the Italian commando frogmen of Decima Flottiglia MAS which was first in action in 1940. They were nicknamed Uomini Rana, Italian for frogmen, because of their swimming frog kick style and because their fins looked like frogs’ feet. Their success against Royal Navy warships was a shock to the British Admiralty which took up the challenge and by 1942 the Royal Navy had their own frogmen with manned torpedo Chariots.

Many of the early frogmen’s breathing sets were German pilots’ oxygen cylinders recovered from shot-down Luftwaffe planes Royal Navy frogmen began with the torpedo chariots, but later moved to midget submarines known as X-craft. On 20 September 1943 two four-man X-craft set out to attack the Tirpitz in Kåfjord in Norway which was badly damaged by limpet mines.

This fascinating and well-written book chronicles the use of frogmen during the Second World War, predominantly describing the Royal Navy operatives. It details their training, their various attacks, and the use of frogmen to clear the D-Day beaches of underwater obstacles, and the clearance of mines, booby traps and wrecks in harbours. By the end of the war, the British human torpedo operations had earned their participants 20 medals and 16 men had been killed.

More books from Fonthill Media

Cover of the book We Can Swing Together by T. J. Waldron, James Gleeson
Cover of the book Washington DC Through Time by T. J. Waldron, James Gleeson
Cover of the book Spitfire Glory: The Wartime Flying Life of Leif Lundsten by T. J. Waldron, James Gleeson
Cover of the book Richard III by T. J. Waldron, James Gleeson
Cover of the book Dear Raymond by T. J. Waldron, James Gleeson
Cover of the book The Fighting Wessex Wyverns by T. J. Waldron, James Gleeson
Cover of the book Unwanted Hero by T. J. Waldron, James Gleeson
Cover of the book Whirlwind by T. J. Waldron, James Gleeson
Cover of the book Hans Sturm: A Soldier's Odyssey on the Eastern Front by T. J. Waldron, James Gleeson
Cover of the book The Extraordinary Life of Mike Cumberlege SOE by T. J. Waldron, James Gleeson
Cover of the book Hitler’s Berchtesgaden by T. J. Waldron, James Gleeson
Cover of the book Trunk Monkeys by T. J. Waldron, James Gleeson
Cover of the book Winston Churchill by T. J. Waldron, James Gleeson
Cover of the book Rare Birds: Forgotten Aircraft of the Second World War by T. J. Waldron, James Gleeson
Cover of the book A Flying Life by T. J. Waldron, James Gleeson
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy