DAMNED HUNCHBACKS: Italy's Forgotten Torpedo Bomber Units of the Second World War (1940-1943)

1-240760

Drawing on rare, historical photography, explores the heroic feats of Italy's most successful wartime bomber, the Savoia Marchetti S.79 Sparrowhawk that fought the convoy war against the state-of-the-art British Royal Navy warships and merchant ships. Focusing on the technical specifications of the S.79 torpedo bomber, using original unit war diaries, and detailed armament and cockpit views, this book explores the emergence, the organizational growth and the combat record of Italy's mighty torpedo-bombers units against Allied battleships, cruisers, destroyers and raiders.

Torpedo bomber actions are described in the major sea battles in the Mediterranean, from the more famous attacks such as the strike on HMS Indomitable during Operation Husky, the dramatic events of Operational Pedestal and the battle for the control of Malta, Operation Harpoon, or the clash with the Royal Navy during the Axis invasion of Crete, to less covered sea fights such as the Battle of the Sirte.