Product Description

During the bleak, heartbreaking days of early 1942, when beleaguered Malta was reeling under bombardment and blockade and Rommel was making his last desperate thrust towards Egypt, only one British submarine was operating in the western Mediterranean - the tiny, 600-ton Unbroken.

In twelve months in the Med, Unbroken sank over 30,000 tons of enemy shipping, took part in four secret operations, three successful gun actions, and survived a total of over 400 depth charges, as well as innumerable air and surface attacks.

This account of the 26-year-old Alastair Mars' command of this outstandingly successful submarine embraces her construction, sea trials and voyage to Gibraltar preparatory to her vital role in the Mediterranean. Once there, she was responsible for the destruction of two Italian cruisers and played a pivotal part in Operation Pedestal, the convoy that saved Malta from surrender. Alastair Mars writes simply and without pretension, and his words evoke the claustrophobic yet heroic world of the submariner.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #63292 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Customer Reviews

One of the best
Alastair Mars was not just a very successful submarine commander but a naturally talented writer, which makes "Unbroken" a wonderful book for anyone who has never read any naval history in their life and a must for all who have. His style is economical, fast-paced and engaging, through the dramatic to the the moving and the funny - and the operational detail and technical jargon never gets in the way of the narrative. Something of a maverick, he used his initiative to spectacular effect during Operation Pedestal, and his leadership comes through in the unity and efficiency of the crew in whatever situations they find themselves. You close the book with the illusion of having shared a few patrols in Unbroken, and my only criticism of the book is one that I would level at all my favourite reads: I wish it could have gone on for longer.

Brilliant account of a vital sea campaign
Alastair Mars commanded the British submarine Unbroken for the whole of 1942, during the Siege of Malta. During that time he and the ship's crew sank 30,000 tons of enemy shipping.

The submarine also engaged the enemy on land - landing and picking up secret agents on the coast of Occupied Europe, and shelling enemy rail traffic. On one occasion, Unbroken blew up a train carrying 14,000 tons of supplies for Rommel.

'Unbroken' takes you right through Mars' time in command of her, what it was like to operate in the Mediterranean at this point in WW2 - the stress, the foul air of the submarine - stewed cabbage was particularly bad in this respect ... (hiding from the enemy was more important than surfacing to change the air), chancing their luck going through minefields, or enduring depth charging. As well as the sub's successes, Mars mentions the errors made by the crew (which seems to have been relatively inexperienced) and reversals of fortune.

You get a real feeling for the vital contribution the Royal Navy's Submarine Service made to the war in the Mediterranean and on land in North Africa, by a real breed of heroes.