The Fighting Tenth: The Tenth Submarine Flotilla and the Siege of Malta

by John Wingate

An epic account of ‘the most concentrated submarine battle in history’.Ideal for fans of Max Hastings’ Operation Pedestal and Jonathan Dimbleby’s The Battle of the Atlantic.Between 1940 and 1944 the Tenth Submarine Flotilla fought a vicious campaign against German and Italian shipping that were supplying Rommel’s forces in North Africa.From the small, beleaguered island of Malta, constantly under siege from Axis naval and air forces, the thirty-four submarines that served in the flotilla managed to sink over a million tons of Axis shipping, assisting to turn the tide of the war in the Mediterranean.John Wingate served as first lieutenant in the Tenth Flotilla’s submarine United during this period and records in fascinating detail the deeds of this unique underwater strike force. Surviving Commanding Officers, sailors, as well as British and Maltese civilians, all contributed to Wingate’s book to give brilliant insight into how this conflict developed and what it was like to fight within it.‘an authoritative work and a firsthand account of most aspects of this tale.’ Naval War College Review‘an acclaimed source amongst today’s submarining fraternity’ The Times‘a history of remarkable achievements attained by sheer hard work, dedicated attention to duty, remarkable personal bravery and high standards of professionalism — unfortunately at a tragic cost in human life.’ Admiral of the Fleet, The Lord FieldhouseThe Fighting The Tenth Submarine Flotilla and the Siege of Malta is a tense and gripping story that uncovers the exploits of this often overlooked but vitally important naval conflict from World War Two.

Genres: History, Military History, Military Fiction

475 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 1991

About the author

John Alan Wingate DSC was a successful novelist with some twenty-five books to his credit. Many of these had a naval theme. Frequently involving the submarine service, they gained much authenticity from Wingate’s personal wartime experiences

Reviews

[Svein M · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written account of the tenth submarine flottila operating out from Malta. Covering the entire periode of operations under very difficult conditions. Small subs operating for 10 to 11 day operations before returning to base might not sound so horrific, compared to the German subs in the Atlantic, but and there is a big but. Having to dive to the seabed during daytime back at base, due to the heavy German and Italian aerial bombardment and lack of bomb proof shelters for the submarines at a base lacking protection, spares, ammunition, fuel and food and you see that short missions at sea might not be a benefit. The book writen by an author that himself served on one of the submarines gives a good insight in the submarine campaign designed tl stop the axis warmachine in the Med.

[D.M. Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revelation

This is a real revelation. The activities of Allied submarines in WW2 in the Mediterranean is little known.
The danger was enormous. 45 were sunk and they sunk a million tons of enemy shipping.
Chances of survival in any sort of ship were slim.
The men were brave beyond all imagination and it’s hard to take in.
The writing is a bit pedestrian at first but improves. A worthwhile and readable book.

[bernard j denver · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me this book tells the unbelievable truth why I am still here at nearly 80 years of age.Born in

Malta 18/3/1942 to a Royal Engineer father and a mother from Gibraltar. Our survival owes much to what is written here.

[Michael Channon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Malta G.C. and the Fighting 10th.

A splendid and well researched historical story that describes the incredible story of submarine warfare that endured the trials of the sea and of the special time of this terrible time of the siege of Malta.
A brilliant book by John Wingate DSC.

[Norman · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting history of the 10th Submarine Flotilla in WWII.
Full of interesting info, surprised that Alistair Mars & HMS Unbroken got very little mention.

[SEAN BRADY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good account of the Mediterranean submarine campaign

Until I read this book I had little idea of the role submarines played in the allied campaign during the second world war. A must read for anyone seeking to understand more about the war than the usual stories about overlord etc.

[gordon bremner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent so well put together just shows what really did happen during those years that was not widely known
More interesting as I served on one of the submarines mentioned at a later date brought back lots of memories

[Gerald E Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great histoy

This book provides a seemingly accurate history of the Fighting 10th from early times, through the very worst and on into the improvin Great.g

[S Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Well researched and well written. An area of the war that before reading this book I knew very little about. Avery worthy 5 stars!

[Bill pierpoint · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amazing Malta and the war in the Mediteranian

A true History book of the war involving Malta and the surrounding sea. Great insight as. To how Rommel lost the war in Africa.

[Jorge3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detailed History

The author provides a very detailed, engaging, and complete history of the submarine role in the Mediterranean theater of war.

[gerald morson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative

A great book about the gallant men who served in the fighting 10 a must read book about resilience and bravery