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Unbroken: The True Story of a Submarine
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.
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.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1953
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 6, 2015
It is early 1942, in the Western Mediterranean. The Axis powers are blockading Malta, seeking to starve the inhabitants of that island out. There’s just one British submarine in the vicinity: “Unbroken”.
I’ve walked down the internal length of a dry-docked WWII submarine. Very little space, and no privacy whatsoever. Glaringly absent were the pervasive odours of the unwashed, no smell of diesel fumes.
Humour has its place, recalling (p.95) ditties written on a lavatory wall:
“This bloody roundhouse is no good at all,
The seat is too high and the hole is too small.”
Underneath which was written by a protester of such graffiti vandalism as above:
“To which I must add the obvious retort,
Your arse is too large and your legs are too short”
What I had sensed but not fully appreciated before reading this book was the powerful, awe-full, unspoken fear of successful enemy attack leading to a swift tinned swift drowning for the sub’s crew. I do not intend to be flippant; but for a while after finishing Mars’ vivid account of that year, I was unable even so much as to enjoy a snack of sardines on toast.
This remarkable, tightly-written, invitingly well written book is, of course, not about sardines. It stands testament to a generation of very practical, brave and able men to whom later Hollywood-style heroics would have been absolute anathema. The unbelievable sweetness of fresh air to men long deprived of it; their anger and helplessness when they did not have adequate information to work with; their frustration when land-based colleagues thoughtlessly broke secrecy; their palpable fear of depth charges when waiting in silence for the enemy to pass over; and later when “Unbroken” passes through a minefield; their accepting sorrow that they cannot turn back to take off the commandos they’ve landed, who have fallen straight into an enemy trap.
The understatement of quiet pride in successfully sinking over 30,000 tons of enemy shipping is inspiring. Unusually, this is a book that whilst containing ample technical detail; the personalities and bravery of the crew of “Unbroken” never recede into the background. http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship... carries a useful summary of operations.
This is gripping stuff. One to read and re-read. Hard to believe that the edition I had in my hands was published only four years after “Unbroken” was scrapped!
I’ve walked down the internal length of a dry-docked WWII submarine. Very little space, and no privacy whatsoever. Glaringly absent were the pervasive odours of the unwashed, no smell of diesel fumes.
Humour has its place, recalling (p.95) ditties written on a lavatory wall:
“This bloody roundhouse is no good at all,
The seat is too high and the hole is too small.”
Underneath which was written by a protester of such graffiti vandalism as above:
“To which I must add the obvious retort,
Your arse is too large and your legs are too short”
What I had sensed but not fully appreciated before reading this book was the powerful, awe-full, unspoken fear of successful enemy attack leading to a swift tinned swift drowning for the sub’s crew. I do not intend to be flippant; but for a while after finishing Mars’ vivid account of that year, I was unable even so much as to enjoy a snack of sardines on toast.
This remarkable, tightly-written, invitingly well written book is, of course, not about sardines. It stands testament to a generation of very practical, brave and able men to whom later Hollywood-style heroics would have been absolute anathema. The unbelievable sweetness of fresh air to men long deprived of it; their anger and helplessness when they did not have adequate information to work with; their frustration when land-based colleagues thoughtlessly broke secrecy; their palpable fear of depth charges when waiting in silence for the enemy to pass over; and later when “Unbroken” passes through a minefield; their accepting sorrow that they cannot turn back to take off the commandos they’ve landed, who have fallen straight into an enemy trap.
The understatement of quiet pride in successfully sinking over 30,000 tons of enemy shipping is inspiring. Unusually, this is a book that whilst containing ample technical detail; the personalities and bravery of the crew of “Unbroken” never recede into the background. http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship... carries a useful summary of operations.
This is gripping stuff. One to read and re-read. Hard to believe that the edition I had in my hands was published only four years after “Unbroken” was scrapped!
January 14, 2019
This is a real gem of a book.
It follows Mars' adventures as captain predominantly operating in the Mediterranean during the Second World War against the Italians.
Although a short book and not as epic as say 'Iron Coffins' you do however get to know the man and cannot help be enthralled by the missions they carried out and the pressure they felt.
There are not too many memoirs of Royal Navy submarine commanders let alone from the Second World War so this really is a worthy book to pick up for its historical value alone.
Mine is an old, dog eared paperback from the 1950's but I treasure it!
A great little addition to the memoirs out there.
It follows Mars' adventures as captain predominantly operating in the Mediterranean during the Second World War against the Italians.
Although a short book and not as epic as say 'Iron Coffins' you do however get to know the man and cannot help be enthralled by the missions they carried out and the pressure they felt.
There are not too many memoirs of Royal Navy submarine commanders let alone from the Second World War so this really is a worthy book to pick up for its historical value alone.
Mine is an old, dog eared paperback from the 1950's but I treasure it!
A great little addition to the memoirs out there.
December 23, 2019
I bought this book years ago in a second hand book shop and every so often I drag it out and read it again, because when I first read it as a teenager and it 'stuck' in my mind ever since.
It is a true story of a man who captained a submarine in WW2 - HMS Unbroken.
It is a true story of a man who captained a submarine in WW2 - HMS Unbroken.
January 14, 2019
One of my favourite reads from my teens.
Great read. Need to get his book about his time in HMS Thule. :-)
Great read. Need to get his book about his time in HMS Thule. :-)
March 22, 2017
this is for me ,what SHOULD be a WW2 War classic ,and is certainly highly recommended to
anyone who wishes to read about the British side of the Naval war , and the submarine war
in the Med in particular which is far less described .
( Note : Alistair Mars also wrote ' HMS THULE INTERCEPTS ' in Pan Books from 1958 ,
about the War against the Japanese in the Far east off Malaya and Java in 1944-45 )
Both books are written by a man who knew what he was talking about -
you can't say any more than that .
anyone who wishes to read about the British side of the Naval war , and the submarine war
in the Med in particular which is far less described .
( Note : Alistair Mars also wrote ' HMS THULE INTERCEPTS ' in Pan Books from 1958 ,
about the War against the Japanese in the Far east off Malaya and Java in 1944-45 )
Both books are written by a man who knew what he was talking about -
you can't say any more than that .
June 27, 2014
The true, presumably, story of a WW11 submarine commander. Rather heavy going as it reads as if Mr Mars were writing up his log book, with due emphasis on who in his crew should receive the lion's share of medals. Illuminating in small details as when the sub carries supplies to the beleaguered Malta base the supplies consist of sherry and gin for the officers' mess but dried vegetables for the other ranks.
February 25, 2014
A well written personal account of the author's time in command of HMS Unbroken one of the small "U" Class submarines in the Mediterranean during World War II.
Not only an excellent read, but an enthralling read! :-)
Not only an excellent read, but an enthralling read! :-)
August 22, 2022
A very readable account of the exploits of a then twenty-six year old commander of the 600 tonne (relatively small) submarine Unbroken in the Mediterranean during WWII.
There were a range of duties, including convoy protection, attacking merchant shipping and enemy ships, and some special operations including landing commandos in France and North Africa.
One thing that was quite remarkable was the use of the submarine to attack infrastructure on the Italian mainland - trains, railways, viaducts and such like. I've not seen mention of this in other books on the subject, but it seems to have been relatively successful, with the aim of stopping supplies getting through to troops in North Africa. It is difficult to gauge its extent and significance.
There were a range of duties, including convoy protection, attacking merchant shipping and enemy ships, and some special operations including landing commandos in France and North Africa.
One thing that was quite remarkable was the use of the submarine to attack infrastructure on the Italian mainland - trains, railways, viaducts and such like. I've not seen mention of this in other books on the subject, but it seems to have been relatively successful, with the aim of stopping supplies getting through to troops in North Africa. It is difficult to gauge its extent and significance.
June 11, 2021
Excellent submarine bio. Well written and filled with interesting events. Looking forward to the second part of his second autobiography, just need to find a copy.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews