A good read: "Mussolini's Navy" by Brescia

[steviecee]

I have always thought that the ships of the Italian Navy were some of the best looking ships of WW II but there have been only a very few books in English that cover them. Mussolini's Navy makes up for this lack and does a excellent job in it's coverage of the Regia Marina. There are ten chapters 1. The Regia Marina 1861-1939; 2. Dockyards; 3. Fleet Organization; 4. Ships in Service; 5. Assault Craft; 6. Naval Aviation; 7 Naval Camoflage; 8. Flags. 9 Uniforms and Ranks; 10. Who's Who. Chapter four fully covers the major ships from battleships to escorts and submarines and gives an overview of the auxillaries such as transports and tankers. Each class and it's design parameters are discussed and shows how the designs progressed from one class to the next.
If you had asked me I would have said that the Italian navy was painted a uniform light grey so chapter Sevens coverage of the various camoflage schemes was very interesting and informative. I especially liked the chapter on the Dockyards because the support struture for any navy is one of the most important parts of any navy. The book has numerous photos, some in colour, and colour profiles of both sides of selected ships. I would highly recommend this book for any one who is interested in naval history.
PS
This is NOT a book on the operational history of the Italian Navy. I hope someone writes one soon.

[Bill Clarke]

So where can this book be sourced and for what price?

[Timmy C]

https://www.google.ca/search?q=Mussolin ... by+Brescia

[steviecee]

Barnes & Noble or Amazon.

[Quaestor]

I just happened on this review; I had not seen it when I bought the book two years ago. I agree 100% with steviecee, this is a really good read and an ongoing reference. The sixteen pages of well-done color profiles and some color photos (including an I.M.A.M. Ro-43!) are outstanding. They mostly make me wish for a LOT more 1/700th injected kits of RM ships besides the three BBs available. C'mon Trumpeter, scale down those new cruisers!
I especially liked the who's who chapter. Some of the flag officers (e.g. Bergamini) were names I knew, but others of lower ranks were completely new to me and fascinating.
Highly recommended.

[maxim]

Check Delphis and Regia Marina - they have most of the Italian ships in 1/700. There are also kits by Combrig and Poseidon.

The book has in my opinion very good photos and I consider the description of the different classes also to be useful.

[Quaestor]

Check Delphis and Regia Marina - they have most of the Italian ships in 1/700. There are also kits by Combrig and Poseidon.

Oh, I know. Note that I said "injected"

[maxim]

I know - in my opinion resin kits are better and easier and faster to built. And kits of many interesting ships are already available...