Since WW2 folding kayaks have been a stable ingredient for most Western water-orientated Special Forces. The British and Australians who led the way but Germany and the United States also employed them. After the war they remained in British service and were slowly adopted by most major Western Special Forces including Italy, France, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and of course Germany. The stand-out exception is the US Navy SEALs who preferred inflatable boats although they have been toyed with by SEALs. The ubiquitous type is the German produced Klepper Mk.13 (aka Aerius) which was even adopted by the British and Australians - other manufacturers also make closely equivalent types and the term 'klepper' is applied to all. Military canoe operations were formed around the 'Swimmer Canoeist' concept originating in WW2 with what is today the Special Boat Service (SBS). Read More >....
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WW2 - German AIP midget sub - Delfin
We think of Air Independant Propulsion (AIP) as a modern invention but German scientists were experimenting with closed-cycle subs in WW2. Read More >....
Book review - Americas Hidden Heroes
Refreshingly not another populist SEAL worship book but a serious history written by a real SEAL officer. Read More >....
USSOCOM - Naval Special Warfare update
US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) comtinue to be surprisingly open about their maritime procurement programs, giving regular updates on the progress of their surface systems, SDV programs and related capabilities. Read More >....
Panerai watch advert with great SLC Maiale footage
The history between the famous watch company and Italian Special Forces goes back to WW2. Although Panerai capitalizes on the heritage and connection, it is genuine and results in fascinating adverts. Must watch if only for the vintage human torpedo footage. Click to open in YOUTUBE:
How to draw sub cutaways in MS Paint
Apparently I am crazy to draw with these outdated tools but I like the hand-drawn look and feel. I don't think that I can do a streaming any time soon, but I can share how I draw the illustrations old-school in MS Paint and shade in GIMP. Read More >....
USCG drug sub intercept video
The US Coast Guard has released a video of the moment it boarded a drug smuggling semi-submersible in July. Must watch.
Stalins Super Sub - Project P-2
A monstrously large submarine by any standards, the 5,360 ton P-2 design was to be equipped with both Ballistic Missiles and Cruise Missiles, as well as its own midget submarines. Read More >....
Russian Submarine found in Swedish waters - to be updated
Thanks to everyone who has given me a heads up on this. So many emails and questions - I will try to be useful between my day job and family life. A recent wreck of a 20m x 3m midget submarine has been discovered in Swedish territorial waters. UPDATE: It's a Csarist submarine which sunk in 1916 Read More >....
Now available on Amazon - Covert Shores
Until now, the underwater craft employed by the World’s Special Forces have been known only to a select few. Covert Shores is the first complete and documented insight into the little-known world of the mini-subs, Swimmer Delivery Vehicles (SDVs) and other underwater vehicles used by the U. S. Navy SEALs, Special Boat Service, Spetsnaz and more.
Operating under a blanket of secrecy, these craft have remained hidden and unrecorded in a way that no other class of military vehicles has. Covert Shores reveals the craft, units, missions and tactics of this unseen world. Spanning from 1776 to the present day, and covering activities in many countries including US, Great Britain, Italy, Israel, Russia, France, Germany, Yugoslavia and Sweden, this book is filled with tales of the ingenuity, resourcefulness, experimentation and cunning of those involved in the design and operations of these expert craft. A must-read for all military enthusiasts.
268 pages 8.5"x11" full color with over eighty original color illustrations.
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