Italian Bombs, Bombers and Bombing Tactics over Malta (1940-1943)

Jason Dykstra (Wyvern)

Jason Dykstra (Wyvern)

ACCESS: Top Secret
Senior Member
Joined
25 January 2020
Messages
1,202
Reaction score
1,746
Hi all,

The purpose of this thread is to compile and present sources regarding Italian bomb types, fuzes and tactics used in the Central Mediterranean from their entry into the War in 1940 to the Armistice of Cassibile in 1943. This is meant to complement my other thread about German equipment and tactics, in order to present as accurate a picture of the air war over Malta, and the situation faced by the bomb disposal crews of the British Armed Forces on Malta, with particular reference to the Royal Engineers and RNVR. Sources from both Italy and the UK would be greatly appreciated, especially in regards to diagrams of fuzes and the bombs themselves.

I am collecting this information in order to create a video series about the Bomb Disposal efforts of the crews in Malta, which is a highly under-researched part of Malta's role in the Second World War, despite their importance to the War Effort. In addition to this, I also hope to bring light to the bombs used by the Italians, as this is an area which is also lacking in research, in addition to the methods used to dispose of them in Malta.

Any help is greatly appreciated,

Jason

(Once again, I have reserved a number of posts which I will update later, in order to make quick reference to them in the future)
 
Post reserved for bomb types [WIP]


Here is the total number of bombs dropped on Malta including German types, which I left in as a comparison, as I find the raw data quite interesting. I will also do some graphs, and I will also open a general thread for Bomb disposal in Malta between 1940 and 1944 for some further context. [1]

I would like to make note that these numbers are only representative of the lower end of the spectrum, as the bombing was so heavy in the first half of 1942 that record keeping was limited as the officers in charge were constantly overstretched. The total number of UXB reports does not also refer to single bombs, in many cases they were reports for multiple bombs, especially after anti-personnel bombs became more common.

High Explosive bombs:
1725119761864.png

1725304452504.png

Anti-Personnel Bombs:
1725119754224.png

1725304474186.png

Incendiary Bombs:
1725119745959.png

1725304508381.png
 
Last edited:
Sources List:

[1] "UXB Malta: Royal Engineers Bomb Disposal 1940-1944" by S.A.M Hudson
[2] "Mines over Malta" by Frederick R. Galea
 
Last edited:
Regio Ammiraglio said:
Interesting Thread. I will leave some info regarding some unknow bombs, I hope they will be interesting
This one is a 2kg bomb, an Italian predeccessor of cluster munitions
Click to expand...
Seems to be what is referred to as the "Thermos Bomb" by British bomb disposal teams, although it is possible they may also refer to the AR-4 (Armamento Ritardato 4), according to one of my sources. These bombs were frequently used in small bomber raids or even by lone bombers, which would approach the islands fast and high and release their bombs in a sharp turn. These would then be spread out over a wide area, in order to cause the most disruption. They had to be handled extremely carefully, and were generally exploded on spot, though somehow the Malta Police Force managed to collect over a hundred of them and store these dangerous munitions underneath the Opera House! This incident will be described in a post above.
 
Jason Dykstra (Wyvern) said:
@Regio Ammiraglio Do you happen to have the sources for the images you posted, so I can update the sources section
Click to expand...
These imagines are from a facebook book, If needed I can post the link of the pictures. I Will also post some more pictures regarding Italian bombs on these days (Sorry for the late reply, but I'm in vacation on the alps currently)
 
I have edited this thread to include some raw numbers, as well as the graphed out data.

I would like to hear your thoughts.
 

Similar threads

Please donate to support the forum.

Back
Top Bottom