Search Results for: Malta

A WW2 German MP40 submachine gun, from the collection of Ashley Laus

By Pierre Kosmidis Photos by Ashley Laus, submitted to www.ww2wrecks.com and used by permission Mr. Ashley Laus, from Malta, has an impressive collection of WW2-related items, making him one of the leading collectors in Europe. Mr. Laus shared with www.ww2wrecks.com detailed photographs of an iconic WW2 weapon, the German MP40 submachine gun.  

A detailed look at the Spitfire Mk.IX, EN199 “Mary Rose” (photos and videos)

By Pierre Kosmidis Photos and videos © www.ww2wrecks.com Spitfire Mk.IX, EN199 Mary Rose, on display at the Malta Aviation Museum, was flown in the North Africa by Wing Commander R. Berry and Squadron Leader C. F. Gray, Commanding Officer No.81 Squadron. EN199 took part in the Allied Operation Torch landings and the subsequent Tunisian campaign and fought […]

Only a handful escaped: The LRDG disaster in Levitha, 23-24 October 1943

By Pierre Kosmidis Photos and research: Andreas Galanos Additional reading (click the links below in red): Autumn 1943: Operation “Taifun”, the Battle for Leros, the tragic end of the LRDG and the defeat of the British   The Battles for Kos and Leros, 1943 – the new edition of “Churchill’s Folly”   Leros Island, 1943: […]

A detailed look at the Bf109 W.Nr 8668 shot down on 1st April 1942 (photos and videos)

By Pierre Kosmidis Photos and videos © www.ww2wrecks.com On 1st April 1942 between 17:10 & 18:58, Unteroffizier Hans Pilz of 5./JG 3 was shot down by antiaircraft fire in his Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4/Trop ”Black 11” (Wr.Nr. 8668) off Luqa road, environs of Paola in Malta. German records note that Unteroffizier Pilz was last heard from when […]

The wreck of the Polish Destroyer ORP Kujawiak – The history of a heroic ship sunk in 1942

Text by Marinos Giourgas, submitted to www.ww2wrecks.com and used by permission Photos: www.aegeantec.gr © Marinos Giourgas and Vasilis Spyropoulos, published under license ORP Kujawiak was originally a British Hunt-class Type II destroyer built as HMS Oakley. She  had a length of 85m and was weighing more than 1,000 tonnes. She was handed over by the Royal navy to […]

Book presentation: Le Navi Ospedale Italiane Dopo l’Armistizio (The Italian Hospital Ships After the Armistice), by Vincenzo Giacomo Toccafondi

From the presentation of the book by Amm Isp. Capo (c.a.) Vincenzo Martines Vincenzo Giacomo Toccafondi  has already explored the world of Italian hospital ships with the recent valuable publication of the “Story of a white ship: Wandilla-Fort St.George- Cesarea- Arno 1912-1942” which ended with the sinking of the latter by of a British torpedo […]

HMS Urge: The story, the loss and the ceremony at sea, by Professor Timmy Gambin

Photos submitted to www.ww2wrecks.com by Professor Timmy Gambin and used by permission An 80-year-old maritime mystery has finally been put to rest with the unveiling of a memorial to a Royal Navy submarine lost off Malta. Serving Submariners from Naval Base Clyde and relatives of the crew of HMS Urge travelled to the Mediterranean island […]