Q&A · 1:14:56-1:15:04

Did Italy have the world's largest submarine fleet in 1940?

A short correction separates Italy's numerical advantage over the Kriegsmarine from a global superlative.

Fleet Strength Kriegsmarine Regia Marina Submarines World War II

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Question

Did Italy have the world's largest submarine fleet in 1940?

Short answer

No. Italy had more submarines than Germany in 1940, but its force was not the world's largest.

Notes

Italy did not enter 1940 with the world's largest submarine fleet. The Regia Marina did possess more submarines than Germany at that point. The comparison is therefore relative to the Kriegsmarine, not every navy. This corrects a common numerical overstatement without understating the size of Italy's force.