The losses were not confined to enemy action: one submarine succumbed to its own systems, and MAS 204, 206, 210, and 216 were all lost to mechanical failure. One submarine disaster still produced a remarkable survival effort when a midshipman and sailors crossed in a small dinghy to summon help for crewmates stranded on an island. These incidents expose the human cost of sending crews into an isolated theater without the necessities required for dependable operations. Even the simplest local combatants could not be kept running consistently once spares and support were exhausted.
Chapter · 32:02-34:40
Mechanical failure consumed ships before combat could
One submarine and most of the local MAS boats were lost through mechanical failure, exposing the human cost of an unsupported deployment.