Early Italian doctrine assigned submarines static patrol areas and often limited attacks to one or two torpedoes rather than a full spread. Those rules conserved weapons but reduced the chance of damaging fast, alert naval targets. The approach was corrected in 1942, when more aggressive attacks helped make Operations Harpoon and Pedestal exceptionally costly convoy battles. The boats' technical capability had been constrained by the tactics initially imposed on their commanders.
Chapter · 27:37-28:22
Static patrols limited Mediterranean attacks
Static patrol areas and one- or two-torpedo attacks constrained Italian submarines until more aggressive tactics emerged in 1942.