This paper is based on the annual Andrew Vella Memorial Lecture delivered in December 2013. Through it I hope to do honour to his memory as well as to the memory of the young men who served on board the submarines that operated from Malta during World War II. What we have here is a tale of loss and discovery, tragedy and heroism - a tale that has remained relatively unknown - but one that certainly deserves to be
told. It is not solely about a submarine but just as importantly, it is also about the brave young men that served on her. In fact, the vessel and her crew are inextricably linked for one cannot exist without the other.peer-reviewe
