U-Boats (H) See 884638

The book is heavily illustrated, with photographs or diagrams on nearly every page; there are many tables of technical and operational data. However, it is also very readable, filled with odd anecdotes, for example, poor Kapitanleutnant Rolf Mutzelberg, commanding U-203 south of the Azores, who decided to join his crew bathing in the ocean (U-boats got pretty smelly after weeks at sea), but "totally misjudged his dive off the bridge, hit the saddle-tank head first, broke his neck and died." The book (like Gaul) is divided into three parts. Part 1 summarizes U-boat operations during the First World War and the interwar period. Part 2 describes the various types of U-boats, from the early Type IA to the advanced Type XXI and XXVI, which served as the basis for several postwar US and Soviet submarine designs. I found the details of the construction program of the Type XXI surprisingly interesting -- it was built in sections at various steelworks. The sections were transported by canal and river to shipyards for assembly. Welding two sections together took about 8 hours, and in order to ensure a continuous weld, the workers could not stop even for bad weather or air raids. Part 2 continues with descriptions of the torpedoes (some of which were programmed to follow patterns, while others used acoustic homing devices), mines, guns, and even rockets which the U-boats carried. Radar, sonar, electronic warfare, and the Enigma machine are treated next, followed by engines. Part 3 gives a brief overview of U-boat operations during WWII, followed by sections on U-boat officers and crews; the (lack of) air support for U-boat operations; replenishment at sea by "milch cows"; weather-related missions to the Arctic; transports to the Far East; and the fate of the U-boats at the end of the war. An appendix lists all U-boats lost at sea. All in all, this is an excellent resource for a military history buff. A general reader may not have much use for the technical details, but they help give a better understanding of the Battle of the Atlantic, the longest campaign of the war.

As its inside cover states, this oversized book is full of maps, technical drawings, tables, rare photos, and stories. So you see its more than just an informative factual textbook, it is also an easy to enjoy coffee table book, nicely bound on good paper (Brasseys Hardback ISBN: 1574882465).One large table over many pages lists very nearly every U-Boat number and its type, builder, commisioned date, and its ultimate eding: fate, date, final captain, place, means, dead, and saved, e.g.U-1229; Type IXC/40; built by Duetche; commisioned January 13,1944; Sunk; on August 20, 1944; Captained by Zinke, A; at SE of Newfoundland; by USN aircfaft: VC-42 (Bogue); 18 dead; ? # Saved. More text than anything else, but also there's always some sort of graphics on every page, well maybe not at the index :)If you need only one volume on U-Boats this might be the very best choice.

I collect and read books on U-Boats, and this illustrated history is an excellent addition to my library. A must for those who are World War II buffs!

This book really surprised me. I actually bought it on in impulse with a gift certificate I had received for my birthday. I had seen "Das Boot" and "U-571" and since my interest was peaked by these movies, I thought I should buy a book about U-Boats to get the full story of their role in WWI and WWII. This book did not disappoint! It is simply incredible considering how much information is between the covers as well as how many striking photographs are contained in this book. One could almost consider it an Encyclopedia on U-Boats. This book describes the full history of Deutschlands Unterseeboot Programe as well as a detailed history and explination of each type of boat. It also has a table listing every U-Boat made and a brief history about each ship. This book also does a fantastic job explaining the role of these vessels in WWII (and to a lesser extent, WWI). I can imagine with "U-571" in theaters and "Das Boot" on DVD, U-Boat interest has increased. I would suggest to anybody interested in U-Boats because of these movies or for any other reason to look no futher. "U-Boats : The Illustrated History of the Raiders of the Deep" is probably the best book presently available on this subject.

Many Books on subjects like U-boats go in and out of print and are sometimes even collectors items! If this book ever goes out of print (which I hope it wont) it will be in the same category as U-boats under the Swatstika by j.p. Mallmann Showell, and U-boat War by Luthar Gunther Buchheim. This is a wonderful book for anyone that loves U-boats and their operations and likewise for the person who just 'thinks' they are interested! So if you think you have a little interest in U-boats get this book!