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View Full Version : A good, quality read.........


harryt8
04-13-10, 03:19 AM
Can I suggest for those of you interested in submarine operations in WW2 to read "Submarine" edited by Jean Hood.

It is an anthology of first-hand accounts of the war under the sea, 1939-45 with illuminating anecdotes, patrol reports, letters and diary entries from British, German, Italian, Soviet and American submarine veterans.

It includes technicalities of operating a submarine and avoiding detection and a very detailed view of the mechanics of firing MK8 torpedoes. The book provides a picture of life onboard specific to wartime events, related year by year. The monotony of patrol work and the adrenalin rush of the attack, plus the memories of food and drink and the common problems of sleeping conditions and capricious toilet arrangements..!!

It was published in 2007 by Conway Maritime ISBN 9-781844-860463 and is 448 pages and is printed in either hard or paperback.

Cheers..!!

Harry :up:

joegrundman
04-13-10, 04:06 AM
i've got that too - it's really good, especially the bits from the less-well-known nationalities.

One of my favourite anecdotes was the italian submarine that surfaced off sicily for some repairs or something (i think the invasion of sicily was underway at this point), and it was spotted by some locals. The local primary school teacher rowed out with her entire class and they all went on the submarine for a few hours, looking around and eating cakes. Italians eh! The world would be a poorer place without them:D

The shootout on board the Surcouf in the middle of Portsmouth harbour was something amazing.

A lot of real gems in that book

Paul Riley
04-13-10, 04:54 AM
The local primary school teacher rowed out with her entire class and they all went on the submarine for a few hours, looking around and eating cakes. Italians eh! The world would be a poorer place without them:D



:o
I may get this book
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Submarine-Anthology-Firsthand-Accounts-1939-45/dp/1844860469/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271152487&sr=1-4
Is that the one?,hardcover too eh?,nice.

joegrundman
04-13-10, 07:29 AM
yes that's it - you should get it:up:

in fact that three book package they recommend looks really great:DL

Paul Riley
04-13-10, 07:41 AM
yes that's it - you should get it:up:

in fact that three book package they recommend looks really great:DL

The 3 book deal is also going for a very acceptable price too,under £30 for 3 good looking books.Thats the thing about Amazon I love,top class merchandise for excellent prices,no middle man BULLS##T! :up::up:
AND you can get practically anything you want,however random,just do a search and you can bet Amazon will be able to sort it for you.They are legendary suppliers,and will continue to be so for a long time i'm sure!.

sergei
04-13-10, 11:01 AM
Good stuff HarryT8, I'm always on the lookout for more sub books.
Thanks for the recommendation.

And here's one of my own.
Unbroken by Alastair Mars
A Brit U Class Sub operating from Malta in '42.
From the blurb
'In twelve months in the Med, Unbroken sank over 30,000 tons of enemy shipping, took part in four secret operations, three successful gun actions, and survived a total of over 400 depth charges, as well as innumerable air and surface attacks.'

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Unbroken-Story-Submarine-Alastair-Mars/dp/1844157938/ref=pd_sim_b_1

A bit short. But a very enjoyable read.

Exakt
04-13-10, 12:12 PM
I know that it isn't about the book, but I have come across a nice read, about a Canadian DD, named after the city where I currently live, the H.M.C.S. (Her Majesty's Canadian Ship) Ville de Québec. This was the first one to be named Ville de Québec. Now, the HMCS Ville de Québec is a Halifax-class frigate within the Canadian Forces naval branch.

http://www.uboat.net/forums/read.php?3,81885,81885

flakmonkey
04-13-10, 12:20 PM
Its mostly a pretty interesting read and certainly looks good on the shelf, i would have liked a few more pictures though as its a pretty intimidating wall of text and with being a collection of accounts and not a single story i lost interest about 2/3 of the way through and just never finished it.

I think i got to mid 1943, i may go back and pick up where i left off:up: