Historic prespective

[Kelly621]

I recently finished reading Iron Coffins and Steel Boats and Iron Hearts. Great reads for an officer and enlisted man's view of combat in the U boats. Looking for a good historic overview of the Battle of the Atlantic....anyone care to make a recommendation?

Thanks
Kelly621

[Gustav Schiebert]

My top recommendation would be Niether Sharks Nor Wolves (http://www.amazon.com/Neither-Sharks-Nor-Wolves-1939-1945/dp/1557505942), Timothy Mulligan. A very scholarly look at the entire U-boat arm backed up with some very detailed statistics. Deals with the men and their backgrounds (religion, culture, profession etc) in very great detail.

Also Doenitz' autobiography Ten Years and Twenty Days (http://www.amazon.com/Memoirs-Ten-Years-Twenty-Days/dp/1848326440/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1366840798&sr=1-1&keywords=ten+years+and+twenty+days) goes through the whole prewar period, then through WW2 almost month by month and is remarkably unbiased.

[brett25]

theres also "Hitler's U-boat War"

http://www.amazon.com/Hitlers-U-Boat-War-Hunters-1939-1942/dp/0679640320

[Kelly621]

Thanks for the recommendation Brett25....Just downloaded Hitler's U Boat Wars to my Kindle (never thought I would like the Kindle, but now I love it). Of course I ordered through Subsim's Amazon link :)

Gustav Schiebert....Both of the recommendations look very interesting....added them to my wishlist.

Thanks to both of you. Anyone else have a recommendation please post it.

Kelly621

[Cybermat47]

Look for Dönitz and the Wolfpacks. It's a brilliant little paperback, covering all the major convoy battles, and even some WWI stuff.

[Kelly621]

Look for Dönitz and the Wolfpacks. Cybermat47...read this one a few months back....agree with you...a good read.

[sharkbit]

theres also "Hitler's U-boat War"

http://www.amazon.com/Hitlers-U-Boat-War-Hunters-1939-1942/dp/0679640320

Good but very, very dry. The second in the series, The Hunted, is the same.

Some of his statistical analyses are interesting. They really show that the Germans really didn't come that close to strangling Britain as many history books lead you to believe.
His stuff on codebreaking is pretty interesting and made me want to delve deeper into the subject.

He tends to overlook the human side of the battle and the great cost in human terms, but both books are a must for any serious student of the Battle of the Atlantic.

Good luck trying to find a cheap copy of the second one though. $60 new on Amazon right now. I was able to find a used one a few years ago in "Very Good" condition that turned out looking like someone used it as an actual submarine in the bathtub.

If you like both of these books and are interested in the submarine war in the Pacific, check out his "Silent Victory:The US Subamrine War Against Japan". There's only one volume and it can be dry as well.

:)

[flag4]

I recently finished reading Iron Coffins and Steel Boats and Iron Hearts. Great reads for an officer and enlisted man's view of combat in the U boats. Looking for a good historic overview of the Battle of the Atlantic....anyone care to make a recommendation?

Thanks
Kelly621

Operation Drumbeat by Michael Gannon. this book deals with the attack on the American Shipping lanes begining in 1941. for me a classic:up:

[Kelly621]

Sharkbit@ Good but very, very dry. The second in the series, The Hunted, is the same.........Good luck trying to find a cheap copy of the second one though. $60 new on Amazon right now. I was able to find a used one a few years ago in "Very Good" condition that turned out looking like someone used it as an actual submarine in the bathtub.

After twenty plus years of reading submarine tech manuals it is not that dry :D. So far it has been quite an interesting read. I found a hardback copy of volume 2 in good condition on alibris.com....great site for hard to find books at very good prices.

Flag4...Operation Drumbeat is on my wishlist as well

Kelly621

alibris had several hardback copies of volume 2 from $8.34 up...mine was twenty (came from a library....if you are looking for this book or others try alibris

[flag4]

Flag4...Operation Drumbeat is on my wishlist as well

Kelly621



..you can buy one from amazon Uk for One English pence - 1p.

its such a terrific read - really!
im envious you haven't read it yet:yep:

I spent a whole weekend on my own reading that and playing my career in silent hunter 3....absolutely marvellous!!:up:

[Kelly621]

Flag4..you can buy one from amazon Uk for One English pence - 1p.

its such a terrific read - really!
im envious you haven't read it yet:yep:

I spent a whole weekend on my own reading that and playing my career in silent hunter 3....absolutely marvellous!!:up:


Ok..you convinced me :).....downloading it to my Kindle. Sadly it will have to wait a bit until I get to it. Spring has arrived here in North Carolina which means yard work and my wife's "to do" list is in hand.

Do you still have those clunky 1 pound coins....they released them while I was living in Scotland....hated them!

[Marcello]

Good but very, very dry. The second in the series, The Hunted, is the same.

Some of his statistical analyses are interesting. They really show that the Germans really didn't come that close to strangling Britain as many history books lead you to believe.


The good thing is that it really does put that to rest, compared to the endless repeat of the usual Churchill quote one can find elsewhere.
The weaknesses are in the details and overall bias. Calling the snorkel "defective" because it closes while being overtaken by waves is, at best a questionable statement. Stating that XXI was too slow to outrun escorts on the surface is true but largely besides the point in 1944-1945. These are just a couple examples, mind you.

[sharkbit]

The weaknesses are in the details and overall bias. Calling the snorkel "defective" because it closes while being overtaken by waves is, at best a questionable statement. Stating that XXI was too slow to outrun escorts on the surface is true but largely besides the point in 1944-1945. These are just a couple examples, mind you.

I recall that I raised my eyebrows more than a few times at some of his comments.

@ Kelly621 and flag4:
Not only is Gannon's "Operation Drumbeat" good, but his "Black May" is a very good read as well. I liked it better in fact. :yeah:

:)

[ninja turtle]

Hi Kelly

Do you still have those clunky 1 pound coins....they released them while I was living in Scotland....hated them!

Yes, still have them and larger £2 coins :D Apparently we are soon to have a new £5 note. Unfortunately we still have those tiny 5p coins...takes ages to fill my money jar :hmph:

[Kelly621]

Hi Glenn,
My money jar is no danger of filling up any time soon with the number of good books recommended here :D
Well back to my little type II for patrol 8 in my new career...

[MantiBrutalis]

God I need a part-time job. You guys make me so jealous that I cannot presently afford these marvelous books...

[DesertGhost]

Do you guys perhaps also know some good historic books about U-boats in WWI?

[Sailor Steve]

The best one I know is Edwin Gray's U-Boat War (http://www.amazon.com/The-U-Boat-1914-1918-Edwyn-Gray/dp/0850524059/ref=sr_1_fkmr3_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1367079463&sr=1-1-fkmr3&keywords=u-boat+world+war+1+edwin+gray).

[Kelly621]

DesertGhost,

If you have a Kindle or the free Kindler reader on your PC there is a free book, The Diary Of A U-Boat Commander, you can download from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Commander-Introduction-Explanatory-Etienne-ebook/dp/B002RKQZ3W/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1367084952&sr=1-1&keywords=the+diary+of+a+u-boat+commander

It is the war time diary of a U-Boat commander during WWI. I have not had a chance to read it yet, but being free it would probably be worth a look.

Kelly621

[DesertGhost]

The best one I know is Edwin Gray's U-Boat War (http://www.amazon.com/The-U-Boat-1914-1918-Edwyn-Gray/dp/0850524059/ref=sr_1_fkmr3_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1367079463&sr=1-1-fkmr3&keywords=u-boat+world+war+1+edwin+gray).

Thanks for the tip Steve!
The book looks really nice, I will certainly consider getting this one.

DesertGhost,

If you have a Kindle or the free Kindler reader on your PC there is a free book, The Diary Of A U-Boat Commander, you can download from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Commander-Introduction-Explanatory-Etienne-ebook/dp/B002RKQZ3W/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1367084952&sr=1-1&keywords=the+diary+of+a+u-boat+commander

It is the war time diary of a U-Boat commander during WWI. I have not had a chance to read it yet, but being free it would probably be worth a look.

Kelly621

Thanks for the tip Kelly!
I don't have a Kindle or Kindler reader (yet), but when I have one, I think I'll certainly give this book a look.

[Kelly621]

DesertGhost,
You can download a free kindle reader for your PC here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=amb_link_355960802_3?ie=UTF8&docId=1000426311&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=auto-sparkle&pf_rd_r=99848CD000F54D20A015&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_p=1362579982&pf_rd_i=free%20kindle%20reading%20apps

This free app is also available for the mac, andriod etc.....

[DesertGhost]

DesertGhost,
You can download a free kindle reader for your PC here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=amb_link_355960802_3?ie=UTF8&docId=1000426311&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=auto-sparkle&pf_rd_r=99848CD000F54D20A015&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_p=1362579982&pf_rd_i=free%20kindle%20reading%20apps

This free app is also available for the mac, andriod etc.....

Thanks, I just downloaded the free version on my PC, but now I encountered a different problem...
The book you suggested is currently not available anymore.
But I'll wait and see if it will be available again someday

[Kelly621]

I have picked up most of the books recommended here....should keep me busy awhile:)
Flag4...you were right about Operation Drumbeat! It has rained here all day so my wife gave me a break from yard work. I have been reading it all day and it is great so far...thanks!

Kelly621

[badwolf]

Saw this while googling. lists submarine books of WWI and WWII - http://pastfoundation.org/previous-programs/DeepWrecks/Directed%20Readings%20on%20the%20U-Boat%20War.pdf