Anyone actually read any u-boat/battle of the Atlantic books

[sandbag69]

I do...I am presently reading 3 books.

Main book is Hitlers U-Boat War....in depth information on all U-Boat activities. Almost finished the first half of it called "The hunters" which is no mean feat as it is almost 700 pages long.

Second book is "under the red duster"..about the Merchant navy in WW2. Describes actions of certain ships and convoys under atatck by u-boats from the Merchant seamens perspective. the attacks on Pedestal, SC7 and PQ18 are particurlaly informative and fascinating.

Third book which I have just completed is named "the winning edge" about naval technology on all sides in World War2. The chapters about the pacific war and weapons used there are surprisingly engrossing as I thought the Pacific war was really only carrier actions but infact had many cruiser and destroyer battles.

Which books do you read?

[Salvadoreno]

I have read Hitlers Uboat War Vol. I and bout to read the Vol. II. I just finished reading Iron Coffins. Great reads so far. I just started "Night of the U-boats" and after that im gonna go back to Hitlers uboat war Vol II.

[Slick Rick]

Currently reading "Ten years and Twenty days" Admiral Doenitz Memoirs......

[Torvald Von Mansee]

I, too, am reading Hitler's U-Boat War. I am still in the prologue, actually. I checked out the second book at the same time.

I thought the preface which pointed out the defects of the Type XX1 was pretty eye opening.

[sandbag69]

I, too, am reading Hitler's U-Boat War. I am still in the prologue, actually. I checked out the second book at the same time.

I thought the preface which pointed out the defects of the Type XX1 was pretty eye opening.

Yes i thought that too. Most compelling of all is the fact that 98% of all ships sailed harmlessly across the oceans. Only 2% were ever sunk and there where thousands of ships.
So maybe there is a bit of a myth about Britain being strangled by the U-boats. The probable truth was that Churchill etc didn't want a second front and used the u-boat menace as an excuse for not re-invading France to help the Bolshies.
Churchill was a great politician but hopeless as First Lord of the Admiralty and Strategic thinking.

[CCIP]

Tons :yep:

Every time I'm at my library, I don't stray too far from the section that has all those WWII/Naval books :)

I've read Clay Blair's book(s), too.
I've heard a criticism of him being rather anti-German, and on some points I do agree with it. That or he's VERY keen on pointing out all possible German weaknesses, inaccuracies, mis-reports and failures. I haven't gotten to his book on the American subs in the pacific, but if the intro to Hitler's Uboat War is any indication - it should be the reverse. One wouldn't be surprised, of course, given his background. (Of course, I'm not saying that anyone should glorify the German war effort OR that the U-boat war was anything but a failure - but I wish he were a little less biting.)

That said, for being "stupidly detailed" as someone called it - this one's not one to miss. Definitely a damn well-researched book, you can't beat it for the sheer amount of information!

[Reece]

Hi, yes, I have always had a fascination for U-boats, there commanders, & the lives of the men who vertually lived in these iron coffins, & most, died in them! :cry:
Have read:
The battle for the atlantic.
Battle beneath the waves.
U-Boat ace - The story of Wolfgang Luth.
Currently reading: The U-Boats (Time Life)
Have Hitlers U-Boat war (42-45) but am waiting to purchase Part 1.
Also the story of Martin Neimoller U-Boat commander in ww1.
Movies & Documentaries: Das Boot, Iron coffins, Attack America, Clash of wings (has good U-Boat footage of Erich Topp), Got but not seen yet, Victory at sea (vol 1-26). :up:

[AceChilla]

I have read Iron Coffins which was a great read I can reccomend to everybody.

Im thinking about getting the book of which this article is an excerpt. the article is a recollection of an U-boot officer serving on a boot when their Captain commited suicide. Read the article send chills down my back :yep:

http://www.feldgrau.com/articles.php?ID=34

[clive bradbury]

I don't know about Blair being anti-german, seems to me more like anti-british. As you say, he allows his background to slant his writing, which is a shame because it demonstrates poor skills as a historian and detracts from some excellent research.

He is forever keen to defend Ernest King and criticise british naval leaders (and seamen, and airmen etc, etc) without apparently appreciating the 'under siege' mindset of the british in the early years of the war. He completely fails to understand how important imports were in the minds of the british leaders, and thus criticises them from hindsight - again, poor skills as a historian (take a look at his stance on enigma/ultra, for a good example of this).

Still worth reading , though, as it is a good narrative account - it's the analysis and interpretation that lets him down.

[STEED]

Donitz and the Wolf Packs

Iron Coffins

Memoirs by Donitz

Type VII U-Boat

The U-Boat War 1914-1945

Donitz the Last Fuhrer
(Note Donitz was given the title President of the Reich not Fuher)

German U-Boat type XXI

The last year of the Kriegsmarine May44-May45

The German Fleet at War 1939-1945
(This is about the surface fleet)

German S-boote at War, 1939-1945
(This is about the S-Boats)


Just a few of many I have read.

[Heibges]

"Uboat Commander" by Peter Ali Cremer
"Uboat Commander" by Erich Topp
"Uboat Comnander" by Gunter Prien
"Eleven Years and Twenty Days" by Karl Doenitz[/list]

[JSalinger]

I'm afraid you all have me beaten here. :oops:

I've read Iron Coffins, The Destruction of PQ-17, and the Time-Life Volume "Battle of the Atlantic." (Definitely recommend the latter.)

[Antonin]

I have read Iron Coffins which was a great read I can reccomend to everybody.

Iron Coffins is absolutely one of the best. I read it many, many years ago.

Also good:

U-boats Destroyed (Paul Kemp - stats and descriptions of each sinking in WW1 and WW2)

The U-boat Offensive 1914-1945 (VE Tarrant)

U-boat Commanders and Crews 1935-45 (Jak Showell - includes appendixes listing who commanded which boats when, and the 'service life' of every boat)

Type VII U-boats (Robert Stern)

Sharks and Little Fish (novel by Wolfgang Ott, I think his name was)

Peter Cremer's memoir

and of course The Boat (Bucheim)


I have other books, but these are the ones that come immediately to mind.

I've been studying the U-boat service for about 35 years. :D

[sandbag69]

iron Coffins seems to be the most read book so far...think I will need to get onto Amazon and buy it.

[DeepSix]

Black May, by Michael Gannon (1998), is also pretty good - not as well known as Blair's work, but it's solid.

[sandbag69]

Clay Blairs - "Hitler's u-Boat War"


I actually found it refreshing to know that the U-Boat captains were over estimating the tonnage sunk by so much and claming more kills than actually were. I actually giggled when Clay Blair was describing the term "Shepke Tonnage" in the u-boat waffe.

As for defending Admiral King I have to praise Clay Blair as he states the facts and figures in Black and White that prove Admiral King was a very able fleet commander and was not incompetent in the slightest regarding paukenshlag. Infact the british were demanding US Destroyers to be sent to Scapa Fow incase the so called mighty Tirpitz happened to sail , when the shipping on the east coast of the US was being attacked by U-boats.
As I guessed Churchill and the British Admiral Pound were the incompetents even before the War started. They had both been liable to underestimating the threat from U-boats and over estamating ASDIC as a Submarine finder. A few test attacks on escorted convoys in the North Atlantic before the war even started would have shown the limitations of Asdic. But as usual the british Class appointed politicians and Admirals were not forward thinking enough to find out.
Why on earth was Churchill made First Lord of the Admiralty before the second world war when he had ballsed up that position in 1914. Although Churchill was at least forward thinking enough when he asked for "Cheap and Nasty" escort vessels to be built to free up Destroyers. Pity the Hunt and Corvette Class designers were enept and produced such attrociously designed vessels. A bit more thought could have had frigates designed years before the war started.
Dont knwo how the sailors on the Corvettes managed to keep their sanity on such a rolling ship for weeks on end.

[mike_espo]

Have read: These are my favorites: :up:

U-boat commander: Peter Cremer
Iron Coffins: Herbert Werner
U-boat War: Westwood

These I thought were OK:
U-boat Ace: Luth
Convoy: Middlebrook

Although not specifically about U-boats, but excellent Naval history of the Reich: Hitler's Naval War: Cajus Becker. This title gives information on the whole Kreigsmarine, not just the U-boats. :up:

And about 5 more I can't remember and that are now out of print: One was the story of U-124, Joichim Mohr. Can't find it now :nope:

I am in the process of getting a book on the U-505, Hunt and Kill.

I read a U-505 history about 15 years ago...can't remember the author.

[Antonin]

And I forgot "Operation Drumbeat," which I think was by Gannon.

[Venatore]

My U-Boat collection thus far:
* Hitler's U-Boat fortresses;
* U-Boat killer;
* U-Boat 977 (The U-Boat that escaped to Argentina);
* Donitz and the Wolf Packs;
* Iron coffins and;
*Enemy submarine (The exploits of the U-Boat captain who penetratd Scapa Flow) this book is my pride and joy because it's a first addition, very old and the smell of such an old book is unreal.

[CCIP]

And about 5 more I can't remember and that are now out of print: One was the story of U-124, Joichim Mohr. Can't find it now :nope:


That would be
Grey Wolf, Grey Sea by E.B. Gasaway

Great book, probably my favorite of the bunch - it's just a really enjoyable read. Highly recommended to anyone :up:

[Khayman]

Both Clay Blair books. He has his critics and strong opinions, but it's full of detail from original Allied and German logs. He does ridicule some tonnage claims from German skippers, but he also says that overclaims were not unique to the Germans. Some US commanders in the Pacific were equally as guilty.

"Black May" and "Operation Drumbeat" by Michael Gannon

"Memoirs: Ten Years And Twenty Days" by Karl Donitz. Essential reading, and prime source material.

"Business In Great Waters: The U-Boat Wars 1916-1945 " by John Terraine

"Hirschfeld: The Secret Diary Of A U-Boat" by Wolfgang Hirschfeld. Don't know why nobody else has mentioned this one. It's as immediate as Iron Coffins. It gives great insight as to why Bleichrodt cracked and resigned mid-patrol (and some drunken escapades with him ashore), plus he was on U-234 - which was perhaps carrying radioatcive material to help Japan make a nuclear bomb.

"Iron Coffins". No need to say the author! As I said in the book thread though, he claims he used diaries and research for the book but admitted to another author he did no such thing.

"U-Boat Killer" by Donald Macintyre. Great book, and of course he sank U-99 and stole Kretschmers binoculars.

[JD]

"Wolf - U Boat Commanders In World War II" by Jordan Vause.

This is only a primer and not an in-depth study. However, it's a great read and I thoroughly recommend it.

"Hostile Waters" by Peter Huchthausen, Igor Kurdin and R. Alan White.

Not a WWII book but a rivetting read from cover to cover. Highly recommended.

[sandbag69]

absolutely great read.
i forgot to mention I had read Donitz and the Wolf Packs just before I started Hitler's U-Boat War. Thats what got me hooked on U-Boat/Naval books.

Next book is "Road to Russia" by Bernard Edwards from the local Library. He is the same author that wrote "Donitz and the Wolf Packs". Describes in detail every 1942 Convoy to Russia. PQ1 to PQ18.

[Redbear]

I've read 'Iron Coffins' by Herbert Werner. I have 'Ten Years and Twenty Days' by Donitz (haven't read it yet). I just started 'The Golden Horseshoe: The Wartime Career of Otto Kretschmer'.

[Uapa]

I've read:
Iron Coffins
Ali Cremer U-333
Wolfgang Luth U-Boot As
Der Wolf Im Atlantik-Otto Kretschmer
My way to Scapa Flow

I'm ending Hitler's U-boot War Vol.1(last 100 pages :) ) and I'm also reading:
U-Boat the secret menace by David Mason and Torpedo!Achtung!Los! by Wilhelm Marshall

[mike_espo]

And about 5 more I can't remember and that are now out of print: One was the story of U-124, Joichim Mohr. Can't find it now :nope:


That would be
Grey Wolf, Grey Sea by E.B. Gasaway

Great book, probably my favorite of the bunch - it's just a really enjoyable read. Highly recommended to anyone :up:

Thats It!!! :rock: :up:

Thanks! It was a great read. :D

[Antonin]

U-Boat the secret menace by David Mason

Wasn't this one of those Ballantine books? I think so. They cost 1 dollar back in the day. I began buying these when I was in high school, and the book you mention was, I think, the first U-boat book I ever read.

The cover showed a boat being attacked on the surface. One of the crewmen is crouched next to the conning tower. I always wondered if he was rescued.

[Torvald Von Mansee]

Well, I got into the first chapter concerning World War II in Blair's first book about the u-boats.

He goes into detail how Donitz tried to get more Type VII's but instead had Type IX's and other kinds of u-boats which he didn't really need for the strategy he had of the upcoming war. I couldn't help but think of Billy Mitchell, the visionary American U.S. Army Air Corps officer who clearly saw the importance of air power in any future conflict and was actually court-martialled and had his career effectively ended when he continued to profess his views. Years later, when he was already dead, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution awarding him a special Congressional Medal Of Honor and an apology for what he did and what was done to him.

One wonders how the u-boat war would have gone if Donitz got what he asked for. I guess it's a good thing he didn't.

[Uapa]

U-Boat the secret menace by David Mason

Wasn't this one of those Ballantine books? I think so. They cost 1 dollar back in the day. I began buying these when I was in high school, and the book you mention was, I think, the first U-boat book I ever read.

The cover showed a boat being attacked on the surface. One of the crewmen is crouched next to the conning tower. I always wondered if he was rescued.
yup :) and second crew man standing close to him

[Sawdust]

"Lone Wolf: The Life and Death of U-Boat Ace Werner Henke" was good. (by Timothy P. Mulligan)

It looks like "Iron Coffins" is on everyone's favorite list. I'll have to read that one.

[Heibges]

That's funny, because in his memoirs, Doenitz says that the Type VII and XI were each about perfect for their purpose, and each had much better performance in wartime than it was assumed they would have in peacetime in regards to operational range etc.

But Doenitz got neither in the numbers he requested.

[Heibges]

Clay Blairs - "Hitler's u-Boat War"


I actually found it refreshing to know that the U-Boat captains were over estimating the tonnage sunk by so much and claming more kills than actually were. I actually giggled when Clay Blair was describing the term "Shepke Tonnage" in the u-boat waffe.

.

That is funny. When I used to be a Sales Manager, I had salesman who would give spot-on estimates of how much their sales were worth, and others who would consistantly overvalue by 30% the value of their sales.

[kenijaru]

i've read "El Admiral Graf Spee desde kiel al rio de la plata" a book about the panzerschiff Adml Graff Spee, writen by 2 sailors.
also i want to read iron coffins and ten years and twenty days, but those 2 are hard to find here.... the one i've read was writen here in argentina.

[Torvald Von Mansee]

That's funny, because in his memoirs, Doenitz says that the Type VII and XI were each about perfect for their purpose, and each had much better performance in wartime than it was assumed they would have in peacetime in regards to operational range etc.

But Doenitz got neither in the numbers he requested.

Well, I'm just reporting what I'm reading in the Blair book. I found it alternately amusing and annoying how many resources the Germans wasted on unnecessary surface ships when they have poured a LOT more into u-boats. Of course, hindsight is 20/20, but the aforementioned Billy Mitchell already knew the battleship was obsolete, for example. So, there were indeed people at the time who realized which way the wind blew.

[U-Schultz]

It's been a few years since I read Blair's book (Silent Victory I believe) on the American sub campaign against Japan but as memory serves he pulled no punches with the USN either. Good book.
I think its just his writing style and not a anti-German or anti-British bias that people keep commenting on.
Still waiting to get the Atlantic/U-boat version.

Stupid local bookstores!

[Cerberus]

For anyone interested in the other side of the conflict, Nicholas Monsarrat's WWII stories are well worth reading.

The classic 'The Cruel Sea' of course, but also
'HMS Marlborough Will Enter Harbour'
'Three Corvettes'
'The Ship That Died of Shame: And Other Stories'

The books are fiction, but fiction by someone who served throughout the war on convoy escort duty, eventually commanding a frigate.

[malcymalc]

As well as the classic fiction "The Cruel Sea" can I recommend "The Real Cruel Sea - The Merchant Navy In The Battle Of The Atlantic, 1939-1943" by Richard Woodman.

This covers the same period as volume one of Blair's work running up to May 1943 and is in some respects the better book. Blair's books are highly detailed stories of the U-boat War, Woodman's includes a wider view including Luftwaffe activity and Kriegsmarine surface activity around the coast of the UK.

Reading this book it is easy to see why Churchill and the Sea Lords were so worried by the Uboat menace, and why they made the (sometimes imperfect choices) they did.

Regards
Malcolm

[AceChilla]

Has anyone here read:

Wolfpack: The U-Boat War and the Allied Counter-Attack, 1939-1945 by David Jordan?

I can get it for cheap second hand but can't seem to find any reviews about it. Anyone know if it's any good?

This is the Amazon link (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1862271585/sr=8-5/qid=1144797172/ref=pd_bbs_5/103-5160842-7731039?%5Fencoding=UTF8)

[Ping Jockey]

Have read the following:
Sharks and Little Fish
Operation Drumbeat
Iron Coffins
U-Boat Ace
Steel Boat Iron Hearts (U-505)
Clear the Bridge
Torpedo Junction
Thunder Below
U-Boat Commander

[2019]

Actually I've read only books about the Uboat war from the first WW.
"Raiders of the Deep" was a great read.
For those who would like to read more about ww1 events you can click in my sig for the commander diary.
It's worth to read for every uboat nut and not only.

[Sulikate]

I read "Wolfpack" (bought in USS Intrepid museum :know: ), good reading.

[ParaB]

Noone yet mentioned "Das Boot" by L.G. Buchheim? I'm surprised. Although it's a novel rather than a historic account I consider it among the best books ever written about the WW2 U-boats.

[Heibges]

The novels written about WWII are many times more "true" than works of non-fiction.

"The Naked and the Dead" is probably the definitive work about the infantry in WWII.

[Antonin]

As well as the classic fiction "The Cruel Sea" can I recommend "The Real Cruel Sea - The Merchant Navy In The Battle Of The Atlantic, 1939-1943" by Richard Woodman.
Regards
Malcolm

'The Cruel Sea'? I read a novel back in the 1970s called, I think, 'The Cruel Coast.' Same book, maybe?

The boat gets stranded on the coast of Ireland (I think). The skipper is wounded and not in his right mind. Stuff happens between the submariners and the local people. The submariners repair their boat well enough to put to sea.

They don't have a radio...and the date is June 6, 1944.

Same book?

[Antonin]

And oh yeah, I read something called the "U-boat Commander's Handbook," I think. Or 'U-boat Commender's Manual,' maybe. Got it from the library.

And I used to be a member of that U-boat study organization Sharkhunters, which published a 1X/month magazine featuring a particular submarine each month. I dropped out because they began to focus more and more on American WW2 submarines, which don't interest me very much.

[malcymalc]

"The Cruel Sea'? I read a novel back in the 1970s called, I think, 'The Cruel Coast.' Same book, maybe?

The boat gets stranded on the coast of Ireland (I think). The skipper is wounded and not in his right mind. Stuff happens between the submariners and the local people. The submariners repair their boat well enough to put to sea.

They don't have a radio...and the date is June 6, 1944.

Same book?"

No Antonin, definately not the same book - The Cruel Sea is the story of the crew of the Compass Rose, a Flower class corvette and their convoy duty. Written by Nicholas Monsarrat it is a grey, cold and gritty account of one ship's crew and their war.

It is probably the best novel yet written about the battle of the Atlantic and should be required reading for anyone interested in the campaign (and indeed should be required reading in British schools in my opinion). The author served in the RNVR during the war in the Atlantic and knew what he was talking about.

Malcolm