Recomendation for Submarine Books

Razorbackfan · 01-24-15, 12:19 PM

As the title says I'm looking for some history books on submarines. Unfortunately I happened to just developed an interest in them, so my personal library doesn't consist of a lot of books about submarine warfare, and I was hoping the Subsim community could correct my mistake.

My Interest for submarines is predominantly in world war 2 and earlier, but if there is a book that is too good to miss out on please recommend it.

Price isn't an issue, I understand books can get up there. "Anatomy of the Ship"

Thank you in advance

Hawk66 · 01-24-15, 01:30 PM

Cannot speak for WWII but if you've nevertheless interest in the cold war history, I can recommend

http://www.amazon.com/Hostile-Waters...hostile+waters

Tom Clancy's SSN (for beginners)

But this is my all time favorite:
http://www.amazon.com/Blind-Mans-Blu...2124123&sr=8-1

tmccarthy · 01-24-15, 02:10 PM

"Iron Coffins" by Herbert Werner, WW2 German subs

http://www.amazon.com/Iron-Coffins-P...sin=030681160X

"Submarine!" by Edward Beach, WW2 US Subs

http://www.amazon.com/Submarine-Blue...RXCQDWKPSVDZM9

Sailor Steve · 01-24-15, 02:29 PM

I don't know where your interests lie - personal stories, development of the equipment, overviews of entire actions...

I tend toward the technical side myself, and I consider this book to be the best general overview and a great place to start.
http://www.amazon.com/Submarines-Wor.../dp/1854095323

Razorbackfan · 01-24-15, 02:40 PM

Quote:

I don't know where your interests lie - personal stories, development of the equipment, overviews of entire actions

When it comes to literature, I enjoy all three aspects, but I tend to lean towards more historically accurate books, nevertheless all three are just as good.I mostly leans towards the historically accurate, because of my major in college and I like to quote the literature for papers, and other things of that nature.

Hope this helps!

sharkbit · 01-24-15, 03:11 PM

"War Beneath the Sea"by Peter Padfield.

A good, thick book which gives a good overview of the submarine war in WWII. It includes all nationalities without being dry and has quite a few personal accounts.

A real good part of the book is in the beginning where it gives the submarine design philosophies of the various nations which was driven by the strategy that each nation had in its use of the subs. A real eye opener.

It also gives excellent coverage of the British boats in the Med out of Malta. I knew very little about them prior to this book. Some great stories.

sharkbit · 01-24-15, 03:24 PM

Oh yeah, if you want dry, try Clay Blair's two volume "Hitler's U-boat War".

Thick and dry but some good nuggets of information. It will make you reevaluate the common belief that the U-boats nearly brought England to her knees during the war. He backs up most of his conclusions with reams of stats.

They are difficult to read though.

The second volume can be difficult to find cheaply for some reason. I had a hard time finding it a few years ago until I got a used one on e-bay and it was in pretty bad shape when I got it.

He has a similar book on the US boats in the Pacific called "Silent Victory" has well. Pretty dry as well and he does seem pretty biased in that one.

sharkbit · 01-24-15, 03:34 PM

Sorry, I keep thinking of stuff after I hit submit:

They're fiction but try Edward Beach's trilogy:
"Run Silent, Run Deep"
"Dust on the Sea"
"Cold is the Sea"

The first two are during WWII and the third takes place during the Cold War.

They are very realistic as Beach served on US boats during WWII. Very detailed too.

tmccarthy · 01-24-15, 07:42 PM

"Steel Boats, Iron Hearts" by Hans Goebeler, WW2 German Subs

TorpX · 01-24-15, 10:16 PM

war operations:

Theodore Roscoe's US Submarine Operations in WWII

technical development:

Norman Friedman's US Submarines through 1945

personal memoirs:

Eugene B. Fluckey's Thunder Below!

Richard H. O'Kane's Wahoo
and
Clear the Bridge!

James F. Calvet's Silent Running

Or course, there are many others, but these are some of my favorites.

Zeus_Faber · 01-31-15, 09:31 PM

Lothar-Günther Buchheim wrote a couple of books that are available in English: his novel Das Boot (also released as The Boat); and U-Boat War, a non-fiction book which features dozens of pictures taken by Buchheim whilst sailing aboard the real U-96. Evidently, there are more books by Buchheim in the German language which have never been translated.

Ron

STEED · 02-02-15, 09:11 AM

The U-Boat Offensive 1914-1945

V. E. Tarrant

amazon USA
http://www.amazon.com/The-U-Boat-Off.../dp/087021764X

Review of book
http://uboat.net/books/reviews/264.html

01-24-15, 12:19 PM	#1
Razorbackfan Nub Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 4 Downloads: 112 Uploads: 0	Recomendation for Submarine Books As the title says I'm looking for some history books on submarines. Unfortunately I happened to just developed an interest in them, so my personal library doesn't consist of a lot of books about submarine warfare, and I was hoping the Subsim community could correct my mistake. My Interest for submarines is predominantly in world war 2 and earlier, but if there is a book that is too good to miss out on please recommend it. Price isn't an issue, I understand books can get up there. "Anatomy of the Ship" Thank you in advance Last edited by Razorbackfan; 01-24-15 at 01:37 PM.

01-24-15, 02:10 PM	#3
tmccarthy Admiral Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,302 Downloads: 270 Uploads: 16	"Iron Coffins" by Herbert Werner, WW2 German subs http://www.amazon.com/Iron-Coffins-P...sin=030681160X "Submarine!" by Edward Beach, WW2 US Subs http://www.amazon.com/Submarine-Blue...RXCQDWKPSVDZM9 Last edited by tmccarthy; 01-24-15 at 02:25 PM.

01-24-15, 02:29 PM	#4
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	I don't know where your interests lie - personal stories, development of the equipment, overviews of entire actions... I tend toward the technical side myself, and I consider this book to be the best general overview and a great place to start. http://www.amazon.com/Submarines-Wor.../dp/1854095323 __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

01-24-15, 03:11 PM	#6
sharkbit The Old Man Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 1,529 Downloads: 334 Uploads: 0	"War Beneath the Sea"by Peter Padfield. A good, thick book which gives a good overview of the submarine war in WWII. It includes all nationalities without being dry and has quite a few personal accounts. A real good part of the book is in the beginning where it gives the submarine design philosophies of the various nations which was driven by the strategy that each nation had in its use of the subs. A real eye opener. It also gives excellent coverage of the British boats in the Med out of Malta. I knew very little about them prior to this book. Some great stories. __________________ “Prejudice is blind. There will always be someone who says you aren’t welcome at the table. Stop apologizing for who you are and using all your energy trying to change their minds. Yes, you will lose friends, maybe even family. But you will gain your self-respect. You will know your worth. Once you have that, nothing can stop you.”

01-24-15, 03:24 PM	#7
sharkbit The Old Man Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 1,529 Downloads: 334 Uploads: 0	Oh yeah, if you want dry, try Clay Blair's two volume "Hitler's U-boat War". Thick and dry but some good nuggets of information. It will make you reevaluate the common belief that the U-boats nearly brought England to her knees during the war. He backs up most of his conclusions with reams of stats. They are difficult to read though. The second volume can be difficult to find cheaply for some reason. I had a hard time finding it a few years ago until I got a used one on e-bay and it was in pretty bad shape when I got it. He has a similar book on the US boats in the Pacific called "Silent Victory" has well. Pretty dry as well and he does seem pretty biased in that one. __________________ “Prejudice is blind. There will always be someone who says you aren’t welcome at the table. Stop apologizing for who you are and using all your energy trying to change their minds. Yes, you will lose friends, maybe even family. But you will gain your self-respect. You will know your worth. Once you have that, nothing can stop you.”

01-24-15, 01:30 PM	#2
Hawk66 Commodore Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 609 Downloads: 36 Uploads: 0	Cannot speak for WWII but if you've nevertheless interest in the cold war history, I can recommend http://www.amazon.com/Hostile-Waters...hostile+waters Tom Clancy's SSN (for beginners) But this is my all time favorite: http://www.amazon.com/Blind-Mans-Blu...2124123&sr=8-1

01-24-15, 03:34 PM	#8
sharkbit The Old Man Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 1,529 Downloads: 334 Uploads: 0	Sorry, I keep thinking of stuff after I hit submit: They're fiction but try Edward Beach's trilogy: "Run Silent, Run Deep" "Dust on the Sea" "Cold is the Sea" The first two are during WWII and the third takes place during the Cold War. They are very realistic as Beach served on US boats during WWII. Very detailed too. __________________ “Prejudice is blind. There will always be someone who says you aren’t welcome at the table. Stop apologizing for who you are and using all your energy trying to change their minds. Yes, you will lose friends, maybe even family. But you will gain your self-respect. You will know your worth. Once you have that, nothing can stop you.”

01-24-15, 07:42 PM	#9
tmccarthy Admiral Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,302 Downloads: 270 Uploads: 16	"Steel Boats, Iron Hearts" by Hans Goebeler, WW2 German Subs

01-24-15, 10:16 PM	#10
TorpX Silent Hunter Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 3,975 Downloads: 153 Uploads: 11	war operations: Theodore Roscoe's US Submarine Operations in WWII technical development: Norman Friedman's US Submarines through 1945 personal memoirs: Eugene B. Fluckey's Thunder Below! Richard H. O'Kane's Wahoo and Clear the Bridge! James F. Calvet's Silent Running Or course, there are many others, but these are some of my favorites.

01-31-15, 09:31 PM	#11
Zeus_Faber Swabbie Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 11 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Lothar-Günther Buchheim wrote a couple of books that are available in English: his novel Das Boot (also released as The Boat); and U-Boat War, a non-fiction book which features dozens of pictures taken by Buchheim whilst sailing aboard the real U-96. Evidently, there are more books by Buchheim in the German language which have never been translated. Ron

02-02-15, 09:11 AM	#12
STEED Lucky Jack Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Down Town UK Posts: 27,695 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 48	The U-Boat Offensive 1914-1945 V. E. Tarrant amazon USA http://www.amazon.com/The-U-Boat-Off.../dp/087021764X Review of book http://uboat.net/books/reviews/264.html __________________ Dr Who rest in peace 1963-2017. To borrow Davros saying...I NAME YOU CHIBNALL THE DESTROYER OF DR WHO YOU KILLED IT!