Need help choosing Sub book

CaptRari · 08-12-07, 03:14 PM

Hi mates,

After playing Sh4 (my first sub game) i have become fascinated with submarine warfare and would like to know anyone could recommed a good sub book or two to sastisfy my new found love?

Thus far, my list of books im considering are: 1) Silent Hunters: German uboats commanders of WW II (theodore savas) 2)Hunt and Kill:U 505 & Uboat War in Atlantic and 3) Iron Coffins: a personal account of German Uboat Battles of WWII

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

tater · 08-12-07, 03:25 PM

Silent Victory by Clay Blair is a great total overview of the USN sub war in the Pacific.

Silent Running, by James Calvert is a great personal account of an officer on a fleet boat.

AVGWarhawk · 08-12-07, 03:36 PM

Submarine.
Silent Running.
Final Patrol.
Clear the Bridge.
Wake of the Wahoo.

All good. For more titles and great prices....Amazon.com Books. Type in search for submarines. Numerous titles. This were I get mine. I have not see Border Books store since I started with Amazon.

Canonicus · 08-12-07, 07:56 PM

I recommend... "U.S. Submarine Operations in WWII" by Theodore Roscoe

Not so much a definitive history but a interesting and enjoyable narrative. Nice original artwork and maps too.

mookiemookie · 08-12-07, 08:24 PM

It depends on if you're looking for U-boats or U.S. subs in the Pacific

As far as U-boats go, Iron Coffins is a great read. Also good is Operation Drumbeat by Michael Gannon about the time when Germany sent U-boats to the east coast of the U.S.

Blair's Silent Victory is awesome for a blow by blow account of the U.S. sub war, as are both volumes of his Hitler's U-Boat War for the German side, but they are not written in narrative style and while comprehensive, can be a bit dry in parts.

I'd go with Clear the Bridge, or even The Bravest Man by William Tuohy. Both are about Dick O'Kane, one of the great U.S. skippers of WW2. Great reads, both of them.

AVGWarhawk · 08-12-07, 08:27 PM

Torpedo Junction is probably the best book on U-boat warfare off the eastern US.

Peto · 11-05-07, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canonicus

I recommend... "U.S. Submarine Operations in WWII" by Theodore Roscoe

Not so much a definitive history but a interesting and enjoyable narrative. Nice original artwork and maps too.

This is the book that most WWII Sub Vets like best,dfficult to find though and you can't borrow my copy

.

Iron Coffins (Herbert Werner): Semi historical and Very personal Account of U-boats in WWII. Very Good

U-Boat Commander (Peter Cremer: U-333): Historical and personal account. Very good technical details about u-boats and Allied ASW measures. Describes being on the receiving end of one of Jonnie Walker's "Buttercup" attacks.

Torpedo Junction (Homer H. Hickam Jr): Good read about u-boat onslaught against the US East Coast.

Hitler's U-boat War (Clay Blair): Very Good resource material. The only book I've read that gives detailed reasons why Adm King could NOT do a better job against the U-boat attack on the US east Coast in early 42.

Silent Victory (Clay Blair): 2 volume account of US submarines. Very good!

Warfish (George Grider): A good read
Clear the Bridge (Richard O'Kane)
Silent Running (James Calvert)
Thunder Below (Eugene Fluckey--my only autographed copy

)

(and not at my finger-tips for author)
Convoy--about the battle for Convoys SC122 and HX229 March 43
Hunter Killer--about HK groups in the Atlantic. Much use of the FIDO US homing torpedo against u-boats.

That's my short list

.

Happy reading!

Peto

RENEGADE-623 · 11-05-07, 12:48 PM

i read the run silent run deep series by edward l beach, just now picked up the bravest man from our px here in iraq, so going to dive into that one

apojacks · 11-05-07, 12:54 PM

Silent Victory is good if you want an overall view of submarine warfare in WWII.

howler93 · 11-05-07, 02:28 PM

After reading many books on the subject, I think the best one I've read, by far, was Thunder Below by Egene Fluckey about his command of the Barb. Silent Victory, while certainly informative, gets a bit tedious after awhile. A book like Thunder Below really brought sub ops to life for me. It's well written and I guarentee you that you'll want to take command of the Barb yourself in SH4 after reading it! O'Kane's Wahoo was also pretty good, but lacking the flavor that Fluckey brings in Thunder Below. Regardless, enjoy!

Howler

rrmelend · 11-05-07, 02:42 PM

My personal favorite is "Sink 'Em All" by the man himself, Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood, Jr., USN. It can be hard to find but I believe there are some paperbacks still around and you can always check on ebay, that's how I got my first edition hardcover.

dean_acheson · 11-05-07, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptRari

Hi mates,

After playing Sh4 (my first sub game) i have become fascinated with submarine warfare and would like to know anyone could recommed a good sub book or two to sastisfy my new found love?

Thus far, my list of books im considering are: 1) Silent Hunters: German uboats commanders of WW II (theodore savas) 2)Hunt and Kill:U 505 & Uboat War in Atlantic and 3) Iron Coffins: a personal account of German Uboat Battles of WWII

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

I'd try something by Dick O'Kane, esp. if you are playing a U.S. Boat, if you are into SH3, then some of this German history would be a bit more applicable.

dean_acheson · 11-05-07, 03:28 PM

Is Clay Blair still around? Has anybody here met the man?

Peto · 11-05-07, 03:40 PM

I never met him. Would have liked to.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...51C1A96E958260

mrbeast · 11-05-07, 04:08 PM

War in the Boats by Wiliam J. Ruhe is a good read, especially his experiances on S boats.

Run Silent, Run Deep by Edward L. Beach, is a classic and although its a ficticious story, Beach served on fleet boats during the war and much of the story is based on RL events. Its a very good introduction to US subs and a good read too. Plus you will know all about 'Bungo Pete' by the end of it! Its the first book I read on the subject of US subs.

Silent Victory by Clay Blair, as has already been mentioned, is essential reading, I'm halfway through it at the moment.

If you are looking for an accessable technical book about fleet boats, try the Osprey New Vanguard book on US subs 1941 to 1945. Its easy to read and is well illustrated. However it doesn't go into great depth about the subject.

As for U boats

Das Boot by Lothar-Gunther Buchheim (who sadly died just recently) is the classic sub novel. A very good read and plenty to get through too. It forms the basis of the eponimous film which is possibly the best naval film ever made sub or surface IMO!

Iron Coffins By Herbert A. Werner is also a very goo read, as has been said its a very personal account of the U boat war. It can also be a devastating read as you find out what happened to U boats in 1943! Werner could possibly be the luckiest U boat commander of the war and one of the few to survive it.

Thats pretty much my reading list at the moment.

08-12-07, 03:14 PM	#1
CaptRari Swabbie Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 11 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Need help choosing Sub book Hi mates, After playing Sh4 (my first sub game) i have become fascinated with submarine warfare and would like to know anyone could recommed a good sub book or two to sastisfy my new found love? Thus far, my list of books im considering are: 1) Silent Hunters: German uboats commanders of WW II (theodore savas) 2)Hunt and Kill:U 505 & Uboat War in Atlantic and 3) Iron Coffins: a personal account of German Uboat Battles of WWII Any input would be greatly appreciated!

08-12-07, 03:36 PM	#3
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,287 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Submarine. Silent Running. Final Patrol. Clear the Bridge. Wake of the Wahoo. All good. For more titles and great prices....Amazon.com Books. Type in search for submarines. Numerous titles. This were I get mine. I have not see Border Books store since I started with Amazon. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

08-12-07, 08:24 PM	#5
mookiemookie Navy Seal Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 9,404 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 1	It depends on if you're looking for U-boats or U.S. subs in the Pacific As far as U-boats go, Iron Coffins is a great read. Also good is Operation Drumbeat by Michael Gannon about the time when Germany sent U-boats to the east coast of the U.S. Blair's Silent Victory is awesome for a blow by blow account of the U.S. sub war, as are both volumes of his Hitler's U-Boat War for the German side, but they are not written in narrative style and while comprehensive, can be a bit dry in parts. I'd go with Clear the Bridge, or even The Bravest Man by William Tuohy. Both are about Dick O'Kane, one of the great U.S. skippers of WW2. Great reads, both of them. __________________ They don’t think it be like it is, but it do. Want more U-boat Kaleun portraits for your SH3 Commander Profiles? Download the SH3 Commander Portrait Pack here.

08-12-07, 08:27 PM	#6
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,287 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Torpedo Junction is probably the best book on U-boat warfare off the eastern US. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

11-05-07, 12:48 PM	#8
RENEGADE-623 Sailor man Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 45 Downloads: 18 Uploads: 0	i read the run silent run deep series by edward l beach, just now picked up the bravest man from our px here in iraq, so going to dive into that one __________________ IF YOU WANT TO DANCE WITH THE DEVIL, YOU HAVE TO PLAY HIS GAME Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 2.66Ghz Quad PNY GeForce XLR8 8800 GTS / 640MB GDDR3 / SLI Ready / PCI Express / Dual DVI / HDTV / Video Card Corsair DHX XMS2 Dominator Dual Channel 2048MB PC6400 DDR2 800Mhz Memory Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty PCI Sound Card Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit

08-12-07, 03:25 PM	#2
tater Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Mexico, USA Posts: 9,023 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 2	Silent Victory by Clay Blair is a great total overview of the USN sub war in the Pacific. Silent Running, by James Calvert is a great personal account of an officer on a fleet boat.

08-12-07, 07:56 PM	#4
Canonicus XO Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: In your baffles... Posts: 434 Downloads: 624 Uploads: 7	I recommend... "U.S. Submarine Operations in WWII" by Theodore Roscoe Not so much a definitive history but a interesting and enjoyable narrative. Nice original artwork and maps too.

11-05-07, 12:54 PM	#9
apojacks Swabbie Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Maine Posts: 13 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Silent Victory is good if you want an overall view of submarine warfare in WWII.

11-05-07, 02:28 PM	#10
howler93 Medic Join Date: May 2007 Location: Telluride, Colorado Posts: 162 Downloads: 13 Uploads: 0	After reading many books on the subject, I think the best one I've read, by far, was Thunder Below by Egene Fluckey about his command of the Barb. Silent Victory, while certainly informative, gets a bit tedious after awhile. A book like Thunder Below really brought sub ops to life for me. It's well written and I guarentee you that you'll want to take command of the Barb yourself in SH4 after reading it! O'Kane's Wahoo was also pretty good, but lacking the flavor that Fluckey brings in Thunder Below. Regardless, enjoy! Howler

11-05-07, 02:42 PM	#11
rrmelend Medic Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 162 Downloads: 20 Uploads: 0	My personal favorite is "Sink 'Em All" by the man himself, Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood, Jr., USN. It can be hard to find but I believe there are some paperbacks still around and you can always check on ebay, that's how I got my first edition hardcover.

11-05-07, 03:28 PM	#13
dean_acheson Ace of the Deep Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Midwest - USA Posts: 1,057 Downloads: 42 Uploads: 0	Is Clay Blair still around? Has anybody here met the man?

11-05-07, 03:40 PM	#14
Peto Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The details of my life are quite inconsequential Posts: 1,049 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	I never met him. Would have liked to. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...51C1A96E958260

11-05-07, 04:08 PM	#15
mrbeast Ace of the Deep Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bolton, UK Posts: 1,236 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	War in the Boats by Wiliam J. Ruhe is a good read, especially his experiances on S boats. Run Silent, Run Deep by Edward L. Beach, is a classic and although its a ficticious story, Beach served on fleet boats during the war and much of the story is based on RL events. Its a very good introduction to US subs and a good read too. Plus you will know all about 'Bungo Pete' by the end of it! Its the first book I read on the subject of US subs. Silent Victory by Clay Blair, as has already been mentioned, is essential reading, I'm halfway through it at the moment. If you are looking for an accessable technical book about fleet boats, try the Osprey New Vanguard book on US subs 1941 to 1945. Its easy to read and is well illustrated. However it doesn't go into great depth about the subject. As for U boats Das Boot by Lothar-Gunther Buchheim (who sadly died just recently) is the classic sub novel. A very good read and plenty to get through too. It forms the basis of the eponimous film which is possibly the best naval film ever made sub or surface IMO! Iron Coffins By Herbert A. Werner is also a very goo read, as has been said its a very personal account of the U boat war. It can also be a devastating read as you find out what happened to U boats in 1943! Werner could possibly be the luckiest U boat commander of the war and one of the few to survive it. Thats pretty much my reading list at the moment. __________________