U-Boat Novels

gord96 · 09-28-06, 03:47 PM

Hello,

Just wondering if you guys know of or could recommend and U-Boat or any other WW2 naval novels. I think I heard of one or two about U-Boat but I can not remember them for the life of me.

Thanks

CaptainNemo12 · 09-28-06, 04:51 PM

Hi,

The best and one of my favourite novels about the U-boat War was the autobiography of Heinz Schaeffer, entitled "U-boat 977". It talks about the commander's life and his boat's journey in making an underwater voyage to Argentina at the end of the war. Frankly, I consider it probably one of the best U-boat novels/sources out there.

WilhelmSchulz. · 09-28-06, 05:18 PM

Ehem...

Iron Coffins by Herbert Werner
Torpedo Ally by Homer Hickam
Grey Wolves Grey Sea by E.B Gasaway
Donitz and the Wolf Packs by Bernard Edwards
Battle of the Atlantic by Andrew Willams
WolfPack by Gordon Wilamson
Das Boot(the book) by???

Sailor Steve · 09-28-06, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WilhelmSchulz.

Das Boot(the book) by???

Lothar-Günther Buchheim

From the other side:
U-Boat Killer, by Donald MacIntyre

gord96 · 09-29-06, 10:15 AM

WOW! Thanks guys. Lots of options! Can anyone name their favorite. I don't know where to start! LOL.

Thanks

Dowly · 09-29-06, 10:46 AM

Just ordered my copy of Das Boot for only 10€. Tho, it was that cheap because it´s in english instead of finnish. Cant wait to get my hands on it!

Achtung Englander · 09-30-06, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WilhelmSchulz.

Ehem...

Iron Coffins by Herbert Werner
Torpedo Ally by Homer Hickam
Grey Wolves Grey Sea by E.B Gasaway
Donitz and the Wolf Packs by Bernard Edwards
Battle of the Atlantic by Andrew Willams
WolfPack by Gordon Wilamson
Das Boot(the book) by???

superb list - thanks for that as I added 2 of those books to my "to read" list

09-28-06, 05:19 PM

I'd recommend you start with Iron Coffins by Herbert Werner then Operation Drumbeat by Michael Gannon. Both books are well written, are real interesting and will give you a lot of insight into u-boat operations from the commander's point of view.

spork542 · 09-30-06, 07:43 PM

Iron Coffins, Das Boot/The Boat are the two ones I've read. Iron Coffins was excellent, Das Boot is excellent so far (I haven't finished it.).

PS. Das Boot is by Lothar-Gunter Buchheim (sp)!

PPS. Bleh, Sailor Steve beat me to it!

John Pancoast · 09-30-06, 10:03 PM

Don't know if you'd call them novels (but then, some of the other suggestions aren't either

), but the two volumes by Clay Blair are outstanding.

Best in class.

Platapus · 10-20-06, 11:43 AM

Final Harbor and Wake of the Yahoo are also nice books.

Final Harbor is a fiction book but the author made it pretty realistic

AVGWarhawk · 10-20-06, 11:54 AM

"War Beneath the Sea" I do not have the author. I can get it if you need it. This book covers all U-boat/Submarines starting with WWI and through WWII. It is an excellent read with great insight on Donitz and his war diary. Tonnage War, etc. I highly recommend it. It also highlights all the authors noted above and the best parts of there books on the subject. It explains Berkley Park and decoding enigma. Problems with the convoy coverage and the air gap problem. What Donitz was facing. After reading this book I found that Donitz was a fairly decent guy and he did give a damn about his crews. It was pretty clear in his diary. It is 500 pages long and chock full of great stories and facts.

gord96 · 10-20-06, 11:58 AM

i just finished Battle of the Atlantic. Great read. One chapeter would be on the Germans, then the next would be on the Allies and it would switch on and off like that. I really recommend it.

Frenssen · 10-20-06, 12:59 PM

All my favourites have been mentioned by others, but here is my list:
Hirschfeld: Secret Diary of a U-boat. Very interesting to read an account from a non officer point of view. It is exciting, funny and sad.
L.G. Buchheim: Das Boot. Actually unlike most other people I read the book before I saw the movie. I remember my dad watching it in the 80s, but he didn`t let me watch war movies then.
Theodore Savas: Silent Hunters. Not a novel, but short biographies of different commanders, a very interesting read.
Herbert Werner: Iron Coffins. Some critics have pointed out inaccuracies in this book, but nevertheless it`s a great read. His romantic adventures on shore I find not so interesting though.

Captain Nemo · 10-23-06, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Pancoast

Don't know if you'd call them novels (but then, some of the other suggestions aren't either

), but the two volumes by Clay Blair are outstanding.

Best in class.

I'm reading the first of the Clay Blair volumes at the moment. Very factual and detailed and Clay Blair does a good job separating the facts from the propaganda. From what I have read so far I would also recommend these books.

Nemo

09-28-06, 03:47 PM	#1
gord96 Commodore Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 627 Downloads: 57 Uploads: 0	U-Boat Novels Hello, Just wondering if you guys know of or could recommend and U-Boat or any other WW2 naval novels. I think I heard of one or two about U-Boat but I can not remember them for the life of me. Thanks

09-28-06, 05:18 PM	#3
WilhelmSchulz. The Old Man Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Virgina Beach Posts: 1,301 Downloads: 17 Uploads: 0	Ehem... Iron Coffins by Herbert Werner Torpedo Ally by Homer Hickam Grey Wolves Grey Sea by E.B Gasaway Donitz and the Wolf Packs by Bernard Edwards Battle of the Atlantic by Andrew Willams WolfPack by Gordon Wilamson Das Boot(the book) by??? __________________ "Some ships are designed to sink… others require our assistance."

09-28-06, 05:19 PM	#8
von Zelda Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	U-boat Books I'd recommend you start with Iron Coffins by Herbert Werner then Operation Drumbeat by Michael Gannon. Both books are well written, are real interesting and will give you a lot of insight into u-boat operations from the commander's point of view.

09-30-06, 07:43 PM	#9
spork542 Chief Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 328 Downloads: 18 Uploads: 0	Iron Coffins, Das Boot/The Boat are the two ones I've read. Iron Coffins was excellent, Das Boot is excellent so far (I haven't finished it.). PS. Das Boot is by Lothar-Gunter Buchheim (sp)! PPS. Bleh, Sailor Steve beat me to it! __________________ Last edited by spork542; 09-30-06 at 07:47 PM.

09-30-06, 10:03 PM	#10
John Pancoast Ocean Warrior Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Minnysoda Posts: 3,211 Downloads: 501 Uploads: 4	Don't know if you'd call them novels (but then, some of the other suggestions aren't either ), but the two volumes by Clay Blair are outstanding. Best in class. __________________ "Realistic" is not always GAME-GOOD." - Wave Skipper

09-28-06, 04:51 PM	#2
CaptainNemo12 Frogman Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 307 Downloads: 15 Uploads: 0	Hi, The best and one of my favourite novels about the U-boat War was the autobiography of Heinz Schaeffer, entitled "U-boat 977". It talks about the commander's life and his boat's journey in making an underwater voyage to Argentina at the end of the war. Frankly, I consider it probably one of the best U-boat novels/sources out there.

09-29-06, 10:15 AM	#5
gord96 Commodore Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 627 Downloads: 57 Uploads: 0	WOW! Thanks guys. Lots of options! Can anyone name their favorite. I don't know where to start! LOL. Thanks

09-29-06, 10:46 AM	#6
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,053 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	Just ordered my copy of Das Boot for only 10€. Tho, it was that cheap because it´s in english instead of finnish. Cant wait to get my hands on it!

10-20-06, 11:43 AM	#11
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,373 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	Final Harbor and Wake of the Yahoo are also nice books. Final Harbor is a fiction book but the author made it pretty realistic

10-20-06, 11:54 AM	#12
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,262 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	"War Beneath the Sea" I do not have the author. I can get it if you need it. This book covers all U-boat/Submarines starting with WWI and through WWII. It is an excellent read with great insight on Donitz and his war diary. Tonnage War, etc. I highly recommend it. It also highlights all the authors noted above and the best parts of there books on the subject. It explains Berkley Park and decoding enigma. Problems with the convoy coverage and the air gap problem. What Donitz was facing. After reading this book I found that Donitz was a fairly decent guy and he did give a damn about his crews. It was pretty clear in his diary. It is 500 pages long and chock full of great stories and facts. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

10-20-06, 11:58 AM	#13
gord96 Commodore Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 627 Downloads: 57 Uploads: 0	i just finished Battle of the Atlantic. Great read. One chapeter would be on the Germans, then the next would be on the Allies and it would switch on and off like that. I really recommend it.

10-20-06, 12:59 PM	#14
Frenssen Sparky Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Norway Posts: 155 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	All my favourites have been mentioned by others, but here is my list: Hirschfeld: Secret Diary of a U-boat. Very interesting to read an account from a non officer point of view. It is exciting, funny and sad. L.G. Buchheim: Das Boot. Actually unlike most other people I read the book before I saw the movie. I remember my dad watching it in the 80s, but he didn`t let me watch war movies then. Theodore Savas: Silent Hunters. Not a novel, but short biographies of different commanders, a very interesting read. Herbert Werner: Iron Coffins. Some critics have pointed out inaccuracies in this book, but nevertheless it`s a great read. His romantic adventures on shore I find not so interesting though.