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???

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.

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!

Sailor Steve · 09-29-06, 06:29 PM

Dowly you haven't read Das Boot? Then you don't even know why, even though an officer NEVER calls his enlisted men by their first names, they call the diesel chiefs Franz and Johann?

I won't spoil it for you, but it's one of my favorite parts. Also you'll see how close the long version of the movie follows the book, but still how many parts are changed.

Oh, and gord96, my favorite is probably U-Boat 977. It's a hoot.

Warmonger · 09-29-06, 06:44 PM

I have a book called "Feindfahrten" at home, written by Wolfgang Hirschfeld. He was radioman on U-109 under Kaleuns Fischer and Bleichrodt during 1941+'42 and later on U-234 on its infamous attempt to deliver radioactive material to Japan in April '45. Got this as a present from my parents, prolly the best book they ever chosen.

Deep-Six · 09-29-06, 07:57 PM

I just got done reading Miracle on the Water, dont have the authors name at the moment.

The view is from the other side. It is very chilling. Litterally.

Quick synopsis, The City of Benares is torpedoed by U-48.

The passenger ship was carrying 400+ men, women and children.

Only 197 or so survived.

The book is very good. I recommend very highly.

Ducimus · 09-29-06, 08:07 PM

Along with the others mentioned above, one of my favorites is "Steel boat, Iron hearts" by Hans gruebler, a crewman who was onboard U505 for most of its service in the kreigsmarine and was with the boat when it was captured. Tells quite a story from patrols in south africa, to the caribean.

SubConscious · 09-30-06, 10:36 AM

I'd have to say that Operation Drumbeat by Michael Gannon is my favorite sub book thus far, though I have yet to read Iron Coffins. I recently re-read "U-boat Ace: The Story of Wolfgang Luth", which was pretty good, but not nearly of the caliber of Gannon's work.

CaptainNemo12 · 09-30-06, 12:22 PM

You're right, Gannon's book is amazing. I've just started it myself, about 1/4 of the way finished.

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

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!

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	#4
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.

09-29-06, 06:29 PM	#8
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Dowly you haven't read Das Boot? Then you don't even know why, even though an officer NEVER calls his enlisted men by their first names, they call the diesel chiefs Franz and Johann? I won't spoil it for you, but it's one of my favorite parts. Also you'll see how close the long version of the movie follows the book, but still how many parts are changed. Oh, and gord96, my favorite is probably U-Boat 977. It's a hoot. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

09-30-06, 07:43 PM	#15
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.

09-28-06, 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	#6
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	#7
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,052 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!

09-29-06, 06:44 PM	#9
Warmonger Lieutenant Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 266 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	I have a book called "Feindfahrten" at home, written by Wolfgang Hirschfeld. He was radioman on U-109 under Kaleuns Fischer and Bleichrodt during 1941+'42 and later on U-234 on its infamous attempt to deliver radioactive material to Japan in April '45. Got this as a present from my parents, prolly the best book they ever chosen.

09-29-06, 07:57 PM	#10
Deep-Six Sonar Guy Join Date: May 2005 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 399 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	I just got done reading Miracle on the Water, dont have the authors name at the moment. The view is from the other side. It is very chilling. Litterally. Quick synopsis, The City of Benares is torpedoed by U-48. The passenger ship was carrying 400+ men, women and children. Only 197 or so survived. The book is very good. I recommend very highly.

09-29-06, 08:07 PM	#11
Ducimus Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 12,987 Downloads: 67 Uploads: 2	Along with the others mentioned above, one of my favorites is "Steel boat, Iron hearts" by Hans gruebler, a crewman who was onboard U505 for most of its service in the kreigsmarine and was with the boat when it was captured. Tells quite a story from patrols in south africa, to the caribean.

09-30-06, 10:36 AM	#12
SubConscious Frogman Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 309 Downloads: 102 Uploads: 0	I'd have to say that Operation Drumbeat by Michael Gannon is my favorite sub book thus far, though I have yet to read Iron Coffins. I recently re-read "U-boat Ace: The Story of Wolfgang Luth", which was pretty good, but not nearly of the caliber of Gannon's work.

09-30-06, 12:22 PM	#13
CaptainNemo12 Frogman Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 307 Downloads: 15 Uploads: 0	You're right, Gannon's book is amazing. I've just started it myself, about 1/4 of the way finished.