Kriegsmarine (WW 2) - Germany: books - history (1/2)

Deutsche Kriegsschiffe: U-Boote 1935-1945

Kriegsmarine U-boats 1939-1945 (1)

This, the first of two volumes on Germany's World War II U-boats, traces their development from the early U-boats of the Kaiser's Navy, the prohibition on Germany having U-boats following the Armistice in 1918 and the subsequent Treaty of Versailles, the secret development of U-boats using a 'cover-firm' in Holland, culminating in the formation of the 1st U-boat Flotilla in 1935 with the modern Type II.
The operational history section includes examples from the Classes Type VII A, Type VII B, VII D, VII E and VII F before concentrating on the mainstay of the U-boat arm, the Type VIIC. Comparisons are also made with the standard allied submarines, their strengths, weaknesses and U-boat tactics.

Contents: Introduction - The Type I - The Type II - The Type VII - The Type XIV - Armament - The torpedo - The mine - The powerplant - Other standard equipment - Bibliography - Colour plate commentary - Index.

Kriegsmarine U-boats, 1939-45 (2)

This title follows from New Vanguard 51: Kriegsmarine U-boats 1939-45 (1) and charts the continuing development of the U-boat in German service, including the evolution of the Type IX as a long range 'cruiser' intended for solo operations in distant waters.
Also covered is the revolutionary Type XXI, conceived of in 1942 and launched in April 1944, the first true submarine rather than submersible, whose arrival was just too late to influence the war. Other vessels covered are the Type XXIII, a small vessel armed with only two torpedoes but technically highly advanced, and the Type X minelayers, which were rarely used in their intended role and more often used as supply boats.

Contents: The Type IX - Armament - Torpedoes - Mines - Rockets - The Focke-Achgelis - Other standard equipment - The Type X - The Type XB - The Type XXI - The Type XXIII - The Wa201 - The Type XVIIB - Foreign submarines - Midget submarines - Bibliography - Colour plate commentary - Index.

U-boat Tactics in World War II

At the start of the war, German U-boat technology vastly out performed that possessed by the Allies, and under the pressure of the war continual development helped keep pace with wartime needs and improvements in anti-submarine weaponry.
But it was not just the technology that had to change. German U-boat tactics evolved over time. Used in a variety of roles, from coastal patrolling through to the combined actions of convey-hunting 'wolf packs', the tactics used by U-Boats were diverse.

This book analyses how the U-boats dominated the seas thanks to their innovative and daring tactical deployment, and how the cracking of the Enigma code effectively hamstrung them, greatly reducing their impact, a problem that even their advanced tactics failed to solve.

Contents: Introduction - Convoy Night Attacks - Surface Attacks with Deck Guns - Basic Rules for Interception of Enemy Merchant Ships - Solo Missions - Wolf Pack attacks - Patrol Lines - Combined Attacks - Bachstelze - U-Boats as Mother Ships - Special Weapons and Equipment - Defensive Equipment and Tactics - Defensive Tactics.