About this book
Winston Churchill claimed the 'U-boat peril' was the only thing that frightened him during World War II. The U-boat was developed from a small coastal vessel into a state-of-the-art killer, stalking the high seas picking off merchant convoys, until the introduction of the destroyer escort, and the development of dedicated anti-submarine tactics provided a means of defence and attack against the U-boats. Gordon Williamson describes the design and development of these two deadly opponents, their tactics, strengths and weaknesses, weaponry and training. He provides an insight into the lives of the Royal Navy and Wolf Pack crews as they played their deadly games of cat and mouse on the high seas, gambling with their lives and the fate of the nations.

Contents

• Introduction
• Chronology
• Strategic situation
• Design & Development
• Technical Specifications: Discussion of the technical details of the vessels, anti-submarine weapons and the specs of the different types of U-boats
• Combatants: A study of the crews, their training and tactics
• Combat: A review of specific combat actions
• Analysis:
• Conclusion: A review of the outcomes of the U-boat war, and effect on post-war naval developments
• Bibliography and further reading list

Paperback; October 2007; 80 pages; ISBN: 9781846031335