Author: Gordon Williamson
Illustrator: Ian Palmer

About this book
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 VIIA, Type VIIB, VIID, VIIE and VIIF 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

Paperback; May 2002; 48 pages; ISBN: 9781841763637