Kriegsmarine Submarines 1935-1945. Dönitz's "Grey Wolves" - Vol. 1

The second volume on the submarines of the Kriegsmarine covers the dark period of l'Unterseekriegsmarine that began after May 1943. The Allies finally had sufficient escorts, long-range aircraft covering all previously inaccessible zones, and increasingly sophisticated and effective ASW capabilities. The continuation of technical data sheets, from U.771 to U.6442, includes a comprehensive study of the K-Verband; these small pocket craft had the difficult mission of maintaining offensive action against Allied shipping while awaiting the commissioning of the Type XXI and XXIII models intended to reverse the course of the war at sea.

The author also takes us through the shipyards, bases and bunkers built for the protection and maintenance of U-Boote, the evolution of the armaments and equipment of these submarines, and the lives of the men on board and outside their wartime activities. Finally, a detailed summary of all foreign submarines captured by the Kriegsmarine is included in this second volume.

In total, these two volumes, comprising 672 pages, more than 1,670 photographs, 190 colour profiles and 815 U-Boote insignia, constitute a reference work for all history enthusiasts. The two volumes bring together, for the most part, the material published in the five special issues of Navires & Histoire, now out of print.

The author has nonetheless taken care to incorporate numerous additions and corrections. The opening of certain archives, as well as recent discoveries, has made it possible, for example, to provide new information on the position of certain wrecks. This work is therefore the fruit of years of meticulous research undertaken by the author. It will give the reader an excellent foundation on the submarine arm of the Third Reich.

Contents of Volume 01:

• - The Unterseekriegsmarine
• - 1940-1943: the glory years of the Unterseekriegsmarine
• - Technical data sheets of the U-Boote presented in this volume
• - Data sheets for U-Boote with the names of the vessels they sank (1 to 770)
• - Woe betide the U-boats!
• * U-Boote under fire from Coastal Command
• * Woe to the U-Boote!

336 pages, 940 photographs, 90 colour profiles and 535 insignia.