Year: 1982 Language: English Author: Compton-Hall R. Genre: History Publisher: Brandford Press Format: PDF Quality: eBook Pages count: 5 Description: The Underwater War takes a fresh and authoritative look at submarines during World War Two. No other book has dealt as internationally and intimately with the way submarines lived and fought during the years 1939-45. Practically all the material is drawn from original sources and life on operational duty is described in detail, closely involving the reader in understanding and appreciating the dangers, difficulties and often appalling conditions which had to be overcome and endured. The story is unbiased. The author is a strong opponent of the familiar 'Axis U-boats were nasty but Allied submarines were nice' theory. However, tragedies and mistakes are not glossed over. He admits that the underwater battle was tough and bitter, but believes it was fought on both sides by exceptionally brave and fiercely dedicated men who thought little of their own safety or survival. Not only outnumbered by opponents on the surface and in the air, submariners had constantly to guard against their most bitter enemy of all -the sea itself. Emphasis is placed on the tremendous impact of submarines in all theatres of war, which, in some areas, has been grossly underestimated before now. For example, it is not commonly acknowledged that the American submarine campaign had so crippled the Japanese merchant fleet by summer 1945 that the economic war against Japan had virtually been wonbefore the atomic bombs were dropped, nor that British submarines in the Mediterranean contributed largely to Allied victory in North Africa by cutting Rommel'ssupply line. The surprising diversity of conventional submarine operations are fully explored, and the author also underlines the little known but vitally important successes achieved by British and Italian midget sub- marines and human torpedoes. The reader will come to realise that submarines played a decisive part in World War Two and that they will be equally significant in any future conflict. It will also become clear that the men are as important as the materials in this strange murky arena, and it may be that this factor deserves consideration today when judging the strengths and weaknesses of modern submarine fleets. In particular, a close look at the poor performance of Soviet submarines in World War Two, grossly hampered by political control, raises the question of their real effectiveness in a shooting as opposed to a cold war today. The author writes from a submariner's view point, but the reader requires no prior special knowledge: sub- marine principles are explained simply and as far as possible technical language is avoided. The Underwater War is illustrated with some 280 black and white photographs, covering all aspects of submarines and the submariner's life. Drawn from exclusive archives in several countries, very few have previously been published and many are very rare. The internationally renowned artist John Batchelor has contributed meticulously researched artwork of the major submarine types.
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Compton-Hall R. The Underwater War, 1939-1945, 1982.pdf
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The Underwater War, 1939-1945
Language: English
Author: Compton-Hall R.
Genre: History
Publisher: Brandford Press
Format: PDF
Quality: eBook
Pages count: 5
Description: The Underwater War takes a fresh and authoritative look at submarines during World War Two. No other book has dealt as internationally and intimately with the way submarines lived and fought during the years 1939-45. Practically all the material is drawn from original sources and life on operational duty is described in detail, closely involving the reader in understanding and appreciating the dangers, difficulties and often appalling conditions which had to be overcome and endured. The story is unbiased. The author is a strong opponent of the familiar 'Axis U-boats were nasty but Allied submarines were nice' theory. However, tragedies and mistakes are not glossed over. He admits that the underwater battle was tough and bitter, but believes it was fought on both sides by exceptionally brave and fiercely dedicated men who thought little of their own safety or survival. Not only outnumbered by opponents on the surface and in the air, submariners had constantly to guard against their most bitter enemy of all -the sea itself. Emphasis is placed on the tremendous impact of submarines in all theatres of war, which, in some areas, has been grossly underestimated before now. For example, it is not commonly acknowledged that the American submarine campaign had so crippled the Japanese merchant fleet by summer 1945 that the economic war against Japan had virtually been wonbefore the atomic bombs were dropped, nor that British submarines in the Mediterranean contributed largely to Allied victory in North Africa by cutting Rommel'ssupply line. The surprising diversity of conventional submarine operations are fully explored, and the author also underlines the little known but vitally important successes achieved by British and Italian midget sub- marines and human torpedoes. The reader will come to realise that submarines played a decisive part in World War Two and that they will be equally significant in any future conflict. It will also become clear that the men are as important as the materials in this strange murky arena, and it may be that this factor deserves consideration today when judging the strengths and weaknesses of modern submarine fleets. In particular, a close look at the poor performance of Soviet submarines in World War Two, grossly hampered by political control, raises the question of their real effectiveness in a shooting as opposed to a cold war today. The author writes from a submariner's view point, but the reader requires no prior special knowledge: sub- marine principles are explained simply and as far as possible technical language is avoided. The Underwater War is illustrated with some 280 black and white photographs, covering all aspects of submarines and the submariner's life. Drawn from exclusive archives in several countries, very few have previously been published and many are very rare. The internationally renowned artist John Batchelor has contributed meticulously researched artwork of the major submarine types.
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Compton-Hall R. The Underwater War, 1939-1945, 1982.pdf
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