7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Bad Title But A Good Book, March 28, 2000
This review is from: Fips: Legendary U-Boat Commander (Hardcover)
The book is an easy read and does include some interesting links to history. FIPS was assigned to the sub that sank Lusitania but was detached before the sub did that. Some of the parts of the book illuminate the struggle of FIPS and his crew against incredible odds. The fact that FIPS was able to get out these situations is a testament to his skill as a submarine commander. It is incredible to read what these men faced and overcame. History has always portrayed the British as the gentlemen in the U-boat War, at least FIPS brings something else to the table to digest. This book is important historically because of the 83% loss rate in the Flanders Flotilla during World War I. Not many men lived to tell their story. The only problem I had with the book is the title, when I hear the word U-boat Commander FIPS is not the first person that I think of.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting WW I Submariner's Memior, August 22, 2010
This review is from: Fips: Legendary U-Boat Commander (Hardcover)
"Fips: Legendary U-Boat Commander 1915 - 1918", by Werner Furbringer is a memoir of a U-Boat commander from World War I. Serving from the beginning of the war until being captured in July 1918, this book provides a snapshot of the ferocious U-Boat war being waged by Germany developed from its infancy, as viewed through the eyes of the author.
Until March 1915, Herr Furbringer served as the watch officer of the U-20, subsequently to achieve international notoriety for sinking the Lusitania (but after the author departed for his own command). His first boat was the UB-2, a 120 ton coastal U-boat that had a top speed ... surfaced or submerged ... of only 5 knots, rendering it incapable of keeping up with most powered steamers.
While reading the relatively short book (146 pages, counting the index), you can see how both the U-Boats and the Allied defenses improved as time went on.
The author, while in command of several U-Boats, sank just over 100 ships, most of which were sailing ships or trawlers. He initially sailed from bases near the Flanders area, which over the course of the war had an 83 percent U-Boat loss rate. (Overall, just under 50 percent of all German U-Boats were lost.) Herr Furbringer describes many close shaves and near-disasters, and was undoubtedly very lucky to survive the war. Although the book ends with the author's repatriation in November 1919, he also served as a submarine staff officer for Germany in World War II until retiring in 1943.
While there is no real attempt here to cover the bigger picture here, I found I learned a great deal about how the World War I submarine campaign was fought. I would have liked the book to have provided more specifications about the ships he commanded, more details of some of his cruises, and maps showing the areas he fought in. But Herr Furbringer's writing style is effective, and the book includes some pictures of a few of his victims.
Overall, I found the book to be well written and worth reading for a commander's eye view of fighting a U-Boat in World War I. I recommend this book.
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