Customer Reviews

Second U-Boat Flotilla

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The history of Nazi Germany's Second U-boat Flotilla is the subject of this 2003 volume by U-boat expert Lawrence Patterson. The 'Saltzwedel' Flotilla was arguably the Kreigsmarine's most lethal U-boat unit, six of the ten highest scoring U-boats being assigned to it. A follow-up to Patterson's 2002 FIRST U-BOAT FLOTILLA, this volume, as impeccably researched and well-written as its predecessor, will be of great interest to all 'Grey Wolves' fans.

First committed to action in the Spanish Civil War, the Second Flotilla initiated Germany's naval war on 3 September 1939 when Fritz-Julius Lemp's U-30 mistakenly sank the liner SS Athenia, a cause celebre that helped push America to aid the British. Second Flotilla boats launched the 'Paukenschlag' operation against America in 1942, carried out the equally successful assault against Allied shipping in the Caribbean and were the first U-boats to conduct long-distance ops to the Far East. Along with Lemp, the Second Flotilla boasted such aces as Jochen Mohr, Ernst Kals, Wolfgang Luth, Hans Jenisch, Werner Hartenstein and Albrecht Achilles.

I enjoyed Patterson's book immensely. His knowledge of the U-boat service and considerable skills as a writer resulted in a well-written, comprehensive account that holds the reader's interest throughout.

Patterson does a marvelous job of not just recounting the successes and failures of flotilla boats but also of putting a human face on the various personalities. It's interesting, for example, to read about the Second Flotilla skippers who were quite successful but also the CO who committed suicide in mid-cruise, another who was tried and convicted of cowardice in the face of the enemy and several others who just didn't have the right stuff.

One caveat: though I gave SECOND U-BOAT FLOTILLA five stars, I would have chosen 4 1/2 if that was allowed. Given its subject, the book really needed an endpiece that summarized the unit's activities (number of Allied ships/tonnage sunk, highest scoring skippers, number of U-boats and crewmen lost, etc.).

In any case, SECOND U-BOAT FLOTILLA is must reading for all U-boat enthusiasts and anyone interested in World War II naval combat. Pick up a copy of this masterful, knowledgeable account of war at sea; you won't be disappointed.