Customer Reviews

Torpedoes in the Gulf: Galveston and the U-Boats, 1942-1943 (Williams-Ford Texas A&M University Military History Series)

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Ms. Wiggins has covered the human aspects of this part of World War II submarine operations with a fresh and interesting perspective. Her inclusion of personal interview material make the story more credible. A good read for any history buff.

Cdr. John A. Holt USN(Ret)

My interest in the book was from the stand point of the ships being attacked by the submarine. I enjoyed the account of the SS San Pablo and its "unusual stratagem". My father was on that ship later on during the war. Ms Wiggins covered the topic very well.

A very well written and interesting account about a subject not many people know about. Lots of good insight into the people of Galveston, as well as the U-Boats and the men who commanded them. The fact America was not prepared in 1942, but made the U-Boats pay in 1943 is well documented in the book. Great map of the Gulf of Mexico and the listing of where all 56 ships were sunk.

Highly recommended reading.

As a former submaring officer, I was particularly interested in the risky and sometimes foolish tactics that U-Boat skippers used in heavily traveled and very shallow coastal waters. It was more incredible when one considers their lack of any sophisticated electronics.

According to the person who got the book as a gift and was a member of the 22nd Squadron, the book is accurate and brought back many memories. The Squadron member remembers the days when he flew fondly - he received 11 Air Metals and two DFCs for his service in WWII. Anyone who wishes to see WWII from a Blimp should read this book.

This book provides good insight into how unprepared America was for WWII and how the Germans had a turkey shoot on the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico during the early years of the War.

You will learn somethings about German subs operating in US waters that you didn't know before. Very easy and interesting reading...and I'm not a reader.

TORPEDOS IN THE GULF IS A WELL RESEARCHED AND NARATED DEPICTION OF THE GERMAN SUBMARINE WARFARE IN THE GULF OF MEXICO FROM 1942-43 PERIOD.NOT A 'DRY' READ IT HAS PLENTY OF SURVIVORS STORIES AND ACTION DESCRIPTIONS.A MUST HAVE FOR THE WW2 SUBMARINE WARFARE AFFICIONADO.

Great book on a little covered area of the U-boat war. I recommend it.

Melanie Wiggins' "Torpedoes in the Gulf" (paperback, 2004) presents a fascinating account of Nazi World War II Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean incursions. This history is documented with numerous Allies and Axis interviews, research of government documents and recapping period media presentations.

This 264-page text is replete with 15-pages of endnotes, an extensive "ships sunk" appendix, and a cumulative bibliography. Wiggins also provides one Gulf map (locating the sunken ships) and many period black and white photographs. The photos are especially interesting (and worth the price of this book).

Photos range from various u-boats and their victim ships, to personal photos of u-boat captains, to various scenery shots. It is curious that only one unsunk Allied ship is portrayed (page 139). (There are no photos of Allied captains or notables.) Of particular interest are the photos of Ft. Crocket's disappearing seacoast gun (page 121), the Hitchcock, Texas, blimp hanger (page 184), Galveston's Todd shipyard (page 76), Ft. Crocket's nighttime searchlights (page 132), and building Ft. San Jacinto (page 133).

Read this great little book. However, watch out for Wiggins' Nazi apologetical bias. Although she briefly touches on Nazi fanaticalism, the book emphasizes German u-boats captains' chivalry. The u-boat crews are identified as pondering gentlemen who want to sink the enemy without "hating" the enemy (page 208). Wiggins thinks the captured German POWs "unfortunate" (page 225). She even expresses concern for the u-boatmen's seasickness while crossing the stormy Atlantic (page 207). Her Nazi sympathy seems odd, almost revisionist.

This book is recommended to all World War II aficionados, 20th century Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean students, and 1940s photos buffs.