Type VII U-Boats [Hardcover]

Robert Cecil Stern (Author), Robert Stern (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1991

This study of the Type VII as a weapon of war and a carrier of firepower offers a technical history as well as fascinating narrative accounts by the men who operated the boats.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Naval Inst Pr (March 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557508283
• ISBN-13: 978-1557508287
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,384,827 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An accomplished study., November 23, 2010

By 

Ned Middleton (British professional underwater photo-journalist & author) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Type VII U-boats (Hardcover)

Having enjoyed other works from this author, I snapped up a copy of this book just as soon as I saw his name attached to such a title. I was given reason to expect great things just as soon as I started reading the information on the inside edge of the book's dust cover and was not disappointed with the content. Ordinarily, this provides the reader with a précis of what is found inside but, on this occasion, I found myself learning some very important details that were hitherto unknown to me - and I have had an interest in the U Boat for over 40 years!

The Type VII U Boat was probably the most successful submarine of all time. It was Gunther Prien in U47 which sank HMS Royal Oak right at the beginning of WW2 and Otto Kretschmer with his U99 who established the record for tonnage sunk during that same war - and the sinking of ships was the primary role of this type of craft). Today, some 65 years after the Type VII fired it's last torpedo in war, there are websites clubs in many different languages dedicated to the finest detail of this specific weapon of war and every aspect of the battles they fought. For all those ardent enthusiasts plus those with a more general interest in WW2, ships or shipwrecks, this is an excellent addition to the bookshelf.

Commencing with the boat's evolution and design (all submarines are `boats' and not ships!), the author then takes the reader through the vital characteristics which made this craft exactly what is was and why. This includes fascinating detail from history and the lessons learned from WW1. Part Two covers; The hull, propulsion, crew, provisions and even sanitation. The third part provides a complete explanation of the various weapons. Commencing with the obvious; Torpedoes, mines, deck and flak guns, we are then treated to an interesting insight into some experimental weapons. Often overlooked, Part Four includes the real cutting-edge technology of the day; Radio, radar, radar detectors, hydrophones and infra-red sensors. The final part of this complete assessment moves from the offensive to the defensive with; Anti-radar coatings, anti-radar decoys, anti-sonar coatings and anti-sonar decoys - something which reveals the exhaustive nature of the research undertaken by this author. The book concludes with equally informative appendices on; General appearance, Admiral Dönitz and a table of Hull numbers which shows when and where each boat was made and includes those projects which were never completed.

The work is well supported throughout with an excellent and plentiful selection of black and white photographs showing all aspects of boats, people, construction, war, weapons, life on board and so forth in addition to an equally outstanding compilation of plans and profiles.

If I may be permitted one very minor criticism; Most readers will know that the German word for submarine is Unterseeboot (undersea boat) or U Boat for short. In the German language, there never was a hyphen between the letter "U" and the word "Boat" and no hyphen appears in any of Germany's official records on the U Boat at any time. The hyphen was added by those who translated various German documents into English. Consequently (e.g.); U Boat and U68 are correct whereas U-Boat and U-68 are incorrect. As I say, a very small point and not one which will mar your enjoyment of a truly accomplished study.

NM

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must for Type VII builders!, December 18, 2001

By 

John W. Safranek (Denton, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Type VII U-Boats (Hardcover)

A very good book with thorough technical details of the Type VII. If you are one of those who is building a Type VII model, or upgrading a Type VIIB to VIIC, this is a worthwhile purchase. More photos of hull detail would be useful, as there is not one photo showing the stern topedo tube.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read in order to understand other u-boat litterature, April 14, 2008

By 

Bjorn Hansson (Stockholm, Sweden) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Type VII U-boats (Hardcover)

This book is great. here's why:
1) Great disposition. Eases the reader into the subject. From basic to advanced stuff.
2) Thoroughly researched. Based on original sources.
3) Great pictures and u-boat layouts
4) Contains tons of facts, yet it is still extremely reader-friendly and har to put down.

This book has really helped me a lot when it comes to understanding every aspect of the uboat and the uboat war. A great aid when reading other uboat titles.