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Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 623
EAN num: 9781591148876
ISBN number: 1591148871
Label: US Naval Institute Press
Manufacturer: US Naval Institute Press
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 128
Printing Date: 2002-12
Publishing house: US Naval Institute Press
Sale Popularity Level: 490915
Studio: US Naval Institute Press
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
The design of the Type XXI U-boat was a radical step in the history of submarine development; indeed, the vessel could be said to have been the prototype of the modern conventionally powered submarine. After the disastrous losses among conventional submarines during the early months of 1943, the German authorities concluded that the older boats, Types VII, IXC and IXD, were no match for Allied ASW techniques. The Type XXI design was the response to the deteriorating situation and the very first boats were launched in the spring of 1944 only nine months after the initial presentation of the designs. These remarkable vessels incorporated a number of bold innovations including the schnorkel, which allowed it to run fast underwater employing its diesel machinery, and automatic torpedo reloading systems; and never before had such large and complex warships been built using standardised, prefabricated sections. The type was a new and menacing weapon which might have had a profound effect on the conduct of the war had it been introduced earlier. The 'Anatomy of the Ship' series aims to provide the finest documentation of individual ships and ship types ever published. What makes the series unique is a complete set of superbly executed line drawings, both the conventional type of plan as well as explanatory views, with fully descriptive keys. These are supported by technical details and a record of the ship's service history.
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers -
I found this book to be not as good as I had expected. I am not saying that it is bad. It is a very good book to have on the XXI.
I am an Engineer by trade, a history buff and modeller by choice.
As an Engineer this book was a bit of a let down.
As a history buff, on a very focused topic, it was good.
As a modeller (RC submarines) it was excellent.
Rated by buyers -
I found this book to be not as good as I had expected. I am not saying that it is bad. It is a very good book to have on the XXI.
I am an Engineer by trade, a history buff and modeller by choice.
As an Engineer this book was a bit of a let down.
As a history buff, on a very focused topic, it was good.
As a modeller (RC submarines) it was excellent.
Rated by buyers 
-
This is the fourth book in the truly excellent "Anatomy of the Ship" series which I have been asked to study and review. Whilst I was already familiar with the Type VII U-Boat, this was not the case with the Type XXI - so I had to do some additional research into the vessel before embarking on this review - which, incidentally, refers to the new "revised" edition of the book produced in late 2002.
As with the V1 and V2 rockets, the Type XXI U-Boat was, much needed by Germany in the closing stages of World War Two but arrived too late to save them from defeat. It was an all-electric submarine and the closest it came to serious warfare was when U-2511 - having already received the order to cease hostilities, carried out a successful mock attack on a heavily defended British Cruiser without being detected. As the book quite rightly asserts, had this weapon appeared a few years earlier, the fierce battle of the Atlantic might have had a very different outcome.
Conway Maritime Press are well known for their "Anatomy of the Ship" series in which they provide the finest technical documentation for specific ships or ship types ever published. "The Type XXI U-Boat" is hard-back measuring 10¼" (wide) x 9¾" with 127 pages of detailed and factual information. This wide format allows the publishers to produce very first class detailed line drawings of every aspect of the ship in a size that is easy to see and follow. All the information is right there.
Commencing with a potted history of how the type XXI came into being, we are then treated to a series of "Tables" which provide us with such technical details as; Design particulars, weights, boats delivered and commissioned and what happened after the war. This is followed by a chapter entitled "Construction" in which the publishers have reproduced 10 pages of stunning historic photographs - some of which still show their post-war classification of "Confidential." After a short chapter on the SU and CHG underwater detection equipment we are then treated to another 36 pages of historic photographs - showing almost every aspect of this type of vessel, before coming to 69 pages of detailed line drawings.
And once again, the information is very technical, very detailed and, by all accounts, very accurate. Under the very first main heading "General arrangement and external appearance" we have drawing after drawing showing every aspect of the Type XXI in 1944 itemising each of the slight changes made as the vessel evolved throughout the planning and design process. Not only is the entire hull shown in both elevation, plan and cross-section, there are individual close-ups showing different aspects of the bridge layout and deck gun configurations. Then everything is repeated for the internal features both longitudinally and by cross section before concluding with a close examination of the conning tower and Junkers air compressor. Finally the book includes the internal arrangements and main deck plans of the "Wilhelm Bauer" - the only Type XXI submarine to have been restored and which is on display in Bremerhaven.
Like it's sister book on the Type VII U-Boat, this is not about what this or that specific vessel achieved - although they do all get a mention. As the title suggests, this is a book about the design and construction of a "Type" of ship and, yet again, I find myself congratulating both the authors and publishers for a job well done.
NM
Rated by buyers 
-
The very first in the series not to be written specifically as an 'Anatomy' Volume, but a translation of another language (German). A relevant language considering Kohl served on U-boats and a gifted artist, and Rossler a historian. I won't go into the history of the whole u-boat war as this book doesn't, read the two volume history of the U-Boat war by Blair Clay Jr. for true insight.
This volume covers a basic history, but unlike the usual volumes, does not contain the technical data one would expect and has a somewhat melencoly presentation of a great weapon that was never given it's opportunity to shine as a comerce raider against unarmed merchantmen. A great deal of time and photos are dedicated to bomb damage to construction yards and unfinished u-boats by US and UK bombers.
The line drawings are as usual excellent, and one is somewhat disappointed by the lack of overall expertise in presentation we expect from this wonderful series. In all, a good buy as a collectable, but if you are not, get a cheaper option.
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