Book 55

This title follows on from Volume I and charts the continuing development of the U-boat in German service. This includes the development of the Type IX as a long range 'cruiser' intended for solo operations in distant waters. Also covered is the revolutionary Type XXI, conceived of in 1942...Read more

Book 59

German E-Boats 1939-45

by Gordon Williamson

Published 18 September 2002
By the outbreak of World War II, Germany had done much to replace the Kaiser's High Seas Fleet, which was scuttled following the German surrender at the end of World War I. Forced to build her fleet anew, although small, the Kriegsmarine possessed some of the most modern and...Read more

Book 71

This series covers the capital ships of the German Navy of World War II, this volume examines the design, development and operational use of the battleships used by the Kriegsmarine. The "Schlesien" and "Schleswig-Holstein" were used mostly as training ships until the end of the war when they took...Read more

Book 91

German Destroyers 1939-45

by Gordon Williamson

Published 19 November 2003
The German destroyer fleet of World War II consisted of nine classes: the Von Roeder Class, the Leberecht Maas Class and the wartime classes Z23, Z35, Z37, Z40, Z43, Z46 and Z52. These vessels, though fewer in number than the British destroyer fleet, tended to be much bigger and...Read more

Book 151

Although often overlooked in favour of the U-boats or battleships, the vast majority of the Kriegsmarine was formed of the smaller vessels of the coastal forces. These ships and boats, which included minesweepers, torpedo boats, patrol boats, and blockade breakers, gave crucial service to Germany during the war, and...Read more

As was the case in World War II, one of the greatest threats to Britain during World War I was the German U-Boat menace. Gordon Williamson traces the development of the U-Boat from the Brandtaucher, designed by Wilhelm Bauer, the father of the German submarine arm, in 1850, through...Read more

This, the first of two volumes on Germany's World War II U-boats, traces their development through: the early U-boats of the Kaiser's navy; the prohibition on Germany having U-boats following the Armistice in 1918 and the subsequent Treaty of Versailles; the secret development of U-boats using a "cover-firm" in...Read more

German Light Cruisers 1939-45

by Gordon Williamson

Published 26 September 2003
The German Navy of World War II was small in number, but contained some of the most technologically advanced capital ships in the world. This meant that although the Kriegsmarine never felt capable of encountering the might of the British Navy in a fleet action, her ships were individually...Read more

After the end of World War I, the German Navy came up with the concept of the Panzerschiff, or Pocket Battleship, as a method of circumventing treaty limitations on the size and types of ship Germany was permitted to build. New, more modern production methods, where welded construction prevailed...Read more

The development of this excellent and successful class of warship only became possible after the Anglo-German naval agreement of 1935 eased restrictions on the types of ship Germany could build; even then only five of the class were permitted: the Admiral Hipper, the Blucher, the Prinz Eugen, the Seydlitz...Read more