War Under the Waves, first published in 1962, is a non-technical overview of the history of the military submarine. Beginning with the Turtle of the American Revolutionary War, the Hunley of the Civil War, and continuing on to famous World War One and Two submarines (such as the USS Growler and USS Harder), War Under the Waves provides a look at look at the crews and their submarines as they engaged the enemy and helped make the submarine one of the most important tools of naval warfare.
For four years the German U-boats of U-FlottilleFlandern would become a serious threat to theomnipotence of the Royal Navy and its fleet. By theend of the war they had managed to sink a totalof 2,554 Allied ships, totaling 2.5 million tons ofshipping. The Royal Navy put everything it had at itsdisposal to defeat the U-boats. Mines, steel nets, patrolcraft, Q-ships, aircraft, airships, convoys, espionageand specially equipped salvage units had to eliminatethe activities of the U-boat. As a consequence, thesecountermeasures caused the loss of 80% of the U-boatswhich were stationed in the Flemish ports.Underwater archaeologist and naval historianTomas Termote visited the wrecks of many U-boatsand has unraveled many of their secrets. He also writesabout life on board the U-boats, their importancein the war and the heavy losses on both sides. Forthe first time a detailed insight in this unique part ofhistory is given with an account of the fate of everyU-boat of the fleet. Illustrated with underwater colourphotographs of the wrecks, drawings of the sites andartefacts which helped identify unidentified sites,including that of UB-88, which ended up after the warin US waters where she was paraded in every big porton the US East coast, and sailed right up north alongthe West coast where it ended its life after being sunkoff San Diego.
One of "The Most Fascinating Books WIRED Read in 2020" "One part science book, one part historical narrative, one part memoir . . . harrowing and inspiring.”—The Wall Street Journal How a determined scientist cracked the case of the first successful—and disastrous—submarine attack On the night of February 17, 1864, the tiny Confederate submarine HL Hunley made its way toward the USS Housatonic just outside Charleston harbor. Within a matter of hours, the Union ship’s stern was blown open in a spray of wood planks. The explosion sank the ship, killing many of its crew. And the submarine, the first ever to be successful in combat, disappeared without a trace. For 131 years the eight-man crew of the HL Hunley lay in their watery graves, undiscovered. When finally raised, the narrow metal vessel revealed a puzzling sight. There was no indication the blast had breached the hull, and all eight men were still seated at their stations—frozen in time after more than a century. Why did it sink? Why did the men die? Archaeologists and conservationists have been studying the boat and the remains for years, and now one woman has the answers. In the Waves is much more than just a military perspective or a technical account. It’s also the story of Rachel Lance’s single-minded obsession spanning three years, the story of the extreme highs and lows in her quest to find all the puzzle pieces of the Hunley. Balancing a gripping historical tale and original research with a personal story of professional and private obstacles, In the Waves is an enthralling look at a unique part of the Civil War and the lengths one scientist will go to uncover its secrets.
A new perspective on how the nation-state emerged and proliferated across the globe, accompanied by a wave of wars. Andreas Wimmer explores these historical developments using social science techniques of analysis and datasets that cover the entire modern world.
The only comparative analysis available of the great navies of World War I, this work studies the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, the German Kaiserliche Marine, the United States Navy, the French Marine Nationale, the Italian Regia Marina, the Austro-Hungarian Kaiserliche und Königliche Kriegsmarine, and the Imperial Russian Navy to demonstrate why the war was won, not in the trenches, but upon the waves. It explains why these seven fleets fought the way they did and why the war at sea did not develop as the admiralties and politicians of 1914 expected. After discussing each navy’s goals and circumstances and how their individual characteristics impacted the way they fought, the authors deliver a side-by-side analysis of the conflict’s fleets, with each chapter covering a single navy. Parallel chapter structures assure consistent coverage of each fleet—history, training, organization, doctrine, materiel, and operations—and allow readers to easily compare information among the various navies. The book clearly demonstrates how the naval war was a collision of 19th century concepts with 20th century weapons that fostered unprecedented development within each navy and sparked the evolution of the submarine and aircraft carrier. The work is free from the national bias that infects so many other books on World War I navies. As they pioneer new ways of viewing the conflict, the authors provide insights and material that would otherwise require a massive library and mastery of multiple languages. Such a study has special relevance today as 20th-century navies struggle to adapt to 21st-century technologies.
In the spirit of his successful books At Ease and Men of WWII, Evan Bachner now focuses on the women of WWII. While traditionally female secretarial and clerical jobs took an expectedly large portion of recruits, thousands of WAVES (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service) performed previously atypical duties in the aviation community - such as Judge Advocate General corps - medical professions, communications, intelligence, science, and technology. The photography team, headed by legendary photographer Edward Steichen, captured these heroic women at work, rest, and play. All the photos are from the National Archives and most have not been previously published.
An illustrated account of the war beneath the waves, this reference covers: the first submarines; WW1; WW2; Cold War submarine operations; and submarines of the future. It covers anti-submarine warships and weapons as well as the submarines.
From legendary writer Paul Theroux comes an atmospheric novel following a big-wave surfer as he confronts aging, privilege, mortality, and whose lives we choose to remember.
Explore the exciting, mysterious world beneath the waves, where treasure lies forgotten, giant squids spread their tentacles, and amazing coral reefs grow. Learn about the legend of Atlantis and the beautiful mermaids who were thought to have dwelled in the sea. Discover daring divers, coral creatures, remarkable wrecks, monsters of the deep, and much more in colorful sidebars. In addition, there are objects and creatures to find on almost every page. Chock-full of interesting facts and intricate drawings, this book will engross every young reader who's ever wondered about life under the sea. Peter Kent is a former history teacher who has written and illustrated numerous children's books, including the award-winning Hidden Under the Ground.
Immerse yourself in one of the most riveting World War 2 history books, The War Under the Waves. This exceptional military history book plunges you into the depths of naval warfare, highlighting the courage, resilience, and sacrifice of the British and American Navies, Air Forces, and particularly the unsung heroes of the merchant marines of World War 2. As Churchill's Britain stood alone against Hitler's onslaught, Roosevelt's America had to navigate an isolationist Congress to lend a helping hand. Britain's survival hung in the balance, hinging on the crucial lifeline of ocean shipping for sustenance, supplies, and fuel—a lifeline ruthlessly threatened by Germany's formidable submarine fleet. Britain's monumental struggle to keep the lifeline intact, initially aided by fifty American destroyers generously lent by Roosevelt, forms the crux of this gripping narrative. The book emphasizes the importance of Churchill and Roosevelt's leadership in overcoming the direst of circumstances. After Pearl Harbor, the United States became wholly immersed in the war, battling the Japanese and Hitler's forces, including the menacing German U-boats lurking in the Atlantic's depths. The War Under the Waves presents the stark reality of how close Britain came to the brink of defeat. Yet, it was through the combined bravery of British and American forces that merchant shipping, troopships, and tankers were safeguarded, facilitating the safe crossing of the Atlantic. The war's turning point emerged from these perilous battles under the waves— a tide that carried with it the defeat of Hitler's Germany and the victory of Allied forces. This compelling historical account is a testament to the audacious triumph over Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz's U-boats, charting the course of the victories that determined the Second World War's outcome. Readers of all ages, particularly young adults seeking to understand the history of the U-boat war and older adults appreciating the magnitude of the Allies' victory, will find this "war history book" unforgettable. Discover the story of survival, perseverance, and victory in The War Under the Waves, where history unfolds under the depths of the Atlantic.
