Author David Jordan published the novel “U-Boat: The German Submarine Campaign and the Allied Counter Attack 1939-1945” in 2020 (November). Mr. Jordan has published more than 10 books.

I categorize this book as ‘G’. The book covers the World War II activities of the German U-Boat fleet. Some stories are of Mediterranean operations, but most address operations in the Atlantic.

Not only are some operations detailed, but the evolution of the U-boat is also covered. The book has many photos and drawings.

I enjoyed the 8 hours I spent reading this 176-page WWII history. The book is a little dry, but very interesting. I do not think much of the chosen cover art. I give this book a 4 out of 5.

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U-Boat: The German Submarine Campaign and the Allied Counter Attack 1939-1945 by David Jordan fits nicely in the niche between an overly detailed account and one that barely scratches the surface. It leans more toward the detail side but keeps the narrative aspect of the history front and center so the reader is compelled to keep reading.

As a former submariner in the US Navy (and being raised in a Navy family) I have always been partial to books such as this. That said, I am not one of those who is mostly intrigued by the numbers (size, armament, etc) but rather by the strategy and the story of the campaigns. What appeals to me the most in this book is that the details that can sometimes bog down the narrative are largely in the diagrams and photographs, so the reader can refer to them without interrupting the flow of the action.

I am also glad to see that World War I and the importance of it both for submarine warfare and setting the stage for Hitler's rise (Treaty of Versailles) is given consideration. Context is important to any story, fiction or nonfiction, and jumping immediately into World War II would have started the book off with far too many unanswered questions. Instead, we become familiar with how early submarine and anti-submarine warfare developed. We also come to understand the political ins and outs that came with it.

While the history is a very well written history, the wealth of photographs and drawings help to make this a valuable addition to any library. It would look nice on display and, when opened, will reward the reader with both text and images. Highly recommended for military history buffs and those who would like to better understand the early days of the submarine as a vessel of war.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

An interesting book on the Uboat war in WW2. Good insights and details that makes this an interesting read. 

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.