The first in a series of illustrated books exploring the largest and most well-known naval campaign of World War II, focusing on the conflict between the Allied naval and air forces and Hitler's U-boats.

When the war broke out in September 1939, neither the British Royal Navy nor the German Kriegsmarine were prepared for another war in the North Atlantic. Having defeated the submarines during World War I, the Royal Navy was confident they would succeed again. This quickly proved to be illusory, as neither the scale of forces available nor their tactics were sufficient. The Germans were even less prepared, as they had only a small number of U-boats, few of which were large enough for operations in the Atlantic.

The Germans attempted to win a tonnage war against Allied shipping, with well-trained and daring submarine commanders enjoying some significant successes. However, problems with torpedoes and the lack of submarines prevented the Germans from causing serious losses, despite the fact that the British could not protect all shipping, mainly due to a lack of escorts and insufficient air cover.

The respected naval historian Mark Stille examines the conflict between the Allied naval and air forces and the German U-boats in the first 15 months of World War II. Including maps, diagrams, photographs, and stunning artistic depictions of battles, this book brings to life the weapons, personalities, and tactics of the opposing sides.

Pages: 96, Year of Publication: 0304, Dimensions: 18.4x18.4cm