Full Description
Germany's legendary Atlantic surface war was fought by Naval Group West. Superbly illustrated, this unpacks the details of how it operated and fought.
Having spent the 1930s on an ambitious but confused bid to build a new battle fleet, Germany began World War II woefully unprepared. Under Marinegruppenkommando West, its heavy ships and raiders were tasked with challenging Allied dominance of the Atlantic.
In this book, Kriegsmarine specialist Lawrence Paterson explores how Naval Group West took on the challenge. He reassesses the qualities of the fleet, and how the confusion over their original role meant that ships like the Bismarck were less than ideal for raiding. Operating as far afield as the Indian Ocean also relied on an elaborate tanker and supply network, as well as Germany's superb signals intelligence. He also explains the complex Kriegsmarine command structure during the 1930s and early war, how responsibility for the ships veered between Naval Group West, the Naval Staff, and type commanders, and how the conquest of France transformed the command. He also explains how the Luftwaffe failed the surface fleet, both in scouting at sea and defending them in port.
With superb artwork, 3D diagrams, maps and archive photos, this book explores and assesses Germany's commerce war, from the Graf Spee's cruise to the ill-fated exploits of Bismarck, and the final high-risk retreat from Brest, the Channel Dash.
Contents
THE FLEET'S PURPOSE
FLEET FIGHTING POWER
The Ships
- Battleships
Scharnhorst; Gneisenau; Bismarck; Tirpitz
- Panzerschiffe
Deutschland (later renamed Lützow); Admiral Scheer; Admiral Graf Spee
- Heavy cruisers
Admiral Hipper; Prinz Eugen; Blücher
- Light forces
- Gunnery and Fire Control
HOW THE FLEET OPERATED
- Naval Command
Naval Group West (Marinegruppenkommando West)
- Fleet Command (Flottenkommando)
- Naval Group West and the move to France
- Operational Doctrine
- Intelligence
- Logistics and Facilities
Supply Ships
The French bases
COMBAT AND ANALYSIS
The Fleet in Combat
Analysis
FURTHER READING
