Kriegsmarine Auxiliary Cruisers (New Vanguard) - Softcover

Williamson, Gordon

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1846033330 ISBN 13: 9781846033339

Publisher: Osprey Publishing, 2009

Synopsis

Despite being relatively unknown compared to famous ships like Graf Spee or Bismarke, or the more famous U-boats, the Auxiliary Cruisers were immensely successful, not only in the number of enemy ships they sank, but in the resources which were tied up trying to track them down. The Royal Navy's auxiliary cruisers tended to be merchant vessels used to protect convoys from attack. The German Auxiliary Cruisers, however, heavily armed and usually carried torpedo tubes as well as guns and even sometimes their own aircraft. These ships were aggressive predators, searching the sea lanes for unsuspecting enemy merchants, and were not only capable of destroying enemy merchant ships, but also of defending themselves against well-armed enemy warships. This book looks at the specifications and designs of the 11 Auxiliary Cruisers, as well as their combat histories, their eventual fates, and the careers of some of the most famous commanders.

About this title

Book Description:

The tale of the Auxiliary Cruisers is one of the most fascinating, yet least reported of all aspects of the Germany Navy in World War II. Discover the specifications, combat histories and eventual fates of these crucial vessels which menaced the Allied convoys across the Atlantic.

About the Author:

Gordon Williamson was born in 1951 and currently works for the Scottish Land Register. He spent seven years with the Military Police TA and has published a number of books and articles on the decorations of the Third Reich and their recipients. He is the author of a number of World War II titles for Osprey.

About this edition

• Publisher: Osprey Publishing
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 1846033330
• ISBN 13: 9781846033339
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 48
• Illustrator: Palmer Ian