Kriegsmarine Atlantic Command 193942

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.>

Autorentext

Lawrence Paterson

Inhalt

(Subject to Confirmation) 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