Hitler's Ghost Ships: Graf Spee, Schamhorst and Disguised German Raiders - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1841023086 ISBN 13: 9781841023083

Verlag: University of Plymouth Press, 2012

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Reseña del editor:

Originally published as a classified Battle Summary, Hitler's Ghost Ships is a unique record written by naval officers during World War II, and soon after 1945. Stamped restricted as classified texts and held at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, South West England. These historical accounts also contain naval maps, plans and first-hand accounts. A substantial contemporary introduction by a naval historian and foreword written by Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, a naval veteran of the highest order, provides new insights. Hitler's Ghost Ships explores the use of disguised Auxiliary cruisers that could sidle up to merchant vessels undetected as they were flying a neutral flag, similar to 17th century pirate ships. The German Navy used disguise in attempting to oust the British fleet and isolate island Britain. The war mission of the German surface fleet included keeping the Royal Navy out of the Baltic, with the primary task of German submarines being to strangle Britain's imports of food and war materials. From the German pocket battleship Graf Spee to the battlecruiser Scharnhorst, key units were sent into action. The major warships were supported by a fleet of auxiliary cruisers. These were merchant ships which retained their outward appearance but were fitted with heavy armament. Disguised as innocent trade vessels, they would approach Allied merchant ships sailing alone, then reveal their true identity. Hitler's Ghost Ships unites three of the original Battle Summaries compiled by the Royal Navy in one volume, containing, word-for-word, the operations against Hitler's commerce raiders, specifically: Battle of the River Plate the destruction of the Graf Spee, 1939 Operations against Disguised Enemy Raiders - 1940 1941 Battle of North Cape the sinking of the Scharnhorst, 1943.

Biografía del autor:

Foreword by Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, former First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff. He was appointed a GCB in the 2008 Queen s Birthday Honours and retired in July 2009, after an illustrious naval career and a prominent presence in world media. His training began in 1967 at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, with sea training in the Far East, before attending university in England. He served in junior officer appointments in the minesweeper HMS Lewiston and the Type 12 frigate HMS Rothesay. In the 1970s, during an exchange programme with the United States Navy, he served in the guided missile cruiser USS Belknap. Following warfare training, he served for two years as Principal Warfare Officer and Operations Officer onboard the Tribal class frigate HMS Eskimo. In the early 1980s Band commanded the minesweeper HMS Soberton in the Fishery Protection Squadron and also served as Flag Lieutenant to Commander-in-Chief Fleet. Promoted to Commander, he commanded the Leander class frigate HMS Phoebe until 1985, when he attended the Joint Services Defence College and was then appointed to the MoD in the Directorate of Defence Policy. Promoted to Captain in 1988, he took command of the Type 23 (Duke class) frigate HMS Norfolk. During the 1990s, he was Assistant Director Navy Plans and Programmes in the MoD, during the implementation of the Options for Change Review; then a member of the Defence Costs Study (Front Line First) Secretariat. His last sea command was of the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious (1995-1997), which included two operational deployments to the Adriatic, where Illustrious supported intervention operations in Bosnia. As Rear-Admiral, he returned to the MoD as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff during the period of the Strategic Defence Review. In 1999, he became Team Leader of the Defence Education and Training Study and in 2000 he was promoted to Vice-Admiral. After a tour as Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet from May 2001, he served as Commander-in-Chief Fleet, August 2002 - November 2005, and was appointed a KCB in the 2002 New Year s Honours List.

Über diese Auflage

• Verlag: University of Plymouth Press
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1841023086
• ISBN 13: 9781841023083
• Einband: Tapa blanda
• Auflage: 1
• Anzahl der Seiten: 224
• Herausgeber: Bennett G. H.