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The Milk Cows: The U-Boat Tankers at War 1941-1945 (2009)
 
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The Milk Cows: The U-Boat Tankers at War 1941-1945 (2009) (Hardcover)

by John F. White (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
RRP: £19.99
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Product details

  • Hardcover: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Pen & Sword Military (18 Jun 2009)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 184884008X
  • ISBN-13: 978-1848840089
  • Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.7 x 3 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 445,388 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #75 in  Books > History > World History > World War II 1939-1945 > Naval Warfare > Germany

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars U Boat Tankers against the Allies!, 25 Aug 2009
By Mr. D. W. Manley "DM" (Bristol) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
It seems that every other naval book that is released these days is about U-boats, so it is nice to see something original hit the presses. "The Milk Cows", as its title suggests, covers the operational histories of the eighteen U-boats designed or pressed into service as refuelling tankers during WW2. The story of the Milk Cows (or "Milchkuehe" in German) begins as one of technical innovation, charting the development of submarine refuelling, the use of Type XB minelaying boats as the first refuellers and the development of the purpose build Type XIV, developed from the long range Type IX boats. Initial operations proved the Milk Cows to be highly effective force multipliers, allowing attack boats to remain on station for twice their normal endurance. Their role in the onslaught on US coastal shipping in 1942 illustrates this quite clearly. But the story quickly turns from innovation and success to disaster as the cracking or the Enigma codes, coupled with Allied advances in radar, ASW torpedoes and escort carriers, led to the rapid and often spectacular demise of the U-tankers. Of the eighteen boats (8 Type XB and 10 Type XIV) all were sunk, often along with their entire crews. Instrumental in their loss was their slow rate of diving (twice that of other, smaller U-boats) and relative lack of AA armament, so much so that, in case of air attack, attendant combat boats were ordered to remain on the surface to fight it out with the aircraft whilst the tanker submerged to safety. But a key factor in placing the boats at risk was the Kriegsmarine's unerring faith in the security of their communications and an inability to realise that Enigma had been compromised (the US certainly gave the Germans enough chances to spot this, not treating decryption information with the same sensitivity as the British).

Overall I found this an excellent read, well written and clear in style. There's not too much jargon and what there is, is well explained. The author draws some interesting conclusions for contemporary naval operations (and "real life"); not in terms of submarine at-sea refuelling which is a technological dead end, but in the importance of communication security and over-reliance on ciphers. Overall, an enthralling read and a vital addition to anyone's U-boat book collection!
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