{"product_id":"kriegsmarine-atlantic-command-1939-42-naval-group-wests-surface-menace-9781472867377","title":"Kriegsmarine Atlantic Command 1939-42: Naval Group West's Surface Menace","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eGermany's legendary Atlantic surface war was fought by Naval Group West. Superbly illustrated, this unpacks the details of how it operated and fought.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eHaving spent the 1930s on an ambitious but confused bid to build a new battle fleet, Germany began World War II woefully unprepared. Under \u003ci\u003eMarinegruppenkommando\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eWest\u003c\/i\u003e, its heavy ships and raiders were tasked with challenging Allied dominance of the Atlantic. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn 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 \u003ci\u003eBismarck\u003c\/i\u003e 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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWith superb artwork, 3D diagrams, maps and archive photos, this book explores and assesses Germany's commerce war, from the \u003ci\u003eGraf Spee\u003c\/i\u003e's cruise to the ill-fated exploits of \u003ci\u003eBismarck\u003c\/i\u003e, and the final high-risk retreat from Brest, the Channel Dash.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLawrence 'Larry' Paterson\u003c\/b\u003e is a diving instructor who spent years researching German wrecks off Brittany, from which his first book \u003ci\u003eFirst U-boat Flotilla\u003c\/i\u003e directly resulted. Since then he has had over 20 books published, mostly on the Kriegsmarine. He attributes much of his interest in World War II to his grandfathers; one of whom was an ANZAC during the First World War, the other a Royal Navy stoker in the Second. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eJim Laurier \u003c\/b\u003eis a renowned illustrator with paintings on display at the Pentagon.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Osprey Publishing (UK)","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51321919275282,"sku":"9781472867377","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_32995455-ca2f-4d44-9d8d-0d5f03ff96d2.jpg?v=1748598244","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/kriegsmarine-atlantic-command-1939-42-naval-group-wests-surface-menace-9781472867377","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}