Intro...

German publishers Luftfahrtverlag-Start brings us the second volume of this intriguing, unique, publication, "U-Boot Im Focus", a veritable plethera of never-before-seen photographs of U-Boots, their crews, and their operations, all wrapped up in a large format, written both in German and English, which makes a fantastic point of reference for not only the modeler, but for students, historians, and anyone that may have an interest in the German U-Boat.

Volume two picks up where volume one leaves off, which is providing a publication that's jammed with some highly unique photos, with detailed descriptions of each, as well as detailed, well written and informative articles of many points of interest concerning the men and the machines that made up this force.

Format

U-Boot Im Focus, Edition No.2
11.75 x 8.75
Paperback
48pp
55 Black and White photos
11 color photos/color plates

Content

Minenleger/Mine layer
U-218, 1942

Editorial/Leserforum-Editorial/Reader's Forum

Typ I Boote/Type I Boats
U-25, 1939 1940

Typ VII A Boote/Type VII A Boats
U-34

Typ VIIC Boote/Type VII C Boats
U-553, 1941
VII C Boot-verstärkte Flakbewaffnung
U-588
VII C Schnorchelboot
VII C Schnorchelboot mit Emblem "Nachtgespenst"

Typ IX Boote/Type IX Boats
U-103
U-125, 1942
U-37, 1940
U-155
U-861

Elektroboote/Electroboats
U-4701, 1945
U-2330, 1945

Türme/Conning Towers
U-92 - Feindfahrten mit "Sonnenschein" und "Teufel"
U-128 - "Hüahoh, Hüahoh alter Schimmel"

Boot im Focus/Boat In Focus
U-18 - das Schwarz-Meer-Boot mit dem Sowjetstern

Dokument/Document
Die Schwimmurkunde mit dem U-Bootkriegsabzeichen

Farbfotos/Color Photos
Januar 1942 - Gotenhafen-Oxhöft im Eis

Unbekannte Embleme/Unknown Emblems
Der "geschützte Hai" von U-1192

Fotos mit Geschichte/Photos With A Story
Versenkt am Konvoi HX 228 - Das Schicksal von U-432 und U-444

Wimpel/Pennant
Eine vergebene Chance - U 375 torpediert die "HMS Manxman"
im Dezember 1942

Porträt/Portrait
Korvettenkapitän Helmut Rosenbaum, Kommandant U-2 und U-73

Szenerie/Scenery
Vollkommene Tarnung

Ungewöhnliches/Unusual
Sonnenlicht - Mangelware für U-Bootfahrer

Schicksal/U-Tanker/Fate/U-Tanker
Tod durch Rohrkrepierer (U-181)
U-Tanker U-459


Each chapter of this edition is a new journey into a different facet of the U-Boot and it's operations, with highlights on the obscure, such as the Türme/Conning Towers section, that includes full color digital illustrations of three specific boats, along with detailed descriptions of each emblem and the boats themselves...fascinating stuff!!

You will get a personal glimpse inside the day to day life of the kriegsmariner, along with personal profiles of specific Kommandant's, this issue, Korvettenkapitän Helmut Rosenbaum, Kommandant U-2 und U-73 career and life is profiled, complete with photos and well written text.

The photos provided are clear, showing many minute details both inside and out of many types and variations of the German U-boat, providing the modeler with a wealth of reference resource, especially the scratch-builder, who can gain leaps and bounds of previously unavailable and unpublished photos for an invaluable modeling resource.

The color photos of the frozen harbor of Gotenhafen-Oxhöft in January, 1942, provide a glimpse into the harsh reality of winter operations, as well again, providing the modeler with a fantastic photo resource for winter diorama scenes.

High quality printing and publication practice is evident throughout, printed on heavy-weight paper for longetivity and durability, and a plus, the paperback format lays flat on the bench for reference as you work.

Overall, this volume belongs on every serious enthusiasts bookshelf, and as Volume 1 of the publication, will provide years of valuable reference, all before previously unpublished. Highly recommended from this modelers point of view!