U571 (U-571: A Novel - Max Allan Collins)

Member Name: dopey copey

Product:	U-571: A Novel - Max Allan Collins
Date:	28/07/01 (192 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: fast paced read

Disadvantages: not historical

Andy Tyler the XO of the S33 American submarine had hoped to get his own command, But that has been stopped by his CO, his commanding officer and friend Captain Dahlgren. He was soon to find out why.

While the crew was on leave to celebrate a fellow crew members wedding an urgent order came that stopped the fun and sent them all back to the naval yard. And back to there sub which was under going some strange repairs.
To there surprise there beloved S33 had become a German U boat. There orders are to locate a stricken German sub, The U571. Pretend to be a German resupply sub, capture the sub, steal a secret German code machine known as the Enigma machine and then sink the U571. Easy.
This was going to plan until, while they were transferring the Enigma the S33 was blown out of the water by another German wolf pack submarine.
Now with the captain dead, Tyler and a handful of survivors must use the stricken U571 without any re-supply. Amazingly they manage to win a torpedo battle with the other sub and escape. Now Tyler has his command and realises he has now to pick which friend has to risk there life carrying out his orders.
As they make there way back with the Enigma Machine, a new game of cat and mouse is about to be played. Steaming over the horizon comes the German destroyer Anschluss. Tyler and his men now have a desperate fight on there hands to service and get the vital Enigma to allied hands.

This book is based on the movie of the same name which is based on a true story. Although with a lot of Hollywood artistic licence. It is still a cracking good read. The plot revolves around the Enigma. The allies must get it at all costs without the Germans knowing otherwise it would be useless. The Germans must not let it fall into enemy hands. Extensive detail as been researched by the author and it shows in the detail of the submarines operating systems and layout. The story is fast and doesn't let up. The battles are well desc
ribed and show the horror of war very well and what sort of life submarine crews had. Short and very dangerous.

If you don't mind the historical inaccuracies you will enjoy this read.

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