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Informationen zum Autor Gordon Williamson is a retired civil servant who spent several years working for the Royal Military Police (TA). He has written over 60 military books, including a number of titles for Osprey: ELI 183 U-boat Tactics in World War II, MAA 434 World War II German Police Units etc. Amongst his primary interests are the German Navy in World War II, U-Boats, and the Military Police forces of the Allied and Axis armies. He lives near Edinburgh in Scotland. Klappentext Despite being relatively unknown compared to famous ships like Graf Spee or Bismarke, or the more famous U-boats, the Auxiliary Cruisers were immensely successful, not only in the number of enemy ships they sank, but in the resources which were tied up trying to track them down. The Royal Navy's auxiliary cruisers tended to be merchant vessels used to protect convoys from attack. The German Auxiliary Cruisers, however, heavily armed and usually carried torpedo tubes as well as guns and even sometimes their own aircraft. These ships were aggressive predators, searching the sea lanes for unsuspecting enemy merchants, and were not only capable of destroying enemy merchant ships, but also of defending themselves against well-armed enemy warships. This book looks at the specifications and designs of the 11 Auxiliary Cruisers, as well as their combat histories, their eventual fates, and the careers of some of the most famous commanders.The tale of the Auxiliary Cruisers is one of the most fascinating, yet least reported of all aspects of the Germany Navy in World War II. Discover the specifications, combat histories and eventual fates of these crucial vessels which menaced the Allied convoys across the Atlantic. Zusammenfassung Despite being relatively unknown compared to famous ships like Graf Spee or Bismarke! or the more famous U-boats! the Auxiliary Cruisers were immensely successful! not only in the number of enemy ships they sank! but in the resources which were tied up trying to track them down. The Royal Navy's auxiliary cruisers tended to be merchant vessels used to protect convoys from attack. The German Auxiliary Cruisers! however! heavily armed and usually carried torpedo tubes as well as guns and even sometimes their own aircraft. These ships were aggressive predators! searching the sea lanes for unsuspecting enemy merchants! and were not only capable of destroying enemy merchant ships! but also of defending themselves against well-armed enemy warships. This book looks at the specifications and designs of the 11 Auxiliary Cruisers! as well as their combat histories! their eventual fates! and the careers of some of the most famous commanders. Inhaltsverzeichnis Introduction · Chronology · Design and development · Operational use · Aftermath...
