WAR OF THE U-BOATS: BRITISH MERCHANTMEN UNDER FIRE.

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn. [This edition is a revised and extended edition of a book first published in 1989 under the title 'The Fighting Tramps.'] NFINE/NFINE. No owner inscrptn and no price-clip to dw/dj.Bright,crisp,clean,matt, montage'd colour pictorial images,illustrated front of dw/dj with capitalised,white-lettered title and author name to front of dw/dj; spine/backstrip with colour thumbnail detail from front's image at its head with capitalised,white-lettered part-title and faded(?) capitalised pale yellow-lettered author name and publisher's b/w lettered+ illustrated name+colophon to foot of same,rear panel of dw/dj with 5 montage'd contemporary sepia photographs. Negligible shelf-wear,bumping,creasing to edges and corners – no nicks,tears or splits present.Top+fore-edges with age-acquired but very light ageing/toning with minimal,faint sporadic flecks; contents bright,tight,clean, solid and sound – no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corner tips – appears unread,apart from my own collation.Publisher's bright,clean,sharp-cornered,original plain black cloth boards with bright,crisp,blocked gilt lettering to spine/backstrip,and minimally marred plain white endpapers. UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn,vii-xiiipp+1- 210pp [paginated] includes a Contents list/table,a Glossary,17 chapters,8pp contemporary b/w photographs in 1 block,between pp 82/83,a Bibliography and an Index; plus [unpaginated] half-title+title pages,an Epigram (Winston Churchill to British Merchant seamen,July,1941.) with Author'sn note beneath. Visually the exterior appearance is more than acceptable and even internally,is also in an acceptable condition/state of preservation and presentation,for a book of its near 20 year-old age.Despite the describedminimal faults it is still an acceptable example for its contents and its lack of other detracting faults. From the earliest days of the Second World War, Hitler's U-Boats were unleashed with the mission of sinking as much Allied merchant tonnage as possible. From the sinking of the Glasgow-based ship Olivegrove by U-23, to the end of hostilities six years later officers and seamen of the Merchant Marine played a key role in winning the war by their blatant disregard of the risks from Axis forces. The most dangerous were the U-Boats working unseen but there were also surface raiders and aircraft. All too often the result was the loss of ship, cargo and, tragically,crew. But as described in this excellent book great gallantry against overwhelming odds brought rewards and surprising results.We learn of acts of both chivalry and brutal activity by the enemy.The actions described in this book are varied but always make for excellent reading. Wea also gain a fascinating insight into the scale and state of Britain's merchant fleet before, during and after the Second World War. Please contact seller,for correct shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas customers - BEFORE ordering through the order page! N.B. ALL buyers please note,stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order's receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if the item(s) are offered either P+p included/FREE. ** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: Standard AIRMAIL postage from UK to these destinations can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence,then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1/2 of the standard US AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always. **