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The Milk Cows: The U-Boat Tankers at War 1941-1945 Hardcover – 18 Jun. 2009

by John F. White (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars 762 ratings
During the Second World War the Germans developed a specially adapted U-boat oil tanker with two aims. First, by refuelling the attack U-boat fleet their range of operations and duration of patrol could be significantly increased. Secondly, these underwater tankers were far more likely to avoid detection than surface support ships. The submarine tankers, affectionately known as Milk Cows , were regarded by both the Germans and the Allies as the most important element of the U-boat fleet. Allied forces had orders to attack the tankers first whenever a choice was presented. Until late 1942 the German Milk Cows operated with great success and few losses. But from 1943 onwards the German rendezvous ciphers were repeatedly broken by the Allies and losses mounted rapidly. The Milk Cows were highly vulnerable during the lengthy refuelling procedure as they lay stationary on the surface, hatches open. By the end of the war virtually every tanker had been sunk with severe loss of life. The story of this critical campaign has been thoroughly researched by the author and is told against the background of changing U-boat fortunes.
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  1. Print length
    272 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Pen & Sword Military
  4. Publication date
    18 Jun. 2009
  5. Dimensions
    17.15 x 2.54 x 25.4 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    184884008X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1848840089
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pen & Sword Military (18 Jun. 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 184884008X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1848840089
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 17.15 x 2.54 x 25.4 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 762 ratings

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John F. White

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4.2 out of 5 stars
762 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book provides a detailed account of the subject with great information. They describe it as an interesting and worthwhile read that provides insights into sailors' history and bravery. However, some readers feel the pacing gets repetitive after a while and the book is difficult to follow at times.

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54 customers mention ‘Detail’46 positive8 negative

Customers find the book provides a detailed account of U-boat operations in World War II. They appreciate the well-researched and informative content, including insights into the thought processes of commanders. While some readers feel the book is too detailed, others find it factual and engaging.

"...This level of detail was impressive and added to the narrative of what both the submarines and the crews had to contend with...." Read more

"I quite enjoyed this. There's a mass of detail on the cows' operations - in the Atlantic, Indian Ocean and Pacific - and some insights into what..." Read more

"...Massive piece of work detailing all the supply missions undertaken & the ultimate fate of all the Milk Cows...." Read more

"...I also provides some excellent insights into the thought processes of the commanders of UBoat arm of the German navy at the time...." Read more

30 customers mention ‘Readability’30 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting and well-researched. They describe it as a worthwhile read about World War II history.

"...A good read!" Read more

"...This book takes you down that road with the Milk Cows. A great read." Read more

"...I am not sure I could have done better though. A worthwhile read but be aware of the period of the specific chapter." Read more

"This was a fascinating read about the U boat supply Submarines, a non glamorous but essential and cunning tactic to replenish the attack U..." Read more

3 customers mention ‘Sailor' history’3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's account of sailors' history. They find it informative, providing details on the courage and skill displayed by both sides. The book explains the logistics of living and fighting in a submarine.

"...Ingenuity, bravery & skill were displayed by all sides in this global & titanic conflict - the author has largely succeeded in displaying this, with..." Read more

"This book gave the facts of living and fighting in a submarine, it also explains the logistics of keeping a fleet supplied." Read more

"...mariners were loathed but now this book provides information on the courage of these German sailors." Read more

5 customers mention ‘Pacing’0 positive5 negative

Customers find the book's pacing slow and repetitive. They also mention it gets boring after a while and is difficult to follow at times.

"...However, its detail does make it a slightly tedious read at times, but perhaps if one has a such a fully detailed account that is inevitable...." Read more

"...a series of well researched reports from both sides often dry and repetitive...." Read more

"All though this book is factual and covers a lot of ground it does get a bit repetative, after reading for a while you start to get bored with it." Read more

"This was a comparatively Boring Book...." Read more

THE MILK COWS: THE U-BOAT TANKERS AT WAR
4 out of 5 stars
THE MILK COWS: THE U-BOAT TANKERS AT WAR
MILKING ONES UDDER...WE ARE THE BIG FATMILK COWSI am a great big fatmilk cow, and myudder is really full,I'm eating lots ofgrass - my udder,they do pull!The farmer's upreal early - to milkus all today,And all the tastymilk we give - willmake our chocolate'Milk Tray!The government alltalk tough - and thesupermarkets alsorob us -We are the big fatmilk cows - and wehate all this fuss.Our farmer's need adecent wage - asthey supply the milk,It really tastes sovery nice - just likesilky silk!We are the big fatmilk cows - whowalk around in thefield,Grazing on all thegrass - wearing ourprotective shield.We love our dairyfarmers - but theyneed to earn a living;'But, the poor andskint farmers - thesupermarkets areall busy shafting!!!!'People love theirmilk - in their teaor coffee, too -Even on theirWeetabix, milk isgood for you.We are the big fatmilk cows - weinvade the storestoday,We'll make ourconcerns known -to give our farmersdecent pay.Now if the storesdon't listen, or youtry to pull the wool -We, the big fat milkcows - will send aballistic mad BULL!!!!Now this will be thelast resort - as ourbully isn't tame,But he will makeyou all see sense -and that's our biggestaim.So please don't pullthe "udder" one - asthe farmers are allnow struggling;'All the low, low prices -the farmer's, theyare killing!!!!'We are the big fatmilk cows - crusadingfor our bosses,Let's give our farmersa decent wage - andhelp to stop theirlosses?BYDARRYL ASHTON
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Tax Payer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of Details
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 November 2020
    Verified Purchase
    A very interesting account with a good level of technical detail to support the trials of the crews and limitations. The book appears to include considerable research and great detail of the available records on both sides of the conflict. This level of detail was impressive and added to the narrative of what both the submarines and the crews had to contend with. This was of particular interest as the war progressed.
    The technical and electronic war was well explained.
    Also of interest were the details of the work of the U-boats, armed, lightly armed or unarmed that participate in blockade running, transporting supplies to Germany, including from the far East.
    Also included was details of U-boat activity in the South Atlantic, off South America and with the Japanese in the far East.
    The personal details of the crews greatly adds to the reader's understanding of the conditions in which these crews served and died.
    A good read!
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Paul Ellmes
    4.0 out of 5 stars Detailed whilst retaining interest
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 January 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Halfway through the book U began to find rye emphasis on mission detail repetitive, but I wanted to read the book as it was very informative, and I enjoyed it. The focus is on mission and outcome, with scant attention paid to the life of the U mariner, which can be surmised rather than read. An interesting part was realising that the refusal of the German Command to recognise its codes had been broken, and the insistence of the Japanese in broadcasting the sailing times of U boat from the ports they controlled sent the brave U mariners to the bottom. The men doing the fighting compromised by the idiocy of command.
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  • SEA WARRIOR
    3.0 out of 5 stars FAIR
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 June 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I quite enjoyed this. There's a mass of detail on the cows' operations - in the Atlantic, Indian Ocean and Pacific - and some insights into what was going on at U-boat Command, under Doenitz and Godt. But much more coverage of the command & control process at the British Admiralty and the US Tenth Fleet would have improved the book greatly. The book is at its best when describing a battle between three U-boats, a swarm of circling patrol aircraft and Johnny Walker's support group coming over the horizon. Anyone wanting decision-making practise should put themselves in the mind of the senior U-boat commanding officer - and pity him.
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  • Colin, Scotland
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating insight, well worth the read.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 February 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Fascinating insight to the very successful but relatively unknown Milk Cow U-boat operations in WWll. Massive piece of work detailing all the supply missions undertaken & the ultimate fate of all the Milk Cows. After mid 1943 when the allies introduced better radar, HF/DF, Fido acoustic aerial torpedo & especially escort carrier hunting groups the U-boat war was lost for the Germans. This book takes you down that road with the Milk Cows. A great read.
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  • GeoffR
    4.0 out of 5 stars A interesting read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 January 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This book sheds light on the operations of UBoats during the Second World War. I also provides some excellent insights into the thought processes of the commanders of UBoat arm of the German navy at the time. Unfortunately the style of the book leaves the reader dodging backwards and forwards in time as the book progresses. I am not sure I could have done better though.

    A worthwhile read but be aware of the period of the specific chapter.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Big Dave
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 October 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I have read a lot of books about WW2 but this told me lots of things I had never heard before. Quite heavy going on facts and could be a bit dry but really filled in a lot about the Atlantic conflict. I would recommend it to all maritime readers.
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  • graham
    5.0 out of 5 stars Clever logistics and tactics
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 October 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This was a fascinating read about the U boat supply Submarines, a non glamorous but essential and cunning tactic to replenish the attack U boats.
    The cost in lost shipping was colossal, the clever logistics and tactics was something I knew little about.
    Great detail and a very interesting read.
    One person found this helpful
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  • jerrow
    4.0 out of 5 stars A side of the War not much touched on .
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 June 2021
    Verified Purchase
    The detail of this was almost too much in fact Idid not quite get to the very end. I read the book to get a firm grip on the Atlantic
    War. I was friends with a U-boat Captain through my occasional job as Liason Officer in the RNR meeting visiting Navies ships at Leith
    The Family watched Das Boot in Kiel on a visit . It was a tale of six separate boats rolled into one —- horses mouth !
    One hears little of the Milch cows and their ability to extend the Sea Time of the boats . It is a Curse that British history is not what actually happened. As Bletchley Park is always shown as unique in reading the German Codes whilst B-Dienst was able to read ours at least some of the time . 30,000 German u-boat men were killed with our superior technology and Air Cover whilst the Luftwaffe was more concerned with the RussianFront and anti Navy . Hitler did at times order assistance .
    The milk cows were a great German invention designed as they did in fact do , assist the extension of the War . Their slower dive rate
    laid them vulnerable to air attack and exit from hostilities.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Alan Fuller
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Milk Cows: The U-Boat Tankers 1941 - 1945
    Reviewed in Spain on 20 February 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Well written and extensively researched account of the activities of these U-Boats. All were sunk before the end of the second World War. Of particular interest are the accounts of their activities in the Far East after the Japanese became involved in the war. Very good.
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  • Jonathan Mattson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Only book I know of to give such details on Milk Cows.
    Reviewed in the United States on 19 February 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I'm not aware of there being other books like this, but to get the coverage of the german milk cows this is a great book. Goes into excellent details on the operations of the german submarines and when the allies start attacking and sinking them. If you are interested in the german submarines, reading this book is an excellent way to learn about teh submarine war in the central and southern atlantic.

    Plus, the kindle version, such a great deal compared to the hardcover.
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  • KB
    4.0 out of 5 stars Informative, full of detail, and enjoyable.
    Reviewed in the United States on 20 April 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent read! If you want to know the details on what these Milk Cows experienced, then this is the book to read. The only error I noted was Mr. White's statement that all members of U-boats crews were volunteers. Not so! Many were transferred over from other branches of the military due to Navy's difficultly in filling all the boats as losses increased. Nevertheless, the book was very informative, and was an enjoyable read. I strongly recommend to anyone into detail life of U-boat arm of the German Navy.
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  • Izzy
    3.0 out of 5 stars Hard to follow
    Reviewed in the United States on 19 May 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Lots of names, dates, times, u- boat numbers, but I enjoyed a different look into the submarine warfare from the logistics side. A short read but I felt worth the money purchased.
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  • Dan Kube
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great historical read!
    Reviewed in the United States on 12 October 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This book is dedicated solely to describing the resupplying/refueling U-Boots known as "Milk Cows", and represents all that is known about those unique U-Boots, their operations, and what life was like aboard these vessels. Very interesting read for those who want to learn something new about and old topic.
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