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Ultra at Sea: How Breaking the Nazi Code Affected Allied Naval Strategy During World War II (The Secret War) Kindle Edition
Perfect for readers of John Keegan, Max Hastings and Ian W. Toll.
How was the work of Alan Turing and other men and women at Bletchley Park used to influence naval strategies and shape the course of the war? And how did they use the information without alerting the Axis powers that their codes had been broken?
Shining a light on information that was previously kept secret from public view, Winton’s book assesses the impact of ULTRA and how the breaking of Enigma codes shaped Allied antisubmarine warfare in the Atlantic, convoy defence in the Arctic, amphibious assaults in the Mediterranean and attacks on heavy German naval vessels like Tirpitz.
‘This is a very good book; well researched, well written and well up the pecking order.’ The Naval Review
‘Altogether an interesting book which gives such a fascinating new perspective to events that one wonders why it has not been written before!’ Seascape International Maritime Magazine
‘Ultra affected almost every operation against the Germans at sea and hence this book is almost a complete history of the war at sea.’ Journal of Naval Science
‘… an excellent detailed examination of the practical application of Ultra intelligence in the war at sea’ Cryptologia
‘Until recently, no author has examined the impact of how ULTRA was used to win the battle for the Atlantic and adjacent waters. John Winton’s ULTRA at Sea addresses this imbalance.’ Military Review
‘Whether we like it or not, the Ultra story is a prickly one, and is at least changing the tones of the well-established picture we have of the Second World War.’ Navy News
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateAugust 7, 2022
- File size1.7 MB
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Product details
- ASIN : B09ZVJ27KS
- Publisher : Sapere Books
- Accessibility : Learn more
- Publication date : August 7, 2022
- Language : English
- File size : 1.7 MB
- Simultaneous device usage : Unlimited
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 303 pages
- ISBN-13 : 978-1800555228
- Page Flip : Enabled
- Part of series : The Secret War
- Best Sellers Rank: #350,326 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #126 in Military Intelligence & Spies History
- #245 in Military Naval History
- #610 in Naval Military History
- Customer Reviews:
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Customers find the book well-written, with one noting its British perspective. The encyclopedia content receives positive feedback, with customers appreciating its detailed coverage of code-breaking during World War II.
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Customers find the book engaging and well-written, with one noting it provides a British perspective.
"...on the operations against individual convoys, which are written in a very interesting and non-academic manner...." Read more
"...during World War II but Mr. Winton puts it all together in a very readable format that I think is a must have for any student of intelligence..." Read more
"...I highly recommend this beautiful book." Read more
"...Great reading from a British perspective." Read more
Customers appreciate the encyclopedia content of the book, which contains detailed information about code-breaking during World War II.
"...The book contains a lot of detail on the operations against individual convoys, which are written in a very interesting and non-academic manner...." Read more
"...Winton has a surprising answer. He details the many aspects of the breaking of Axis codes - the trial and error, good fortune,..." Read more
"A book filled with phenomenal insights, stories, and information about Nazi code’s having been broken...." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2013This book is one of several published in the mid1970's to late 1980's that discuss one of the best kept secrets of WWII; namely that the British were reading the messages sent on the supposedly unbreakable German Enigma cipher machine. This book focuses on the importance of this deciphering, the Ultra Secret, on WWII at sea. It covers operations in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean and mentions some operations that took place in the Indian Ocean. While the book discusses the deciphering effort it does not get into any of the details of how this was done or the operations at Bletchley Park where it was done.
The book contains a lot of detail on the operations against individual convoys, which are written in a very interesting and non-academic manner. While written with the general reader in mind, the also contains a wealth of detail that will satisfy the military historian and those who are keenly interested in the details of WWII. It covers both the actions against the German surface fleet as well as against the U-boat fleet. There is a discussion of how the Allies tried to prevent the Germans from suspecting that their messages were being read, why the Germans should have suspected that this was the case and why they did not do so in spite of a lot of information to the contrary. The book discusses Allied antisubmarine techniques as well as the techniques used by the Germans to sink Allied ships. The book also discusses the successful German effort to read the British and American Naval codes and the impact that this had on WWII.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2002THe author has written many works on naval operations and life at sea from the time of Raleigh to the modern day. In addition he has written almost as much fiction.
This book focuses on the use of the ULTRA intercepts in winning the sea campaigns against the Kriegsmarine in WW II.
There is much published, good, bad, and otherwise on the code breakers and activities of the US and Britain in WW II, there is little on how the intel was actually used.
Codebreaking and decryption in wartime is simply an intellectual game unless the results are combined with all available intelligence and gotten to the field forces in good time for use in combat operations. And the same is applicable to peacetime but there is often the luxury of time to ponder. Not so, the cat must pounce or the prey will flee.
Thus, this book is quite interesting as it focuses not on the war effort as a whole. A compartively slender tome it covers the subject and analyzes the use and then the author concludes.
Using SIGINT is always difficult because, first, the special security needed to keep the secret. This was not so much a problem with naval ops because the decrypts went to the Admiralty by courier and landlines. Field headquarters ground and air staff personnel were not all indoctrinated and those who were, were forbidden to go in harm's way for fear of capture and compromise. An indoctrinated USAAF officer went on a mission over Germany against orders, but managed to conceal his knowledge from his captors.
Second difficulty is the need to make cover for use so that the blame for the defeat can be placed on any source other than SIGINT. Thus, aircraft were often sent out to spoof the convoys from Italy to North Africa and deliberate deception leaks were made to point the finger at actual spies in the ports of departure.
Deserves a place on the shelf of every student of operational use of intelligence.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2024Format: KindleVerified PurchaseThe amazing decoding of enemy cyphers via Ultra is one of the major coups of WWII. Considering the horrendous losses in the Atlantic via U-boat actions, this book highlights success ULTRA had Against the German submarine war. The decoding of of U-boat positions allowed convoys to avoid U-boat traps. Ultra allowed more offensive actions In the latter half of the war. The author makes it clear that it was a miracle that Ultra wasn’t compromised.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2022Format: KindleVerified PurchaseI have the other book on MacArthur's Ultra. This book is less about strategy than a list of individual encounters with occasional judgment statements by the author. I considered putting it down without finishing. It is 98% focused on the Royal Navy and British government. I did learn about multiple British carrier raids against the docked battleship Tirpitz, but wondered why those carriers were not in the Pacific when there were literally thousands of four engine bombers on the unsinkable carrier called the UK.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2015Winton has shown how the cracking of intelligence codes dramatically affected the progress of the war in Europe. He also answered a question I had been struggling to find an answer to. How did Admiral Doenitz react to the reports, after World War II, that the German codes had been compromised? Winton has a surprising answer.
He details the many aspects of the breaking of Axis codes - the trial and error, good fortune, carelessness, and the fates all are shown at their best or worst, depending on your viewpoint. Some of the mistakes left me shaking my head at the degree of misplaced confidence held by some people.
There have been many books about the code breaking process during World War II but Mr. Winton puts it all together in a very readable format that I think is a must have for any student of intelligence gathering, encryption and decryption, and of course, World War II - before and after the Americans joined the Allies.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2024Format: KindleVerified PurchaseA book filled with phenomenal insights, stories, and information about Nazi code’s having been broken. Without the information gathered the War in Europe would have taken longer with greater losses of life and material. I highly recommend this beautiful book.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2022Format: KindleVerified PurchaseIt was interesting to read how the use of code breaking was so well used during the war. So much comes to light.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2014Explores the coordination of the Ultra network and the Naval and Army , especially the Navy, in defeating the forces of Japan. Great reading from a British perspective.
Top reviews from other countries
- Tim HReviewed in the United Kingdom on September 12, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting account of enigma
Format: KindleVerified PurchaseAfter reading many books which refer to the work of Bletchley Park, it was very worthwhile reading this excellently researched and detailed account of the use of broken coded messages rather than the actual breaking of the codes. I now have quite a different view of the breakthrough in cracking the enigma code and the book is enhanced by the warts and all approach and the nearness of disaster when the Nazis could have/ should have realised that their messages were bring reading.
- Gary WisemanReviewed in Canada on August 31, 2022
4.0 out of 5 stars Superb!!
Format: KindleVerified PurchaseI seldom,but if ever, have read a book on WWII that comes across as so real and believable! A most enjoyable and educational experience! Gary Wiseman!!
- David JohnsReviewed in the United Kingdom on April 25, 2023
4.0 out of 5 stars A slightly different persective
Format: KindleVerified PurchaseFor me, it's an interesting account of Ultra from an operational perspective. It was bit longwinded for me but could be argued that it's rich in detail!
I found it interesting, if tedious in places.
- PappashangaReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 13, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating insight
Format: KindleVerified PurchaseThis is a well written and comprehensive account of the use of intelligence during WW2.
It begs belief that the Germans didn’t cotton on to Ultra.
The late author puts this down to a type of pig headed blindness. Astonishing but true.
A lot of cleverness and some luck and stupidity were involved.
Fascinating.
- Loyal CustomerReviewed in the United Kingdom on December 1, 2023
3.0 out of 5 stars Clogged with facts.
Format: KindleVerified PurchaseDry presumably factual account, chronicalogical story but no drama.