The U-Boat War 1914-198 by Edwyn A Gray

The U-Boat War 1914-1918 by Edwyn A Gray.  This is a re-read, having first read it some 25-30 years ago.  It was well worth the second read as it covers not only an interesting naval period (dreadnoughts and submarines) but also a period of astonishing industrial technological evolution.

Submarines were, at the beginning of World War I, an unproven naval concept, generally tiny in terms of tonnage, crew and offensive capacity, and largely unproven.  

It is a fascinating period, especially the evolution of the historic rules of naval warfare in the face of technological change.  One of the critical strategic advantages of submarines is their capacity to launch attacks without detection.  However, the prevailing naval rules of engagement called for enemy warships to stop merchant ships, inspect their paper and cargo, and, if appropriate for sinking, then ensure the safety of the merchant ship crew.  

These earlier rules of engagement were highlighted because both England and Germany sought to starve out the civilian population and strangle the trade of the opposing combatant.  This on its own was a shaky moral position.  But given their respective fleets and technology, the upshot was that Britain was, by the traditional rules, allowed to starve Germany with its surface fleet, but Germany was not allowed to starve Britain with its submarine fleet.

Gray is also good in his descriptions of the war patrols and the adventures and close calls of the submarine aces.  It is, as implied by the term U-boat, largely an account of German submarine warfare though the British, French and Italian submarines do occasionally get some coverage.  

I recommend to those with an interest in war, World War I and maritime history.