Ultra at Sea: How Breaking the Nazi Code Affected Allied Naval Strategy During World War II

by John Winton

Describes Allied intelligence efforts during World War II, detailing how the use of the Enigma coding machine influenced naval strategies and led to the destruction of several German warships

Genres: History, World War II

224 pages, Paperback

First published March 14, 1988

About the author

A former officer in the Royal Navy, John Pratt was the author of a variety of fiction and non-fiction works published under the pen name John Winton. Pratt also served for 14 years as an obituarist for The Daily Telegraph.

Reviews

[Kathy Fritschi · Rating 5 out of 5]

when secrets become non-secrets

The 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.

[a.t.m. · Rating 5 out of 5]

interesting, totally worth reading

A 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.

[Richard Nye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Often interesting to learn how cunning the the navy was fool the enemy. Goes into much detail that I won't remember, but fascinating just the same. Depressing to read of the huge losses of merchant ships and their non-combatant crews

[Arnold T. Blostein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting

It was interesting to read how the use of code breaking was so well used during the war. So much comes to light.

[Chaplain Stanley Chapin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The use of codes goes back forever, this book provided me with more information of some of the actions I had previously read and heard about.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

History through the use of codes. Great approach to understanding WWII strategy and consequences of actions

[D.M. Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating insight

This 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.

[Nonethousand Oberrhein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poker-faced chess game
The detailed account of WWII fought by sea and how the energy spent on deciphering enemy communications gave a non-negligible advantage to allied forces. In a very sober and factual chronicle of the events we will learn how the confrontations against the biggest naval “foes” such as the Galileo Galilei, the Bismarck, the Tirpitz and the U-boat wolfpacks were won not only through the skills of the men on the spot, but also thanks to the years-long cryptologists duel between Enigma and Ultra. A layered battle that the book helps appreciate, while not indulging in rhetoric or romantic embellishments.