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Message: [QUOTE="AWP, post: 444082, member: 18"] Steel Boat was written by Hans Goebeler and chronicles his life about U-505. He made every war cruise with her save the transition from Kiel to Lorient and was present during her capture by the US Navy on June 4, 1944. It is an excellent account of life aboard a U-boat from 1942-1944 and has a little bit of everything related to a crewman's life. I thought it was a very candid book although some periods of time were left blank. Whether by accident, design/ literary flow, or intentional, I do not know. Maybe those were just mundane sections of a cruise? No idea. For those not familiar with the U-505, it was captured by the US and eventually placed on display in Chicago. it is an excellent and "must see" exhibit if you are in Chicago. U-505 is the only U-boat in North America and one of the few inn the world intact and available for tours. Those are $20+ dollars as I recall and we seemed to be hurried through the boat, but it is eye opening. Read this book before you go. A few other notable events: - One of its skippers, Peter Zschech was the only U-boat commander to commit suicide while at sea. I don't recall this from the tour and it is chilling to think you stand where his body dropped. - U-505 was the most heavily damaged submarine of the war to make it back to port following a bombing by the RAAF. The pilot and crew were killed in the attack (by their own bomb it appears) and Goebeler pays ample tribute to he and his crew. - The book even contains a vignette about dick surgery while underway. Yes, dick surgery. Anyway, this is a very good book if you're in WWII or naval history. [/QUOTE]

Verification: How many letters are in "ShadowSpear?"