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</script> </div> <div align="center"><h1><a href="/books/">Naval Warfare Books</a></h1></div><div align="center"><h3>Info on selected title</h3></div> <br> <table><tr> <td class="width120"> <img src="/media/books/covers/english/operational_necessity.gif" hspace="5" vspace="5" alt="" /> <div align="center" class="merchant_info"><p><strong>Buy this title at</strong></p><br><br><img src="/media/books/images/flag-uk_s.gif" alt="" /><br><a href="/about/scripts/amazon_co_uk.php?book=186046596X&path=/books/item/181"><strong>amazon.co.uk</strong></a><p><br><strong>This title is highly recommended</strong></p> </div> </td> <td><h1 class="large_header">An Operational Necessity</h1><p><strong>By Griffin, Gwyn</strong> <br>1999, Harvill Press<br>ISBN 186046596X<br>Paperback, 416 pages<br><strong>The book is a fiction</strong></p> <p><strong>Descripton:</strong> This book deals with the subject of the <a href=/boats/u852.htm><a href="/boats/u852.htm">U-852</a></a> (<a href="/boats/u996.htm">U-996</a> in the book) which sank a ship and then fired on the wreckage killing many of the ship's crew. The book covers this incident, the later sinking of the U-boat, and the war crimes trial but in novel form with fictional crew members. The title comes from the claim that destroying the wreckage was an "operational necessity" to avoid Allied aircraft. Originally published 1967.</p> <p> - This book has been <a href="/books/translations.html?mid=181">translated</a> into other languages.</p><p><strong>From the uboat.net review:</strong> This is a fictionalized account of the Peleus Affair, the only documented case in World War II in which a U-boat machine-gunned survivors in the water. The strength of this novel lies in its harshly realistic depic ...<br><a href="/books/reviews/181.html">Read our entire review</a>.</p> </td></tr></table><p><strong>Purchase information:</strong> (<a href="/books/merchants.html" class="small">info</a>)<br><img src="/media/images/flags/small/flag-uk_s.gif" alt="" /> Get <strong>An Operational Necessity</strong> now at <a href="/about/scripts/amazon_co_uk.php?book=186046596X&path=/books/item/181">amazon.co.uk</a>  <p><br></p> </div>  <div id="footer"> <div id="footer_navcontainer"> <ul id="footer_navlist"> <li><a href="/" title="Front page">Front page</a></li> <li><a href="/about/" title="About uboat.net">About</a></li> <li><a href="/about/contact.htm" title="Contact us">Contact us</a></li> <li><a href="/special/faq.htm" title="Frequently Asked Questions">FAQ</a></li> <li><a href="/glossary.htm" title="Glossary pages">Glossary</a></li> <li><a href="/new.htm" title="What's new at uboat.net">What's new</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="footer_copyright">  © 1995 - 2025 Guðmundur Helgason </div> </div>  </div>  </body></html>