Customer Reviews

Splinter Fleet: The Wooden Subchasers of World War II

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Until Treadwell, very little has been known or made available about this brave group of American sailors and their proud fleet of wooden ships. This extremely well written account is as valuable for the light it sheds on this overlooked chapter of American Naval history. Extremely well written, it's easy to determine Treadwell has devoted countless hours assembling names, dates, locations, pictures, and presented them in a fashion that deserves praise. A breath of fresh air to remind us all of true Americans in time of war, this book is easy to read, harder to put down. "Spinter Fleet" will no doubt become a manuscript of learning for anyone who ever asks, "what was a subchaser?" I loved this book and highly recommend it.

As an old (75 and counting) subchaserman, I cannot thank Ted Treadwell enough for his book. Here is an account by a subchaser captain who lived the strange, rough life, remembered it, and had the talent to express it and the tenacity to seek out the records and the great photos. If you want a feel for the pitch, roll, and yaw, the water breaking over the bridge, the fear and the exhilaration of the subchasers, read Splinter Fleet.

Bill Thomson

What a marvelous book. Capt Treadwell has researched this subject, leaving no stone unturned. This incredible mix of short stories depicting the lives aboard the "Splinter Fleet", tell us about World War II through the eyes of a writer who lived it. He took the enormous job of seeking out the details of each event, filtered them through his own intimate knowledge and draws you in. The accounts are so detailed which, as a "lay person" intrigued me. I came away with an understanding of life aboard these small wooden ships with these overlooked and unspoken heroes. I began to feel as if I was in the Navy reading about my fellow sailors lives. Ted's work is a must for veterans and more importantly for everyone to learn about these unsung heroes. I recommend this book highly.

This book is an excellent read anyone who likes sea stories, and this is non-fiction. Treadwell has done an excellent job of researching the material, and its written in an easy to read style for all levels, with lots of anecdotes and true stories that keep it entertaining and interesting. Very well documented and numerous pictures provide authenticity and make it lively reading. Don't miss the part about the decoy 110 foot subchaser made to resemble an aircraft carrier! This book is a good read for persons of all backgrounds and documents an important part of nautical history. Particularly relevant for those who like good war stories.

Move over Tom Brokaw! A superbly written and tightly constructed account of human suffering, sacrifice, and bravery beyond description which made a substantial contribution to the Allied victory in World WarII. Largely unacknowledged and ignored by both government and war historians, the "little fellas"are brought to life brilliantly by Ted Treadwell as he poignantly captures the essence of the SC rolethroughout the war.Even as a landlubber I found myself immersed in the wonderfully human stories in every chapter. Ted's style skillfully allows you inside the heads and hearts of countless men who lend new meaning to the definiton of courage. Can I give this book 6 stars?

This book was absolutely spectacular. From beginning to end, the author captures you with the tale of how the subchaser came about and its pivotal albeit forgotten role in World War II. This book was a gift to me from a gentleman who served in the Navy aboard a WWII era subchaser. As a sailor myself, I thoroughly enjoy trading sea stories with other sailors....this book is a real treat as it contains story after story of the triumphs, failures, camaraderie, and perils of serving aboard a subchaser in both the Atlantic and Pacific Theatres of WWII. I highly recommend this book to anyone with a liking for the sea and its lore. There is a great deal of nautical and military jargon that may be difficult to understand if you are not already familiar with it. To all sailors out there, I promise you will not be disappointed.

Imagine somewhere beyond a Pacific horizon, a World War II Navy destroyer, the size of a small stadium, is lobbing shells the size of small cars at an unseen enemy stronghold located on an island paradise. The shells are exploding at the rate and sound of a hellish, paradoxical nightmare. Imagine now that you are stationed on a smaller wooden Navy vessel 1/10 the size of the destroyer, and you are less than 1000 yards away from the beautiful beach that is being bombarded. Every sinew in your body is alive with fear, telling you, no imploring you, to turn your vessel around and get out of there. But, alas, you can't leave because you are a critical and strategic chess piece in the United States march to triumph in World War II. Welcome to "Splinter Fleet", a book so powerful with anecdotes that you will swear you are actually aboard these 110ft wooden subchasers as Treadwell does a delightful job of unraveling a series of historic, and almost forgotten, stories that will make you laugh at the sailors' antics and cry at the devastation and horror that these brave men faced during the war. "Splinter Fleet" takes an important seat on the shelf next to other Naval History books, yet it stands alone as a comprehensive narrative on these hearty wooden boats that served this great country so hard and so well. Thank you for the trip aboard this ship, Capt., you allowed me to travel on your flying bridge, tasting the salt, smelling the smoke, trembling with fear and rejoicing at the many important victories that were enabled by the heroic efforts of the proud men in the "Splinter Fleet".

A wonderful book. Full of facts and fun. Unlike many books I've bought, this one is a keeper for my library!