Customer Reviews

The U-Boat Peril: A Fight for Survival (Cassell Military Classics)

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The author provides an excellent commentary of his time before the war as a lowly midshipman including his involvement in the Invergordon Mutiny when he was on the battleship HMS Rodney. Exhibiting an interest in anti-submarine warfare at an early stage, the author spends time on destroyers in the North Sea during the early stages of the war. Frustratingly sent to West Africa to manage piecemeal escorts for convoys, his descriptions of his various commanding officers (Admirals usually) are quite eye opening. Many proved to be difficult and stubborn to work with.

Eventually, the author is given command of HMS Wanderer and finally gets to put his skills to the test. Commanding a well-trained crew, the author and Wanderer manage to sink three U-boats in the 18 months of command. The author conveys his frustrations with the hierarchy but also marvels at the men who are proven to be great leaders in hard times. Most of all, this is a story of hunting U-boats with newly developed sonar and radar and, although the tide had turned against the U-boats, there was still a lot of luck involved. But then, the author and his crew worked hard to make their luck.