Splinter Fleet: The Wooden Subchasers of World War II (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...true war stories, told with understated enthusiasm, reflect strong pride in the brotherhood forged upon [wooden subchasers]." --Norman N. Brown -- Associated Press, March 12, 2001

"The men who sailed [wooden subchasers] have wonderful tales to tell, and Mr. Treadwell conveys them vividly." --John Lehman -- Wall Street Journal, March 8, 2001

Product Description

Hastily built at the onset of World War II to stop German U-boats from taking their toll on Allied shipping, the 110-foot wooden subchasers were the smallest commissioned warships in the U.S. Navy yet they saw as much action as ships ten times their size. In every theater of war these workhorses of the fleet escorted countless convoys of slow-moving ships through submarine-infested waters, conducted endless mind-numbing antisubmarine patrols, and were used in hundreds of amphibious operations. This book, written by the commander of one of the subchasers, defines their place in World War II naval history and gives readers a taste of life aboard the wooden warships. Ringing with authenticity, it describes the cramped quarters and unforgiving seas, as well as the tenacious courage and close bonds formed by the men as they sought out the enemy and confronted nature. Long overshadowed by the larger, faster warships and more glamorous PT boats, subchasers have been virtually forgotten in naval history, but this work restores the plucky little ships to their hard earned status as significant members of the fleet.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: US Naval Institute Press (November 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557508178
• ISBN-13: 978-1557508171
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #670,775 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Subchasers,, November 29, 2000

By A Customer

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.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One splinter fleet man for another, November 26, 2000

By	Bill Thomson (Erie, PA USA) - See all my reviews

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

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A non veterns viewpoint, March 30, 2001

By	Dr. G. Lentini (Danbury, CT) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.