Warspite
New edition of the successful book
WARSPITE:
224 pages
ISBN-10: 184884350X
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From the back cover of the forthcoming paperback edition:
The name HMS Warspite has long been a part of British naval tradition. The first ship to bear this name sailed under command of Sir Walter Raleigh in 1596. The eighth and last Warspite was the nuclear submarine, which started her career stalking Soviet Navy vessels during the Cold War and later patrolled the waters around the Falkland Islands and the Argentinian coast following the war in 1982. While covering the careers of all the ships to carry this proud name, this book concentrates on the seventh Warspite. This mighty battleship fought her way through both World Wars. She saw action in some of the greatest naval engagements of the 20th Century, including the battles of Jutland, 1916, and Calabria, Taranto and Matapan in the 1940s, before sailing for the Far East to join the struggle against the Japanese fleet. Warspite’s guns also proved decisive in helping Allied armies liberate north-west Europe in 1944. Warspite was retired from service at the end of the Second World War and in 1947 was being towed to the breaker’s yard when, during a storm, she broke free from her tugs and ran aground in Prussia Cove, off the Cornish coast. In this fascinating book, Iain Ballantyne tells the story of Warspite through the eyes of the men who sailed in her, some of whom are speaking of their experiences for the first time. The text is enhanced by a fine selection of photographs, many previously unpublished, and specially commissioned artwork.
Praise for the hardback edition (published in 2001)
‘HMS Warspite - a seaman's view’
Posted on Amazon UK & Amazon US
5 Stars
24 April 2001
By A Customer:
‘I have read this book with great interest and was very impressed with the way that the thoughts and views of ordinary seaman were reflected. From snippets like the casual dress code aboard, which shocked officers and men from smaller ships and the tale of the young east-ender and his £1 note wrapped in a Durex to preserve his cash if he went overboard. It gets into the very soul of the men aboard and what made them such a formidable fighting force. I am also glad that it states unequivocally that HMS Warspite was the first ship to open fire at the Normandy landings. My father served aboard at the time and had always insisted that this was the case. He was also rightly proud of the ship's gunnery achievements, which are catalogued in the book. The book also has many illustrations that have been culled from the albums of HMS Warspite's serving officers and men. In summary the book offers a thrilling insight into perhaps the most illustrious warship of all time.’
A review on the web site www.aberdeenbookstore.com :
‘The voices of the men who fought aboard Warspite bring to life this stirring tale that will appeal to everyone with an interest in naval history and the ships that symbolized the great seafaring nation.’
To buy WARSPITE:
Or visit the web site of the publisher
www.pen-and-sword.co.uk