Good book on the Arctic Convoys?

[MissFitz]

I've been reading Alistair MacLean's HMS Ulysses & would like to find out more about the Arctic Convoys. I see from Amazon that there are several histories out there but it would be great to have a recommendation - can anyone help?

 

[Woodlouse]

I've been reading Alistair MacLean's HMS Ulysses & would like to find out more about the Arctic Convoys. I see from Amazon that there are several histories out there but it would be great to have a recommendation - can anyone help?

What are the options you've found? I don't think I've ever read anything specifically on the arctic convoys so would be interested to see what's available also.

 

[bedouin]

I've been reading Alistair MacLean's HMS Ulysses & would like to find out more about the Arctic Convoys. I see from Amazon that there are several histories out there but it would be great to have a recommendation - can anyone help?

The one I read many years ago was "PQ17 - Convoy to Hell" about one particular convoy told by someone on a converted trawler. It left a lasting impression - a bit more realistic than HMS Ulysses!

 

[MoodySabre]

There's a special section about them at the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich.

 

[Seajet]

Not the arctic convoys I'm afraid, but ' If The Gods Are Good ' is the very well researched true story of the armed merchant cruiser HMS Jervis Bays' truly heroic actions defending a convoy from the vastly superior German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer, recommended.

The friend I learned to sail with was a vetaran of the Arctic Convoys, he used to shudder, " How I hate North Easterlies "...

 

[bikedaft]

as above there are i think at least 2 books about pq17 (neither of which i have read, sorry!)

from the other side, iron coffins is a great book. it has been criticised by historians re the amount of shipping the u boat captain claims to have sunk, but apart from that (i think) is factual.

numerous books re the "battle of the atlantic" make you realise how close it was...

 

[Joker]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Arctic-Convoys-B-B-Schofield/dp/035401112X
Not a riveting read, but good coverage.

 

[Rigger]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Forgotten-S...19734&sr=1-1&keywords=the+forgotten+sacrifice

Can recommend this as a really good read. Got it as a Kindle special offer but wished I'd bought the book for the maps etc. Horrific tale of a rescue from a life-boat when thy had to cut the tiller off as the helmsman's hand was frozen on to it!

 

[MissFitz]

Great, thanks everyone, lots of good pointers, should keep me busy for a while!

 

[Twister_Ken]

Also, The Cruel Sea by Montserrat has a chapter in which Saltash (the frigate which replaced Compass Rose) did an Arctic Run. As Montserrat actually sailed on convoy escorts, likely to be pretty accurate. The book itself is, of course, a masterpiece of WW2 naval fiction.

 

[penfold]

The one I read many years ago was "PQ17 - Convoy to Hell" about one particular convoy told by someone on a converted trawler. It left a lasting impression - a bit more realistic than HMS Ulysses!

I've got a copy of that and it's a pretty harrowing account; that it took until now to give the poor buggers who survived the arctic convoys a campaign medal was a travesty.

 

[fisherman]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Broome

Have a look at this man. He wrote 'Make a Signal', which is very funny but touches on PQ17 also, he was in command of the escort group, and subsequently won a libel action on the book about it. He seems to have been a 'bit of a lad', he was in command of an ex ww 2 minesweeper for the filming of The Cruel Sea, dodging about in Portland Race with the bridge adorned with much polystyrene foam, and a crew who regularly attracted the attentions of the Plymouth police, according to legend.