Running the Gauntlet: Cargo Liners Under Fire 19391945 [Hardcover]

Through his narrative and the presentation of first-hand accounts, Edwards succeeds in his goal of an accurate and engaging history. -The Northern MarinerThe British Merchant Navy dominated the world trade routes in the years leading up to the Second World War. The star players of the fleet were the cargo liners, faster and larger than the tramps and offering limited passenger accommodation. On the outbreak of war these cargo liners became crucial to the nations survival using their speed and expertise to evade Nazi warships, raiders and U-boats.Initially operating alone, but increasingly relying on Royal Navy protected convoys, these key elements of the Merchant Navy plied the oceans and seas despite mounting losses, throughout the war years.This superbly researched book describes numerous dramatic incidents. Some ended in disaster such as the New Zealand Shipping Companys Turakina which was sunk after a running battle with the German raider Orion. Others were triumphs for example Operation Substance when six fast cargo liners succeeded against all the odds in reaching besieged Malta with vital supplies.The common denominations in all these historic voyages were the courage and skilled seamanship of the Merchant Navy crews. As Running The Gauntlet vividly illustrates, their contribution to victory, too long overlooked, cannot be overstated.The British Merchant Navy dominated the world trade routes in the years leading up to the Second World War. The star players of the fleet were the cargo liners, faster and larger than the tramps and offering limited passenger accommodation.The British Merchant Navy was the largest and most important in the world in the 1930s and cargo liners were the cream of the fleetThey played a key role in keeping Britain and her allies in the war transporting essential supplies and manpower despite the Nazi naval activitySuperb collection of case studies of duels between the lightly armed merchantmen and the U-boats and surfaceThrillinglÃá