- Hardcover: 256 pages
- Publisher: Leo Cooper Ltd (30 July 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1844151816
- ISBN-13: 978-1844151813
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.4 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 420,470 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Len Deighton
'It's a super book, a gripping read.'
Wolverhampton Express & Star
'A masterful and fascinating book.'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Catching their British guards unawares and also under the very noses of certain crew members who would have spoiled his plans, on 21 June 1919, Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter successfully scuttled the entire German High Seas Fleet in Scapa Flow. With German skeleton crews on each vessel, that fleet had been interned at the end of WW1 in the only anchorage large enough to accommodate so many ships. Whilst the fate of each vessel was yet to be decided by the victorious Allies, the Royal Navy fully expected to add many of those ships to its own fleet. Von Reuter was determined to see this never happened.
Some of those ships sank in deep water, some in shallow depths and a few were run aground in a futile bid to save them. Up to that time, nobody, anywhere in the world, had attempted to salvage such large ships from below the surface. The British Admiralty, therefore, confidently stated that none of the sunken ships would ever see daylight again. How wrong they were! Ernest Cox was a simple businessman who understood nothing whatsoever about salvage. He did, however, see an opportunity and applied common sense to whatever problems he encountered. Many of his techniques are still used today...
Having personally been instrumental in getting the wrecks of Scapa Flow protected by Scottish law (effective from 23 May 2001), I have a personal interest in the High Seas Fleet and its history. The pioneering work of Ernest Cox is a significant part of that history and this work is as good as they come. On top of that, author Tony Booth has provided a really outstanding account. This book is so readable I cannot imagine anyone putting it down before they reach the end.
There are 29 historic photos and two contemporary charts reproduced together between pages 80 and 81. Perhaps more interestingly for some, are the simple drawings of how ships were righted and lifted from great depths - in complete defiance of all the available `expert' opinion of the day. It is a fascinating story.
As if to suggest `some things never change,' Tony Booth also provides a descriptive and compelling account of the loss of HM Submarine Thetis in 1939. In spite of Cox's success with lifting some of the largest-ever battleships from much greater depths, his team were only consulted once it was too late to save those submariners from the horrid death all but a few, were to face. With her forward compartments flooded, the submarine sank in a depth of 160 feet. Being, however, 275 foot long, the Thetis was able to adjust her ballast so that part of her stern was above water - thus revealing her precise location to her rescuers. Using the David escape apparatus, a small number of her crew were able to escape and fully appraise those would-be rescuers of the situation on board. And, of course, the Admiralty was confident it knew what needed to be done.
Compared to the massive warships of Scapa Flow, the Thetis would have been well within Cox's team's abilities but the Admiralty knew best and the majority of her crew perished.
I really cannot recommend this book highly enough for those with an interest in the overall subject.
NM
Some of those ships sank in deep water, some in shallow depths and a few were run aground in a futile bid to save them. Up to that time, nobody, anywhere in the world, had attempted to salvage such large ships from below the surface. The British Admiralty, therefore, confidently stated that none of the sunken ships would ever see daylight again. How wrong they were! Ernest Cox was a simple businessman who understood nothing whatsoever about salvage. He did, however, see an opportunity and applied common sense to whatever problems he encountered. Many of his techniques are still used today...
Having personally been instrumental in getting the wrecks of Scapa Flow protected by Scottish law (effective from 23 May 2001), I have a personal interest in the High Seas Fleet and its history. The pioneering work of Ernest Cox is a significant part of that history and this work is as good as they come. On top of that, author Tony Booth has provided a really outstanding account. This book is so readable I cannot imagine anyone putting it down before they reach the end.
There are 29 historic photos and two contemporary charts reproduced together between pages 80 and 81. Perhaps more interestingly for some, are the simple drawings of how ships were righted and lifted from great depths - in complete defiance of all the available `expert' opinion of the day. It is a fascinating story.
As if to suggest `some things never change,' Tony Booth also provides a descriptive and compelling account of the loss of HM Submarine Thetis in 1939. In spite of Cox's success with lifting some of the largest-ever battleships from much greater depths, his team were only consulted once it was too late to save those submariners from the horrid death all but a few, were to face. With her forward compartments flooded, the submarine sank in a depth of 160 feet. Being, however, 275 foot long, the Thetis was able to adjust her ballast so that part of her stern was above water - thus revealing her precise location to her rescuers. Using the David escape apparatus, a small number of her crew were able to escape and fully appraise those would-be rescuers of the situation on board. And, of course, the Admiralty was confident it knew what needed to be done.
Compared to the massive warships of Scapa Flow, the Thetis would have been well within Cox's team's abilities but the Admiralty knew best and the majority of her crew perished.
I really cannot recommend this book highly enough for those with an interest in the overall subject.
NM
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The topic of this book is about science, courage, overwhelming decision making of a man and a devoted team of men who struggled so much in a gigantic task nobody is aware of nowadays. The feeling of perseverance -the key for success- is almost palpable and well rendered. I have learnt so much because I knew nothing about this particular period of history. The quality of the writting gives a lot of credibility to the book and Mr Booth previous knowledge from his Merchant Navy experience gives a lively atmosphere of the docks. The impact of Cox's amazing and audacious adventure on future salvaging operations is quite striking and McKenzy's role (which I can't tell) in the second World War proved how much Cox's experienced men became precious. For "leaving the paved tracks" (french expression),I congratulate the author Mr Booth. Well done for exploring the history of such an unknown man and rising controversial behaviour from the Royal Navy regarding both the German Fleet and the submarine Thetis.
6 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
It has taken a work-horse like Tony Booth to uncover and bring to life a story that has not had justice done to it by previous authors. Neither ships, sea nor engineering hold much appeal to me but if you have the slightest interest in history, human determination or lateral thinking then this book has plenty to offer. The section on the sinking of the submarine HMS Thetis in Liverpool was of great interest. The best aspect of this book is the lesson that just occasionally when the consensus says that something can't be done, one brave soul will prove them all wrong.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Cox's Navy
What a wonderful read, this is the story of someone who did not know how to fail and his achievements in raising the German WW1 Fleet from Scapa are outstanding. Read more
Published 23 months ago by K. R. Exworth
A remarkable man
This is an amazing read of a man who would just never give up and was far from frightened to try something new with limited resources.
Published on 7 Feb 2010 by Mr. Douglas Mackay
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