- Hardcover: 224 pages
- Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd (May 1993)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 085052315X
- ISBN-13: 978-0850523157
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 16.4 x 2.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
404,872 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #26 in Books > History > Military History > World War II > Battle of the Atlantic
- #61 in Books > History > World History > World War II 1939-1945 > Naval Warfare > USA
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
The Battle of the Atlantic was a vicious and unrelenting struggle which Churchill considered the dominating factor throughout World War II. Captain F.J. Walker, RN, has been described as having done more than any other man at sea to win the Battle, and this book is based on the author's account of Walker's sea battles, written shortly after the event, and on Walker's own reports. A formidable figure, Walker was unrecognized in peacetime but a saviour of his country in wartime, ranging across the North Atlantic from Gibraltar to the coast of North America, from the Azores to the Russian convoys to Murmansk, sinking 20 U-boats. For this he was awarded a CB and was also only the second man in RN history to receive four DSOs. Walker destroyed two U-boats by ramming, three by gunfire and another 15 by depth-charges, and was several times engaged in spectacular night actions. A month after D-Day, exhausted by his continuous actions at sea against the enemy and his successful exertions to keep the U-boats out of the English Channel to ensure the safe passage of the Allied landings, he went ashore in Liverpool following a patrol. His ships and the men he had trained and inspired were already back at sea when he died on 9th July 1944, aged 48. The author was Gunnery Officer on Walker's ship, "HMS Starling".
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is the story of the one and only "Walker RN" - an officer who had been passed-over for further promotion until war broke out in 1939. Only then did his sheer genius rise to the surface, only then, when Britain was faced with being starved into submission, were his ideas heard in the corridors of power, only then did the Royal Navy realise they should have promoted this man many years earlier.
The story of Frederic Walker is the story of a man who was charged with fighting U Boats in the north Atlantic. It is also the story of how he devised tactics to bring about immense success. In so doing, this man won no fewer than four DSO's - and no person in history was ever awarded five!
Sadly, those years of arduous and strenuous fighting in the most inhospitable of climates took their toll on this great leader of men and, having been finally promoted to Captain and awarded the CB he succumbed and died. He was later buried at sea.
Not only does this book bring to vivid life all the successes, failures, hardships and personal losses, it is exceedingly well written by one who served alongside the gallant Captain.
Well worth reading.
NM
The story of Frederic Walker is the story of a man who was charged with fighting U Boats in the north Atlantic. It is also the story of how he devised tactics to bring about immense success. In so doing, this man won no fewer than four DSO's - and no person in history was ever awarded five!
Sadly, those years of arduous and strenuous fighting in the most inhospitable of climates took their toll on this great leader of men and, having been finally promoted to Captain and awarded the CB he succumbed and died. He was later buried at sea.
Not only does this book bring to vivid life all the successes, failures, hardships and personal losses, it is exceedingly well written by one who served alongside the gallant Captain.
Well worth reading.
NM
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a serving seaman naval officer I found the descriptions of life at sea under wartime conditions fascinating. Memoirs such as this add essential flavour to the more scholarly works that cover the broad historical sweep of events concerning the Battle of the Atlantic. It's also notable that accounts such as this tend to be more frank and human than those written in the years immediately preceding the war, which tended to be more guarded in tone. An excellent read.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a vivid, true life account of Captain Walker, the famous Royal Naval U Boat hunter during the Battle of the Atlantic. As it is written by one of his crew it is not a perfectly crafted book. However, for anyone who wants a taste of what the war in the Atlantic was like or to learn about a fascinating man I would strongly recommend it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A better picture
Although "Walker RN" may give a better picture of the early life of this legend, this book gives a more detailed account of the crucial years. Read more
Published on 5 Mar 2010 by PMW
Super well written book
I read this as a young man and remembered it well.
I decided to get again, as was so long ago thought would re read. Read more
I decided to get again, as was so long ago thought would re read. Read more
Published on 13 Dec 2009 by L. Hughes
Fighting Captain
This is one of three books I own about Frederic J Walker.In order,
I would rate this behind Terence Robertson's "Walker R.N". Read more
I would rate this behind Terence Robertson's "Walker R.N". Read more
Published on 1 Sep 2008 by Hugh McPhilemy
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