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Sixth Battle
This is a scorching high-tech military thriller.
- GenresMilitary Fiction
Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
About the author
Barrett Tillman
121 books66 followersBorn a fourth-generation Oregonian, descended from American pioneers, Revolutionary War Patriots, Pilgrims (e.g. Priscilla Alden) and Pocahontas, Tillman was raised on the family wheat and cattle ranch. His younger brothers include a breeder of exotic animals and a Rhodes Scholar. In high school he was an Eagle Scout[citation needed], won two state titles as a rudimental drummer, and was a champion speaker and debater. Tillman was first published in 1964 at age 15 and graduated from the University of Oregon in 1971 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
Like his father, a Navy trained pilot in World War II, Tillman developed an early passion for aviation and learned to fly at age 16. Over the next several years he flew a variety of vintage and historic aircraft, including a pre-WW II Navy trainer and a restored dive-bomber. The latter became the subject of his first book, The Dauntless Dive Bomber of World War II, published in 1976. It established the format for many subsequent books, operational histories of U.S. Navy aircraft.
After college Tillman worked as a freelance writer until 1982 when he founded Champlin Fighter Museum Press in Mesa, Arizona, publishing out-of-print and new titles on military aviation.
In 1986 he moved to San Diego to become managing editor of The Hook, quarterly journal of the Tailhook Association. He remained in that position for three years before deciding to focus full time to writing fiction. His first novel was published in June 1990. Warriors[1] depicted a Mideast air war and became an immediate best seller when Iraq invaded Kuwait two months later.
Tillman's next two novels appeared in 1992: The Sixth Battle, (written with his brother John) which captured a wide following among computer war gamers; and Dauntless, intended as the first in a trilogy. It was followed by Hellcats, nominated as military novel of the year in 1996. He has also published original fiction in the Stephen Coonts anthologies, Combat and Victory.
Tillman remains active as a magazine writer. He is a regular contributor to The Hook, Flight Journal, and several firearms publications. He has also reported from Africa for Soldier of Fortune magazine.
Tillman is a former executive secretary of the American Fighter Aces Association.[2]
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrett_...
Like his father, a Navy trained pilot in World War II, Tillman developed an early passion for aviation and learned to fly at age 16. Over the next several years he flew a variety of vintage and historic aircraft, including a pre-WW II Navy trainer and a restored dive-bomber. The latter became the subject of his first book, The Dauntless Dive Bomber of World War II, published in 1976. It established the format for many subsequent books, operational histories of U.S. Navy aircraft.
After college Tillman worked as a freelance writer until 1982 when he founded Champlin Fighter Museum Press in Mesa, Arizona, publishing out-of-print and new titles on military aviation.
In 1986 he moved to San Diego to become managing editor of The Hook, quarterly journal of the Tailhook Association. He remained in that position for three years before deciding to focus full time to writing fiction. His first novel was published in June 1990. Warriors[1] depicted a Mideast air war and became an immediate best seller when Iraq invaded Kuwait two months later.
Tillman's next two novels appeared in 1992: The Sixth Battle, (written with his brother John) which captured a wide following among computer war gamers; and Dauntless, intended as the first in a trilogy. It was followed by Hellcats, nominated as military novel of the year in 1996. He has also published original fiction in the Stephen Coonts anthologies, Combat and Victory.
Tillman remains active as a magazine writer. He is a regular contributor to The Hook, Flight Journal, and several firearms publications. He has also reported from Africa for Soldier of Fortune magazine.
Tillman is a former executive secretary of the American Fighter Aces Association.[2]
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrett_...
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 25, 2025
War explodes on the African continent and South Africa is hit hard from its neighboring countries, assisted by troops from other communist states. The Indian Ocean becomes a new battlescene where carriers fight it out. Reason why the book is titled this way, refering to earlier carrier vs. carrier battles.
The story starts slowly, but once the scene is set lots is going on. My preference goes to the sea and air parts. It shows that this is where the author is on familiar ground and really knows what he wants to portray. I found the land war parts sometimes hard to follow completely and less compelling, but the end part is done better.
Overall I enjoyed reading this book (again) after many years.
The story starts slowly, but once the scene is set lots is going on. My preference goes to the sea and air parts. It shows that this is where the author is on familiar ground and really knows what he wants to portray. I found the land war parts sometimes hard to follow completely and less compelling, but the end part is done better.
Overall I enjoyed reading this book (again) after many years.
December 11, 2020
As you will find very early in the book (spoiler alert), the Americans fighting this battle have somewhat arbitrarily decided that there have been exactly five previous aircraft carrier to carrier battles. These all occurred in the 1939 to 1945 World War. The British and their Commonwealth allies would call this the Second World War, the Americans would call this WWII. This book, The Sixth Battle occurs, I believe, in 1992 using then current or nearly current technology.
This sets the stage for one of the most exciting books I have ever read. The plot centres around Russia with its post iron curtain allies trying to help the ANC and front line states to settle with South Africa and become a Russian satellite. The USA does not want to turn this strategically important area or its important rare ores and minerals to Russia and hopes to leverage South Africa into universal suffrage, but has no commitment. The threads of the plot are as well fleshed out as Clancy although the characters might sometimes be a little thinner. However, the battle scenes go on for pages and they are just heart pounding. Planes go up and come flaming down. Ships get sunk never having seen their opponent. Some weapons work well, some weapons not so well; on both sides. Some defensive elements work well, and some not so well; on both sides. Some admirals work well, and some not so well; also on both sides. The action is non-stop
In some ways this book is reminiscent of Dale Brown with its focus on state of the art weapons and technology. However, this book focuses much more on action scenes and less on politics, much more on people keen to do things and less on people who have to be pushed to do things. There is a full range of people doing interesting things related to the story. Sometimes these things are very detailed related to how they arm a weapon, fire a catapult, reload a missile suite or crawl unseen across a field to silently take out a sentry and launch a raid to arm a battalion of Zulus with automatic weapons.
All in all this was a great read. Five out of five. It appears to be hard to get this book; it is not an ebook and not many vendors have it. You might have to go onto the secondary market. It is worth the trouble.
This sets the stage for one of the most exciting books I have ever read. The plot centres around Russia with its post iron curtain allies trying to help the ANC and front line states to settle with South Africa and become a Russian satellite. The USA does not want to turn this strategically important area or its important rare ores and minerals to Russia and hopes to leverage South Africa into universal suffrage, but has no commitment. The threads of the plot are as well fleshed out as Clancy although the characters might sometimes be a little thinner. However, the battle scenes go on for pages and they are just heart pounding. Planes go up and come flaming down. Ships get sunk never having seen their opponent. Some weapons work well, some weapons not so well; on both sides. Some defensive elements work well, and some not so well; on both sides. Some admirals work well, and some not so well; also on both sides. The action is non-stop
In some ways this book is reminiscent of Dale Brown with its focus on state of the art weapons and technology. However, this book focuses much more on action scenes and less on politics, much more on people keen to do things and less on people who have to be pushed to do things. There is a full range of people doing interesting things related to the story. Sometimes these things are very detailed related to how they arm a weapon, fire a catapult, reload a missile suite or crawl unseen across a field to silently take out a sentry and launch a raid to arm a battalion of Zulus with automatic weapons.
All in all this was a great read. Five out of five. It appears to be hard to get this book; it is not an ebook and not many vendors have it. You might have to go onto the secondary market. It is worth the trouble.
October 23, 2012
Today in the geo-political world, this book is dated. However, if you are interested in wanting to read a good fictional story about naval warfare and the technology, strategy, and scenarios associated with any nation having to deal with the US Navy pre-eminance on the high seas, this book hits the nail squarely on the head.
In addition, I found the characterization and action surrounding the South African land campaign (again, though outdated in terms of current geo-political realities) well done from a fictional, techno-thriller standpoint.
But the true strength and weight of this novel is, as many reviewers have mentioned, in the naval warfare arena. Though geo-political realities have changed from the scenario presented here, most other nations that would serve as potential agressors to the US Navy on the high seas today are still grappling with the exact same issues presented in this tale. How do you nullify or take out a US carrier strike group? What would it take in terms of air powerr, submarines, surface combatants, etc.? This book covers in riveting detail the type of conventional weaponry and attack profiles that would have to be employed and defended against today just as they would have had to been employed 14 years ago...and that is because it is the same hard nut to crack.
As to the one reviewer's comments about this being some kind of fluff fest and self congratulatory piece for the US Navy, I do not believe that reviewer really understands the typical US Navy veteran mind set. Without giving away too much of the plot or providing any spoilers...for the US Navy to suffer the kind of losses it does in Tillman's novel is in itself ample testimony to the contrary of such assertians.
Anyhow, I would recommend this book to absolutely anyone interested in modern battle and strike at sea concepts, and for anyone wanting a good military techno-thriller read.
In addition, I found the characterization and action surrounding the South African land campaign (again, though outdated in terms of current geo-political realities) well done from a fictional, techno-thriller standpoint.
But the true strength and weight of this novel is, as many reviewers have mentioned, in the naval warfare arena. Though geo-political realities have changed from the scenario presented here, most other nations that would serve as potential agressors to the US Navy on the high seas today are still grappling with the exact same issues presented in this tale. How do you nullify or take out a US carrier strike group? What would it take in terms of air powerr, submarines, surface combatants, etc.? This book covers in riveting detail the type of conventional weaponry and attack profiles that would have to be employed and defended against today just as they would have had to been employed 14 years ago...and that is because it is the same hard nut to crack.
As to the one reviewer's comments about this being some kind of fluff fest and self congratulatory piece for the US Navy, I do not believe that reviewer really understands the typical US Navy veteran mind set. Without giving away too much of the plot or providing any spoilers...for the US Navy to suffer the kind of losses it does in Tillman's novel is in itself ample testimony to the contrary of such assertians.
Anyhow, I would recommend this book to absolutely anyone interested in modern battle and strike at sea concepts, and for anyone wanting a good military techno-thriller read.
May 1, 2012
The Sixth Battle reads more like a technical manual on a modern carrier engagement than a novel. Barrett Tillman is off to a good start with detail, but lacks the gripping narrative other techno-thrillers have.
For starters the characters were very, very flat. With only a few chances to get to know them I found myself not really caring as plane after plane went down. And, much of the action happens off page, with characters giving reports on the casualties and what went down.
The novel does do a good job of showcase both Soviet and American systems. How they work, countermeasures, tactics to deploy and defeat them. Like I said it's a thick manual.
For starters the characters were very, very flat. With only a few chances to get to know them I found myself not really caring as plane after plane went down. And, much of the action happens off page, with characters giving reports on the casualties and what went down.
The novel does do a good job of showcase both Soviet and American systems. How they work, countermeasures, tactics to deploy and defeat them. Like I said it's a thick manual.
August 20, 2013
It's been a long time since I read a Cold War style techno thriller and this didn't disappoint. The back story was a little flimsy but when the flying and shooting started, I couldn't put it down!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews