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Checkfire!
Checkfire! tells the story of the USS Truxton, an old four stack destroyer converted into an amphibious transport for the Pacific Island campaigns.
Operating with newly built, more advanced destroyers, the Truxton is lightly armed with 3-inch, 50-caliber dual purpose guns, and 20-millimeter anti-aircraft guns. The only thing standing between the Truxton and certain destruction is the courage and ingenuity of her crew.
An emergent leader of this crew is lieutenant Jeremy Barron, who is struggling to conquer his own demons. Beginning with the amphibious landings in the Aleutian Islands, Barron and the resourceful Captain Trowbridge take the Truxton through the massive invasions of Kwajalein, Saipan, and Guam. As the ship's company is drawn together by mutual suffering, they evolve from a group bound only by their obligation to their navy and country into a cohesive unit, proud of their combined accomplishments.
Operating with newly built, more advanced destroyers, the Truxton is lightly armed with 3-inch, 50-caliber dual purpose guns, and 20-millimeter anti-aircraft guns. The only thing standing between the Truxton and certain destruction is the courage and ingenuity of her crew.
An emergent leader of this crew is lieutenant Jeremy Barron, who is struggling to conquer his own demons. Beginning with the amphibious landings in the Aleutian Islands, Barron and the resourceful Captain Trowbridge take the Truxton through the massive invasions of Kwajalein, Saipan, and Guam. As the ship's company is drawn together by mutual suffering, they evolve from a group bound only by their obligation to their navy and country into a cohesive unit, proud of their combined accomplishments.
411 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1992
6 people want to read
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July 28, 2023
Destroyers are the workhorses of the US Navy. During WWII they were the Navy’s speedboats and I’ve read that their engines were equivalent to those used in battleships even though they were only a fraction of a battleship’s weight. Their missions included close coastal attacks, escort duty for convoys, and screening missions for the more valuable capital warships. While a relatively small ship, destroyers were capable of operating independently for extended periods of time.
If you are curious about what life was like while serving on a Navy destroyer during this time, then research will probably lead you to William P. Mack, former WWII destroyer captain. His career culminated with the command the US Seventh Fleet and his final post was serving as the Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy. Mack’s first two books on the subject of destroyer life were unique and spot-on. Which brings us to Checkfire!, which is a tremendous step in the wrong direction.
Checkfire! is very much the typical pulp fiction war novel. Rather than realistic views of destroyer service, Mack gives his readers the impression that only a handful of officers make or break a destroyer’s success. On occasion, one of the 100+ enlisted men will make an appearance in Mack’s story to serve up some uncouth comedic color. The women of Mack’s world, though professional in their careers, appear to drop everything to satisfy their officer suitors upon first sight. And the war action is depicted without clarity or historical context with the sole intent to drive suspense.
Overall, this is a shell of a story when compared to Mack’s two earlier novels that focus on destroyer life during WWII. However, I have his fourth novel on order so we’ll see if Checkfile! is an exception or a transition to a relatively pointless style of writing.
If you are curious about what life was like while serving on a Navy destroyer during this time, then research will probably lead you to William P. Mack, former WWII destroyer captain. His career culminated with the command the US Seventh Fleet and his final post was serving as the Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy. Mack’s first two books on the subject of destroyer life were unique and spot-on. Which brings us to Checkfire!, which is a tremendous step in the wrong direction.
Checkfire! is very much the typical pulp fiction war novel. Rather than realistic views of destroyer service, Mack gives his readers the impression that only a handful of officers make or break a destroyer’s success. On occasion, one of the 100+ enlisted men will make an appearance in Mack’s story to serve up some uncouth comedic color. The women of Mack’s world, though professional in their careers, appear to drop everything to satisfy their officer suitors upon first sight. And the war action is depicted without clarity or historical context with the sole intent to drive suspense.
Overall, this is a shell of a story when compared to Mack’s two earlier novels that focus on destroyer life during WWII. However, I have his fourth novel on order so we’ll see if Checkfile! is an exception or a transition to a relatively pointless style of writing.
Displaying 1 of 1 review