What do you think?
Rate this book
Go in and Sink!
February 1943. As the balance of the war slowly shifts in Britain's favour, Lieutenant-Commander Steven Marshall brings his battle-scarred submarine into home port. Captain and crew are exhausted after fourteen months' continuous service, but for most there can be no thought of leave. If the enemy collapse in North Africa is to be exploited, every experienced man will be needed. Marshall must return to the Mediterranean, but this time to a very different kind of war. For his new command is secret and extremely hazardous - a captured German U-boat . . .
402 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 28, 1973
87 people are currently reading
329 people want to read
About the author
Douglas Reeman
138 books173 followersAKA Alexander Kent.
Douglas Edward Reeman was a British author who has written many historical fiction books on the Royal Navy, mainly set during either World War II or the Napoleonic Wars.
Reeman joined the Royal Navy in 1940, at the age of 16, and served during World War II and the Korean War. He eventually rose to the rank of lieutenant. In addition to being an author, Reeman has also taught the art of navigation for yachting and served as a technical advisor for films. Douglas married author Kimberley Jordan Reeman in 1985.
Reeman's debut novel, A Prayer for the Ship was published in 1958. His pseudonym Alexander Kent was the name of a friend and naval officer who died during the Second World War. Reeman is most famous for his series of Napoleonic naval stories, whose central character is Richard Bolitho, and, later, his nephew, Adam. He also wrote a series of novels about several generations of the Blackwood family who served in the Royal Marines from the 1850s to the 1970s, and a non-fiction account of his World War II experiences, D-Day : A Personal Reminiscence (1984).
Series:
* Blackwood Family
Douglas Edward Reeman was a British author who has written many historical fiction books on the Royal Navy, mainly set during either World War II or the Napoleonic Wars.
Reeman joined the Royal Navy in 1940, at the age of 16, and served during World War II and the Korean War. He eventually rose to the rank of lieutenant. In addition to being an author, Reeman has also taught the art of navigation for yachting and served as a technical advisor for films. Douglas married author Kimberley Jordan Reeman in 1985.
Reeman's debut novel, A Prayer for the Ship was published in 1958. His pseudonym Alexander Kent was the name of a friend and naval officer who died during the Second World War. Reeman is most famous for his series of Napoleonic naval stories, whose central character is Richard Bolitho, and, later, his nephew, Adam. He also wrote a series of novels about several generations of the Blackwood family who served in the Royal Marines from the 1850s to the 1970s, and a non-fiction account of his World War II experiences, D-Day : A Personal Reminiscence (1984).
Series:
* Blackwood Family
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
June 19, 2018
It is a truth universally acknowledged that convalescence reading should flow as smoothly past the eye and into the imagination as sunrise: no literary tricks and only the easiest classics, but more probably a good dose of your favourite guilty-pleasure genre. In my case, that would usually be military science fiction but, on this occasion, recovering from a bad bout of flu, I couldn't find the requisite book cover featuring big blokes with blasters blasting bug-eyed aliens, so I thought I'd try out the World War II equivalent. I'm glad I did. I hadn't got far into the book before I knew that I was in safe hands with Douglas Reeman. His hero was suitably heroic, with sufficient complexity to make him interesting but not so much complexity that he became demanding, the action was taut, well written and with just enough tension, the minor characters sufficiently well drawn to command passing regret when they met their end in service of the story. All in all, the perfect recuperation reading for fans of military fiction.
Want to read
November 9, 2022************************
*H.M.S. Saracen TBR
*A Prayer for the Ship TBR
*A Ship Must Die TBR
*Go In and Sink! TBR
*H.M.S. Saracen TBR
*A Prayer for the Ship TBR
*A Ship Must Die TBR
*Go In and Sink! TBR
July 1, 2014
Marshall returns from patrol exhausted and ready for some well-earned leave, along with the rest of the crew of their battle-scarred submarine.
But there’s a special job to be done, and he’s the best man for it. This time, though, he will be commanding a captured U-boat, and at the mercy of the allies as well as the enemy.
Douglas Reeman’s World War II novels are like the best black and white war movies of yesteryear – Boy’s Own adventures, but with adult emotions and multi-dimensional characters.
My Dad and I shared a collection of Reeman’s novels between us. Now he’s gone I continue to read them and add new titles as they are published. Occasionally, as in the case of ‘Go In and Sink!’ (1973) one will have lain unread for years.
Until now, that is… when once again I am reminded just why it is that Mr Reeman ‘owns’ the genre, at least from the perspective of this particular reader.
Review by Kerry Hennigan
July 2014
But there’s a special job to be done, and he’s the best man for it. This time, though, he will be commanding a captured U-boat, and at the mercy of the allies as well as the enemy.
Douglas Reeman’s World War II novels are like the best black and white war movies of yesteryear – Boy’s Own adventures, but with adult emotions and multi-dimensional characters.
My Dad and I shared a collection of Reeman’s novels between us. Now he’s gone I continue to read them and add new titles as they are published. Occasionally, as in the case of ‘Go In and Sink!’ (1973) one will have lain unread for years.
Until now, that is… when once again I am reminded just why it is that Mr Reeman ‘owns’ the genre, at least from the perspective of this particular reader.
Review by Kerry Hennigan
July 2014
May 31, 2014
US edition called "Go In and Sink", presumably colonials being too stupid to get the joke about a captured U-boat being used against its former owners.
Douglas Reeman drinking game: where does the English twit villain first end a sentence with an unnecessary "comma what?" As in "Bit bare, old girl, what?" Answer, here, is page 140. Reeman usually kills off the "comma what" character, or makes sure they're not the sort to get the girl.
Lots of plot, and loosely based on U-570. As usual, the love story is weak (weaker than normal perhaps), and Reeman has an especially nasty set of jealousies among the officers. A bit too many different missions in a single book--episodic. It doesn't really build to a climax; hard to sustain over the course of the novel. But the "comma what" guy has his moments, bad, very bad, and good.
Douglas Reeman drinking game: where does the English twit villain first end a sentence with an unnecessary "comma what?" As in "Bit bare, old girl, what?" Answer, here, is page 140. Reeman usually kills off the "comma what" character, or makes sure they're not the sort to get the girl.
Lots of plot, and loosely based on U-570. As usual, the love story is weak (weaker than normal perhaps), and Reeman has an especially nasty set of jealousies among the officers. A bit too many different missions in a single book--episodic. It doesn't really build to a climax; hard to sustain over the course of the novel. But the "comma what" guy has his moments, bad, very bad, and good.
September 16, 2012
February 1943.As the balance of the war slowly shifts in Britain’s favour, Lieutenant Commander Steven Marshall brings his battle-scarred submarine into home port. Captain and crew are exhausted after fourteen months’ continuous active service, but for most there can be no thought of leave.Marshall must return to the Mediterranean, but this time to a very different kind of war. For his new command is secret and extremely hazardous – a captured German U-boat.
January 4, 2025
This is was one of the best from Douglas Reeman!
October 13, 2020
I read this originally a long time ago. Longer than I can remember. I read it as a light read to pass some time as I remember it being good.
It's not as good as I remember (mach older know, I suppose) although I still enjoyed it. The earlier parts of the book, focussing on the Submarine and the crew are excellent. The plot gets less realistic and less interesting towards the end of the book. The "love Interest" and the harbour stack at the end are frankly pretty ridiculous, although I imagine crazy operations did indeed happen during WW2.
Reeman includes a separate section on psychological trauma and also focussed on the impact of the operations on the mental well being of the crew and especially Captain (Lt commender) and officers oft he submarine. This is one of the more interesting aspects of the book, although I would prefer (now) that more attention was placed on these stresses and the impact on the crew.
Al in all, still an entertaining light read.
It's not as good as I remember (mach older know, I suppose) although I still enjoyed it. The earlier parts of the book, focussing on the Submarine and the crew are excellent. The plot gets less realistic and less interesting towards the end of the book. The "love Interest" and the harbour stack at the end are frankly pretty ridiculous, although I imagine crazy operations did indeed happen during WW2.
Reeman includes a separate section on psychological trauma and also focussed on the impact of the operations on the mental well being of the crew and especially Captain (Lt commender) and officers oft he submarine. This is one of the more interesting aspects of the book, although I would prefer (now) that more attention was placed on these stresses and the impact on the crew.
Al in all, still an entertaining light read.
May 4, 2012
Great adventure yarn, like so many of Mr Reeman's books. He was in the British merchant navy during WW2, and puts that detailed knowledge to good use.
As usual there is the hero, a girl, a worthy enemy, animosity from his superiors and much carnage as the story plays out.
This particular story involves submarines and much subterfuge.
As usual there is the hero, a girl, a worthy enemy, animosity from his superiors and much carnage as the story plays out.
This particular story involves submarines and much subterfuge.
August 21, 2024
This is the American title. Go In and Sink in Britain. I read the paperback in the 1970s.
November 18, 2021
Într-o dimineaţă de februarie a anului 1943, la ora nouă fix, Tristram, submarin al Maiestăţii sale britanice, se strecură printre pilonii daţi cu păcură ai Fortului Blockhouse, de la Portsmouth, parâmele fiindu-i preluate de echipa de acostare ce-l aştepta la cheu.
În picioare, la partea dinainte a turelei, comandantul, locotenent-comandorul[1] Steven Marshall, supraveghea cu atenţie prinderea parâmelor de babalele[2] de pe cheu. Sub picioare, plăcile de oţel vibrau neobişnuit, parcă, asemenea căpitanului, nici navei nu-i venea să creadă că ajunse cu bine la destinaţie.
În zori, când Tristram aştepta în avanport că mareea să-i permită a pătrunde prin Haslar Creek în baza de submarine, Marshall, privind coasta ce ieşea treptat din umbră, reflectase îndelung, întrebându-se dacă avea cumva sentimentul unei împliniri. Acum, privind în jos la cei care se uitau la el de pe dană, îl încerca, mai degrabă, o undă de decepţie. Chiar proprii lui oameni, membrii echipajului, i se păreau oarecum străini, şi nu-i venea să creadă. Timp de patrusprezece luni trăiseră împreună în interiorul navei ce constituia singurul lor univers, brăzdând de la un cap la celălalt Mediterana, în fiecare zi confruntaţi cu un nou pericol.
În tot acest timp au apărut doar puţine figuri noi, morţii şi răniţii erau înlocuiţi, dar, în general, echipajul a rămas acelaşi, cel înşirat pe toată lungimea punţii submarinului în ziua când ieşise din portul Portsmouth pentru a străbate mările în căutarea inamicului.
― Totul în regulă la pupa, sir!
Marshall privi la cel care raporta, ofiţerul secund Robert Gerrard: înalt şi subţire, cu spinarea uşor curbată, consecinţă a vieţii pe Tristram, şi alte submersibile pe care servise. I se părea curios, îmbrăcat acum cu costumul bleumarin şi cu cea mai bună şapcă. Luni de zile, Marshall şi el se văzuseră reciproc îmbrăcaţi cum dădea Dumnezeu, niciodată în ţinută reglementară, ci cu vechi pantaloni de flanelă, cămăşi sport roase, şorturi şi sandale când vremea era frumoasă, impermeabile şi cizme grele când Mediterana îşi arata cealaltă faţă, niciodată prezentată pe afişele turistice.
― Îţi mulţumesc, Bob, dă ordin să se oprească motoarele principale.
În picioare, la partea dinainte a turelei, comandantul, locotenent-comandorul[1] Steven Marshall, supraveghea cu atenţie prinderea parâmelor de babalele[2] de pe cheu. Sub picioare, plăcile de oţel vibrau neobişnuit, parcă, asemenea căpitanului, nici navei nu-i venea să creadă că ajunse cu bine la destinaţie.
În zori, când Tristram aştepta în avanport că mareea să-i permită a pătrunde prin Haslar Creek în baza de submarine, Marshall, privind coasta ce ieşea treptat din umbră, reflectase îndelung, întrebându-se dacă avea cumva sentimentul unei împliniri. Acum, privind în jos la cei care se uitau la el de pe dană, îl încerca, mai degrabă, o undă de decepţie. Chiar proprii lui oameni, membrii echipajului, i se păreau oarecum străini, şi nu-i venea să creadă. Timp de patrusprezece luni trăiseră împreună în interiorul navei ce constituia singurul lor univers, brăzdând de la un cap la celălalt Mediterana, în fiecare zi confruntaţi cu un nou pericol.
În tot acest timp au apărut doar puţine figuri noi, morţii şi răniţii erau înlocuiţi, dar, în general, echipajul a rămas acelaşi, cel înşirat pe toată lungimea punţii submarinului în ziua când ieşise din portul Portsmouth pentru a străbate mările în căutarea inamicului.
― Totul în regulă la pupa, sir!
Marshall privi la cel care raporta, ofiţerul secund Robert Gerrard: înalt şi subţire, cu spinarea uşor curbată, consecinţă a vieţii pe Tristram, şi alte submersibile pe care servise. I se părea curios, îmbrăcat acum cu costumul bleumarin şi cu cea mai bună şapcă. Luni de zile, Marshall şi el se văzuseră reciproc îmbrăcaţi cum dădea Dumnezeu, niciodată în ţinută reglementară, ci cu vechi pantaloni de flanelă, cămăşi sport roase, şorturi şi sandale când vremea era frumoasă, impermeabile şi cizme grele când Mediterana îşi arata cealaltă faţă, niciodată prezentată pe afişele turistice.
― Îţi mulţumesc, Bob, dă ordin să se oprească motoarele principale.
August 23, 2022
Reeman writes excellent military fiction books. After reading his Alexander Kent books I found his WW2 books quite by accident and have enjoyed them for the most part. The protagonists are all pretty much the same but he does a great (and accurate) job of portraying the different service arms. He's done battleships, MTBs, escort carrier planes and now submarines. All appear accurate (to me) and the action is enthralling.
Spoilers ahead:
This is the first submarine warfare book in the series I've read and it comes with a twist. The Brits have captured a U-boat and they use it to destroy a German milch-cow supply sub in the Atlantic. So far so good for the first half of the book. 5 stars.
Then for the next operation, they decide to use it to destroy a floating dock in the Mediterranean theater. Also so far so good. Next is where it all falls apart.
And as usual it's the romance subplot. The protagonist Lt. Commander Marshall is tasked with first dropping off some spies to the Italian mainland and later picks them up. He falls in love with the Italian spy, Mrs Travis and later on goes against orders or even book logic to leave the boat, travel hours on land to save her. The problem as usual is that Reeman never spends any time to establish the love between them. It's like his characters meet and then fall in love immediately without any chemistry or attraction like how a 6 year old would imagine people to fall in love.
Then later on there's a long chapter on whatever they did on vacation. I don't know because I fast read and then just skipped the rest of the chapter. And then after that I lost interest in the rest of the book, at about 75%.
The point is, I came here to read military fiction, not Harlequin romance and badly written Harlequin romance at that. Enough said. The submarine portion was pretty good and it would have been 5 stars.
Spoilers ahead:
This is the first submarine warfare book in the series I've read and it comes with a twist. The Brits have captured a U-boat and they use it to destroy a German milch-cow supply sub in the Atlantic. So far so good for the first half of the book. 5 stars.
Then for the next operation, they decide to use it to destroy a floating dock in the Mediterranean theater. Also so far so good. Next is where it all falls apart.
And as usual it's the romance subplot. The protagonist Lt. Commander Marshall is tasked with first dropping off some spies to the Italian mainland and later picks them up. He falls in love with the Italian spy, Mrs Travis and later on goes against orders or even book logic to leave the boat, travel hours on land to save her. The problem as usual is that Reeman never spends any time to establish the love between them. It's like his characters meet and then fall in love immediately without any chemistry or attraction like how a 6 year old would imagine people to fall in love.
Then later on there's a long chapter on whatever they did on vacation. I don't know because I fast read and then just skipped the rest of the chapter. And then after that I lost interest in the rest of the book, at about 75%.
The point is, I came here to read military fiction, not Harlequin romance and badly written Harlequin romance at that. Enough said. The submarine portion was pretty good and it would have been 5 stars.
March 6, 2019
3.4 stars: I found this book a quick and easy read, but was let down by wooden characters and a tale that was not feasible.
With the characters I amused myself by giving the Officers and females the voices of 1940s and 50s 'B' b&w film actors and ratings the voice of Dick Van Dyke in 'Mary Poppins'.
With the story itself, I felt that the author, Douglas Reeman, was either under great pressure to get the book written, or was having a very close relationship with a bottle or two of gin/whisky. Most of the time the crew of the captured U-boat were used in preparations for Operation HUSKY, the Allied invasion of Sicily. In reality a lot of effort was spent trying to convince the Germans that the invasion would take place east of Italy; so, why why why did Douglas Reeman think it a good idea for the U-boat's crew and passengers, all prone to capture, to be briefed on the actual location and date of the operation?
I did enjoy it and it was a quick and easy read, but compared to some of the rubbish I normally read, this stretched feasibility a bit too far.
With the characters I amused myself by giving the Officers and females the voices of 1940s and 50s 'B' b&w film actors and ratings the voice of Dick Van Dyke in 'Mary Poppins'.
With the story itself, I felt that the author, Douglas Reeman, was either under great pressure to get the book written, or was having a very close relationship with a bottle or two of gin/whisky. Most of the time the crew of the captured U-boat were used in preparations for Operation HUSKY, the Allied invasion of Sicily. In reality a lot of effort was spent trying to convince the Germans that the invasion would take place east of Italy; so, why why why did Douglas Reeman think it a good idea for the U-boat's crew and passengers, all prone to capture, to be briefed on the actual location and date of the operation?
I did enjoy it and it was a quick and easy read, but compared to some of the rubbish I normally read, this stretched feasibility a bit too far.
February 21, 2024
Thrilling adventure
A thrilling submarine adventure. A captured U-boat is put into service with the Royal Nay. An action packed book with a tense storyline as the crew perform several dangerous missions with little leave and everyone your enemy. Some great characters but a few stereotypes, a Commander on the brink, the posh and entitled senior officer, the salty up from the ranks officer and the wartime romance. One of his better books a real winner. David Rintoul is the perfect narrator for these stories.
A thrilling submarine adventure. A captured U-boat is put into service with the Royal Nay. An action packed book with a tense storyline as the crew perform several dangerous missions with little leave and everyone your enemy. Some great characters but a few stereotypes, a Commander on the brink, the posh and entitled senior officer, the salty up from the ranks officer and the wartime romance. One of his better books a real winner. David Rintoul is the perfect narrator for these stories.
March 29, 2023
This for me was Douglas Reeman at his best !
Non -stop action from start to finish with unusual ,but very believable, storylines ; coupled with the subtle background stories of how our hero " Steven Marshall" relates to the other main characters made this a book I found hard to put down & left me wishing it wouldn't end .
Non -stop action from start to finish with unusual ,but very believable, storylines ; coupled with the subtle background stories of how our hero " Steven Marshall" relates to the other main characters made this a book I found hard to put down & left me wishing it wouldn't end .
February 9, 2020
Good read
A good WWII naval story.
Book could do with a good proof reading as a fair number of typos which are quite jarring. "boobed, dail" etc. Surprising considering the publisher.
A good WWII naval story.
Book could do with a good proof reading as a fair number of typos which are quite jarring. "boobed, dail" etc. Surprising considering the publisher.
June 18, 2022
Who ever proof read the book should get a dictionary
As a fan of Douglas Reeman I am disappointed that a good story is spoilt by spelling mistakes that cropped up a few times.
Douglas Reeman would not have been pleased, apart from the spelling mistakes it was a good read
As a fan of Douglas Reeman I am disappointed that a good story is spoilt by spelling mistakes that cropped up a few times.
Douglas Reeman would not have been pleased, apart from the spelling mistakes it was a good read
May 5, 2023
If you've seen the movie 'Das Boot' (The Boat) you have some idea of the conditions under which the British crew of this captured German U-Boat lived and operated. This was an interesting take on covert submarine operations during WW-II. Worth the read.
November 16, 2023
The story of a British crew in a captured German submarine. Running secret operations while at risk for attack by Allied ships and aircraft. This is the story of a stressed captain and his crew. Very exciting read. Well written
February 15, 2024
Outstanding naval action story!
Douglas Reeman is indeed a master of the genre. I've read a number of his works and they have been just getting better and better. Go in and Sink is no disappointment, with action that keepa building right to the very end.
Douglas Reeman is indeed a master of the genre. I've read a number of his works and they have been just getting better and better. Go in and Sink is no disappointment, with action that keepa building right to the very end.
December 31, 2024
Enjoyable SubTale
First time with this writer but I enjoyed the conflicts and the storyline. Very realistic action with very few slow points. I will definitely read more books by this author.
First time with this writer but I enjoyed the conflicts and the storyline. Very realistic action with very few slow points. I will definitely read more books by this author.
August 8, 2017
Another good Douglas Reeman book. The British capture a German U-boat and use it for clandestine missions.
January 11, 2019
Good Show!
I like everything Douglas Reeman has written! He makes naval action real whether it is with Bolitho or a myriad of other heroes!
I like everything Douglas Reeman has written! He makes naval action real whether it is with Bolitho or a myriad of other heroes!
May 15, 2019
A very good read
A good winding plot to the book keeps you thinking about the plot/story line going and the way marshall deals with them
A good winding plot to the book keeps you thinking about the plot/story line going and the way marshall deals with them
December 1, 2019
Good Read.
From opening this story l found it difficult to leave.I was exciting from one page to the next.You felt as !f you were you there.
From opening this story l found it difficult to leave.I was exciting from one page to the next.You felt as !f you were you there.
August 7, 2022
I really like Reeman's books when he sticks to the fighting, but this one had way too much romance.
September 10, 2022
Amazing
I read until 4 in the morning, unable to put it down. Completely engrossed and in the U-boat as part of the action. Highly recommend.
I read until 4 in the morning, unable to put it down. Completely engrossed and in the U-boat as part of the action. Highly recommend.
September 22, 2022
Atmospheric high tension daring-do’s in captured U-boat. Excellent
October 15, 2022
Great war story
Enjoyed it all, the action, the love angle, all of it. Worth your time and money for a good read.
Enjoyed it all, the action, the love angle, all of it. Worth your time and money for a good read.
July 4, 2023
Rollicking good tale!
Thoroughly enjoyed this one, with nail-biting action, sympathetic character development, and an amazing finale. Great stuff, can’t wait to open up the next - highly recommended!
Thoroughly enjoyed this one, with nail-biting action, sympathetic character development, and an amazing finale. Great stuff, can’t wait to open up the next - highly recommended!
March 27, 2024
Gritty WWII submarine novel.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews