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Sink the Haguro! The Last Destroyer Action of the Second World War
Sink the Haguro!: Last Destroyer Action of the Second World War
182 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1981
279 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
John Winton
57 books12 followersA former officer in the Royal Navy, John Pratt was the author of a variety of fiction and non-fiction works published under the pen name John Winton. Pratt also served for 14 years as an obituarist for The Daily Telegraph.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 14, 2022
More Than The Title Suggests
It starts with the attack on the Haguro and then moves to a short history of the Navy's a activities in the Far East before returning to the Haguro action.
A well written and informative account of the action and a short a count of its aftermath.
Well worth reading.
It starts with the attack on the Haguro and then moves to a short history of the Navy's a activities in the Far East before returning to the Haguro action.
A well written and informative account of the action and a short a count of its aftermath.
Well worth reading.
March 30, 2022
When I selected this book to read from Kindle Unlimited, I thought it would be about a specific ship hunt. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it also encompassed a nice little overview of the British Pacific fleet actions in late 1944-45. This is an area that has never been well documented as British efforts in the Pacific from 1942-44 were a pinprick compared to what the US Navy did in the Pacific. Also, this book talks about British operations mainly in 1945 when the Indian Ocean and Singapore area were now a Pacific "backwater" in the overall theatre. In this context, the writing illustrated how poorly the Royal Navy were trained and operationally-led for Pacific actions vs the Atlantic. Whether it was search planes never finding anything, mechanical failures on ships, poor intelligence, aircraft "accidents" and poor operational command, this ship - the Haguro - lived a charm life for as long as it was allowed to float! Its also an interesting look at what Japanese air and naval resistance had declined to by this time in the war.
January 30, 2022
A great read about one of the last destroyer actions by the British navy in the pacific during WW2. The story also told of the British navy’s action in the Pacific during the war. A truly inspirational read! The heroism shown by the the sailors manning these small destroyers against a much larger foe was heroic.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 19, 2022
Battle in the East
Detailed account of the sinking of a Japanese cruiser in 1945. Lots of names. I didn’t realise the vast number of mistakes that were made.
Also that the Japanese often refused to be rescued.
Brings home the brutality of war, when men delight in killing each other.
Great store set on medals. Worth reading if you’re interested in war.
Detailed account of the sinking of a Japanese cruiser in 1945. Lots of names. I didn’t realise the vast number of mistakes that were made.
Also that the Japanese often refused to be rescued.
Brings home the brutality of war, when men delight in killing each other.
Great store set on medals. Worth reading if you’re interested in war.
February 2, 2022
The British in WW2 Pacific
This volume is an illuminating overview by one who was there. A fine testimony of the undauted seaman who endured every sacrifice which rightly ended in Victory over a incredibly wise and ruthless foe by the Brits.
This volume is an illuminating overview by one who was there. A fine testimony of the undauted seaman who endured every sacrifice which rightly ended in Victory over a incredibly wise and ruthless foe by the Brits.
February 28, 2022
Great Story
It was so Inter eating to read about the British navy in the Pacific area towards the end of the war. What a great job they did of sinking such a large ship with destroyers.
It was so Inter eating to read about the British navy in the Pacific area towards the end of the war. What a great job they did of sinking such a large ship with destroyers.
April 27, 2022
Needed for the serious study of WW2
This gives a good sense of the British naval war in the Pacific and Indian ocean areas. The US was the big bad who defeated the Japanese navy, but the British are in there and proud for what they did.
This gives a good sense of the British naval war in the Pacific and Indian ocean areas. The US was the big bad who defeated the Japanese navy, but the British are in there and proud for what they did.
July 4, 2022
A new part of WWII for me
Very nicely written history of the end of Japanese occupation in the Indian Ocean. This book tells the story of a part of WWII that I was not familiar with.
Very nicely written history of the end of Japanese occupation in the Indian Ocean. This book tells the story of a part of WWII that I was not familiar with.
January 23, 2022
A good gread
A very good read with clearly distinctive references throughout. Good to get a first hand view of matters. Well written.
A very good read with clearly distinctive references throughout. Good to get a first hand view of matters. Well written.
March 4, 2022
Interesting and informative
I will admit to skimming they the later part as it was very will researched and detailed, but became a bit boring with little actual naval action.
I will admit to skimming they the later part as it was very will researched and detailed, but became a bit boring with little actual naval action.
April 21, 2022
A great story
Well written and worth reading. A good fleet action in the face of strong opposition. We forget how dire the allies situation was .
Well written and worth reading. A good fleet action in the face of strong opposition. We forget how dire the allies situation was .
December 3, 2018
This is a short book (165 pages) about a strategically insignificant combat in the Indian Ocean near the end of the Second World War. It is well-written, though, and the author brings the story to life very well. I enjoyed learning more about marine operations in that theatre than I had before.
Some of the personnel in the book, especially the Destroyer flotilla commander, who had the glorious name of Manley Power (really!) had amazing careers. Power was involved in the attack on Taranto, the battle of Cape Matapan, the sinking of the Scharnhorst, D-Day, and operations in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. His life could form the basis for a series of novels like those based on 19th century naval commanders.
Some of the personnel in the book, especially the Destroyer flotilla commander, who had the glorious name of Manley Power (really!) had amazing careers. Power was involved in the attack on Taranto, the battle of Cape Matapan, the sinking of the Scharnhorst, D-Day, and operations in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. His life could form the basis for a series of novels like those based on 19th century naval commanders.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews