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J. E. Macdonnell 1: Stand by To Ram!: A World War II Naval Adventure
Scimitar—a new ship with a green crew—was already at 25 knots and in the ridged sea she could take no more. Her nose was pointing straight at the Jap cruiser’s bridge. Snelling’s eye caught the flicker of tumbling numbers on the range-repeat dial. Five thousand yards. God, why hadn’t the Jap opened fire? Five thousand yards! He couldn’t miss. And then the Japanese cruiser opened up, and a storm of high-explosive burst all about them.
Then the captain looked at his first mate, and the first mate would never forget the sight of his captain for as long as he lived. With his left hand clutched round his throat, red as though he had hauled it, dripping, from a tin of red paint, he bent over the voice-pipe and ordered, “Full ahead together.” Then he turned to them and spoke as if he tasted every word.
“Stand-by to ram!”
Watch for J E Macdonnell's novels of naval warfare, coming every month!
Then the captain looked at his first mate, and the first mate would never forget the sight of his captain for as long as he lived. With his left hand clutched round his throat, red as though he had hauled it, dripping, from a tin of red paint, he bent over the voice-pipe and ordered, “Full ahead together.” Then he turned to them and spoke as if he tasted every word.
“Stand-by to ram!”
Watch for J E Macdonnell's novels of naval warfare, coming every month!
193 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 2, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
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July 5, 2023Commander Bruce Sainsbury, Austrailian Navy, is given command of the brand-new destroyer "Scimitar" during World War II. This short, fast-paced novel follows the ship throught its shakedown and training, then follows along during its first few combat missions.
Macdonnell, a Navy vet, knows his stuff and gives us a well-written, exciting and realistic tale of the war at sea. The "Scimitar's" missions include towing a damaged merchant ship back to port, performing a night-time rescue of British troops off a Japanese-held island, a surprise attack on enemy warships while they are at anchor and, in the finale, an encounter with a larger Japanese ship. It's here that the title of the novel becomes relevant.
This is the first of several books featuring Sainsbury and his destroyer. I'm looking forward to reading the others.
Macdonnell, a Navy vet, knows his stuff and gives us a well-written, exciting and realistic tale of the war at sea. The "Scimitar's" missions include towing a damaged merchant ship back to port, performing a night-time rescue of British troops off a Japanese-held island, a surprise attack on enemy warships while they are at anchor and, in the finale, an encounter with a larger Japanese ship. It's here that the title of the novel becomes relevant.
This is the first of several books featuring Sainsbury and his destroyer. I'm looking forward to reading the others.
August 19, 2025
Good Sainsbury story with the new destroyer Scimitar
An interesting novel of war for a new ship and crew including their working up period. For purists, the story line is disconcerting as Sainsbury appears to have learned almost nothing of submarine hunting in the Atlantic despite other Sainsbury novels. Still interesting overall for nautical readers.
An interesting novel of war for a new ship and crew including their working up period. For purists, the story line is disconcerting as Sainsbury appears to have learned almost nothing of submarine hunting in the Atlantic despite other Sainsbury novels. Still interesting overall for nautical readers.
June 20, 2024
A brand-new Australian destroyer during World War II fits out and goes into action. The real story here is the tension between the CO and the XO (number one). There is plenty of action, but there is also a good look at leadership. Excellent book.
February 19, 2023
Great sea story
Authentic war at sea tale - just found all the lead characters and the ship all have very similar names all starting with 's'. Still a very credible WW2 story
Authentic war at sea tale - just found all the lead characters and the ship all have very similar names all starting with 's'. Still a very credible WW2 story
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews