Convoy!: Drama in Arctic Waters

The Allied convoys that supplied war materials to Russia in World War II faced not only German U-boats, surface ships and aircraft but also the fearsome Arctic Ocean weather. Whatever the dangers to be faced, Churchill and Roosevelt had vowed to support their Russian ally so the convoys sailed...sometimes into disaster. Noted naval historian Paul Kemp chronicles the voyages and combats endured by the Allied merchant marine and Naval crews in this book from Castle Books. The Arctic convoys story has been told many times but Kemp's book benefits from use of wartime reports and first-person narratives. Each convoy is comprehensively described as are the background events and political underpinnings of the whole convoy effort. In discussing the mistakes made, coverage seems evenhanded, brickbats being thrown where deserved. Though somewhat dated, Kemp's book is a good read, both insightful and exciting. ****** The book, a straight reprint of a 1993 Arms and Armour Press book, was obviously done in the pre-spellchecker days. Small typos run throughout the book.

Paul Kemp's classic of the sometimes forgotten Arctic Convoys during WW2 is still good reading after so many years.He goes into detail about each convoy including their route of travel, their stops along the way and the dogged German resistance they encountered.A full chapter is devoted to the often touchy subject that the Arctic Convoy system is now infamous for, that of the PQ17 debacle and the recriminations that still exist today. Many blame high command for the famous scatter order, but as we know the message was misread and the results are tragic. All the while the nation receiving this aid, the USSR, did nothing to help or assist in any way what so ever. In my opinion a very selfish and ungrateful act.Photos are provided and are well discribed.