Winged Escort (The Modern Naval Fiction Library)

As the grim years of the Second World War go by, the destruction of Allied shipping mounts. Out of the terrible loss of men and ships, the escort carrier is born. They were typically half the length and a third the displacement of larger fleet carriers. While they were slower, carried fewer planes, and were less well armed and armored, escort carriers were cheaper and could be built quickly, which was their principal advantage. At twenty-six, fighter pilot Tim Rowan, RNVR, is already a veteran of many campaigns. Now he joins the new, American-made escort (or "jeep") carrier HMS Growler, the flagship of a task force protecting Allied convoys sailing the Arctic route to supply Soviet Russia. The service in the Arctic is harrowing, and not all of Rowan's adversaries are German. In late 1944, Growler is transferred to the Indian Ocean and faces the Kamikaze, experiencing vicious onslaughts.

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July 1943.As the grim years of the Second World war go by, the destruction of Allied shipping mounts. Out of the terrible loss of men and ships, the escort carrier is born.

At twenty-six, fighter pilot Tim Rowan, RNVR, is already a veteran of many campaigns. Now he joins the escort carrier, Growler, a posting which takes him first to the bitter waters of the Arctic and all the misery of convoy duty to Murmansk, and then south to the Indian Ocean and the strange new terror of the Japanese Kamikaze.



--This text refers to an alternate kindleedition edition. FROM LIBRARY JOURNAL
In the summer of 1943, Tim Rowan, a fighter pilot in the RNVR, is assigned to the new, American-made escort (or "jeep") carrier HMS Growler, the flagship of a task force protecting Allied convoys sailing the Arctic route to supply Soviet Russia. The service in the Arctic is harrowing, and not all of Rowan's adversaries are German. In late 1944, Growler is transferred to the Indian Ocean and faces the Kamikaze, barely surviving a vicious onslaught. Reeman, who served in the Royal Navy during World War II, not only writes a tale full of action, excitement, and some remarkable characters, he also presents a story filled with details only someone who has been there could relate. David Rintoul's sonorous voice is seemingly dispassionate when reading the narrative; for the most part, he is even-paced, not unlike a calm sea. He reads battle scenes with great energy and fervor but always clearly and under control. Public libraries with a clientele for action should purchase.
Michael T. Fein, Central Virginia Community Coll., Lynchburg
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate kindleedition edition. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Douglas Reeman served in the Royal Navy in the Atlantic and Mediterranean campaigns during World War Two. He has written 37 novels under his own name as well as 28 novels featuring Richard and Adam Bolitho under the pseudonym Alexander Kent. --This text refers to an alternate kindleedition edition. FROM AUDIOFILE
It's mid-1943, and the outcome of WWII is clearly in doubt. Battle convoys are formed to protect Allied merchant ships, which are being sunk at an alarming rate. The backbone of these convoys is composed of tiny escort carriers with their complement of Seafire fighter planes and Swordfish torpedo bombers. WINGED ESCORT tells the gruesome story of the brave Swordfish crews who steer their lumbering bi-wing bombers into withering enemy fire to line up a torpedo shot. Reader David Rintoul adds so much to this story. His dynamic descriptions of air combat are filled with the power of gallant deeds and the raw emotion of human fear and suffering. Likewise, dialogue during day-to-day sea duty is always true to life and straightforward. Rintoul brings Reeman's words to life and confronts listeners with the tragedy of war. T.J.M. AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an alternate kindleedition edition. REVIEW
"Reeman, who served in the Royal Navy during World War II, not only writes a tale full of action, excitement, and some remarkable characters, he also presents a story filled with details only someone who has been there could relate." --Library Journal --This text refers to an alternate kindleedition edition. Read more Continue reading Read less