"What is your favorite WW2 naval novel?" Topic

Run Silent, Run Deep. The Cruel Sea. Very, very hard to choose.

Cruel sea.

Drawing a longer bow, Robert Harris's 'Enigma'

Anything by Dudley Pope who wrote the "Ramage" series of books, mostly because all of the heroes' exploits are based on actual naval events. 'Ramages Diamond' was the one I liked best

For naval belly laugh try "We Joined the Navy" by John Winton, another naval historian. OK, it's set in the 50's, but it, and the following books are very funny.

Connard Sage wrote:

'Snorkers' is Brit slang for sausages, but I've never heard it used widely.

Then probably you've never eaten babies' heads or egg on a raft, nor called your eating irons "yaffling spanners".

All the best,

John.

I'd vote for "Das Boot", (if you're willing to allow it as fiction).

"Connard Sage wrote:

'Snorkers' is Brit slang for sausages, but I've never heard it used widely.

Then probably you've never eaten babies' heads or egg on a raft, nor called your eating irons "yaffling spanners".

All the best,

John."

Or "sharks on a raft" (sardines on toast), or "egg banjoes" (fried egg sandwich, called a "banjo", perhaps, after the action of your hands as the yolk seeps out and down your front) or, my favourite, in a sense, "sh-t on toast" (devilled kidneys on toast).

Have always enjoyed a Douglas Reeman book and yes, they may be a little samey and predictable, but I like a simple read with novels.

I just get away with Patrick O'Brien though.

hussarbob1746.webs.com

Most, if not all of Brian Callison's serious maritime fiction.
I'm glad that nobody has mentioned Phillip McCutcheon…… It'll save me from an uncontrollable rage.

Legion of the Damned by Sven Hassel. Still have a hard copy version.

My grandfather keeps telling me to find a and read a book (ficton) about a German Naval officer who is attached to the Italians in the War. From what I can gather the main gist of the story is that this German fellow is usually dismayed with the Italains for having good ships but not the willingness to use them effectivly.

I know niether the title or the author but if someone does then please let us know!

H.M.S."Marlborough" Will Enter Harbour

Legion of the Damned by Sven Hassel. Still have a hard copy version.

It's been over 30 years since I read that, so my memory may be playing tricks, but I don't remember any ships in it.

If you want a good read:

C S Forester
" The Ship" fictional story of the light cruiser HMS Artemis on the malta convoy – published in 1943
"Brown on Resolution" A stranded sailor takes on a German cruiser on a remote island
"The African Queen " If you liked the movie you will love the book

Alternate History can also be a good read

John Birmingham "Axis of Time " Trilogy – " Weapons of Choice", "Designated Targets", "Final Impact"
a modern Western Task force c 2012 with ships from the USN, RN, RAN, IJN, etc are caught up in a time vortex and end up back in 1942 where they join the allies. Once you accept the premise it is actually good reading with the fictional characters encountering many historical personages. I enjoyed it.

There are also Pacific War novels written by Harry Turtledove,( Pearl Harbor) and the Forstchen/Gingrich pair ( Pearl Harbor and 1945)

Finally although it deals wirh the modern USN anything by David Poer is good.

1) HMS Ulysses
2) Cruel Sea
3) Brown on Resolution

Minority opinion: I have started and stopped "The Ship" multiple times despite being a big Forester fan. I tracked it down because people kept recommending it here. It's NOT a good read IMO; more like well researched WW2 propaganda.

Somebody else here mentioned THE RUBY IN HER NAVEL which, being set in 12th Century Palermo, probably won't qualify for a WW2 naval novel, but I bought it anyway because it was written by Barry Unsworth of LOSING NELSON fame. I'll bet that turns out to be the better suggestion!

Thomas Fleming's "time and tide" is set on a US heavy cruiser in the Pacific. It tells the tale of the ship and its crew, mixing naval action and a well balanced psychological side, with really well cast characters. Of course, to keep the book interesting, half the extraordinary things that occured to US cruisers happen to it, starting with the Chicago at Savo, and ending with teh Indianapolis return journey from delivering the Bomb to Tinian. But hey, that's fiction! ;)

I would add my vote for "The Cruel Sea".

Yes, much of Reeman's later work is very formulaic but would suggest "A prayer for the Ship", about MTBs operating in the eastern English Channel, as one of his best.

No-one has yet suggested Alexander Fullerton's Everard series. Like many authors his later books fall off in quality. His WWI books are the best but "Storm Force to Narvik" is worth a read for early WW2.

If this is a poll, please include an option for 'I can't read.'

Anybody here ever read any Brian Callsion: THE JUDAS SHIP, RED CAP, A FLOCK OF SHIPS etc… Wondering whether it's worth a try?

Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes.
Pontiud, I read "Westbound, Warbound" in Fullerton's series. It was e. See my review on Amazon (British), under the name of Tyson.