Mike Carlton is een vooraanstaande Australische journalist met een levenslange passie voor marinegeschiedenis. Zijn uitgebreide carrière in de media omvatte oorlogsverslaggeving, buitenlandse berichtgeving en het presenteren van radio- en televisieprogramma's. Carlton richt zich in zijn werk op actuele gebeurtenissen, diepgaand geïnformeerd door zijn bijzondere interesse in historische onderwerpen, met name maritieme aangelegenheden. Hij brengt een schat aan ervaring en een scherp perspectief in zijn geschriften, waarmee hij lezers inzichtelijke commentaren biedt.
The narrative focuses on the harrowing experiences of the HMAS Perth crew during World War II, highlighting their youth and bravery as they faced relentless battles against Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and the Imperial Japanese Navy. The crew endured severe hardships, including a hurricane and constant bombings, leading to tragic losses during the evacuation from Crete and the ship's eventual sinking in Java. Only a fraction of the crew survived the war, with many suffering in Japanese captivity. This poignant account captures their sacrifices and the anguish of those who awaited their return.
"When the Second World War broke out in September 1939, the British asked Australia for help. With some misgivings, the Australian government sent five destroyers to beef up the British Royal Navy in the Mediterranean. HMAS Vendetta, Vampire, Voyager, Stuart and Waterhen were old ships, small with worn-out engines. Their crews used to joke they were held together by string and chewing gum; when the Nazi propaganda minister Josef Goebbels heard of them, he sneered that they were a load of scrap iron. Yet by the middle of 1940, these destroyers were valiantly escorting troop and supply convoys, successfully hunting for submarines and indefatigably bombarding enemy coasts. Sometimes the weather could be their worst enemy -- from filthy sandstorms blowing off Africa to icy gales from Europe that whipped up mountainous seas and froze the guns. Conditions on board were terrible -- no showers or proper washing facilities; cramped and stinking sleeping quarters; unpleasant meals of spam and tinned sausages, often served cold in a howling squall. And always the bombing, the bombing. And the fear of submarines. When Nazi Germany invaded Greece, the Allied armies -- including Australian Divisions -- reeled in retreat. The Australian ships were among those who had to rescue thousands of soldiers. Then came the Siege of Tobruk -- Australian troops holding out in that small Libyan port city. The Australian destroyers ran 'the Tobruk Ferry' -- bringing supplies of food, medicine and ammunition into the shattered port by night, and taking off wounded soldiers. But the four destroyers now left were struggling, suffering from constant engine breakdowns, with crews beleaguered by two years of bombings, wild seas and the endless fear of being sunk. In late 1941 the ships were finally sent home, staggering back to Australia, proudly calling themselves the Scrap Iron Flotilla in defiance of the Goebbels' sneer. That flotilla is now an immortal part of Australian naval legend, and this is its story"--Publisher's description
Born into a life of controversy, Mike Carlton navigated a challenging childhood in Sydney after his father's scandalous marriage and early death. Leaving school at 16, he embarked on a remarkable journalism career spanning over 50 years, becoming a prominent war correspondent, political reporter, and award-winning broadcaster. His journey is filled with feuds, friendships, and memorable characters, all recounted with his signature humor. Ultimately, he fulfilled a dream by authoring bestselling books on Australian naval history, sharing an unfiltered account of his extraordinary life.
Submariners are a special breed. Not for them a life on the ocean wave, the fresh air and sunshine of other naval sailors. With stealth and daring they go deep and dark, alone and unseen, in often dangerous waters. They sometimes call themselves the Silent Service, with good reason.Australian submariners have done extraordinary deeds in the First and Second World Wars and, more recently, the Cold War. In April 1915 the Australian submarine AE2 penetrated the Dardanelles Strait to ' run amuck' , a historic feat that was a turning point in the Gallipoli campaign. Eventually captured, her crew spent three harrowing years as prisoners-of-war in Turkey.In the Second World War Australian naval volunteers made their name serving in midget submarines, attacking Hitler' s mightiest battleship, the Tirpitz, in the icy waters of a Norwegian fjord. Later, they fought the Japanese in the South China Sea.And in the last half of the twentieth century, RAN submarines played a vital role tracking the Soviet navy in the Pacific Ocean. One wrong move could have led to outright war. The risks they ran, the perils they met and the intelligence they gathered are still classified Top Secret.
Set against the backdrop of World War II, the narrative follows the HMAS Australia II, a cruiser that played a crucial role in key naval battles. After patrolling for German battleships, the ship returned home to a shocking murder of a sailor, leading to a swift trial and execution of the culprits. Australia II participated in the pivotal Battle of the Coral Sea and the historic Battle of Leyte Gulf, aiding in General Douglas MacArthur's return to the Philippines. Ultimately, she faced relentless kamikaze attacks before retiring in 1956, honored yet scrapped as the last of her name.
