I just started this book last night and I have to say, it's a page turner. The author did a fantastic job of illustrating the immense pride held by the crews of destroyers and destroyer escorts as well as the heavy reliance upon DEs to fill the gaps as screening vessels. Thus far the book is well written and I found it to be very informative.

If you haven't already and would like to learn a little more naval history, I would recommend this work.

Best Wishes
Steve

Steven, the book gets even better. I think I posted on it a while back. If anything the author gets more wrapped up with the bravery of the sailors as he goes along, and by the end of the book he's absolutely riveting. One thing I'm impressed with is he was pretty fair in treating the Japanese admiral, Kurita. Many historians, or at least American ones, really criticize the guy but this book's author shows how he wasn't such a fool.

This is one of the best histories of any kind, and especially naval histories, I've read in a while. I also highly recommend it not just to people interested in naval matters, but anybody who respects bravery under incredible odds.

Yup, a great one -- I had hard time putting it down.

John

John,

How do you like Castles of Steel? I've been side tracked with Last Stand.

Steve:

Castles of Steel is great writing & history.

I wish there had been maps of the major engagements & maybe a table or two listing the ships involved.

Not being a WW1 naval guy, I can handle land & air quite well, I also need a ship reference so I can visualise/understand what is being talked about.

Following just by text alone is rough -- an all too prevalent problem with too many current history books where I suppose the budget won't allow for many maps, pictures, etc.

John

John,

I agree that it would be nice to have a reference to the ships handy. I find the terminology at times a bit confusing, though I feel I am coming to grips with some of it slowly but surely.

Thanks for the mini-review, I think I'll get it started after I finish this one. I've read enough submarine works to keep me inspired for "triple D", now I should begin the slow perculation for the Dreadnaughts and Carrier Campaigns.

Take care
Steve

I mainly an armor/infantry/aviation type reader and I still found this book to be one of the best reads in a long time.
Eric