In H.M.S. Marlborough Will Enter Harbour, an old sloop, homeward bound, is torpedoed, leaving her guns out of action, more than three-quarters of her crew dead, and radio contact impossible. But her valiant captain steadfastly refuses to surrender his ship... In Leave Cancelled, an army officer and his young wife concentrate their passionate love into twenty-four hours, knowing that it might be their last chance... And in Heavy Rescue, an old soldier, having lived on the scrap heap for more than twenty years, finds that gallantry is once again in demand when he becomes leader of a Heavy Rescue Squad...

1796: John Pearce is stuck with a difficult mission, a raw crew of Quota Men forced to enlist in the Royal Navy, four brand new midshipmen as well as Samuel Oliphant, companion cum spy, whom he finds a constant irritant. In his favour he commands HMS Hazard, a sound and speedy warship, a pair of competent officers and, of course, his trusty old friends the Pelicans.Their primary mission is to head for the Mediterranean Fleet and warn Admiral Sir John Jervis of impending danger he will face, fighting a combined French/Spanish fleet. But there is a serious distraction, the imminent arrival of a Spanish vessel from South America carrying silver, for which they Spaniards are waiting before declaring war. Stop that and they will lack the funds to truly engage as an enemy of Britannia, but it is a distraction from his main task and specific orders. Can John Pearce resist the lure of such a valuable capture and risk his ship in a dangerous battle to gain it, or will his duty come...

Three friends leave home to serve their country. Only two make it back. After the twin towers fall, Derek Mitchell enlists in the U.S. Army with two of his best friends. He dreams of helping people, whether in the field of combat or back home in Grant's Crossing, Ohio. Juan dreams of marrying his high school sweetheart and starting a family. Joey dreams of being happy and living his own truth. Together, they serve in multiple deployments until Juan and Joey are each grievously injured in separate combat missions. Thirteen years after initially enlisting, one doesn't make it back. Four months after the funeral, friends and family gather to celebrate Derek's return to civilian life. With each story shared, he relives their final missions together, carrying the guilt of having saved one friend but not the other. What do you do when the one friend you've always turned to is no longer there?No part of this book was created by...

Some secrets can't be kept. Some people can't be protected. Some brothers can't be stopped. Growing up in a small town outside St. Louis, Missouri, Steve and Nick Cook struggle to balance their own aspirations with their strict parents' desire to mold their sons into a picture-perfect and obedient family. But when Nick is outed, their parents make life worse for both. Steve promises to get his little brother somewhere he can live without fear, even if that means delaying his own dream of becoming a Marine. When fate intervenes, Steve takes Nick far from their childhood home to live with extended family. Believing he is safe, Steve finally enlists and serves multiple deployments in the Middle East. With Steve fighting for his country, Nick risks the only safety he's ever known to set out on his own. When Nick disappears, Steve vows to do...

This compendium, made from Ciaran Carson's previous collections, reveals one of the most remarkable and sustained tours de force in contemporary poetry: the poet's reimaginign of his native city of Belfast. Carson introduces the reader to a city as full of surreal narrative and imaginative possibility as Borges' Buenos Aires or Calvino's Venice; at the same time he never shirks from taking a hard look at the city in all its political and cultural complexity. In its refusal to simplify or romanticize, The Ballad of HMS Belfast is an indispensable guidebook to a city few will know exists. 'He is the master of the long line; these poems are manic, frightening and funny, and somehow manage to catch the tone of life in modern Belfast' John Banville, Irish Times 'It is about Belfast past and present and is full of surprises, savage and witty, human and extravagant. His voice is truly original, both intelligent and passionate' A....

A riveting true life account of a Royal Navy serviceman on board an aircraft carrier 14th June, 1982: The Argentine government officially surrenders to the British, ending the Falklands War. Six British ships were lost in the conflict, along with 255 British servicemen. Victory was won, but at a cost. Having emerged from his first experience of combat alive and well, we follow our author while serving on the British Navy aircraft carrier, the HMS Illustrious. The rhythms and highs of Navy life are laid bare in this fascinating insight into the everyday life of military procedure, grounded in one man's extraordinary experiences. Fans of military non-fiction must read HMS Illustrious, a gripping depiction of life in the Navy from bestselling thriller writer James Barrington, in the same mold as The Longest Kill, First Man In, and Battle Scars

In H.M.S. Marlborough Will Enter Harbour, an old sloop, homeward bound, is torpedoed, leaving her guns out of action, more than three-quarters of her crew dead, and radio contact impossible. But her valiant captain steadfastly refuses to surrender his ship. In Leave Cancelled, an army officer and his young wife concentrate their passionate love into twenty-four hours, knowing that it might be their last chance. And in Heavy Rescue, an old soldier, having lived on the scrap heap for more than twenty years, finds that gallantry is once again in demand when he becomes leader of a Heavy Rescue Squad.About the AuthorNicholas Monsarrat was born in Liverpool and educated at Cambridge University, where he studied law. His career as a solicitor encountered a swift end when he decided to leave Liverpool for London, with a half-finished manuscript under his arm and only forty pounds in his pocket.His first book to attract attention was the largely autobiographical 'This is the Schoolroom', which was concerned with the turbulent thirties, and a student at Cambridge who goes off to fight against the fascists in Spain only to discover that life itself is the real schoolroom.During World War II he joined the Royal Navy and served in corvettes. His war experiences provided the framework for the novel 'HMS Marlborough will enter Harbour', which is one of his best known books, along with 'The Cruel Sea'. The latter was made into a classic film starring Jack Hawkins. Established as a top name writer, Monsarrat's career concluded with 'The Master Mariner', a historical novel of epic proportions the final part of which was both finished (using his notes) and published posthumously.Well known for his concise story telling and tense narrative on a wide range of subjects, although nonetheless famous for those connected with the sea and war, he became one of the most successful novelists of the twentieth century, whose rich and varied collection bears the hallmarks of a truly gifted writer.The Daily Telegraph summed him up thus: 'A professional who gives us our money's worth. The entertainment value is high'.

Autumn 1803, and Britain remains under the threat of invasion. HMS Prometheus is needed to reinforce Nelson's squadron blockading the French off Toulon, but a major action has left her severely damaged and the British Fleet outnumbered. Prometheus must be brought back to fighting order without delay, and the work proves more than a simple refit.Barbary pirates, shore batteries and the powerful French Navy are conventional foes, although the men of Prometheus encounter equally dangerous enemies within their own ranks.A story that combines vivid action with sensitive character portrayal. Number eight in the Fighting Sail series.

The novel that launched the astonishing career of one of the 20th century's greatest writers of action and suspense -- an acclaimed classic of heroism and the sea in World War II. Now reissued in a new cover style. The story of men who rose to heroism, and then to something greater, HMS Ulysses takes its place alongside The Caine Mutiny and The Cruel Sea as one of the classic novels of the navy at war. It is the compelling story of Convoy FR77 to Murmansk -- a voyage that pushes men to the limits of human endurance, crippled by enemy attack and the bitter cold of the Arctic.

In this second exciting adventure of the British Navy in the American Revolution by Michael Aye, the Fighting Anthonys return to wage war against the colonials. This time Gabe is at the center of the action as he takes command for the first time. Not one to stand aside, he leads a daring cutting out expedition that ends disastrously. Separated from the crew, he is presumed dead. But his brother Gil knows better. Love, blood, and battle will unite the brothers once again-as long as the seas are running and their powder remains dry!

Sinking the battleship HMS Royal Oak in the Royal Navy’s home anchorage, with the loss of more than 800 of her crew, was Germany’s first shattering blow against Britain in the 1939-45 war. Within six weeks the long-standing German dream of breaching the defenses of Scapa Flow had been achieved. Germany claimed the sinking for the submarine U-47, commanded by Lt. Günther Prien. Prien and his crew became instant folk heroes, lauded, interviewed and exploited to extract the maximum glory from their deed. A few months later, Prien’s autobiography, Mein Weg Nach Scapa Flow, was published and sold an astonishing 750,000 copies. However, there are also Royal Oak survivors who, while accepting that their ship was torpedoed, say Prien and his crew can’t ever have seen the inside of Scapa Flow because Prien’s story is almost totally at variance with the truth. Four books and dozens of articles have been written on what is now generally accepted as one of the greatest submarine exploits of all time. Yet nobody has managed to sift fact from falsehood and reconcile the apparently irreconcilable German and British stories. The author has interviewed Royal Oak survivors, members of U-47’s 1939 crew, Lt. Prien’s widow and members of the firm which published his autobiography. His quest for the truth led through England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Orkney, Norway, West Berlin, Cologne, Freiburg and even distant Amman. He has patiently investigated every point of controversy until he was able to set down a documented, definitive account of the Royal Oak naval disaster.

The second book in the new Sir Sidney Smith Nautical Adventure SeriesSidney Smith, now “Sir Sidney,” is reunited with his friends, Lucas Walker and Susan Whitney.After surviving the horrors of the destruction of Toulon, Sir Sidney is given a critical assignment. British gold shipments are going missing. Even worse, the ships are literally disappearing in plain sight of their escorts and the vessels around them. The mystery must be solved if Britain is going to maintain its lines of credit and continue to finance the war. But to do that Sir Sidney must unravel a web of intrigue that leads all the way to the Board of Admiralty.This Fireship Press series is based on the life of Admiral Sir Sidney Smith (1764-1840)About the AuthorTOM GRUNDNER is a retired college professor who is perhaps best known as the editor behind Tom Wishon's best-selling "Search for..." series of golf books. Despite the tremendous success of those books, he describes his "first love" as writing about the 18th Century Royal Navy.Dr. Grundner is the author of The Ramage Companion, the companion book to Dudley Pope's 18-volume Ramage nautical adventure series. Among his other works, he is also the author of The Midshipman Prince and HMS Diamond, the first two books of a nautical adventure series based on the life of Sir Sidney Smith.He lives in Tucson, AZ.TOM GRUNDNER is a retired college professor who is perhaps best known as the editor behind Tom Wishon's best-selling "Search for..." series of golf books. Despite the tremendous success of those books, he describes his "first love" as writing about the 18th Century Royal Navy. Dr. Grundner is the author of The Ramage Companion, the companion book to Dudley Pope's 18-volume Ramage nautical adventure series. Among his other works, he is also the author of The Midshipman Prince and HMS Diamond, the first two books of a nautical adventure series based on the life of Sir Sidney Smith. He lives in Tucson, AZ.