We follow the ship’s crew in encountering the enemy, weathering storms, and conducting the routine daily work at sea. I particularly appreciated one scene where fatigue was overtaking the crew after days of intense watches, maintaining constant vigilance in the face of exhaustion, and contending with the threat of torpedoes that could come with little warning. The commander serves as a friend and role model. As a newbie, Lockhart is thrown into the maelstrom and must learn quickly how to function effectively. The book focuses on the relationship between the commander and officers, particularly his lieutenant, Lockhart. It is told linearly, covering 1939 to 1945, with one chapter dedicated to each year, and is based on the author’s own (and, at that time, recent) experiences. His officers are new to the Royal Navy, as so many were at the start of the war, having previously held civilian jobs. The only experienced crew member is Lieutenant-Commander George Ericson, who had previously served in the Merchant Navy. At the story opens, the newly built HMS Compass Rose is just being readied for launch and the crew is in training. Published in 1951, this book is a classic fiction of maritime warfare in the Battle of the Atlantic during WWII, focused on a corvette ship assigned to protect convoys from German U-Boats.
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