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The Convoy

HG-76: Taking the Fight to Hitler's U-boats

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The Convoy

By: Angus Konstam
Narrated by: Philip Pope
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Bloomsbury presents The Convoy by Angus Konstam, read by Philip Pope.

A fresh approach to the Battle of the Atlantic, told through the spectacular story of HG-76, a major turning point in the naval war.

When HG-76 sailed from Gibraltar to Britain in December 1941, it was specially targeted by the Germans. A wolfpack of U-boats was sent against it, the Luftwaffe was heavily committed too, and German intelligence agents in Gibraltar and Spain knew every detail of the convoy before it had even sailed. The odds were seemingly stacked in favour of the Kriegsmarine.

This time, though, HG-76 would be accompanied by HMS Audacity, the Royal Navy’s first escort carrier – built to defend convoys from enemy aircraft and U-boats.

Expert naval historian Angus Konstam examines the battle through the lens of this mission. Improved radar and sonar gave the convoy’s escorts a slight edge over their opponents, while the escort group was led by Commander Walker, an anti-submarine expert who had developed new, aggressive U-boat hunting tactics. Seven days and nights of relentless attack are told through horrifying first-hand accounts, until HG-76 finally reached the safety of a British port - the first real convoy victory of the war.

Brought to life through the eyes of the participants, The Convoy combines the story of the technical and tactical developments that won the Battle of the Atlantic for the Allies with the terror and stubborn determination of those that served on convoy duties. Armed Forces Europe Germany Great Britain Military Naval Forces War Submarine U-Boat Royal Navy
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Critic reviews

This gripping story of a vitally important wartime convoy battle is long overdue.
Brilliant – one of the most dramatic stories of the Second World War at sea brought meticulously to life.
With his detailed research from many sources, Angus Konstam brings to life the story of the battle around convoy HG76, escorted by the brilliant Commander Johnnie Walker RN.
Angus Konstam brings a multi-perspective approach to this highly readable and engrossing account of Convoy HG76.
A work of real integrity, his portrayal of this epic struggle brilliantly captures the intensity and drama of this key episode in the Battle of the Atlantic. Simply gripping!
The reader is given access to the thoughts, motivations and fears of sailors and airmen serving on both sides of the tense battle, as Konstam’s detailed narrative of HG-76’s journey tells the story of those who served with and defended the merchant convoys so vital to Britain’s survival during World War II.
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This book provides a good overview of battle around the Convoys, the information is clear and informative, with actual strategies explained well. The storyline is also engaging, though I found it hard to keep track of the different U-boats involved.

Informative with engaging story.

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A great story, told with full background and implications. Technical aspects well explained. Excellent reader.

Informative and enjoyable

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Very interesting accounts from both sides , the narrator keeps you interested too all in all a very very good listen

The convoy

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If you enjoy detail, this is exceptional work about a pivotal sub-story of the Battle of the Atlantic. This is how the allies began to check the U-Boat threat by introducing new technology, tactics, mass and mindset.

Gritty detail of convoy HG-76

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Konstam has written a compelling blow-by-blow account of the turning point in both the Battle of the Atlantic and in the wider war. For a long time Commander Jonnie Walker's achievements received little attention. The creator of the hunter-killer groups that crushed the U-boat wolfpacks, Walker battle-tested his tactics whilst defending this convoy and delivered the first devastating blow of many to Admiral Doenitz's submarines. My only minor critique is that the first two chapters feel out-of-place. They would have been better placed later in the narrative but, other than that, this is a great listen.

The emergence of one of the great naval commanders

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