"Royal Navy & Maritime Book Reviews" PROVIDED BY - Rob Jerrard
Ian Allan Publishing
Books Reviewed in 2009
Enigma U-Boats - Breaking the Code
Edition: Revised Paperback 2009
Format: Paperback
Author: Jak P Mallmann Showell
ISBN: 9780711033962
Publishers: Ian Allan
Price: £8.99
Publication Date: 2009 (First Published in 2000)
Publisher's Title Information
The story of Enigma and the breaking of the seemingly impregnable German codes during World War 2 is a fascinating one. After World War 1, the German admirals were shocked to discover that the Royal Navy had penetrated their secret radio codes. Confronted with this fact, the post-war German navy determined that such a penetration would never occur again. Future codes were going to be so complex that breaking them would, theoretically, be impossible. The result was the famous and at that time highly secret Enigma machine. With it, the German authorities believed radio transmissions were wholly secure even if a captured machine fell into the wrong hands. German confidence was misplaced, however and during World War 2 Polish cryptanalysts helped Britain break into the Enigma system.
Now published in paperback, this is a highly enjoyable read which details the true story of the seemingly impenetrable German naval codes in World War 2. This book analyses the development of Enigma, its role during German U-boat operations, and the subsequent code-breaking work at Bletchley Park.
Swan Hunter - Glory Days
Edition: 1st
Format: Hardback
Authors: David L Williams and Richard P de Kerbrech
ISBN: 9780711032668
Publishers: Ian Allan
Price: £16.99
Contains 50 colour and 90 mono illustrations
Publication Date: 2008
Publisher's Title Information
Swan Hunter, formerly known as 'Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson', was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the United Kingdom. Based in Wallsend, Tyne & Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century most famously, the RMS Mauretania which held the Blue Riband for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic, and the RMS Carpathia which rescued the survivors from the RMS Titanic.
Swan & Hunter was formed in 1880. In 1903, it merged with Wigham Richardson specifically to bid for the prestigious contract to build the Mauretania on behalf of Cunard. Together they combined the forces of three powerful shipbuilding families and their bid was successful. The new company went on to build what was to become, in its day, the most famous ocean going liner in the world. RMS Mauretania was launched from Wallsend-on-Tyne on the 20th of September 1906 to the cheers of huge crowds, eventually leaving service in 1935.
Sadly in November 1994, 400 years of shipbuilding tradition on the River Tyne ended when the Royal Navy frigate HMS Richmond was the last ship to be launched at the Swan Hunter shipyard. Symptomatic of the decline of the region's loss of heavy industry, the closure of the yard meant the loss of one of the greatest names in British shipbuilding history.
Continuing the well-respected style of the 'Glory Days' series, this cracking new book beautifully explores the turbulent history of Swan Hunter through the 20th century. With over 125 stunning photographs in both mono and colour, this book will be greatly sought after by historians and maritime modellers of all abilities. It is a truly remarkable tribute to the country's best-known shipbuilder.
Review
This book does not celebrate a particular ship, rather it celebrates a Ship Builder. I recall having to travel north on a special train to join a ship for the first time at Swan Hunter. This was HMS Lion, who's photograph appears in the chapter called 'Post-War Optimism'. As the caption states, she was one of the last purpose-built cruisers and the photograph shows her at Wallsend. http://www.rjerrard.co.uk/royalnavy/lionrn/lionrn.htm
During this period they also built HMS Albion, HMS London, HMS Bristol, HMS Glasgow, HMS Illustrious and HMS Ark Royal: all post-war. The last to be built at the Neptune Yard was HMS Chatham. The very last warships were Largs Bay and Lyme Bay in 2006.
By June 2007 Swan Hunter was no more, only memories and photographs remain of those ships they built during the years they were 'proudly serving the nations cause' in both world wars - with the building of such ships as, inter alia, Coventry, Shark, Roberts, Belfast, Anson, Barfleur, Vengeance and one correctly described as 'the incomplete Aircraft Carrier Leviathan', which for many years was laid up at Portsmouth. During my qualifying as a Free Diver I examined her hull. She was in dock, filled with water, near the small ship's canteen as I recall around 1960. She was not taken away until 1968. There is a good colour photograph of her in the book. Following on from that there are black and white photographs of Daring, Superb and Newfoundland.
This is not purely about Royal Navy ships, many ships of various types were built at this yard.
This is an excellent reference book and will jog many memories. For me Wallsend-on-Tyne as well as Lion I recall my first taste of Newcastle Brown, even if I did have great difficult understand the Barmaid.
Rob Jerrard