Overview
On 25 December 1943 the German battlecruiser Scharnhorst slipped out Altenfjord in Norway to attack Artic convoy JW55B which was carrying vital war supplies to the Soviet Union. But British Naval Intelligence knew of the Scharnhorst's mission before she sailed and the vulnerable convoy was protected by a large Royal Naval force including the battleship Duke of York. In effect the Scharnhorst was sailing into a trap. One of the most compelling naval dramas of the Second World War had begun. Angus Konstam's gripping account tells the story of this crucial and under-studied naval battle, and explains why the hopes of the German Kriegsmarine went down with their last great ship. AUTHOR: Angus Konstam is a highly respected and widely published military historian with over 50 titles in print. The body of his work encompasses everything from ancient Greece to the Second World War. However, his main field is maritime and naval history. He has published books on Blackbeard: America's Most Notorious Pirate, The History of Pirates, PT Boats: US Naval Torpedo Boats, The History of the Shipwrecks, Hunt the Bismarck and the 7th U-Boat Flotilla. His most recent book is Salerno 1943: The Allied Invasion of Italy. SELLING POINTS: Compelling account of the doomed voyage of the German battlecruiser. Insight into the experience of naval warfare 60 years ago. Assesses of the performance of the two commanders. Close analysis of the naval strategy and tactics. 40 illustrations
Reviews
"""...a fast read with surprising twists and turns... illuminates this forgotten and overlooked battle like an unexpected enemy starshell bursting out of the Arctic night.""-- ""IPMS/USA"" ""Angus Konstam's book is an excellent read and strongly recommended.... thoughtful and totally engrossing....If you are interested in the Royal Navy in the Second World War, the Arctic convoy campaign or capital ship actions, The Battle of the North Cape is well worth its cover price.""-- ""The Naval Review"" ""Angus Konstam's gripping account tells the story of this crucial but under-studied naval battle, and explains why the hopes of the German Kreigsmarine went down with their last great ship; only 37 of the German battlecruiser's 1700 crew were saved.""-- ""The Nautical Magazine"" ""This book illuminates this forgotten and overlooked battle like an unexpected enemy star shell bursting out of the Arctic night.""-- ""IPMS/USA"""
...a fast read with surprising twists and turns... illuminates this forgotten and overlooked battle like an unexpected enemy starshell bursting out of the Arctic night. --IPMS/USA Angus Konstam's gripping account tells the story of this crucial but under-studied naval battle, and explains why the hopes of the German Kreigsmarine went down with their last great ship; only 37 of the German battlecruiser's 1700 crew were saved. --The Nautical Magazine This book illuminates this forgotten and overlooked battle like an unexpected enemy star shell bursting out of the Arctic night. --IPMS/USA Angus Konstam's book is an excellent read and strongly recommended.... thoughtful and totally engrossing....If you are interested in the Royal Navy in the Second World War, the Arctic convoy campaign or capital ship actions, The Battle of the North Cape is well worth its cover price. --The Naval Review
""...a fast read with surprising twists and turns... illuminates this forgotten and overlooked battle like an unexpected enemy starshell bursting out of the Arctic night.""-- ""IPMS/USA"" ""Angus Konstam's book is an excellent read and strongly recommended.... thoughtful and totally engrossing....If you are interested in the Royal Navy in the Second World War, the Arctic convoy campaign or capital ship actions, The Battle of the North Cape is well worth its cover price.""-- ""The Naval Review"" ""Angus Konstam's gripping account tells the story of this crucial but under-studied naval battle, and explains why the hopes of the German Kreigsmarine went down with their last great ship; only 37 of the German battlecruiser's 1700 crew were saved.""-- ""The Nautical Magazine"" ""This book illuminates this forgotten and overlooked battle like an unexpected enemy star shell bursting out of the Arctic night.""-- ""IPMS/USA""
...a fast read with surprising twists and turns... illuminates this forgotten and overlooked battle like an unexpected enemy starshell bursting out of the Arctic night. --IPMS/USA Angus Konstam's book is an excellent read and strongly recommended.... thoughtful and totally engrossing....If you are interested in the Royal Navy in the Second World War, the Arctic convoy campaign or capital ship actions, The Battle of the North Cape is well worth its cover price. --The Naval Review Angus Konstam's gripping account tells the story of this crucial but under-studied naval battle, and explains why the hopes of the German Kreigsmarine went down with their last great ship; only 37 of the German battlecruiser's 1700 crew were saved. --The Nautical Magazine This book illuminates this forgotten and overlooked battle like an unexpected enemy star shell bursting out of the Arctic night. --IPMS/USA
Author Information
Angus Konstam is a military and maritime historian and author. Formerly a curator at the Royal Armouries, and curator at the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum, he is now a full-time author, with over 70 books in print.
