Measureless Peril - America in Fight for Atlantic, Longest Battle of WWII

Description: Normal 0 · Title: A Measureless Peril – America in the Fight for the Atlantic, the Longest Battle of World War II · Author: Richard Snow · Edition: Softcover · Publisher: Scribner / Simon & Schuster (New York) · Copyright: 2010 · Printing: 2011 · Dimensions in inches: 8.75 x 5.7 x 1.0 (353 pages) · ISBN: 978-1-4165-9111-5 Of all the threats that faced his country in World War II, Winston Churchill said, just one really scared him -- what he called the "measureless peril" of the German U-boat campaign. In that global conflagration, only one battle -- the struggle for the Atlantic -- lasted from the very first hours of the conflict to its final day. Hitler knew that victory depended on controlling the sea-lanes where American food and fuel and weapons flowed to the Allies. At the start, U-boats patrolled a few miles off the eastern seaboard, savagely attacking scores of defenseless passenger ships and merchant vessels while hastily converted American cabin cruisers and fishing boats vainly tried to stop them. Before long, though, the United States was ramping up what would be the greatest production of naval vessels the world had ever known.Then the battle became a thrilling cat-and-mouse game between the quickly built U.S. warships and the ever-more cunning and lethal U-boats. The historian Richard Snow captures all the drama of the merciless contest at every level, from the doomed sailors on an American freighter defying a German cruiser, to the amazing Allied attempts to break the German naval codes, to Winston Churchill pressing Franklin Roosevelt to join the war months before Pearl Harbor (and FDR’s shrewd attempts to fight the battle alongside Britain while still appearing to keep out of it).Inspired by the collection of letters that his father sent his mother from the destroyer escort he served aboard, Snow brings to life the longest continuous battle in modern times.With its vibrant prose and fast-paced action, A Measureless Peril is an immensely satisfying account that belongs on the small shelf of the finest histories ever written about World War II. Contents: - “What’s the Matter with the Davis?” – Looking back on the Atlantic struggle - Flower Show – The dangerous state of the U.S. navy on the eve of war, 1939 - Too Dumb to Stay on the Farm – The making of a sailor, 1940 - Building Hitler’s Navy – Superbattleships vs. submarines, 1933-39 - “The Simple Principle of Fighting Several Steamers with Several U-boats” – Captain Doenitz works out his strategy, 1918-39 - On the Devil’s Shovel – U-boat life, 1939-45 - The End of the Athenia – The sea war begins, 1939 - Captain Gainard’s Killer Dillers – An American freighter comes to the rescue, 1939 - Prison Ship – The difficulties of keeping out of the war, 1939-40 - The Neutrality Patrol – Guarding the western hemisphere, 1939-40 - “A New Chapter of World History” – The destroyer deal goes forward, 1940 - Doenitz Goes to France – Germany builds her Biscay U-boat bases, 1940 - Germany First – Planning America’s naval war, 1940 - A Length of Garden Hose – FDR sells Lend-Lease, 1940 - Fishing Trip – Churchill and Roosevelt meet, 1941 - The Moving Square Mile – Learning and relearning the lessons of convoy, 1917-41 - The Rattlesnakes of the Atlantic – America’s first losses, 1941 - A Present in the Fuhrer’s Lap – Hitler declares war, 1941 - Five Boats against America – The East Coast submarine offensive, 1942 - The Most Even-Tempered Man in the Navy – Admiral King in command, 1942 - The Hooligan Navy – Yachts and cabin cruisers go to war, 1942 - Panic Party – The “mystery ship” fiasco, 1942 - Cadet O’Hara’s Last Fight – The Naval Armed Guard and the ordeal of the Stephen Hopkins, 1942 - “Start Swinging, Lady” – The Liberty ships, 1941-45 - A Visit to the Ship Cemetery – Desperate times on the Eastern seaboard, 1943 - “Sighted Sub…” – A little good news, 1943 - How Lieutenant Snow Got to Sea – A reserve officer’s journey, 1943 - The Smallest Major War Vessel – Inventing the destroyer escort, 1942 - “Set the Watch” – The birth of a warship, 1943 - The Heartbeat of the Pings – The importance of sonar, 1941-45 - “How Many Germans Will It Kill?” – Learning to use radar, 1940-43 - The Fleet without a Gun – Admiral King remakes his command, 1943 - Steaming as Before – The essence of Atlantic duty, 1943-45 - Combustible, Vulnerable, and Expendable – The escort carrier joins the fight, 1944 - Captain Just’s Last Fight – The final days of the Kriegsmarine, 1945 - Do Hostilities Ever Cease? – After the convoys, 1945 - When Daylight Comes – From then to now CONDITION: NEW Softcover edition in FINE condition with strong binding, bright pictorial covers, and a small remainder mark at the bottom edge (see photo). All pages are free from any writings, markings, tears, or pastedowns. Text block and pages are tight and clean, with no soiling, creasing, dog-ears or markings. POLICY & GUARANTEE: · FULL SATISFACTION GUARANTEED OR YOUR MONEY BACK. Please contact us with any questions, comments or concerns prior to bidding. All items sold as described, and returnable for any reason within 30 days of receipt. · Payments: Payment in full must be received within 10 days of auction close. If payment is not made within the specified period, we reserve the right to re-list item and to submit feedback with non-paying bidder notification. · Shipping & Handling: Items are shipped within 1 business day after payment has cleared. Stated rates are for confirmed delivery through the United States Postal Service via Media Mail (“Book Rate” class.) Insurance is added for items valued over $100.00. 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Any defects are noted. · Remainder Marks: Occasionally we sell publisher's overstocks and returns. "Returns" are books that have been returned from bookstores to the publisher. If a bookstore purchased too many copies of a title or needs to make room for new material, they have the right to return the book(s) to the publisher for credit. These are new, unread books, in excellent structural condition. The publisher may place a mark on the edge of the book to identify it as a returned book. This ensures the book will never again be returned to the publisher for more credit. In most cases the mark is a small line or dot, which, if applicable, is clearly noted as a “remainder mark” in the above Item Condition. ..

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End Time: 2023-12-28T02:53:54.000Z

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