The British Merchant Navy dominated the world trade routes in the years
leading up to the Second World War. The star players of the fleet were
the cargo liners, faster and larger than the tramps and offering limited
passenger accommodation. On the outbreak of war these cargo liners
became crucial to the nation's survival using their speed and expertise
to evade Nazi warships, raiders and U-boats.
Initially operating alone, but increasingly relying on Royal Navy
protected convoys, these key elements of the Merchant Navy plied the
oceans and seas despite mounting losses, throughout the war years.
This superbly researched book describes numerous dramatic incidents.
Some ended in disaster such as the New Zealand Shipping Company's
Turakina which was sunk after a running battle with the German raider
Orion. Others were triumphs for example Operation Substance when six
fast cargo liners succeeded against all the odds in reaching besieged
Malta with vital supplies.
The common denominations in all these historic voyages were the courage
and skilled seamanship of the Merchant Navy crews. As Running The
Gauntlet vividly illustrates, their contribution to victory, too long
overlooked, cannot be overstated.
