Model Boat Mayhem
Mess Deck: General Section => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: mickyrubble on April 17, 2014, 10:38:35 pm
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As the war movie chat is going so well what about the best book you have read,ill start off with
The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer
The Eagle Has Landed by Jack Higgins
Azincourt by Bernard Cornwell
U-Boat by Lothar-Gunter Buchheim, (das boot film)
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Team Yankee
Red army
The zone series
Sharpe. Series
Agincourt series
Falklands forgotten. Voices
War machines
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And if you can find a copy red invasion!!! Ps if you find a copy I want one
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And of course - Catch22
:o
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Devils Guard.
I could not put this book down.
From wiki
Devil's Guard[/size], by George Robert Elford published in 1971, is the story of a former German [/color][/size]Waffen-SS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waffen-SS)[/color][/size] officer's string of near-constant combat that begins on [/color][/size]World War II (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II)[/color][/size]'s eastern front and continues into the book's focus—the [/color][/size]First Indochina War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Indochina_War)[/color][/size], as an officer in the [/color][/size]French Foreign Legion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Foreign_Legion)[/color][/size]. The book is presented by the author as nonfiction but considered to be untrue by military historians, and usually sold as fiction.[/color][1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil's_Guard#cite_note-telegraph-1)[/font][/size] In 2006 the online bookstore [/color][/size]AbeBooks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AbeBooks)[/color][/size] reported that it was among the 10 novels most frequently sold to American soldiers in Iraq (the only war fiction in the top 10, in fact).[/color]
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For fiction I think not many could beat "Red Storm Rising" by Tom Clancy
Non-fiction - most of Max Hastings books
Geoff
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FictionalRainbow six
Most of Tom Clancy
Non fiction:
We were soldiers once and young (much better than the film)
Vulcan 607
Apache
Rules of engagement (Col. Tim Collins account of Iraq)
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Falklands forgotten. Voices
An amazing book- I read it whilst I was deployed to the Falklands back in 2012, what was even more amazing is that I actually met some of the contributors to the book during my stay in Stanley and they added a lot more than what was in the book!
My favourite at the moment has to be 'The Bright Blue Sky' trilogy by Max Hennessy about the history of the RFC and RAF. Similar to the Biggles' books but a lot more action and detail, and if you know your RAF history you'll recognise who each of the characters are supposed to be!
My other has to be another RAF/RFC collection called Goshawk Squadron, War Story, Hornet's Sting, Piece of Cake, A Good Clean Fight, and Damned Good Show.
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any book by Sven Hassel
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I like Sven Hassels books.
Any one read the 'Under The Eagle' series of books by Simon Scarrow,
and 'The Hunt For Red October'
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the scarrrow books are good.
all tom clancy especially ed storm rising
dale brown books
richards hermann jnr warbirds is a a superb fictional account about f4 phantoms
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Military Science Fiction
The Honor Harrington Series - David Weber
The Lost Fleet Series - Jack Campbell
Ark Royal - Christopher Nuttall (Royal Navy in Space!!)
I love SciFi ......
Dave
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Vietnam war - non fiction.
I enjoyed 'Chickenhawk' by Robert Mason.
His experiences as a 'Huey' pilot in VN. From enlistment - training - service in VN - and return to US afterwards.
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To the Last Round - author Andrew Salmon. The British stand on the Imjin River, Korea in the 1950's (the forgotten war).
http://tothelastround.wordpress.com/
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Chickenhawk - excellent book, Tigertiger. Highly recommended.
(Almost got me hankering for an R/C Huey...)
Andy
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Don't Cry for Me, Sergeant-Major by Robert McGowan, Jeremy Hands A unique portrait of the Falklands war - from the sharp end.
Very Senior Officers propose, NCOs and fighting men dispose. The Falklands conflict was supremely an "other ranks" war. Here, then, is their side of the story, recorded at the time by two front line journalists. In their own words, often profane, usually funny, always to the point, the men of the Falklands Task Force and those who accompanied them describe what it was actually like to fight an underdog's battle in an icy wilderness 8000 miles from home. Funny, moving, incisive, occasionally bitter, always humorously resigned, this is the story of one war which could be any war, a portrait of the British soldier, in all his mud-stained glory. (description copied from a book-sellers website) Regards, Ray.
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Maybe it wont be a best seller, but may I mention my newly published book
BATTLESHIP RAMILLIES, The Final Salvo by Ian Johnston and Mick French
This is the stories straight from the men who served on her. Some harrowing experiences, and some hilariously funny.An account of boy seamen aged just 16 on D Day, and many other accounts,including those of wives left behind.
A foreword by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh,whose first ship it was.
Hundreds of never before seen photos.
Published by Seaforth Publishing with an ISBN NUMBER 978-1-84832-211-0 in Hardcover format and a cover price of £25
Mick F
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well done to you matey for a magnificent achievement.
I will put in a request for reading at our local Library.........as when one does, the central Library division will then have to buy a copy so that they can supply those wishing to read it.
cheers, and I hope it sells well. neil.
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"SCRAM"
The gripping first hand account of the helicopter war in the Falklands. By Harry Benson.
Great read.....
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Well done Mick,
You should post your book in the sales section also, so people on here know, and can go buy it or loan from the Library.
All to few accounts of what happened, by those who where there, in all branches of all armed services. Their stories simply fade away, so thankyou for allowing us to share in your experiences
regards
vnkiwi :-))
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Fiction - 'Dawn Attack' and 'A flock of ships' both by Brian Callison, dawn attack sticks in my mind as it describes the events going on as a shell is travelling towards a ship both superb books.
Non Fiction - 'Stalingrad' and 'Berlin' by Anthony Beevor
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Send down a dove
Do for me.
Ned
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Now that you mention it i have read a few of Brian Callison's books,have you read 'Trapp's War'.I always wanted to build a model of the SS Charon.
:D :D :D
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Yes i have read 'Trapps war' cracking read but 'dawn attack' was the first i read and i find that one hard to beat.
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Im Westen Nichts Neues.
(Im Lohne umsteigen!)
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http://www.amazon.co.uk/U-333-Story-U-boat-Peter-Cremer/dp/0586062947
U-333: Story of a U-boat AcePeter Cremer
This was the true story that Das Boat was based on and essential reading if your interested in the EE2 Atlantic Campaign 10/10 from me
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I must recommend all the Patrick O'Brien Aubrey/Maturin novels.
I don't know precisely how accurate his depiction of life in the Nelsonian Navy is, but it sure feels like it. :-))
Andy
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Twenty thousand thieves by Eric Lambert (Aussie army in WW2)
Gimme the boats by McDonald (Aussie navy in WW2), part of a series of stories following the life of one chracter through his time in the grey flue line from O.D. to Commander.
Could be out of print by now but both good fiction reads.
Factual book "Out Sweeps" - the story of minesweeping in the RN.
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I must recommend all the Patrick O'Brien Aubrey/Maturin novels.
I don't know precisely how accurate his depiction of life in the Nelsonian Navy is, but it sure feels like it.
Completely agree, but try to read them in chronological order to get the most enjoyment.
Colin
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If you are into factual stuff and interested in WW1 then there are couple of excellent books on Jutland:
Death in the Grey Wastes by Nigel Steel & Peter Hart: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jutland-1916-Death-Grey-Wastes/dp/030436648X
and
Jutland, an analysis of the fighting by Peter Campbell: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jutland-Analysis-Fighting-Maritime-Classics/dp/1558217592/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1398534617&sr=1-1&keywords=jutland+campbell
Between them, these two books give a totally graphic description of what it was to serve in the RN at Jutland and the appalling damage caused by large calibre shells hitting the capital ships on both sides.
Both fascinating and sobering.
Colin
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To the Last Round - author Andrew Salmon. The British stand on the Imjin River, Korea in the 1950's (the forgotten war).
http://tothelastround.wordpress.com/
My elder brother served in that shindig, it was never a War, not officially, they named it "A Police Action" He doesn't have anything good to say about American Pilots or their sense of direction.
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My elder brother served in that shindig, it was never a War, not officially, they named it "A Police Action" ...
I think I was taught somewhere that, if we won it was named a war.
If we didn't it was named something else.
Falklands War, Suez Crisis, etc.
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Clancy's last book, "Command Authority" predicted the current upheaval in Ukraine months before the western governments got a sniff of the problem. The man was prescient.
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I think I was taught somewhere that, if we won it was named a war.
If we didn't it was named something else.
Falklands War, Suez Crisis, etc.
It was the United Nations who named it a Police Action, the Yankee Doodles called it a War, as did the normal People of the UK. I can assure you, as one who was there, the Suez was more than a Crisis, well it was for us!Changed my view of life I can say quite honestly!!
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well I have never read a book from cover to cover ever! I just cannot find the time to read, magazines yes but not a book!
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well I have never read a book from cover to cover ever! I just cannot find the time to read, magazines yes but not a book!
You are missing so much. :((
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My wife says that she's constantly reading books I have bought books but put them down after a few pages odd that!
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Between them, these two books give a totally graphic description of what it was to serve in the RN at Jutland and the appalling damage caused by large calibre shells hitting the capital ships on both sides.
Both fascinating and sobering.
Yup.
Dreadnought (Robert K. Massie) is a great read as to why this country got into the (really rather insane) battleship arms' race. The follow up, Castles of Steel takes you through the "what happened next" when the fleets were in being, and is a highly readable account of the RN's actions in the Great War.
The Rules of the Game (Andrew Gordon) is, for me, the best book on Jutland. (Campbell is extremely dry for many). For those who've read/have some knowledge of Jutland, we've all wondered about the innumerable "what if's?" that prevented the action from being a war-shortening annihilation of the German High Seas Fleet. This book investigates the systemic failures of the RN (signals, initiative, technology) which led to all those "what if" moments. A brilliant read.
Andy
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Yes Andy, those three books are excellent too.
Colin
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Jutland the German Perspective by V E Tarrant is well worth the read .
Bowwave
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Jutland the German Perspective by V E Tarrant is well worth the read .
And includes some interesting self justifications from the German Admirals after the event!
Colin
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apart from the usual. "Reach for the Sky" , "Enemy coast Ahead" and Black Saturday, I think my favourite read for some years has been...... Gentlemen of War: The Amazing Story of Commander Karl Von Muller and the S M S Emden.........a fascinating read
neil.
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I would say Jutland is one naval encounter that has been clinically dissected in book form like no other. . Perhaps there remains a deep desire to justify the out come , but strangely more on the British side than the Germans . Ever since Admiral Scheer published his English language version of Germany's High Sea Fleet In the World War in 1920 or even to counter the press reports that where issued immediately following the battle, all of which where heavily laden with statistics .
Bowwave
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has nobody read any of the Douglas reeman books
go in and sink
the destroyers
rendezvous south Atlantic
and many moor
also writes as alexader kent
peter
[size=78%] [/size]
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Yes, read all Reeman's books many years ago. Most of them are good but sometimes a bit far fetched such as HMS Saracen. Difficult to beat 'The Ship' by C S Forrester though which really goes into what it was like to serve on a WW2 light cruiser.
Colin
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To add to the Emden saga Emden the Last cruise of a Chivalrous Raider -1914 by Von Hohenzollern -Emden is a good factual read .
Bowwave
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Novel:- '13th Valley' by John M Del Vecchio or 'Bomber' by Len Deighton
Non-fiction:- I have to agree with Colin, 'We were soldiers once and young' is the finest book about soldiers and a single battle ever written. The movie is a travesty.
Honourable mentions to :- 'Wings of the Eagle' by W.T. Grant. The best book about helicopter pilots in Vietnam.
'The Last Valley' by Martin Windrow, about the battle at Dien Bien Phu.
'Our Friends beneath the Sands' by Martin Windrow, a history of the French Foreign Legion.
'Clashes' by Marshall Michel, how the US Air Force and Navy fought the Migs over NVN.
'11 days of Christmas' by Marshall Michel, the B52's and Linebacker II.
Best authors:- Keith Nolan for any of his books about Vietnam battles; Geirr Haarr for his two books about the naval battles for Norway (brilliant books); both Clay Blair's books about the U-boat war are very good once you get past the continuous Limey bashing.
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To add to the Emden saga Emden the Last cruise of a Chivalrous Raider -1914 by Von Hohenzollern -Emden is a good factual read .
Bowwave
IThis war Episode has been made into a film, here in Germany, naturally everyone(German) is shown as sympathetic Heroes, but there is some truth in it.