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Sir Peter Gretton
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Crisis Convoy: The Story of HX231, A Turning Point in the Battle of the Atlantic (Submarine Warfare in World War Two) Kindle Edition

by Sir Peter Gretton (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 1,696 ratings
An engrossing account by the Royal Navy commander who led the escort of convoy HX231 during the Battle of the Atlantic.

A dramatic hour-by-hour narrative of an Atlantic convoy battle that changed the course of World War II, perfect for readers of Jonathan Dimbleby, Richard Freeman and Max Hastings.

In April 1943, Commander Peter Gretton was in charge of escorting a vital Allied trade convoy from New York to Great Britain across the North Atlantic. Over the course of the voyage, the sixty-one merchant ships of convoy HX231, along with the six ships of B7 Escort Group, were continuously shadowed and attacked by a German wolf pack of twenty U-boats.

With the aid of air support, the convoy and defending escort fought valiantly across hundreds of miles of ocean and, despite poor weather conditions, managed to sink and severely damage several enemy submarines. Tragically six merchant ships were torpedoed and with no rescue vessel any survivors were left stranded in the freezing waters of the Atlantic as the convoy continued on its journey.

Drawing on reports from both sides, Gretton details the sequence of events as convoy HX231 battled its way through a large wolf pack and offers an authoritative post-battle analysis of the strategies, decisions and actions taken that would ultimately see the tide of war turn in favour of victory for the Allies.

Crisis Convoy takes the reader to the heart of the action and is a thrilling account of naval warfare during World War II.

“Fascinating” Military Review

“Many books have been written on many aspects of the Battle of the Atlantic, but this one deserves attention by even the most well-read naval history fan.” Warship International
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  1. Part of series
    Submarine Warfare in World War Two
  2. Print length
    224 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    November 7, 2021
  5. File size
    1.9 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James Cameron Stewart trained at Hull University and the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Some theater highlights of his thirty-six-year career include Frank-n-Furter (The Rocky Horror Show), Thenadier (Les Miserables), the poet Philip Larkin in Larkin with Women (Best Actor nominee, MEN Awards 2005), and originating the part of Hamish in Sir Alan Ayckbourn's Things We Do for Love. In 2008 he published his grandfather's World War I memoirs and toured his one-man show based on them from 2008 to 2011. His television/film credits include Outlander, Jericho, Flying Blind, Golden Years, Emmerdale, London's Burning, Eastenders, Coronation Street, Holby City, and Taggart. He often appears on Radio 4, and is a regular presenter on the weekly The Economist podcast. James loves recording audiobooks and is delighted to have had the opportunity to narrate such a variety of magnificent authors, from Seneca through Max Hastings and Antony Beevor, to superlative fiction by J. M. Coetzee, Michael Dibdin, Stuart MacBride, and more. James's upbringing alternated between the Home Counties and the Isle of Skye. In addition to being an actor, he is a nutritional therapist, a keen sailor, and is at his happiest when flying his hot-air balloon.

Vice-Admiral Sir Peter Gretton, KCB, DSO, OBE, DSC, was an officer in the Royal Navy. He was active during the World War II Battle of the Atlantic and was a successful convoy escort commander. He eventually rose to become Fifth Sea Lord and retired as a vice admiral before entering university life as a bursar and academic.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09C23KRZH
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sapere Books (November 7, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 7, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.9 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1800552777
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 1,696 ratings

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Sir Peter Gretton

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
1,696 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book highly readable, with one noting it reads almost like a novel and is full of great detail. Moreover, they appreciate its enlightening content, with one review highlighting its solid analysis of tactics. Additionally, the story quality receives positive feedback, with one customer describing it as a minute-by-minute account of a specific convoy battle.

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18 customers mention "Readability"15 positive3 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and full of great detail, with one customer noting it reads almost like a novel.

"...This book was a highly detailed, almost minute-by-minute account of a specific convoy battle...." Read more

"A thorough description and explanation on both sides of the war for the trials and tribulations experienced by both the Brits and the German...." Read more

"Well written and a captivating story.. I generally have difficult time reading accounts of British Navy due to idioms and phrases I cannot..." Read more

"...stories, this one is an extremely well researched and the description is well documented and explained." Read more

12 customers mention "Enlightened content"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enlightening and fascinating, with one customer noting it is extremely well researched and another highlighting its solid analysis of tactics.

"This was a fascinating and exciting book to read...." Read more

"...dire yet rather quickly salvaged is brought home fully in this week researched piece." Read more

"...Also a very solid analysis of tactics etc." Read more

"...This is a very exciting story and explained the interplay of multiple service branches involved in winning the Battle of the Atlantic." Read more

4 customers mention "Story quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers praise the book's narrative, with one highlighting its detailed minute-by-minute account of a specific convoy battle, while another appreciates its comprehensive research on convoy escort operations and balanced coverage of both sides of the war.

"...This book was a highly detailed, almost minute-by-minute account of a specific convoy battle...." Read more

"A thorough description and explanation on both sides of the war for the trials and tribulations experienced by both the Brits and the German...." Read more

"Well written and a captivating story.. I generally have difficult time reading accounts of British Navy due to idioms and phrases I cannot..." Read more

"Great research on the story of convoy escort and the u boat menace but the authors writing style was hard to follow." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Account of a Escort Group Commander
    Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This was a fascinating and exciting book to read. Most of the material that I have previously read on the Battle of the Atlantic viewed the Battle from a strategic perspective.

    This book was a highly detailed, almost minute-by-minute account of a specific convoy battle. The account is told by the commander of the convoy's escort group. It provides a very detailed picture of what life was like for the North Atlantic convoy escort groups.

    It also contributes to my understanding of the importance of the information that has not yet been released by the Allied governments regarding the events of the Second World War.

    This account was written in 1974 and is therefore missing some important information about the Battle of the Atlantic. Vice-Admiral Gretton applied ars to have still been unaware in 1974 of the Ultra system intelligence that was being used to guide the Royal Navy. Either that, or when this account was written, he was instructed to not discuss that information.

    Following the end of WWII, there was a very great amount of information that was classified and not revealed to the public. Thus our understanding of the war is necessarily incomplete.

    In recent years, some newly declassified documents have been released that have significantly changed our understanding of the war's events. This book from 1974 illustrates that through the author's lack of knowledge of important information regarding intelligence sources.

    What is particularly interesting to me is that there are still large numbers of classified documents that still remain unavailable. When the war ended, the Allies locked a greatany documents away in a kind of time release system. A schedule was created that still regulates when various documents will be released. Some of those documents were sealed for over a century, and so remain highly classified to this day.

    These still classified documents are those containing information that was considered to be of such a sensitive nature, that they could not be safely released until over a century had passed since the end of the war.

    Much of this material was kept secret to prevent the embarrassment of important individuals. Some because the information could have caused diplomatic crisis or threatened national security.

    The court martial offenses of Adm Halsey that were covered up are an example of such recently released material that had been kept completely secret from the public and most of the military until quite recently. I refer specifically to his leading his fleet into two horrific typhoons that he had been ordered to steer clear of.

    I have to wonder, what kind of information is to found in the still classified documents? How will their release alter our knowledge and understanding of the events of the war? Admiral Gretton's memoir from 1974 is an example. Knowledge of the Royal Navy's ability to read German ciphers would have altered parts of this history, when it was written.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars An easy, interesting read that so succinctly describes the battle of the Atlantic
    Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    If your experience with this book parallels mine you will come away with a much better understanding of this vital component of the Allied victory over the Axis powers. That the situation was dire yet rather quickly salvaged is brought home fully in this week researched piece.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Richard H.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
    Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Describes a single convoy trip and does it from both sides although the German side is a little sketchy. Some German records could not be viewed because the subs were sunk before they returned to port. Things that stuck out were how effective the escort ships were (and the airplanes) and how slow the convoys sailed! High speed convoys were about 10 mph, slow speed about 6-7 mph!!! Second the poor sailors since if a ship was sunk, no one could stop for survivors and rescue ships were not around at that time. Later, rescue ships followed convoys to pick up survivors. One of the ships sunk had 71 aboard. 34 got into a 32 person life boat, should be fine but the water was almost freezing and the air not much better and no rescue ship they had three weeks waiting for rescue. Of the 32, 7 survived. Of these five had their legs amputated, two had their feet amputated and one was OK.

    Another interesting fact was British ship building capacity was 1,000,000 tons a year. In two weeks, the Germans sank 500,000 tons of shipping...50% of British yearly capability! to replace...assuming they just built merchant ships!
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    3.0 out of 5 stars War Facts
    Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    A thorough description and explanation on both sides of the war for the trials and tribulations experienced by both the Brits and the German. Also a very solid analysis of tactics etc.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Brian
    4.0 out of 5 stars great Insight
    Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Well written and a captivating story..
    I generally have difficult time reading accounts of British Navy due to idioms and phrases I cannot understand. This author wrote in a fashion that was very discernible. This is a very exciting story and explained the interplay of multiple service branches involved in winning the Battle of the Atlantic.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Clive Leah
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enlightening and well written.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Told by one who was there in a very friendly and easily understood manner. Like all true stories from this era, the British understatement and humbly presented facts hide the huge courage and bravery faithful cameradery and sacrifice from the lowest to highest ranks in all services. Read ans be prepared to be proud, sad, grateful, impressed and patriotic all in the same hour.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Banjo Frank
    5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended Reading
    Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This is a well written story about the World War II battle of the Atlantic. For readers that are unfamiliar with technical details the ships and equipment are described in ordinary language most readers will understand. The narrative doesn’t recite many minute details and statistics but instead reads almost as a novel.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Chaplain-GranStan
    4.0 out of 5 stars An extremely thorough description
    Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2022
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    I read a lot of military action stories, this one is an extremely well researched and the description is well documented and explained.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Hello You
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant story about the Battle of the Atlantic -
    Reviewed in France on July 7, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    told by someone who was there in the critical moments. A detailed explanation of the tactics with the opportunity provided by post-war interrogation of the opposite side to provide the first (and only) review of the battle between submarines and convoys, and their protectors.
    I met the author's son many years later.
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  • Mr. S. M. Brady
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good read for understanding the battle for the Atlantic
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 2, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    There are lots of books out there on the battle for the Atlantic. Written about 30 years after the event, the book provides a good understanding of the roles of each side and the problems they faced. A good section of the book is set aside outlining the writers conclusions on what went right and wrong and how the tide turned in the allies favour. Well worthy of a read.
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  • John Ferris
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good in-depth analysis of convoy
    Reviewed in Australia on February 19, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Great read. Well written and excellent overview of the subject convoy
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  • Brian Durell
    5.0 out of 5 stars First hand account of WWII convoy
    Reviewed in Canada on February 4, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I have been studying the Battle of the Atlantic for many years. There is much in this book which I already knew. However, there is also much that I did not know. This is an astonishing account of a crucial battle not only based on the experience of one who was there but also bolstered by information from the enemy point of view and postwar analyses. An excellent and important read.
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  • Neal Ames
    4.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable and informative read
    Reviewed in Australia on January 11, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    A close look at an individual Atlantic convey, its escort and their battle with the German U boats. Many books have been written about the battle but none from a personal perspective.
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