What an amazing story. The premise captured me immediately and William Geroux kept the promise of the premise. I am amazed at the amount of detail and first hand information he provides, including a personal diary. I am so glad to have had the ability to learn the details of The Ghost Ships of Archangel. Mr Geroux includes information on the political as well as the personal background of this riveting true story. I too was eager to share what I had read so I believe it would make an excellent book discussion selection. I hope to see a film as well!
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

William Geroux brings to life the journey through the 24 hour-daylight Arctic in July, 1942 of the four Allied ships separated from convoy PQ 17, 35 merchant ships total, with a military convoy consisting of 6 destroyers, 2 anti-aircraft ships, 2 submarines, 11 smaller craft, 6 auxiliary ships in an effort by the Allied Navies to provide 200,000 short tons - one billion dollars worth of essential supplies to the Russian front. The convoy gathered in Iceland, and proceeded June 27, 1942 with a slightly altered convoy route. The summer heat would allow for a passage north of Bear Island with an evasive detour in the Barents Sea.

When the order came down to scatter to avoid German attack, four ships headed due north into the ice fields to escape the punishment of the combined air and marine forces of the German war machine. Geroux introduces us to personnel on these four 'ghost' ships -"U.S. Navy Ensign Howard Carraway, aboard the SS Troubadour, was a farm boy from South Carolina and one of the many Americans for whom the convoy was to be a first taste of war; aboard the SS Ironclad, Ensign William Carter of the U.S. Navy Reserve had passed up a chance at Harvard Business School to join the Navy Armed Guard; the SS Silver Sword was commanded by Captain Clyde Colbeth; and from the Royal Navy Reserve, Lt. Leo Gradwell was given command of the HMT Ayrshire, a fishing trawler that had been converted into an antisubmarine vessel".

And then he takes us to the heart of the problem - Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin, who put these ships into this perilous situation with their diplomatic games. And one terribly expensive misspoken order from the British Admiralty.

The ships of PQ17 faced endless German submarine and air attacks due to the unending Arctic summer sun, and the Tirpitz, the sister ship to the Bismarck and known as 'The Big Bad Wolf', in convoy with many other German war ships. The German convoy worked out of conquered Norway ports, attacking Allied convoys as they attempted to deliver goods and weapons to the Russian port city of Archangel. Fortunately for us, fuel shortages limited the Tirpitz' use. As it was Operation Barbarossa did a great deal of damage as the war progressed and convoys became more and more essential to defeating the German war machine.

William Geroux takes us there. This is a very complex story told simply with humanity intertwined into the tale. The Ghost Ships of the Archangel shows us what a slim margin separated the winners and losers of the Second War. And how the ingenuity and heart of these brave sailors were able to bring 11 of the 35 merchant ships of convoy PQ17 into Russian Ports, delivering 70,000 short tons of essential supplies and weapons to the Russian Front. PQ17 lost 24 merchant ships, 153 merchant mariners were killed and 5 aircraft were lost.

I received a free electronic copy of this history from Netgalley, William Geroux, and Viking Publishers. Thank you for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this historical record of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of the book.

naval-history, war-is-hell, WW2, Arctic-warfare, historical-places-events, historical-research, North Atlantic, Merchant Mariners *****

Amazing research and presentation! I kept diving into it despite my total lack of foreknowledge. So much to learn and keep annoying friends and family with tidbits and more, even the Norwegians! Ok, just to give examples: in 1940 the Norse who were at sea when the Nazis seized Norway were forced to live at sea or in temporary lodgings in Allied or Neutral nations, one converted Liberty Ship in the convoy included an old cannon from a public park in Baltimore among its armaments, not only was the Nazi Wolfpack doing their best to annihilate the convoy but so was the cold weather and the ice. Included among the many resources is a diary of an Able Bodied Seaman.
I need to get a print copy for the library and hope that an audio is made for a fanatic who spends a lot of time in his car!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Penguin Group-VIKING via NetGalley. Thank you!