Published by köehlerbooks 610 60th Street, Virginia Beach, VA, 23451 ISBN: 978-1-63393-362-0 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-63393-360-6 (sc) ASIN: B06W6887SR (Kindle)
Reviewed by CAPT Jim Patton, USN, Ret.
Well, he’s at it again – not only CAPT Sheppard McCloud, the Commanding Officer of the Battle Cruiser USS Argonne, but also his “biographer” G. William Weatherly, now final-
ly allowing himself to be known as the Submarine Force’s own CAPT George Jackson, USN (ret). In this second of what appears to be a trilogy (or more) of fascinating WWII “alternative histories,” CAPT Sheppard and his Argonne continue the saga begun with this book’s predecessor – Sheppard of the Argonne.
These tales are both not of the “…in a distant galaxy a long, long time ago” fantasy genre, but based solidly on historically recognizable events – not precisely how they actually occurred, but as they quite like- ly could have happened given a previously different flutter of a different butterfly’s wings in the Amazon basin. As before, the author’s intimate knowledge of WWII capital ships, their employment and their weaponry is extraordinary, and the credibility of the human dimension of leader- ship in battle that can only be written by one who has experienced the challenges of command of a warship at sea.
As in its precursor, the key to the story is the clever “alternative history” twist. In supposing that the nine nation Washington Naval Con- ference of 1921-1922, which placed significant limits on the growth of the participant’s naval power, had fallen through, a credible scenario was set. This scenario being that the Atlantic would have been a much larger arena for naval engagements than it was historically. In the first book, students of naval history noticed whiffs of both the Battle of Leyte Gulf and the Battle of Midway. In this one, they will relive, with somewhat different dimensions, what had to be done about “the problem” of the French fleet hunkered down in North Africa. Additionally there was a humanitarian crisis as the population of a French village was threatened with extinction as German retribution for French resistance actions.
Again, the author’s ability to grasp and describe the surreal bond between a warship and its Commanding Officer is almost spooky – but laymen should believe those of us that have experienced it, it is very real. As a result of the training submariners have always received, they acquire an almost “McGyver” level of ability to imaginatively improvise when the need requires. The author gives himself away as a submariner several times by having CAPT Sheppard use assets available to him in unusual, but extraordinarily effective ways – my reaction being “Wow!
Wonder if they actually did this, and if not, why not?”
Admiral Rickover was adamant in telling all that worked under his tutelage, that one assumes a serious obligation when undertaking a “book review” in that you will be advising others whether or not to expend their money, and more importantly in Rickover’s view, their time on the book in question. This one and its predecessor are worth both.
As in Sheppard of the Argonne, you will note many “loose ends” remaining when the last page is turned. I chose to interpret this as “good news,” in that more adventures lie in the future for CAPT Sheppard Mc- Cloud and his German nemesis Vizeadmiral Klaus Schröder.
