THE BOOKS OF PETER C. SMITH
THE BATTLE-CRUISER HMS Renown
1916-1948.
H/B 1979 (ISBN 0 7183 0206 0); H/B
Edition Pen & Sword, Barnsley, 2008
(Originally published as H/B Edition by William Kimber, London, 1976, as HIT
FIRST, HIT HARD- ISBN
1-844-15745-8)
The story of the Royal Navy
battle-cruiser H.M.S. Renown was a long and distinguished one.
Originally built for the First World War she subsequently served in the
post-war fleet and took royalty around the world. Modernised just in time for
the second great sea war, she re-joined the fleet in September, 1939 and for
the first two years of the war her speed and heavy gun armament made her one of
the most important ships of the fleet. She escorted the famous carrier Ark
Royal for most of her illustrious career as flagship of Force "H"
in the Mediterranean and took part in many
stirring battles and convoy actions.
Later she covered Russian convoys in the
Arctic before going out to the Indian Ocean where she took part in attacks on
Japanese targets in the Indian Ocean. Her
final duties included the meeting of King George VI and President Truman in
1945. A host of fresh detail coupled with eyewitness memoirs from former crew
members make this an outstanding warship biography.
Reviewing this book the Navy News
said: "Peter Smith has chosen well in featuring the famous battle cruiser,
Renown, for her career touched most of the naval highlights of the
Second World War..." From New
Zealand John Paston wrote of the new
edition:- "I really enjoyed reading it and I can say I have rarely read a
book in this category I class as 'Unputdownable'." He added the book was
"...a great blend of narrative and eye-witness detail." Rob Jerrard's
Internet review stated:- "The book makes excellent reading ........and is
highly recommended." The Nautical Magazine reviewer stated: “Compared with other titles
on the ship, here is a host of fresh detail, coupled with exceptionally vivid
eyewitness memories from former members of the ship’s company, creating
an outstanding warship biography.” A fresh reviewer reviewing the new
edition in 2009 the same magazine twenty-three years later stated that the
books was, “A meticulous record of a warship’s 32 years afloat,
“ adding of the author, “In this work, his combination of official
sources and personal memories from the many who sailed in Renown has, not only closely recorded the ship’s activities
in peace and war, but achieved an understanding for what it must have meant for
those on board. Good to preserve a record of this nature- particularly for students
of ships and the men who sailed in them.” Max Sarche in Model Boats magazine expressed similar views: “A host of
fresh detail, coupled with eyewitness memories from former crew members make
this an outstanding warship biography.” Awarding the book 5-stars,
Jonathan Lupton wrote:- “Thoroughly researched and well-written, this
title gives insight into the life of British naval crews during WWII and
background into many fascinating and little-known tactical and nautical details
about the naval war. Peter Smith has a good grasp of weapon systems and
tactics, as well as the broad sweep of the naval war and Renown’s role in it.” In Canada J. Graeme Arbuckle writing
in The Northern Mariner, noted that:
“The organization of the material in the book has obviously been
carefully considered, not only in order to include suitable anecdotes from the
various members of the ship’s company, but also to provide the true story
of Renown, warts and all.” He
concluded that the book “…would be a valuable addition to your
library.” S. P. Stevens stated that this was, “ A very good book
with the right for me mix of history and stories of the crew..” American
Jonathan Lupton awarded the book 5-stars and in his review wrote that the book
was - “Thoroughly researched and well-written, this title gives insight
into the life of British naval crews during WWII and background into many
fascinating and little-known tactical and nautical details about the naval war.
Peter Smith has a good grasp of weapon systems and tactics, as well as the
broad sweep of the naval war and Renown’s
role in it. Read it only if you seek this level of detail, but savour it if you
do.”
