Arctic Convoys
Bletchley Park and the War for the Seas
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Yale University Press
Published:22nd Oct '24
Should be back in stock very soon
“Kenyon uses new findings from Bletchley to retell the story of the naval battles that took place in the Arctic Ocean between 1941 and 1945.”—Daniel Brooks, The Telegraph
“Fascinating and meticulously researched book.”—Peter Sparkes, Naval Review
An incisive account of the Arctic convoys, and the essential role Bletchley Park and Special Intelligence played in Allied success
Between 1941 and 1945, more than eight hundred shiploads of supplies were delivered to the Soviet Union protected by allied naval forces. Each journey was a battle against the elements, with turbulent seas, extreme cold, and the constant dread of torpedoes. These Arctic convoys have been mythologized as defenseless vessels at the mercy of deadly U-boats—but was this really the case?
David Kenyon explores the story of the war in the Arctic, revealing that the contest was more evenly balanced that previously thought. Battles included major ship engagements, aircraft carriers, and combat between surface ships. Amid this wide range of forces, Bletchley Park’s Naval Section played a decisive role in Arctic operations, with both sides relying heavily on Signals Intelligence to intercept and break each other’s codes. Kenyon presents a vivid picture of the Arctic theater of war, unearthing the full-scale campaign for naval supremacy in northern waters.
“Kenyon uses new findings from Bletchley to retell the story of the naval battles that took place in the Arctic Ocean between 1941 and 1945—a small but critical element of the larger Battle of the Atlantic.”—Daniel Brooks, The Telegraph
“Kenyon has managed to weave the intelligence history into a more general military account of this neglected campaign. . . . It’s quite a balancing act, and neatly done.”—The Past
“Arctic Convoys is thoroughly recommended. . . . An excellent and long overdue book.”— Duncan Redford, H-Diplo
“[A] fascinating and meticulously researched book. . . . I recommend it strongly. . . . It will absolutely bring the story to life.”—Peter Sparkes, Naval Review
“A great jumping-off point for those wishing to study the campaign in depth.”—Andrew Mulholland, Military History Matters
“Kenyon assembles a wealth of previously unpublished material showing how interception, decoding and translation of enemy messages helped to shape the course of the Arctic Convoys, while weaving in the stories of some key figures at Bletchley Park.”—Nautilus Telegraph
“This rewarding new account highlights the magnitude of the Royal Navy’s victory. Despite constant attacks, appalling weather and unhelpful allies, the Arctic Convoys sustained the Soviet Union, supplied the Red Army—and turned the tide of the entire war.”—Andrew Lambert, author of Seapower States
“This meticulously researched account makes a crucial contribution to our understanding of the war in the Arctic. Yet another important puzzle piece in the ever-widening, myth-busting picture of Bletchley Park’s secret work in the Second World War.”—Sarah-Louise Miller, author of The Women Behind the Few
“We now have the definitive account. With rare skill and deep knowledge of both naval and intelligence sources, David Kenyon has woven a fascinating story of the Artic Convoys. The book is an essential addition to any Second World War library.”—Robin Prior, author of Conquer We Must
ISBN: 9780300279351
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
352 pages