The War of the Motor Gun Boats: One Man's Personal War at Sea with the Coastal Forces, 1943-1945

During World War II, Tony Chapman joined the Navy and served on Motor Gun Boats in the Mediterranean and Aegean. He witnessed the destruction of Southampton's High Street and vowed to fight back. His flotilla took on a force of thirty E-boats, resulting in the sinking of three and the loss of half of his shipmates. The book provides a vivid description of daily life on these small ships and their role in the war.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 06 February 2023
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Tony Chapman, born in Southampton in 1924, witnessed the devastating destruction of the historic High Street during a German bombing raid in 1940. Fueled by a desire to fight back, he enlisted in the Navy. Shortly after being assigned to his first Motor Gun Boat, Telegraphist Chapman found himself in the midst of an epic Coastal Forces engagement against a force of thirty E-boats. Despite their successful sinking of three E-Boats, the cost was high, with half of Tony's shipmates either killed or injured. This marked the beginning of a remarkable and turbulent wartime service aboard these diminutive warships. The flotilla operated in the Mediterranean and Aegean, playing a vital role in this often overlooked theater of war. Daily life aboard these small ships is vividly depicted, offering a unique perspective on the challenges and experiences of service during this period. The flotilla actively participated in operations in the Levant and alongside the Greek Sacred Regiment of Commandos in the Aegean. Their efforts culminated in the capture of the Island of Kos in 1945, a significant achievement that fills a significant gap in the literature of World War II. Written from the perspective of one of the other ranks, War of the Motor Gun Boats provides a valuable addition to the understanding of this pivotal chapter in history.

Weight: 328g
Dimension: 156 x 235 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399020084