The Tinfish Run

A convoy of merchantmen with its naval escort ploughs through the Arctic seas towards northern Russia. In the grey seas beneath them lurk the deadly U-boat packs and in the skies above, cloud hides the squadrons of dive-bombing Stukas. Aboard V&W class destroyer Virtue, Ordinary Seaman 'Lobby' Ludd is making his first trip in the service of His Majesty...

Cockney Lobby Ludd, eighteen, fighting against U-boat "tinfish" (torpedoes), arctic gales, and bone-weariness, hears the ribald tales and learns the tricks and techniques of survival from his salty older shipmates. But as the enemy mounts its attack, and the atmosphere intensifies, will the men's camaraderie be enough to see them through? Or will The Tinfish Run turn out to be their final voyage?

Bassett not only captures vividly the fear and boredom of life on a vessel at war--he makes complex tactical questions comprehensible and as taut and engrossing as the more personal aspects of combat at sea. 'Vividly described ... the voyage as seen through the sleep-robbed eyes of matelots and officers alike' - Daily Telegraph 'Superb … this is the authentic Navy' - Manchester Evening News Ronald Bassett joined the Navy as a boy.

His first ship was the cruiser Norfolk in which he served as a Telegraphist in the Arctic during the Bismarck action, and the North African landings. He served in landing craft during the invasion of Normandy.