Scapegoat: The Death of Prince of Wales and Repulse (ePub)
Imprint: Pen & Sword Maritime
File Size: 10.2 MB (.epub)
Illustrations: 40 black and white illustrations
ISBN: 9781473838703
Published: 30th August 2014
Scapegoat: The Death of Prince of Wales and Repulse' is a radical new account of one of Britain's greatest naval disasters. Making full use of modern research and unrivalled access to privazte family papers, it suggests that Admiral Sir Tom Phillips, the commander of the so-called 'Force Z', was made the scapegoat for a battle in which he was blameless, and that Winston Churchill, the Admiralty and chronic failures in ship design and Intelligence were what sank the ships. The book also shows what a very close run thing the sinkings were, and how Japanese success depended on them having luck on their side. 'Scapegoat' is a convincing attempt to right a wrong that has been allowed to stand for over 70 years, as well as a prime illustration of the way in which the Establishment always protects itself first.
As featured in
Warship annual
This is a radical new account of one of Britain's greatest Naval disasters showing what a very close run thing the sinkings were,and how Japanese success depended on them having luck on their side. It is a convincing attempt to right a wrong that has been allowed to stand for over 70 years.
NavyBooks.com
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Warship World
The title of this book from Pen and Sword says a lot, as the author makes a detailed examination of the events surrounding the sinking of Force Z in the Far East, when the Repulse and the Prince of Wales, two powerful Royal Navy ships, were sunk by Japanese aircraft. The commander of those two ships, Admiral Tom Phillips, has had much of the blame for their loss put on his shoulders in history books since WW2. The Admiral died when the ships went down, so he was never able to give his side of the story in the aftermath. Thanks partly to some luck in tracking down the personal papers of Admiral Tom Phillips, the author has done a fine job of re-examining the story of what happened, and putting in the wider context of what was going on in the Far East at the time, and in Singapore in particular.
Military Modelling
The story is split over 12 chapter, looking at the Military, Political and Historical Background: The Loss of Prince of Wales and Repulse. The Action, The Case Against Tom Phillips; Admiral Sir Tom Phillips: Singapore and Signals: Churchill and the Secret Alliance: The Ships - Prince of Wales: The Ships - Repulse and Escorts: Intelligence, SS Automedon and Matador: Aircraft: Struggles for Power - Sir Tom Phillips and the Royal Navy in 1941: The Loss of Prince of Wales and Repulse - A Revaluation, The Preliminaries: and then finally, The Loss of Prince of Wales and Repulse - A Revaluation, The Action. In all this the author has clearly done some wide ranging research, and added to the value of seeing Tom Phillips personal papers, has been able to offer a different view on what happened...
An interesting re-examination of a very famous event for the Royal Navy at this stage in the war, as more bad news was helped onto the British public, let alone the families of those who lost their lives. Also a fine argument in support of Admiral Tom Phillips, who had been unable to give his side of the story after the event.
A radical new account.
Ships Monthly
The author has clearly done a great deal of research, and picked up on data ignored by others, creating an interesting revisionist view of a well-known incident.
Marine News
An informative offering... This book should reopen a debate rather than close the debate by exonerating Admiral Phillips.
Scuttlebutt
The author has provided a stimulating account of the death of Force Z and challenged many of the previous accounts. ... a very credible presentation of an alternative view.
Firetrench