Maritime English

Otto Kretschmer was only in combat from September 1939 until March 1941 but was Germany's highest-scoring U-boat commander, sinking forty-seven ships. This definitive work details his personal story and the political backdrop from his earliest days. After completing his officer training and time on the training ship Niobe, he served aboard the light cruiser Emden. In December 1934, he was transferred to the light cruiser Köln, then in January 1936 made the move to the fledgling U-boat service. D

A gripping maritime adventure novel set in the vast Atlantic Ocean during the late 1800s. Step into an epic saga of seafaring peril and heart-rending bravery with "Shipwreck in the Shadows." This meticulously crafted historical fiction takes you on a journey aboard the Pacific, a noble vessel caught in the clutches of an Atlantic tempest. As the storm rages, Captain Osborn, the Seagrave family, and their seasoned crew are thrust into a fierce battle for survival. The narrative unveils the daunting aftermath of a devastating shipwreck, where William, a young boy on the cusp of adolescence, ...

On the night of 14/15 April 1912, a supposedly unsinkable ship, the largest and most luxurious vessel in the world at the time, collided with an iceberg and sank on her maiden voyage. Of the 2,208 people on board, only 712 were saved. The rest either drowned or froze to death. How could this 'unsinkable' vessel sink and why did so few of those aboard survive? The authors bring the tragedy to life, telling the story of the ship's design, construction, and maiden voyage.

Jim Clary presents a compelling and riveting digest of beliefs, customs, and mystery in Superstitions of the Sea. Clary focuses on the vast array of strange, mythical, and often comical beliefs of mariners from ancient times to the present. Collecting the various topics for years, Clary found that maritime superstition was weaved throughout every fabric of his study. The folklore was so interesting that it often lured him far away from his subject search and held him spellbound for hours at a time.

What was daily life in Nelson's navy really like, for everyone from the captain down to the rawest recruit? What did they eat? What songs did they sing? What was the schedule of watches? How were the officers and crew paid, and what was the division of prize-money? These questions and many more are answered in Patrick O'Brian's elegant narrative, which includes wonderful anecdotal material on the battles and commanders that established Britain's naval supremacy.

At night, a harbor entrance becomes a dark and unpredictable corridor. One of the most dangerous harbor crossings in North America is the entrance to Humboldt Bay, on the California North Coast. For years, mariners have traded tales of shipwrecks and narrow escapes on the bar. The five stories retold here occurred between 1933 and 1982. They are based on recollections of sailors who survived the treacherous waters when a rogue wave came out of the darkness. In 1933, two teenagers pilot a small sailboat on a midnight adventure. Forty years later, Christmas Eve turns into a nightmare for the ...

Spices drove the early modern world economy, and for Europeans they represented riches on an unprecedented scale. Cloves and nutmeg could reach Europe only via a complex web of trade routes, and for decades Spanish and Portuguese explorers competed to find their elusive source. But when the Portuguese finally reached the spice islands of the Moluccas in 1511, they set in motion a fierce competition for control.

There are plenty of other elements about real-life pirates that are simply fiction. But what about the real history of pirates - is it worth exploring, and why? The history of the Golden Age of Piracy, the one that has shaped the modern conception of a pirate, is complex and long, with lots of information to cover.

In The Dutch Moment, Wim Klooster shows how the Dutch built and eventually lost an Atlantic empire that stretched from the homeland in the United Provinces to the Hudson River and from Brazil and the Caribbean to the African Gold Coast. The fleets and armies that fought for the Dutch in the decades-long war against Spain included numerous foreigners, largely drawn from countries in northwestern Europe. Likewise, many settlers of Dutch colonies were born in other parts of Europe or the New World.

In the summer of 1913, the wooden-hulled brigantine Karluk departed Canada for the Arctic Ocean. At the helm was Captain Bob Bartlett, considered the world’s greatest living ice navigator. The expedition’s visionary leader was a flamboyant impresario named Vilhjalmur Stefansson hungry for fame. Just six weeks after the Karluk departed, giant ice floes closed in around her. As the ship became icebound, Stefansson disembarked with five companions and struck out on what he claimed was a 10-day caribou hunting trip. Most on board would never see him again.

Former Naval Lieutenant Victoria Walsh lost everything when she was falsely accused of treason - her commission, her honor, and her family legacy. Now she commands a pirate vessel, leading her own loyal crew while searching for evidence to clear her name. She never expected her path to justice would lead her back to Eleanor Cavendish - the admiral's daughter whose troubled eyes at Victoria's trial suggested she alone saw the truth. Eleanor has spent six months investigating the corruption that destroyed Victoria's life, gathering evidence against the powerful men who framed her. But when ...

Stephen Monroe is a young, zealous patriot, proud of his brother William, who is a distinguished captain in the Revolutionary War. The one thing Stephen can’t understand is how his brother can kill Redcoats but despise the fiery words of other revolutionaries like Thomas Paine. When Stephen meets Lieutenant William Morris, he thinks he has found someone even more patriotic than his brother. Caught between two Williams, Stephen must realize there are two wars going on, and he must choose between his brother’s or Lieutenant Morris’.

Following the fall of Rome, the sea is increasingly the stage upon which the human struggle of western civilization is played out. In a world of few roads and great disorder, the sea is the medium on which power is projected and wealth sought. Yet this confused period in the history of maritime warfare has rarely been studied; it is little known and even less understood. Charles Stanton uses an innovative and involving approach to describe this fascinating but neglected facet of European medieval history.

Between August and October 1720, two female pirates named Anne Bonny and Mary Read terrorized the Caribbean in and around Jamaica. Despite their short career, they became two of the most notorious pirates during the height of the eighteenth-century Golden Age of Piracy. In a world dominated by men, they became infamous for their bravery, cruelty and unwavering determination to escape the social constraints placed on women during that time.

A Brief Guide to Maritime Strategy is a deliberately compact introductory work aimed at junior seafarers, those who make decisions affecting the sea services, and those who educate seafarers and decision-makers. It introduces listeners to the main theoretical ideas that shape how statesmen and commanders make and execute maritime strategy in times of peace and war.

Shipwrecked Dreamsby Harper Stanwick, Sr. is a gripping historical fiction adventure set in the early 20th century North Pacific. Follow the perilous journey of Jimmy Farquhar, a young and ambitious second mate, as he navigates the treacherous waters of the North Pacific in search of fortune and redemption. As Jimmy embarks on a challenging voyage aboard a mail steamboat, he encounters a series of unforeseen challenges that test his resolve and courage. From battling fierce storms to confronting the harsh realities of maritime life, Jimmy's journey is fraught with danger and uncertainty. ...

Set against the backdrop of an expanding nation, Brilliant Beacons traces the evolution of America's lighthouse system, highlighting the political, military, and technological battles fought to illuminate the nation's hardscrabble coastlines.

Captain Quinn Tanner bears her scars like armor, a permanent reminder of the mutiny that taught her trust is a luxury she can't afford. Now she commands the Cursed Scar with iron discipline, keeping everyone—crew and enemies alike—at sword's length. When a hurricane washes Lady Diamond Haverford into her path, Quinn finds her carefully ordered world thrown into chaos. The noblewoman is brilliant, beautiful—and hiding dangerous secrets of her own. Despite Quinn's determination to maintain her distance, Diamond's fearless spirit begins to breach her impenetrable walls. But Diamond isn't...

When John Monroe saves a mother and daughter from the clutches of a rogue English soldier, he is thrust into a world of intrigue and espionage. It’s the height of the French and Indian War. In possession of a letter that exposes British troop movements, John must race to deceive the French before the rogue soldier can catch up to him and provide the actual intelligence the French need.

🌊 They’ve been seen. They’ve been heard. Some never returned. For centuries, sailors, explorers, and even modern-day witnesses have told chilling stories of something lurking beneath the waves—creatures with human-like eyes, webbed hands, and eerie, unearthly voices. But what happens when the legends turn real? 📖 Mermaids: Truth & Terror uncovers 25 eerie, real-life encounters with the unknown. From historic sailor accounts to modern deep-sea anomalies, this book takes you deep into the waters of mystery, legend, and fear. Inside this book, you’ll discover: ✅ Christopher ...