Buy new:
$23.67
FREE delivery Friday, May 3 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
List Price: $29.99 Details

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Save: $6.32 (21%)
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Friday, May 3 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35. Order within 23 hrs 19 mins
Only 7 left in stock (more on the way).
$$23.67 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$23.67
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime
FREE delivery Saturday, May 4 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Used: Good | Details
Sold by Vandelay Ventures
Fulfilled by Amazon
Condition: Used: Good
Comment: Slight wear, clean pages, good condition. Buy your literature with confidence! Ships direct from Amazon!

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers, and we directly pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products. Something we hope you'll especially enjoy: FBA items qualify for FREE Shipping and Amazon Prime.

If you're a seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you grow your business. Learn more about the program.

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Martin Middlebrook
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Sinking of the Prince of Wales & Repulse: The End of the Battleship Era Paperback – September 22, 2014

by Martin Middlebrook (Author), Patrick Mahoney (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 300 ratings
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$23.67","priceAmount":23.67,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"23","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"67","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"d69KNCn%2Fu7fWxnEO%2B4InqfP7QRKILnqgCmMNtzEFlS0nlN9sxmGTkMBSIrUvtBweNiltKd%2BUzGM4pfwQk9AU38QCx%2FJLzXG7NAkj37o6DFE2ioyE8vj%2F9JxFQpST2QvdQx0CMxZYonU%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$20.56","priceAmount":20.56,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"20","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"56","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"d69KNCn%2Fu7fWxnEO%2B4InqfP7QRKILnqgF7%2FzvOPN0Gt4LblE6wyljqFE%2FFvMaGjGhTHV7If54TDhMpqvhATzAm66ldEJ5LD2uvVtI2MySM2SQayJUn1MKNqTbTfsP0A6bf1mDhVHbvaI4jk%2FyOpLFOkFFuzKfaveFw3snkWMwfBepGUNNQ3N%2BbifGm8G%2BkvT","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

On the third day of the war with Japan, two Royal Navy capital ships were sunk off Malaya by air torpedo attack. They had not requested the air support that could have saved them and 840 men died in the battleship HMS Prince of Wales and the battle cruiser HMS Repulse. The authors re-create for the reader not only what happened, but also what it was like for the men involved. They dispose of several myths to explain the events of those confused hours, and address the uncertainty, controversy and strong emotions that surrounded the militarily disastrous sinkings.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    376 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Pen and Sword Maritime
  4. Publication date
    September 22, 2014
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 1.25 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1844150755
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1844150755
  8. See all details
Next page
Amazon First Reads | Editors' picks at exclusive prices

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Martin Middlebrook has written many other books that deal with important turning-points in the two world wars, including The First Day on the Somme, Kaiser's Battle, The Peenemünde Raid, The Somme Battlefields (with Mary Middlebrook) and The Nuremberg Raid 30-31st March 1944 (all republished and in print with Pen and Sword).

Martin Middlebrook is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and lives near Boston, Lincolnshire

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pen and Sword Maritime; paperback / softback edition (September 22, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 376 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1844150755
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1844150755
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.25 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 300 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Martin Middlebrook

Martin Middlebrook

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
300 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Michaela Light
5.0 out of 5 stars Great account of this battle from both sides + politics that led to it + analysis of consequences
Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2022
Verified Purchase
I love reading history! This book is an excellent combination of a detailed account of the battle from both sides plus the historical and political background that led to the battle. And an analysis of the aftermath.

The book is about the sinking of the 2 British battleships Repulse and Prince of Wales in Dec 10th 1941 off Malaya by (shock) aircraft. The Royal Navy couldn't believe that aircraft could sink a battleship... so they didn't work with the local RAAF for aircover.

While Repulse was 1916 (WWI vintage) and might have been expected to be damaged more, the Prince of Wales was the latest in battleship design from 1939 and had many watertight compartments and anti-torpedo defenses. It was said to be "unsinkable"...

Ever since navies don't send battleships into battle without fighter cover. Hence this date is called the end of the battleship era.

Ever since airpower has ruled the seas (and now missiles too).

Lots of mistakes and "fog of war" on both sides of the battle. Missed opportunities to win and lucky breaks.

You have to remember that in 1941 radar was rare, ships and aircraft often operated in radio silence to avoid detention, and clouds or darkness could cover an approach. Also plenty of mistakes in not passing messages along correctly from Japanese submarines and spotter planes to their command base in Saigon.

Lots of bravery on both sides. Pilots flying calmly into flak to drop bombs or torpedos at near point-blank range. Ships turning towards multiple torpedos to "comb" the torpedo spread at the last minute. Rescuing trapped men below decks as the sinks sank.

The Repulse went down in FOUR minutes after 5 torpedo hits in a cross spread that the Captain could not "comb" along with the other torpedos coming in the other direction.

Captain Tennant gave the order "All hands on deck. Prepare to abandon ship.”....God be with you.". 508 men didn't make it out in time.

The Prince of Wales took several hours to sink. Admiral Phillips and Captain Leach were both alive and uninjured at the end, though Phillips appeared very depressed, and they both went down with their ship.
Many sailors were saved by the escort destroyers. The sharks didn't bite on the survivors - maybe they were frighten off by the explosions or the taste of masses of fuel oil in the water...
And terrible suffering of the crews on all sides in fires, drowning, drinking fuel oil in the sea and threat of man eating sharks. Most injuries and deaths were on the losing side (the British Empire) with only a few on the Japanese Empire side.

This battle pretty directly led to the fall of Singapore a few weeks later and the collapse of the British, Dutch and American empires in SE Asia. The French empire there was already toast at that point, as Vichy France had let the Japanese occupy their IndoChina colonies unopposed (that is modern Vietnam, Cambodia and Loas). Siam (Thailand) got a mini-invasion too, but escaped full occupation and the kingdom survived WWII to the present day.

You might argue that this was one of the accelerants to the American-Vietnam war years later. As local people realized that Western powers could be defeated by Asians.

PS American and Australian ships rushed to the scene and were nearly part of the battle. This was just after Pearl Harbor attack on Dec 7th 1941.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Immer
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Rendering and Analysis of this Battle
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2018
Verified Purchase
Martin Middlebrook with Patrick Mahoney have written a short history one comes to expect from Middlebrook. The 350+ page book is broken down into 16 well organized chapters that cover the background of Capitol ships such as the Prince of Wales and Repulse, the philosophy of why the were sent to Asian waters, the mission, the battle, sinking , rescue, and analysis.

Four clear maps are provided, two diagrams of the first torpedo attack with subsequent flooding on Prince of Wales, and 34 photographs over 14 pages. These all help the reader visualize what happened on that day, that in reality, need not have occurred.

Middlebrook and Mahoney are adept at discussing and second guessing the decisions made in sending these two ships to their fate, with the benefit of hindsight (they state this up front and often), and this allows the reader to make their own decision on whether to cast blame on those who made the choices, or the philosophies of the time in regard to battleships/battle cruisers being able to withstand air attack while at sea, and the dreadfully wrong conclusion that the Japanese, and their equipment was inferior.

The air attack itself from opening defensive fire, to the ships sinking took about two hours under mostly clear skies and calm seas. The high altitude bombing had little effect, but the torpedo attacks were the fateful key to the battle, which proved very one sided -The Prince of Wales and Repulse sunk in exchange for three aircraft lost. The torpedo attacks are riveting as portrayed, and easily visualized by the reader.

Air power trumps sea power, as Billy Mitchell predicted. When one thinks of the Battle of Midway, the opposing naval forces never saw each other. The super Japanese battleships Yamato and Musashi were done in by naval AirPower. Middlebrook hints that even now, our aircraft carriers are obsolete, in the evolution of naval warfare.

As an after thought, the mission of the Prince of Wales and Repulse was eeriely similar to the voyage of the Bismarck and Prinz Eugen. Cover was blown, but they continued fatefully on their way. Single torpedo hits to the stern of both Prince of Wales and Bismarck took away their mobility, and put the nail in their coffins.

If you have enjoyed any of Martin Middlebrook’s other books, you will appreciate this book as well.
5 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Judith Bunyan
5.0 out of 5 stars Father Was on the Shop when it Sank
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 4, 2023
Verified Purchase
My Father served on the Repulse at this time & was one of the servivors who were taken to Singapore & over run by the Japanese ended up in a Japanese camp which he escaped from. This book is part of my families history which wil be past down to the grandchildren who will hopefully read.
Report
Cliente Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars VERY INFORMATIVE.. GOOD ONE
Reviewed in Italy on November 10, 2016
Verified Purchase
ALL THE INFORMATION ON THE GENERALò POLITICAL SITUATION AND DATA AND INTERVIEWS ON THE BATTLE.. LIMITED IN SCOPE AS INTENDED, BUT EXHAUSTIVE.. GOOD READ
One person found this helpful
 Report
Peter Brimelow
4.0 out of 5 stars Hard to put down.
Reviewed in Australia on February 4, 2016
Verified Purchase
A good level of detail, a good story well told.
Report
Batman5051
4.0 out of 5 stars Poignant Tale
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 1, 2023
Verified Purchase
Read it while cruising by the wreck site. We’ll written and detailed account of the build up and the sinking itself.
Report
Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in Australia on May 18, 2016
Verified Purchase
Well researched and well written.
Report