The Scrap Iron Flotilla

The Scrap Iron Flotilla

Hurry! 10 items left!

Price	$19.24
	Collect 57 Everyday Rewards points Score 3x points on every order Ends 11:59pm 03/01/2025. Exclusions & T&Cs apply Log in to MyDeal to link your card
Shipping	Unable to calculate delivery for , please Contact Us Delivery unavailable to Change
	See delivery details

Quantity

Add to wishlist

Winner of the 2022 Commodore Sam Bateman Book Prize, awarded annually by the Australian Naval Institute to recognise excellence in books making a major contribution to naval and maritime mattersWhen the Second World War broke out in September 1939, the British asked Australia for help. With some misgivings, the Australian government sent five destroyers to beef up the British Royal Navy in the Mediterranean.HMAS Vendetta, Vampire, Voyager, Stuart and Waterhen were old ships, small with worn-out engines. Their crews used to joke they were held together by string and chewing gum; when the Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels heard of them, he sneered that they were a load of scrap iron.Yet by the middle of 1940, these destroyers were valiantly escorting troop and supply convoys, successfully hunting for submarines and indefatigably bombarding enemy coasts. Sometimes the weather could be their worst enemy - from filthy sandstorms blowing off Africa to icy gales from Europe that whipped up mountainous seas and froze the guns. Conditions on board were terrible - no showers or proper washing facilities; cramped and stinking sleeping quarters; unpleasant meals of spam and tinned sausages, often served cold in a howling squall. And always the bombing, the bombing. And the fear of submarines.When Nazi Germany invaded Greece, the Allied armies - including Australian Divisions - reeled in retreat. The Australian ships were among those who had to rescue thousands of soldiers. Then came the Siege of Tobruk - Australian troops holding out in that small Libyan port city. The Australian destroyers ran 'the Tobruk Ferry' - bringing supplies of food, medicine and ammunition into the shattered port by night, and taking off wounded soldiers.But the four destroyers now left were struggling, suffering from constant engine breakdowns, with crews beleaguered by two years of bombings, wild seas and the endless fear of being sunk. In late 1941 the ships were finally sent home, staggering back to Australia, proudly calling themselves the Scrap Iron Flotilla in defiance of the Goebbels' sneer. That flotilla is now an immortal part of Australian naval legend, and this is its story.

SKU: 9781761042010

Shipping Details

We provide shipping to most Australian addresses (excluding some areas outside of our courier's delivery zone).

We use a combination of Australia Post, Aramex and Direct Freight Express to get your order to you.

For an accurate shipping cost, add the items you want to your cart and enter your shipping area.

Orders of multiple items may come in separate parcels.

All returns must be started within 30 days of delivery. We kindly request that you don’t try to return the item without letting us know as every situation can be resolved differently.

Damaged, defective or incorrect items

Sometimes items are damaged during delivery, or have manufacturing defects. If this is the case or you have received an incorrect item, get in touch with us as soon as possible and we will do our best to fix as soon as we know. Visit our contact page to send a query.

Change of mind returns

Change of mind returns are accepted within 30 days of delivery for most items in resellable and unopened condition. Most items are eligible for free returns however each item in your order may have a different return policy. Some items cannot be returned due to change of mind.

To check the return policy for your item look on each item page for the returns section. Please note that the few items that are not eligible for free returns may incur a re-stocking fee in addition to having to pay for shipping to return the item.