Little Ship, Big War: The Saga of DE343 - Softcover

Stafford, Edward P.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1557508909 ISBN 13: 9781557508904

Publisher: Naval Institute Press, 2012

Synopsis

Manned almost entirely by reservists, the USS Abercrombie (DE343) and her sister ships did the dirty work of the Pacific War. They escorted convoys, chased submarines, picked up downed pilots, and led the landing craft to the invasion beaches, yet they received little credit and less glory. This book is a stirring tribute to their heroic efforts, written by a naval officer who served in the Abercrombie during the war and later became a best-selling author. First published in 1984, it has long been acclaimed for presenting a view of the navy as the sailors actually saw it--the joys and pains, the humor and gravity, the successes and defeats.

Ed Stafford provides an authentic, day-by-day account of life on board DE343, from the Battle of Leyte Gulf and picket duty against kamikazes at Okinawa to the signing of the peace treaty in Tokyo Harbor. To create an accurate picture he consulted ship logs and after-action reports and interviewed members of the crew. Although the book focuses on events in a particular warship, it tells the story of every small ship and their valiant crews that rose to the challenge and fought with everything they had until the war was won.

About this title

About the Author:

CDR. Edward Peary Stafford, USN (Ret.) (1918-2013) was a naval aviator. He wrote for Naval History and Proceedings, as well as for National Geographic. He is best known for The Big E and four other books on naval history: Subchaser; Little Ship, Big War; The Saga of DE-343, and The Far and the Deep.

From Library Journal:

DE343 is the USS Abercrombie, which, along with many similar class ships (Destroyer Escorts) during World War II, ran escort missions, hunted subs, rescued downed pilots, and engaged in many other dangerous and noble endeavors. Yet the importance of these vessels has been overlooked by naval historians, who have concentrated on the more glamorous battleships, aircraft carriers, etc. Stafford's volume chronicles the history of the Abercrombie from its construction through its many missions and ultimately to its sale as scrap. "A fascinating and unique work for World War II collections" (LJ 7/84).
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Naval Institute Press
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1557508909
• ISBN 13: 9781557508904
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 336