On October 25, 1944, the Samuel B. Roberts, along with the other twelve vessels comprising its unit, stood between Japan's largest battleship force ever sent to sea and MacArthur's transports inside Leyte Gulf. Faced with the surprise appearance of more than twenty Japanese battleships, cruisers, and destroyers, including the Yamato, at 70,000 tons the most potent battlewagon in the world, the 1,200-ton Samuel B. Roberts turned immediately into action with six other ships. Captain Copeland marked the occasion with one of the most poignant addresses ever given to men on the edge of battle: "Men," he said over the intercom, "we are about to go into a fight against overwhelming odds from which survival cannot be expected." The ship churned straight at the enemy in a near-suicidal attempt to deflect the more potent foe, allow the small aircraft carriers to escape, and buy time for MacArthur's forces. Of 563 destroyers constructed during WWII, the Samuel B. Roberts was the only one sunk, going down with guns blazing in a duel reminiscent of the Spartans at Thermopylae or Davy Crockett's Alamo defenders. The men who survived faced a horrifying three-day nightmare in the sea, where they battled a lack of food and water, scorching sun and numbing night-time cold, and nature's most feared adversary - sharks. The battle would go down as history's greatest sea clash, the Battle of Samar - the dramatic climax of the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
0 有用 Woodchuckle 2020-10-31 10:24:47
一千多吨的护卫舰DE413“Samuel B. Roberts"在萨马岛海战中奋不顾身的冲向栗田舰队, 鱼雷命中重巡"鸟海", 五寸舰炮扫射“鸟海”和“筑摩”的上层建筑, 最终被"金刚"的三发十四寸炮弹击中, 沉没于萨马岛海域. 幸存者漂流两天两夜后获救. 本书的写法像兄弟连, 从Sammy B组建开始, 历经训练, 护航, 一直写到最高潮的萨马岛, 余韵是战后幸存者的生活和回忆. 最大的感慨是... 一千多吨的护卫舰DE413“Samuel B. Roberts"在萨马岛海战中奋不顾身的冲向栗田舰队, 鱼雷命中重巡"鸟海", 五寸舰炮扫射“鸟海”和“筑摩”的上层建筑, 最终被"金刚"的三发十四寸炮弹击中, 沉没于萨马岛海域. 幸存者漂流两天两夜后获救. 本书的写法像兄弟连, 从Sammy B组建开始, 历经训练, 护航, 一直写到最高潮的萨马岛, 余韵是战后幸存者的生活和回忆. 最大的感慨是前半部分几个着墨很多的人物, 以为一定会幸存下来, 然而一发炮弹过来, 整个炮塔或者轮机舱灰飞烟灭, 从此和家人天人永隔, 重伤的人纵有再强的求生意志, 也无缘见到刚出生的孩子. 本书可以和The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors一起读. (展开)
0 有用 Woodchuckle 2020-10-31 10:24:47
一千多吨的护卫舰DE413“Samuel B. Roberts"在萨马岛海战中奋不顾身的冲向栗田舰队, 鱼雷命中重巡"鸟海", 五寸舰炮扫射“鸟海”和“筑摩”的上层建筑, 最终被"金刚"的三发十四寸炮弹击中, 沉没于萨马岛海域. 幸存者漂流两天两夜后获救. 本书的写法像兄弟连, 从Sammy B组建开始, 历经训练, 护航, 一直写到最高潮的萨马岛, 余韵是战后幸存者的生活和回忆. 最大的感慨是... 一千多吨的护卫舰DE413“Samuel B. Roberts"在萨马岛海战中奋不顾身的冲向栗田舰队, 鱼雷命中重巡"鸟海", 五寸舰炮扫射“鸟海”和“筑摩”的上层建筑, 最终被"金刚"的三发十四寸炮弹击中, 沉没于萨马岛海域. 幸存者漂流两天两夜后获救. 本书的写法像兄弟连, 从Sammy B组建开始, 历经训练, 护航, 一直写到最高潮的萨马岛, 余韵是战后幸存者的生活和回忆. 最大的感慨是前半部分几个着墨很多的人物, 以为一定会幸存下来, 然而一发炮弹过来, 整个炮塔或者轮机舱灰飞烟灭, 从此和家人天人永隔, 重伤的人纵有再强的求生意志, 也无缘见到刚出生的孩子. 本书可以和The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors一起读. (展开)