An extremely detailed account of how the idea of supplying Russia via convoys through the north came about and how it was accomplished. At first, Kemp explains the British enthusiasm in 1940 for depleting their reserves of war materials to send aid to Russia as they were the only Allie they had who was actually fighting the Germans.

Sending this aid stretched the Royal Navy's resources to the breaking point and its leadership did not want to send convoys through the north route where German submarines and aircraft would be close to the route. Politicians lead by Churchill forced them to do it.

Through the words of the men who sailed the route via their memoirs and interviews, we get a first hand account of what it was like to sail ships through -40 F degrees for weeks where the ice forming on your weapons made them useless and your ship top heavy. A sinking meant almost certain death in the icy water. Food was mundane and rarely hot. The German surface ships faced the same challenges and their airmen faced almost certain death if shot down.

An exciting account of the chase and sinking of the Scharnhorst is in the book and we have the views of both sides in that battle.

The information is detailed and dense but the readable prose makes the book a quick read. ( )