D. A. Rayner (1908–1967)

Another random war novel - novella? - although, like Wouk's The Caine Mutiny, I did actually enjoy reading such a blokey tale of maritime derring do. My actual reason for buying 'the book of the film' (although the film turns the British destroyer into an American vessel, naturally) is because Rayner's story was the inspiration behind a Star Trek episode, 'The Balance of Terror' (yes, I am that nerdy). The cold and precise Romulans are the Germans, fighting against the Allies - Kirk and the show more Enterprise - in the Neutral Zone. The whole battle translates very well into sci-fi, and the British captain, Murrell, is a lot like Kirk, even down to conferring with the ship's doctor. The characterisation is spot on: 'The Captain moved apart from the other officers clustered on the bridge. He felt an immediate desire to be alone - for he looked fear in the face, and wanted to meet this new adversary alone. It was not so much the personal fear of death, but the fear that his professional judgement might prove to be at fault'.

Anyway, getting away from Star Trek and back to The Enemy Below, the face-off between the two captains is well-paced, and the reader is able to identify with both sides, I think. The language is a little stultified - the British captain actually says 'Tally-ho' at one point - but Rayner obviously knew his onions, though even the technical jargon can't completely sink the tense atmosphere. Also, the ending is both surprising and amusing. show less

German U Boat U121 is on a secret mission to collect some secret British documents from a German raider in the South Atlantic. Her crew are so confident that no Allied vessels are about they permit a British destroyer to follow them for hours before launching an attack. The narrative switches between the destroyer's captain's view and that of the German U Boat captain's. Rayner depicts the German commander's Nazi indoctrination as a reason for his inability to have a happy ship while the show more British vessel is a more relaxed and positive place to be.

Made into a film with an American ship and a more congenial German captain and crew. show less

In 1808, a French raider named Piamontaise was planning on attacking and capturing an English merchant convoy of three ships that were carrying cargo to England. The French were in dire need of food,etc. for the island of Isle de France.

In the way of French success was the English frigate, San Fiorenzo which was smaller, had fewer guns and at the moment was undermanned because many of its complement was a shore recovering from malaria. The frigate's captain was young and aggressive even show more though he was relatively new in the role.

When he met the French privateer, he out maneuvered his opponent and while severally damaged himself, made repairs at sea and tracked down the French ship just as the convoy came into sight and again defeated the French ship to the point it had to strike its flag and surrender.

Rayner. who is better known for his novel The Enemy Below, has written a truly fascinating novel about a real event that took place off the coast of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in 1808. His descriptions of the way sailors of the period used sails to maneuver the ship quickly using wind and water currents to take down an enemy is very enlightening. He even includes drawings that show the tracks of the ships as they tried to outmaneuver each other to gain an advantage during the battle. show less

L'incrociatore americano "Haynes", comandato dal Cap. Murrel, si trova in perlustrazione nell'Atlantico meridionale, a caccia di sottomarini tedeschi. Il radar avverte la presenza di un sottomarino. Si tratta dell'U-121 comandato dall'abile Cap. Von Stolbeg. Tra i due inizia una sottile quanto pericolosa caccia, risoluti a sorprendere l'altro... (fonte: Coming soon)