J.E. Macdonnell's Royal Australian Navy World War II Fiction

Scimitar-a new ship with a green crew-was already at 25 knots and in the ridged sea she could take no more. Her nose was pointing straight at the Jap cruiser's bridge. Snelling's eye caught the flicker of tumbling numbers on the range-repeat dial. Five thousand yards. God, why hadn't the Jap opened fire? Five thousand yards! He couldn't miss. And then the Japanese cruiser opened up, and a storm of high-explosive burst all about them.Then the captain looked at his first mate, and the first mate would never forget the sight of his captain for as long as he lived. With his left hand clutched round his throat, red as though he had hauled it, dripping, from a tin of red paint, he bent over the voice-pipe and ordered, "Full ahead together." Then he turned to them and spoke as if he tasted every word."Stand by to ram!" JAMES EDMOND MACDONNELL was born in 1917 in Mackay, Queensland and became one of Australia's most prolific writers. As a boy, he became determined to go to sea and read every seafaring book he could find. At age 13, while his family was still asleep, he took his brother's bike and rode eighty miles from his home town to Brisbane in an attempt to see ships and the sea. Fortunately, he was found and returned to his family. He attended the Toowoomba Grammar School from 1931 to 1932. He served in the Royal Australian Navy for fourteen years, joining at age 17, advancing through all lower deck ranks and reaching the rank of commissioned gunnery officer. He began writing books while still in active service.Macdonnell wrote stories for The Bulletin under the pseudonym "Macnell" and from 1948 to 1956 he was a member of The Bulletin staff. His first book, Fleet Destroyer – a collection of stories about life on the small ships – was published by The Book Depot, Melbourne, in 1945. Macdonnell began writing full-time for Horwitz in 1956, writing an average of a dozen books a year.After leaving the navy, Macdonnell lived in St. Ives, Sydney and pursued his writing career. In 1988, he retired to Buderim on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. He died peacefully in his sleep at a Buderim hospital in 2002. He is survived by his children Beth, Jane and Peter.Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters – Captain "Dutchy" Holland, D.S.O., Captain Peter Bentley, V.C., Captain Bruce Sainsbury, V.C., Jim Brady, and Lieutenant Commander Robert Randall. J. E. Macdonnell wrote over 200 novels, in at least 7 different series under several versions of his own name and several pseudonyms. Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters. His work has been published in at least nine different languages. As an ex-Royal Australia Navy gunner, his fiction is full of authenticity. With action and navy life spot on.

The charges went over, and some evil fate exploded them right outside the forward engine-room; the possible weak spot. An engine-room artificer stood before his huge bank of wheels: behind him, the force of the hammering explosions burst a rivet from her side. The steel particle flew across the engine-room with the force of a bullet.But it wasn't the rivet that hit him. Outside that tiny hole the deep ocean was thrusting against the hull, clamping round it with a pressure of hundreds of tons per square inch. As the rivet exploded into the room, it was followed by a thin, horizontal jet of water; a jet under such enormous force that it was solid, like a thin, steel rapier. The jet struck the artificer in the neck, a trifle behind his left ear. Before he knew what had hit him, the jet bore into his head like a gimlet, smashing the lower part of his brain, careering round inside the bony cranium of his skull with ten times the damaging effect of a bullet. He fell backward, and in a twinkling the water-jet gouged his left eye from its socket in the dead face. JAMES EDMOND MACDONNELL was born in 1917 in Mackay, Queensland and became one of Australia's most prolific writers. As a boy, he became determined to go to sea and read every seafaring book he could find. At age 13, while his family was still asleep, he took his brother's bike and rode eighty miles from his home town to Brisbane in an attempt to see ships and the sea. Fortunately, he was found and returned to his family. He attended the Toowoomba Grammar School from 1931 to 1932. He served in the Royal Australian Navy for fourteen years, joining at age 17, advancing through all lower deck ranks and reaching the rank of commissioned gunnery officer. He began writing books while still in active service.Macdonnell wrote stories for The Bulletin under the pseudonym "Macnell" and from 1948 to 1956 he was a member of The Bulletin staff. His first book, Fleet Destroyer – a collection of stories about life on the small ships – was published by The Book Depot, Melbourne, in 1945. Macdonnell began writing full-time for Horwitz in 1956, writing an average of a dozen books a year.After leaving the navy, Macdonnell lived in St. Ives, Sydney and pursued his writing career. In 1988, he retired to Buderim on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. He died peacefully in his sleep at a Buderim hospital in 2002. He is survived by his children Beth, Jane and Peter.Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters – Captain "Dutchy" Holland, D.S.O., Captain Peter Bentley, V.C., Captain Bruce Sainsbury, V.C., Jim Brady, and Lieutenant Commander Robert Randall. J. E. Macdonnell wrote over 200 novels, in at least 7 different series under several versions of his own name and several pseudonyms. Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters. His work has been published in at least nine different languages. As an ex-Royal Australia Navy gunner, his fiction is full of authenticity. With action and navy life spot on.

H. M. A. S. Scimitar was ordered to join the American Fleet, but it soon became clear that the Americans didn't have much time for the Aussie battleship. Even when Scimitar's commander, Bruce Sainsbury V.C., reported that a secret Japanese airstrip was operating somewhere in the area, the warning was dismissed. Then the Japanese hit the fleet, and hit it hard. Sainsbury volunteered to comb the ocean for the island airstrip, and promised to destroy it when he found it. If anyone could pull off such a dangerous mission, it was the Scimitar's crew. But there was a weak link that might just turn a potential victory into a terrible defeat. Because one of Scimitar's officers was a glory-hunter. Worse than that, he was also a coward … JAMES EDMOND MACDONNELL was born in 1917 in Mackay, Queensland and became one of Australia's most prolific writers. As a boy, he became determined to go to sea and read every seafaring book he could find. At age 13, while his family was still asleep, he took his brother's bike and rode eighty miles from his home town to Brisbane in an attempt to see ships and the sea. Fortunately, he was found and returned to his family. He attended the Toowoomba Grammar School from 1931 to 1932. He served in the Royal Australian Navy for fourteen years, joining at age 17, advancing through all lower deck ranks and reaching the rank of commissioned gunnery officer. He began writing books while still in active service.Macdonnell wrote stories for The Bulletin under the pseudonym "Macnell" and from 1948 to 1956 he was a member of The Bulletin staff. His first book, Fleet Destroyer – a collection of stories about life on the small ships – was published by The Book Depot, Melbourne, in 1945. Macdonnell began writing full-time for Horwitz in 1956, writing an average of a dozen books a year.After leaving the navy, Macdonnell lived in St. Ives, Sydney and pursued his writing career. In 1988, he retired to Buderim on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. He died peacefully in his sleep at a Buderim hospital in 2002. He is survived by his children Beth, Jane and Peter.Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters – Captain "Dutchy" Holland, D.S.O., Captain Peter Bentley, V.C., Captain Bruce Sainsbury, V.C., Jim Brady, and Lieutenant Commander Robert Randall. J. E. Macdonnell wrote over 200 novels, in at least 7 different series under several versions of his own name and several pseudonyms. Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters. His work has been published in at least nine different languages. As an ex-Royal Australia Navy gunner, his fiction is full of authenticity. With action and navy life spot on.

Lieutenant-Commander Bentley was crouched behind his binnacle. His stare was fixed with unblinking intensity on the stem of the leading cruiser. Both big ships were racing at them side by side-even if they had had time to swerve apart in the few seconds which had elapsed since Wind Rode had burst from the smoke, it is doubtful if they would have bothered; who would expect a lone destroyer to close the range of three cruisers and a destroyer flotilla?The same terrible instinct of judgment which stood behind him in the boxing-ring told Bentley in advance what the cruiser would do. His rangefinder eyes balanced its speed and direction, his right hand flicked up above his head, he whipped his hand down and his voice rang out in the ominous silence;"Fire!" JAMES EDMOND MACDONNELL was born in 1917 in Mackay, Queensland and became one of Australia's most prolific writers. As a boy, he became determined to go to sea and read every seafaring book he could find. At age 13, while his family was still asleep, he took his brother's bike and rode eighty miles from his home town to Brisbane in an attempt to see ships and the sea. Fortunately, he was found and returned to his family. He attended the Toowoomba Grammar School from 1931 to 1932. He served in the Royal Australian Navy for fourteen years, joining at age 17, advancing through all lower deck ranks and reaching the rank of commissioned gunnery officer. He began writing books while still in active service.Macdonnell wrote stories for The Bulletin under the pseudonym "Macnell" and from 1948 to 1956 he was a member of The Bulletin staff. His first book, Fleet Destroyer – a collection of stories about life on the small ships – was published by The Book Depot, Melbourne, in 1945. Macdonnell began writing full-time for Horwitz in 1956, writing an average of a dozen books a year.After leaving the navy, Macdonnell lived in St. Ives, Sydney and pursued his writing career. In 1988, he retired to Buderim on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. He died peacefully in his sleep at a Buderim hospital in 2002. He is survived by his children Beth, Jane and Peter.Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters – Captain "Dutchy" Holland, D.S.O., Captain Peter Bentley, V.C., Captain Bruce Sainsbury, V.C., Jim Brady, and Lieutenant Commander Robert Randall. J. E. Macdonnell wrote over 200 novels, in at least 7 different series under several versions of his own name and several pseudonyms. Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters. His work has been published in at least nine different languages. As an ex-Royal Australia Navy gunner, his fiction is full of authenticity. With action and navy life spot on.

Following the hammering she'd taken from a Japanese convoy - as told in The Weak Link - H.M.A.S. Wind Rode was sent to Perth for repairs. But as it turned out, the top brass decided that Wind Rode had run her course and Lieutenant Commander Peter Bentley was given orders to sail her to Sydney, where she would be broken up and decommissioned.It was as if the old girl knew her fate, because on the voyage everything that could go wrong did go wrong. It was crazy, Bentley knew, but it was as if Wind Rode was doing all she could to delay the inevitable. And when her engines finally gave out in the middle of an area crawling with Jap submarines and destroyers, he realized that she had chosen her watery grave, and that Wind Rode intended to go down fighting … JAMES EDMOND MACDONNELL was born in 1917 in Mackay, Queensland and became one of Australia's most prolific writers. As a boy, he became determined to go to sea and read every seafaring book he could find. At age 13, while his family was still asleep, he took his brother's bike and rode eighty miles from his home town to Brisbane in an attempt to see ships and the sea. Fortunately, he was found and returned to his family. He attended the Toowoomba Grammar School from 1931 to 1932. He served in the Royal Australian Navy for fourteen years, joining at age 17, advancing through all lower deck ranks and reaching the rank of commissioned gunnery officer. He began writing books while still in active service.Macdonnell wrote stories for The Bulletin under the pseudonym "Macnell" and from 1948 to 1956 he was a member of The Bulletin staff. His first book, Fleet Destroyer – a collection of stories about life on the small ships – was published by The Book Depot, Melbourne, in 1945. Macdonnell began writing full-time for Horwitz in 1956, writing an average of a dozen books a year.After leaving the navy, Macdonnell lived in St. Ives, Sydney and pursued his writing career. In 1988, he retired to Buderim on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. He died peacefully in his sleep at a Buderim hospital in 2002. He is survived by his children Beth, Jane and Peter.Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters – Captain "Dutchy" Holland, D.S.O., Captain Peter Bentley, V.C., Captain Bruce Sainsbury, V.C., Jim Brady, and Lieutenant Commander Robert Randall. J. E. Macdonnell wrote over 200 novels, in at least 7 different series under several versions of his own name and several pseudonyms. Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters. His work has been published in at least nine different languages. As an ex-Royal Australia Navy gunner, his fiction is full of authenticity. With action and navy life spot on.

The captain was furious. "I warn you, if you want to name this ship the Bounty, I shall be Captain Bligh!" His right hand punched forward in vehement emphasis. The crew stared at him in deep and attentive silence. The voice then came from the middle of the pack – high, thin, disguised, rendered more effective in the tense quiet by the tone of laughter. "Yeah, and we'll cut you adrift!"The tension among the crew was hard, menacing. Wind Rode was perilously close to mutiny. JAMES EDMOND MACDONNELL was born in 1917 in Mackay, Queensland and became one of Australia's most prolific writers. As a boy, he became determined to go to sea and read every seafaring book he could find. At age 13, while his family was still asleep, he took his brother's bike and rode eighty miles from his home town to Brisbane in an attempt to see ships and the sea. Fortunately, he was found and returned to his family. He attended the Toowoomba Grammar School from 1931 to 1932. He served in the Royal Australian Navy for fourteen years, joining at age 17, advancing through all lower deck ranks and reaching the rank of commissioned gunnery officer. He began writing books while still in active service.Macdonnell wrote stories for The Bulletin under the pseudonym "Macnell" and from 1948 to 1956 he was a member of The Bulletin staff. His first book, Fleet Destroyer – a collection of stories about life on the small ships – was published by The Book Depot, Melbourne, in 1945. Macdonnell began writing full-time for Horwitz in 1956, writing an average of a dozen books a year.After leaving the navy, Macdonnell lived in St. Ives, Sydney and pursued his writing career. In 1988, he retired to Buderim on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. He died peacefully in his sleep at a Buderim hospital in 2002. He is survived by his children Beth, Jane and Peter.Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters – Captain "Dutchy" Holland, D.S.O., Captain Peter Bentley, V.C., Captain Bruce Sainsbury, V.C., Jim Brady, and Lieutenant Commander Robert Randall. J. E. Macdonnell wrote over 200 novels, in at least 7 different series under several versions of his own name and several pseudonyms. Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters. His work has been published in at least nine different languages. As an ex-Royal Australia Navy gunner, his fiction is full of authenticity. With action and navy life spot on.

When his ship was laid up for repairs, two-fisted petty-officer William Walker volunteered for a spell with the Light Coastal Forces, working alongside a crew full of Brits in a lightning-fast Motor Torpedo Boat. He knew it was going to be an education, but he never dreamed he would eventually find himself caught up in a deadly attack on Cherbourg Harbour.A flotilla of E-boats and destroyers, hidden in the fog, gave Walker a further chance to use his own special expertise in fighting the enemy. But nobody expected him to come out of the conflict changed as he did … in more ways than one. JAMES EDMOND MACDONNELL was born in 1917 in Mackay, Queensland and became one of Australia's most prolific writers. As a boy, he became determined to go to sea and read every seafaring book he could find. At age 13, while his family was still asleep, he took his brother's bike and rode eighty miles from his home town to Brisbane in an attempt to see ships and the sea. Fortunately, he was found and returned to his family. He attended the Toowoomba Grammar School from 1931 to 1932. He served in the Royal Australian Navy for fourteen years, joining at age 17, advancing through all lower deck ranks and reaching the rank of commissioned gunnery officer. He began writing books while still in active service.Macdonnell wrote stories for The Bulletin under the pseudonym "Macnell" and from 1948 to 1956 he was a member of The Bulletin staff. His first book, Fleet Destroyer – a collection of stories about life on the small ships – was published by The Book Depot, Melbourne, in 1945. Macdonnell began writing full-time for Horwitz in 1956, writing an average of a dozen books a year.After leaving the navy, Macdonnell lived in St. Ives, Sydney and pursued his writing career. In 1988, he retired to Buderim on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. He died peacefully in his sleep at a Buderim hospital in 2002. He is survived by his children Beth, Jane and Peter.Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters – Captain "Dutchy" Holland, D.S.O., Captain Peter Bentley, V.C., Captain Bruce Sainsbury, V.C., Jim Brady, and Lieutenant Commander Robert Randall. J. E. Macdonnell wrote over 200 novels, in at least 7 different series under several versions of his own name and several pseudonyms. Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters. His work has been published in at least nine different languages. As an ex-Royal Australia Navy gunner, his fiction is full of authenticity. With action and navy life spot on.

Royal Australian Navy Commander Bentley knew this was the time for nothing but concentrated attack … This was no exercise, no leisure manoeuvre by which Wind Rode could show her competence. They were up against a desperate enemy submarine, a vehicle armed with explosive teeth and claws-the destructive potential of which they could not gauge. A terrifying secret weapon! JAMES EDMOND MACDONNELL was born in 1917 in Mackay, Queensland and became one of Australia's most prolific writers. As a boy, he became determined to go to sea and read every seafaring book he could find. At age 13, while his family was still asleep, he took his brother's bike and rode eighty miles from his home town to Brisbane in an attempt to see ships and the sea. Fortunately, he was found and returned to his family. He attended the Toowoomba Grammar School from 1931 to 1932. He served in the Royal Australian Navy for fourteen years, joining at age 17, advancing through all lower deck ranks and reaching the rank of commissioned gunnery officer. He began writing books while still in active service.Macdonnell wrote stories for The Bulletin under the pseudonym "Macnell" and from 1948 to 1956 he was a member of The Bulletin staff. His first book, Fleet Destroyer – a collection of stories about life on the small ships – was published by The Book Depot, Melbourne, in 1945. Macdonnell began writing full-time for Horwitz in 1956, writing an average of a dozen books a year.After leaving the navy, Macdonnell lived in St. Ives, Sydney and pursued his writing career. In 1988, he retired to Buderim on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. He died peacefully in his sleep at a Buderim hospital in 2002. He is survived by his children Beth, Jane and Peter.Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters – Captain "Dutchy" Holland, D.S.O., Captain Peter Bentley, V.C., Captain Bruce Sainsbury, V.C., Jim Brady, and Lieutenant Commander Robert Randall. J. E. Macdonnell wrote over 200 novels, in at least 7 different series under several versions of his own name and several pseudonyms. Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters. His work has been published in at least nine different languages. As an ex-Royal Australia Navy gunner, his fiction is full of authenticity. With action and navy life spot on.

As the Guadalcanal campaign got underway, the new coxswain of the Australian fleet destroyer Wind Rode found himself faced with a twin challenge-to sort out the bad apples who had come aboard as replacements for men lost in a recent action … and to somehow found his way back to the man he had been before being sunk a couple of years earlier. That time he had almost drowned in a cabin that filled frighteningly fast with seawater. Something in him had changed, he'd lost his pride in himself and the Senior Service for whom he served. And a coxswain like that is no use to anyone. So Commander Peter Bentley made up his mind to throw the 'Swain a metaphorical lifeline … even if he had to take on the entire Japanese Navy to do it! JAMES EDMOND MACDONNELL was born in 1917 in Mackay, Queensland and became one of Australia's most prolific writers. As a boy, he became determined to go to sea and read every seafaring book he could find. At age 13, while his family was still asleep, he took his brother's bike and rode eighty miles from his home town to Brisbane in an attempt to see ships and the sea. Fortunately, he was found and returned to his family. He attended the Toowoomba Grammar School from 1931 to 1932. He served in the Royal Australian Navy for fourteen years, joining at age 17, advancing through all lower deck ranks and reaching the rank of commissioned gunnery officer. He began writing books while still in active service.Macdonnell wrote stories for The Bulletin under the pseudonym "Macnell" and from 1948 to 1956 he was a member of The Bulletin staff. His first book, Fleet Destroyer – a collection of stories about life on the small ships – was published by The Book Depot, Melbourne, in 1945. Macdonnell began writing full-time for Horwitz in 1956, writing an average of a dozen books a year.After leaving the navy, Macdonnell lived in St. Ives, Sydney and pursued his writing career. In 1988, he retired to Buderim on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. He died peacefully in his sleep at a Buderim hospital in 2002. He is survived by his children Beth, Jane and Peter.Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters – Captain "Dutchy" Holland, D.S.O., Captain Peter Bentley, V.C., Captain Bruce Sainsbury, V.C., Jim Brady, and Lieutenant Commander Robert Randall. J. E. Macdonnell wrote over 200 novels, in at least 7 different series under several versions of his own name and several pseudonyms. Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters. His work has been published in at least nine different languages. As an ex-Royal Australia Navy gunner, his fiction is full of authenticity. With action and navy life spot on.

"Stand-by torpedo attack!" the order rapped out.Not more than half a mile away, bulking huge at that close range, came the enemy cruiser."Port thirty," he snapped down the voice pipe, and over his shoulder at the torpedo officer "Fire when your sights come on!" Torps was crouched over his pronged sight. His voice came crisp and clear: "Fire one, fire two, fire three, fire four ...""Midships!" the captain roared.The wheel came off her, and at once she heaved up from her acute lean. Then Pelican's ancient guns snapped their challenge at the grey monster racing alongside them.And, clear in the silence between broadsides, a sharp buzzing from the engine-room voice pipe. Pilot answered it and Dutchy Holland heard the chief's voice from where he stood."Bridge. That bloody bearing's gone. I've got to shut down on the starb'd engine."Pilot stared at Holland and the captain raised his hand in acknowledgement. He did not speak: he could not speak. There was nothing to say. JAMES EDMOND MACDONNELL was born in 1917 in Mackay, Queensland and became one of Australia's most prolific writers. As a boy, he became determined to go to sea and read every seafaring book he could find. At age 13, while his family was still asleep, he took his brother's bike and rode eighty miles from his home town to Brisbane in an attempt to see ships and the sea. Fortunately, he was found and returned to his family. He attended the Toowoomba Grammar School from 1931 to 1932. He served in the Royal Australian Navy for fourteen years, joining at age 17, advancing through all lower deck ranks and reaching the rank of commissioned gunnery officer. He began writing books while still in active service.Macdonnell wrote stories for The Bulletin under the pseudonym "Macnell" and from 1948 to 1956 he was a member of The Bulletin staff. His first book, Fleet Destroyer – a collection of stories about life on the small ships – was published by The Book Depot, Melbourne, in 1945. Macdonnell began writing full-time for Horwitz in 1956, writing an average of a dozen books a year.After leaving the navy, Macdonnell lived in St. Ives, Sydney and pursued his writing career. In 1988, he retired to Buderim on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. He died peacefully in his sleep at a Buderim hospital in 2002. He is survived by his children Beth, Jane and Peter.Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters – Captain "Dutchy" Holland, D.S.O., Captain Peter Bentley, V.C., Captain Bruce Sainsbury, V.C., Jim Brady, and Lieutenant Commander Robert Randall. J. E. Macdonnell wrote over 200 novels, in at least 7 different series under several versions of his own name and several pseudonyms. Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters. His work has been published in at least nine different languages. As an ex-Royal Australia Navy gunner, his fiction is full of authenticity. With action and navy life spot on.

Fletcher staggered to the edge of the bridge. In front of their careering bow the freighter that had been loaded with ammunition had dissolved under the torpedo's persuasion into a sky-flung wall of black smoke.He heard Brinkworth's order to straighten her up and he knew that the captain was taking the only course left open to him in that packed mass of ships-he was driving her straight down between the lines towards the rear of the convoy.He knew, too, what they could expect once they broke clear of the rear of the convoy, once they were free of those protecting hulls on either side. The deadly pack was closing in on its prey ... JAMES EDMOND MACDONNELL was born in 1917 in Mackay, Queensland and became one of Australia's most prolific writers. As a boy, he became determined to go to sea and read every seafaring book he could find. At age 13, while his family was still asleep, he took his brother's bike and rode eighty miles from his home town to Brisbane in an attempt to see ships and the sea. Fortunately, he was found and returned to his family. He attended the Toowoomba Grammar School from 1931 to 1932. He served in the Royal Australian Navy for fourteen years, joining at age 17, advancing through all lower deck ranks and reaching the rank of commissioned gunnery officer. He began writing books while still in active service.Macdonnell wrote stories for The Bulletin under the pseudonym "Macnell" and from 1948 to 1956 he was a member of The Bulletin staff. His first book, Fleet Destroyer – a collection of stories about life on the small ships – was published by The Book Depot, Melbourne, in 1945. Macdonnell began writing full-time for Horwitz in 1956, writing an average of a dozen books a year.After leaving the navy, Macdonnell lived in St. Ives, Sydney and pursued his writing career. In 1988, he retired to Buderim on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. He died peacefully in his sleep at a Buderim hospital in 2002. He is survived by his children Beth, Jane and Peter.Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters – Captain "Dutchy" Holland, D.S.O., Captain Peter Bentley, V.C., Captain Bruce Sainsbury, V.C., Jim Brady, and Lieutenant Commander Robert Randall. J. E. Macdonnell wrote over 200 novels, in at least 7 different series under several versions of his own name and several pseudonyms. Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters. His work has been published in at least nine different languages. As an ex-Royal Australia Navy gunner, his fiction is full of authenticity. With action and navy life spot on.

She was a Fleet carrier; her name was Eagle. She was the latest and largest of her class, outfitted with fighters and torpedo bombers.Until now Alexandria had been free of air-raids and bombardment. But on that black night of 19 December, in seven minutes, 31,000-tons of disciplined steel had resolved into a broken and unbuoyant mass going down into the cold and lightless deeps of the Mediterranean.Angry and frustrated, torpedo bomber Bishop exclaimed:"A few hours' work and the whole strategic position in the Med has swung right over their way.""What do you suggest?" Haining, Seafire fighter leader asked.Bishop's terse reply came at once:"Taranto – the main naval base of the Italian Royal Navy, and opposite number to Alexandria."If they could hit Taranto hard, they could prevent embattled Malta being starved of food and ammunition, ensure absolute British naval supremacy in the Eastern Mediterranean and exact revenge for the loss of English battleships Alexandria, Valiant, Queen Elizabeth, and Barham.But could they and how would they? JAMES EDMOND MACDONNELL was born in 1917 in Mackay, Queensland and became one of Australia's most prolific writers. As a boy, he became determined to go to sea and read every seafaring book he could find. At age 13, while his family was still asleep, he took his brother's bike and rode eighty miles from his home town to Brisbane in an attempt to see ships and the sea. Fortunately, he was found and returned to his family. He attended the Toowoomba Grammar School from 1931 to 1932. He served in the Royal Australian Navy for fourteen years, joining at age 17, advancing through all lower deck ranks and reaching the rank of commissioned gunnery officer. He began writing books while still in active service.Macdonnell wrote stories for The Bulletin under the pseudonym "Macnell" and from 1948 to 1956 he was a member of The Bulletin staff. His first book, Fleet Destroyer – a collection of stories about life on the small ships – was published by The Book Depot, Melbourne, in 1945. Macdonnell began writing full-time for Horwitz in 1956, writing an average of a dozen books a year.After leaving the navy, Macdonnell lived in St. Ives, Sydney and pursued his writing career. In 1988, he retired to Buderim on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. He died peacefully in his sleep at a Buderim hospital in 2002. He is survived by his children Beth, Jane and Peter.Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters – Captain "Dutchy" Holland, D.S.O., Captain Peter Bentley, V.C., Captain Bruce Sainsbury, V.C., Jim Brady, and Lieutenant Commander Robert Randall. J. E. Macdonnell wrote over 200 novels, in at least 7 different series under several versions of his own name and several pseudonyms. Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters. His work has been published in at least nine different languages. As an ex-Royal Australia Navy gunner, his fiction is full of authenticity. With action and navy life spot on.

J.E. Macdonnell writes of the Navy life he knows with a vivid and convincing pen.Fleet Destroyer was written during the time the Eastern Fleet took to steam from its base in Ceylon, lambast Surabaya, and steam back again. Few people know there is a flotilla of Australian destroyers, manned and officered by Australians, serving with Admiral Mountbatten's Eastern Battle Fleet. This is the story of a thousand men of the Royal Australian Navy, men who have fought from Murmansk to Moresby, and most places in between, and who, positioned between Jap-occupied East Indies and the land of their birth, are even now seeking the main obstacle to their return there-the Japanese Fleet."… a vivid impression of life in an Australian destroyer. FLEET DESTROYER is a worthy addition to Australian naval literature." – Melbourne Herald" … his books is more than a mere record of events. Most of us who can guide a pen have it in us to make such a record. McDonnell goes beyond that. His sensitivity makes him an interpreter. His vivid touch gives life an colour to his writing," – Hermon Gill, former Lieutenant-Commander, R.A.N.V.R., Official War Historian" … the book has a directness which Bacon himself might have envied …" – Sydney journal JAMES EDMOND MACDONNELL was born in 1917 in Mackay, Queensland and became one of Australia's most prolific writers. As a boy, he became determined to go to sea and read every seafaring book he could find. At age 13, while his family was still asleep, he took his brother's bike and rode eighty miles from his home town to Brisbane in an attempt to see ships and the sea. Fortunately, he was found and returned to his family. He attended the Toowoomba Grammar School from 1931 to 1932. He served in the Royal Australian Navy for fourteen years, joining at age 17, advancing through all lower deck ranks and reaching the rank of commissioned gunnery officer. He began writing books while still in active service.Macdonnell wrote stories for The Bulletin under the pseudonym "Macnell" and from 1948 to 1956 he was a member of The Bulletin staff. His first book, Fleet Destroyer – a collection of stories about life on the small ships – was published by The Book Depot, Melbourne, in 1945. Macdonnell began writing full-time for Horwitz in 1956, writing an average of a dozen books a year.After leaving the navy, Macdonnell lived in St. Ives, Sydney and pursued his writing career. In 1988, he retired to Buderim on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. He died peacefully in his sleep at a Buderim hospital in 2002. He is survived by his children Beth, Jane and Peter.Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters – Captain "Dutchy" Holland, D.S.O., Captain Peter Bentley, V.C., Captain Bruce Sainsbury, V.C., Jim Brady, and Lieutenant Commander Robert Randall. J. E. Macdonnell wrote over 200 novels, in at least 7 different series under several versions of his own name and several pseudonyms. Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters. His work has been published in at least nine different languages. As an ex-Royal Australia Navy gunner, his fiction is full of authenticity. With action and navy life spot on.

"SINK THE FRENCH FLEET!"Those were Bentley's orders. The tough Australian commander knew that he hadn't a chance of taking Royal Australian Navy's destroyer Wind Rode into the enemy-infested harbour.Faced with a disloyal officer, surrounding by enemy, Bentley's daring plan to sink ships of their former French allies is just that: crazy.But it could succeed only if he got there before the German E-boat. JAMES EDMOND MACDONNELL was born in 1917 in Mackay, Queensland and became one of Australia's most prolific writers. As a boy, he became determined to go to sea and read every seafaring book he could find. At age 13, while his family was still asleep, he took his brother's bike and rode eighty miles from his home town to Brisbane in an attempt to see ships and the sea. Fortunately, he was found and returned to his family. He attended the Toowoomba Grammar School from 1931 to 1932. He served in the Royal Australian Navy for fourteen years, joining at age 17, advancing through all lower deck ranks and reaching the rank of commissioned gunnery officer. He began writing books while still in active service.Macdonnell wrote stories for The Bulletin under the pseudonym "Macnell" and from 1948 to 1956 he was a member of The Bulletin staff. His first book, Fleet Destroyer – a collection of stories about life on the small ships – was published by The Book Depot, Melbourne, in 1945. Macdonnell began writing full-time for Horwitz in 1956, writing an average of a dozen books a year.After leaving the navy, Macdonnell lived in St. Ives, Sydney and pursued his writing career. In 1988, he retired to Buderim on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. He died peacefully in his sleep at a Buderim hospital in 2002. He is survived by his children Beth, Jane and Peter.Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters – Captain "Dutchy" Holland, D.S.O., Captain Peter Bentley, V.C., Captain Bruce Sainsbury, V.C., Jim Brady, and Lieutenant Commander Robert Randall. J. E. Macdonnell wrote over 200 novels, in at least 7 different series under several versions of his own name and several pseudonyms. Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters. His work has been published in at least nine different languages. As an ex-Royal Australia Navy gunner, his fiction is full of authenticity. With action and navy life spot on.

200 men in the ship-and yet only one.One man to decide what, when, how, where ... prevented by the very nature of his complete authority from asking or accepting advice."Did Commander Peter Bently ever fell this frightening responsibility?" wondered Randall, as the enemy battleship loomed closer. JAMES EDMOND MACDONNELL was born in 1917 in Mackay, Queensland and became one of Australia's most prolific writers. As a boy, he became determined to go to sea and read every seafaring book he could find. At age 13, while his family was still asleep, he took his brother's bike and rode eighty miles from his home town to Brisbane in an attempt to see ships and the sea. Fortunately, he was found and returned to his family. He attended the Toowoomba Grammar School from 1931 to 1932. He served in the Royal Australian Navy for fourteen years, joining at age 17, advancing through all lower deck ranks and reaching the rank of commissioned gunnery officer. He began writing books while still in active service.Macdonnell wrote stories for The Bulletin under the pseudonym "Macnell" and from 1948 to 1956 he was a member of The Bulletin staff. His first book, Fleet Destroyer – a collection of stories about life on the small ships – was published by The Book Depot, Melbourne, in 1945. Macdonnell began writing full-time for Horwitz in 1956, writing an average of a dozen books a year.After leaving the navy, Macdonnell lived in St. Ives, Sydney and pursued his writing career. In 1988, he retired to Buderim on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. He died peacefully in his sleep at a Buderim hospital in 2002. He is survived by his children Beth, Jane and Peter.Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters – Captain "Dutchy" Holland, D.S.O., Captain Peter Bentley, V.C., Captain Bruce Sainsbury, V.C., Jim Brady, and Lieutenant Commander Robert Randall. J. E. Macdonnell wrote over 200 novels, in at least 7 different series under several versions of his own name and several pseudonyms. Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters. His work has been published in at least nine different languages. As an ex-Royal Australia Navy gunner, his fiction is full of authenticity. With action and navy life spot on.

1941: Bismarck, the pride of the German navy, was scuttling for home.But as Renown and Ark Royal closed in for the kill, the British ships could not suspect that they would be steaming directly in front of a U-boat's torpedo tubes-lining themselves up as the perfect target.With their deadly war-winning torpedo "U-648" carried he could not possibly fail, Kapitanleutnant Junack told himself exultantly … JAMES EDMOND MACDONNELL was born in 1917 in Mackay, Queensland and became one of Australia's most prolific writers. As a boy, he became determined to go to sea and read every seafaring book he could find. At age 13, while his family was still asleep, he took his brother's bike and rode eighty miles from his home town to Brisbane in an attempt to see ships and the sea. Fortunately, he was found and returned to his family. He attended the Toowoomba Grammar School from 1931 to 1932. He served in the Royal Australian Navy for fourteen years, joining at age 17, advancing through all lower deck ranks and reaching the rank of commissioned gunnery officer. He began writing books while still in active service.Macdonnell wrote stories for The Bulletin under the pseudonym "Macnell" and from 1948 to 1956 he was a member of The Bulletin staff. His first book, Fleet Destroyer – a collection of stories about life on the small ships – was published by The Book Depot, Melbourne, in 1945. Macdonnell began writing full-time for Horwitz in 1956, writing an average of a dozen books a year.After leaving the navy, Macdonnell lived in St. Ives, Sydney and pursued his writing career. In 1988, he retired to Buderim on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. He died peacefully in his sleep at a Buderim hospital in 2002. He is survived by his children Beth, Jane and Peter.Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters – Captain "Dutchy" Holland, D.S.O., Captain Peter Bentley, V.C., Captain Bruce Sainsbury, V.C., Jim Brady, and Lieutenant Commander Robert Randall. J. E. Macdonnell wrote over 200 novels, in at least 7 different series under several versions of his own name and several pseudonyms. Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters. His work has been published in at least nine different languages. As an ex-Royal Australia Navy gunner, his fiction is full of authenticity. With action and navy life spot on.

SIX DESTROYERS AGAINST FIVE!Through the din of gunfire, the thrashing of the spray, the wind blowing a gale force 8, the scrutiny of the enemy in this lonely and wind-lashed battle, Wind Rode's Captain Peter Bentley, was acutely aware of his responsibility for those five fleet destroyers.This was his first ship-to-ship action in command of any ship other than his own ... now he wasTHE FLOTILLA LEADER JAMES EDMOND MACDONNELL was born in 1917 in Mackay, Queensland and became one of Australia's most prolific writers. As a boy, he became determined to go to sea and read every seafaring book he could find. At age 13, while his family was still asleep, he took his brother's bike and rode eighty miles from his home town to Brisbane in an attempt to see ships and the sea. Fortunately, he was found and returned to his family. He attended the Toowoomba Grammar School from 1931 to 1932. He served in the Royal Australian Navy for fourteen years, joining at age 17, advancing through all lower deck ranks and reaching the rank of commissioned gunnery officer. He began writing books while still in active service.Macdonnell wrote stories for The Bulletin under the pseudonym "Macnell" and from 1948 to 1956 he was a member of The Bulletin staff. His first book, Fleet Destroyer – a collection of stories about life on the small ships – was published by The Book Depot, Melbourne, in 1945. Macdonnell began writing full-time for Horwitz in 1956, writing an average of a dozen books a year.After leaving the navy, Macdonnell lived in St. Ives, Sydney and pursued his writing career. In 1988, he retired to Buderim on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. He died peacefully in his sleep at a Buderim hospital in 2002. He is survived by his children Beth, Jane and Peter.Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters – Captain "Dutchy" Holland, D.S.O., Captain Peter Bentley, V.C., Captain Bruce Sainsbury, V.C., Jim Brady, and Lieutenant Commander Robert Randall. J. E. Macdonnell wrote over 200 novels, in at least 7 different series under several versions of his own name and several pseudonyms. Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters. His work has been published in at least nine different languages. As an ex-Royal Australia Navy gunner, his fiction is full of authenticity. With action and navy life spot on.

The Jap submarine had been rammed, it was on fire. It should have surrendered.Unarmed but for their seamen's knives, shocked into temporary immobility, the astounded depth-charge crews on wind Rode's quarterdeck saw a horde of savage me jump, and grab hold, and clamber through the guard rails with sub-machine guns and pistols in their fists.Captain Bentley had been looking astern, watchful of his screws so close to that other steel. He also was astonished, but he was a boxer, his reflexes were trap-quick. Jumping back he grabbed out the microphone.For the first time for almost a century the order passed through a British warship."Repel boarders!' the loudspeaker blared. "On the quarterdeck, repel boarders!" JAMES EDMOND MACDONNELL was born in 1917 in Mackay, Queensland and became one of Australia's most prolific writers. As a boy, he became determined to go to sea and read every seafaring book he could find. At age 13, while his family was still asleep, he took his brother's bike and rode eighty miles from his home town to Brisbane in an attempt to see ships and the sea. Fortunately, he was found and returned to his family. He attended the Toowoomba Grammar School from 1931 to 1932. He served in the Royal Australian Navy for fourteen years, joining at age 17, advancing through all lower deck ranks and reaching the rank of commissioned gunnery officer. He began writing books while still in active service.Macdonnell wrote stories for The Bulletin under the pseudonym "Macnell" and from 1948 to 1956 he was a member of The Bulletin staff. His first book, Fleet Destroyer – a collection of stories about life on the small ships – was published by The Book Depot, Melbourne, in 1945. Macdonnell began writing full-time for Horwitz in 1956, writing an average of a dozen books a year.After leaving the navy, Macdonnell lived in St. Ives, Sydney and pursued his writing career. In 1988, he retired to Buderim on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. He died peacefully in his sleep at a Buderim hospital in 2002. He is survived by his children Beth, Jane and Peter.Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters – Captain "Dutchy" Holland, D.S.O., Captain Peter Bentley, V.C., Captain Bruce Sainsbury, V.C., Jim Brady, and Lieutenant Commander Robert Randall. J. E. Macdonnell wrote over 200 novels, in at least 7 different series under several versions of his own name and several pseudonyms. Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters. His work has been published in at least nine different languages. As an ex-Royal Australia Navy gunner, his fiction is full of authenticity. With action and navy life spot on.

"All the officers are dead," the coxswain said. "You'll take orders from me."He was an expert steersman and, though his navigation knowledge and ship-handling ability were elementary, he knew enough to get Roper home … whilst she steered a steady course in the open seas.They were trained and responsible men, but all their naval lives they had been used to the instant and unequivocal obeying of orders.No one dared think how much he'd match the trained ability of an enemy captain in action.Now, after the enemy aircraft had dropped its five hundred pound bomb, there were no orders-only discussion. And they were soon to realise that steering the frigate was vastly different from handling it! JAMES EDMOND MACDONNELL was born in 1917 in Mackay, Queensland and became one of Australia's most prolific writers. As a boy, he became determined to go to sea and read every seafaring book he could find. At age 13, while his family was still asleep, he took his brother's bike and rode eighty miles from his home town to Brisbane in an attempt to see ships and the sea. Fortunately, he was found and returned to his family. He attended the Toowoomba Grammar School from 1931 to 1932. He served in the Royal Australian Navy for fourteen years, joining at age 17, advancing through all lower deck ranks and reaching the rank of commissioned gunnery officer. He began writing books while still in active service.Macdonnell wrote stories for The Bulletin under the pseudonym "Macnell" and from 1948 to 1956 he was a member of The Bulletin staff. His first book, Fleet Destroyer – a collection of stories about life on the small ships – was published by The Book Depot, Melbourne, in 1945. Macdonnell began writing full-time for Horwitz in 1956, writing an average of a dozen books a year.After leaving the navy, Macdonnell lived in St. Ives, Sydney and pursued his writing career. In 1988, he retired to Buderim on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. He died peacefully in his sleep at a Buderim hospital in 2002. He is survived by his children Beth, Jane and Peter.Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters – Captain "Dutchy" Holland, D.S.O., Captain Peter Bentley, V.C., Captain Bruce Sainsbury, V.C., Jim Brady, and Lieutenant Commander Robert Randall. J. E. Macdonnell wrote over 200 novels, in at least 7 different series under several versions of his own name and several pseudonyms. Macdonnell's naval stories feature several recurring characters. His work has been published in at least nine different languages. As an ex-Royal Australia Navy gunner, his fiction is full of authenticity. With action and navy life spot on.