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The Scrap Iron Flotilla

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The Scrap Iron Flotilla

By: Mike Carlton
Narrated by: Mike Carlton
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About this listen

The British Admiralty's telegram arrived at Navy Office in Melbourne, the order to go to all-out war. It was coldly succinct: TOTAL GERMANY. The war at sea had begun.

When the Second World War broke out in September 1939, the British asked Australia for help. With some misgivings, the Australian government sent five destroyers to beef up the British Royal Navy in the Mediterranean.

HMAS Vendetta, Vampire, Voyager, Stuart and Waterhen were old ships, small with worn-out engines. Their crews used to joke they were held together by string and chewing gum; when the Nazi propaganda minister Josef Goebbels heard of them, he sneered that they were a load of scrap iron.

Yet by the middle of 1940, these destroyers were valiantly escorting troop and supply convoys, successfully hunting for submarines and indefatigably bombarding enemy coasts. Sometimes the weather could be their worst enemy - from filthy sandstorms blowing off Africa to icy gales from Europe that whipped up mountainous seas and froze the guns. Conditions on board were terrible - no showers or proper washing facilities; cramped and stinking sleeping quarters; unpleasant meals of spam and tinned sausages, often served cold in a howling squall. And always the bombing, the bombing. And the fear of submarines.

When Nazi Germany invaded Greece, the Allied armies - including Australian Divisions - reeled in retreat. The Australian ships were among those who had to rescue thousands of soldiers. Then came the Siege of Tobruk - Australian troops holding out in that small Libyan port city. The Australian destroyers ran 'the Tobruk Ferry' - bringing supplies of food, medicine and ammunition into the shattered port by night, and taking off wounded soldiers.

Eventually, HMAS Waterhen - 'the Chook', they called her - was sunk on the Tobruk run, the first Australian warship to be lost to enemy action in the war. Miraculously, there was only one casualty - a man in the galley who was hit in the head by a can of peaches.

But the four destroyers now left were struggling, suffering from constant engine breakdowns, with crews beleaguered by two years of bombings, wild seas and the endless fear of being sunk. In late 1941 the ships were finally sent home, staggering back to Australia, proudly calling themselves the Scrap Iron Flotilla in defiance of the Goebbels' sneer. That flotilla is now an immortal part of Australian naval legend, and this is its story.

2023, Frank Broeze Memorial Maritime History Book Prize, Short-listed

2022, The Australian Naval Institute Commodore Sam Bateman Book, Winner

2023, NSW Premier's History Awards, Short-listed

©2022 Mike Carlton (P)2022 Penguin Random House Australia
Australia, New Zealand & Oceania Military Naval Forces Oceania War Submarine Transportation Solider U-Boat

What listeners say about The Scrap Iron Flotilla

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Magnificent

So, so good. And one of the best narrations I've heard in an audiobook over the last several years.

If you have any interest in Australian military history this is a must read.

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Wow! Just wow, amazing Aussie naval history.

Excellently narrated, full of stunning accounts and accolades of naval heroes. Gonna listen a few time I reckon, there’s so much in here. Thank you Mr Carlton for an amazing narration.

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Excellent Detailed and Exciting BZ

The accounting of events, and the stature of the RAN Protagonists had me hook line and sinker, well written excellent Narrator

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Fantastic!!

The best book on Australian Navy History I’ve had the pleasure of listening too BZ.

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Excellent. A slow start but a fitting end

Extremely well read and researched. I was given the book by my son but opted to listen to it, probably more of convenience than anything else. One small matter is the confusion about the metrics. Whilst a lot understand metres, kilometres and heights etc the use of knots, nautical miles and heights measured in miles is still in use especially in aviation and shipping.

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A vivid and enthralling story

One of the best books ever written about Australian naval history in my opinion. As a former RAN member, I was entranced by the brilliance of the narration, the various heroic and sometimes tragic stories of these mighty ships and the accurate use of terminology throughout.

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Amazing Story

Amazing story about the heroic Australians who made sure we had a safe and free country to enjoy into the future.

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Great book to hear from the author.

This is the best book on Australia's naval actions in the Mediterranean. Loved it like all of Mike's previous Naval books. The fact that Mike narrated it is the best as the narrator understood what he was reading. I own his previous books as hard copies but if they are released on Audible and narrated by himself, Iike this one, I'll buy them again. It felt like a podcast or conversation and not a book.

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Superb!

I loved this book. Interesting, informative, and superbly narrated by the author. Stop reading reviews, and buy the book already!

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Historical accuracy and compelling adventure story.

Fabulous book and some not commonly known wartime history. Riveting account of brave people and desperate times.

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