The Good Shepherd (nautical fiction)
Encyclopedia
The Good Shepherd is a nautical and war novel by C.S. Forester, best known as the creator of fictional Royal Navy
officer Horatio Hornblower
.
of a US Navy destroyer
in World War II
. Krause is in overall command of an escort force protecting an Atlantic convoy in the Battle of the Atlantic. He finds himself in a difficult position. The voyage in question occurs early in 1942, shortly after America's entry into the war. Although he is an experienced officer, with many years of seniority, this is Krause's first wartime mission. The captains of the other escort vessels are junior to him, and much younger, but they have been at war for over two years. His relative inexperience troubles him.
The hero broods over his career; his wife left him partly because of his strict devotion to duty. He is troubled when the press of duty forces him to neglect his prayers. (Unlike most of Forester's other heroes, Krause is devout.) And he is troubled by recollections that the Navy review board had twice passed him over for promotion, returning a judgement of fitted and retained. His promotion to Commander only came when the United States entered the war, leading him to fear that he may be unsuited to his command.
which tells a similar story and again shows the difficulties of the commanding officer fighting against tiredness and the difficulties of escorting a convoy across the Atlantic.
The book cites two US Navy officers Vice-Admiral Ralph W Christie
and Commander J D P Hodapp (the Annapolis Naval Institute Press
published the novel with an introduction by Hodapp). Interestingly Christie served in submarines rather than destroyers and in the Pacific rather than the Atlantic. Hodapp is said by Forester to have commanded the USS Hall. The USS Hall
was a destroyer built in 1942 and commissioned July 6, 1943, being decommissioned December 10, 1946. So this ship would have been around later than the book and the war in the Atlantic had changed somewhat by this time. Also the Hall was served primarily in the Pacific. Hodapp is not listed as serving as her commanding officer, though he did command the USS Lofberg
in 1947. So it seems that Forester's US Naval assistance was slightly second-hand, but no doubt valuable for all that and anyway he ended up with a good book.
The ship in the book records 2 probable and 1 possible U boat kills. This is a surprisingly good record and clearly done to make a good read. From September 1939 to Dececmber 1942 there were "only" 139 U boats lost by enemy action and in the period of the book only 60-65 U boats on patrol in the Atlantic. So 2 or 3 kills for one ship on one convoy would seem a high number.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
officer Horatio Hornblower
Horatio Hornblower
Horatio Hornblower is a fictional Royal Navy officer who is the protagonist of a series of novels by C. S. Forester. He was later the subject of films and television programs.The original Hornblower tales began with the 1937 novel The Happy Return Horatio Hornblower is a fictional Royal Navy...
.
Plot summary
The hero of The Good Shepherd is Commander Krause, the captainCaptain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
of a US Navy destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Krause is in overall command of an escort force protecting an Atlantic convoy in the Battle of the Atlantic. He finds himself in a difficult position. The voyage in question occurs early in 1942, shortly after America's entry into the war. Although he is an experienced officer, with many years of seniority, this is Krause's first wartime mission. The captains of the other escort vessels are junior to him, and much younger, but they have been at war for over two years. His relative inexperience troubles him.
The hero broods over his career; his wife left him partly because of his strict devotion to duty. He is troubled when the press of duty forces him to neglect his prayers. (Unlike most of Forester's other heroes, Krause is devout.) And he is troubled by recollections that the Navy review board had twice passed him over for promotion, returning a judgement of fitted and retained. His promotion to Commander only came when the United States entered the war, leading him to fear that he may be unsuited to his command.
Criticism
The book shows well the difficulties of the Atlantic war, the tiredness and the fight against the sea and the enemy. Also the difficulties of the early radar and ASDIC equipment available and the poor communications between the ships and the Admiralty are brought out well. See also The Cruel Sea by Nicholas MonsarratNicholas Monsarrat
Commander Nicholas John Turney Monsarrat RNVR was a British novelist known today for his sea stories, particularly The Cruel Sea and Three Corvettes , but perhaps best known internationally for his novels, The Tribe That Lost Its Head and its sequel, Richer Than All His Tribe.- Early life :Born...
which tells a similar story and again shows the difficulties of the commanding officer fighting against tiredness and the difficulties of escorting a convoy across the Atlantic.
The book cites two US Navy officers Vice-Admiral Ralph W Christie
Ralph Waldo Christie
Ralph Waldo Christie was an admiral in the United States Navy who played a pivotal role in the development of torpedo technologies...
and Commander J D P Hodapp (the Annapolis Naval Institute Press
United States Naval Institute
The United States Naval Institute , based at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, is a private, non-profit, professional military association that seeks to offer independent, nonpartisan forums for debate of national defense issues...
published the novel with an introduction by Hodapp). Interestingly Christie served in submarines rather than destroyers and in the Pacific rather than the Atlantic. Hodapp is said by Forester to have commanded the USS Hall. The USS Hall
USS Hall (DD-583)
USS Hall was a Fletcher-class destroyer of the United States Navy, named for Lieutenant Elijah Hall , who served in the Continental Navy under John Paul Jones....
was a destroyer built in 1942 and commissioned July 6, 1943, being decommissioned December 10, 1946. So this ship would have been around later than the book and the war in the Atlantic had changed somewhat by this time. Also the Hall was served primarily in the Pacific. Hodapp is not listed as serving as her commanding officer, though he did command the USS Lofberg
USS Lofberg (DD-759)
USS Lofberg , an , is the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Gus Brynolf Lofberg, Jr., who was the commander of the , which was lost in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.-History:...
in 1947. So it seems that Forester's US Naval assistance was slightly second-hand, but no doubt valuable for all that and anyway he ended up with a good book.
The ship in the book records 2 probable and 1 possible U boat kills. This is a surprisingly good record and clearly done to make a good read. From September 1939 to Dececmber 1942 there were "only" 139 U boats lost by enemy action and in the period of the book only 60-65 U boats on patrol in the Atlantic. So 2 or 3 kills for one ship on one convoy would seem a high number.