The Last Paladin

A Novel (World War II Navy Series, Book 9)

By: P. T. Deutermann

Narrated by: Peter Berkrot

Summoned to relieve destroyers that are bogged down by escort duty in the escalating Pacific Theater, the Hayward is met with a rather cold reception. In the eyes of Pacific Fleet sailors, North Atlantic convoy duty pales in comparison to the bloody, carrier-sinking battles of Savo Island and Guadalcanal. However, Atlantic Fleet ships have had to specialize in one thing: anti-submarine warfare.

The Hayward is sent off into remote South Pacific operating areas with orders to find and destroy Japanese submarines—but with little expectation of success. Her commanders take the mission literally; using radio intercepts that are being ignored at higher levels, they determine that the Japanese have set up a 1000-mile-long picket line of seven submarines, an entire squadron's worth, to act as a moveable barrier against the expected American advance into the next set of islands. These submarines are poised to sink every American aircraft carrier and destroyer and to change the course of the war.

What happens next is one of the legendary stories of the US Navy. The Last Paladin is high stakes naval warfare at its best, told with utter authenticity and a former ship captain's understanding of dramatic, intense combat. P. T. Deutermann continues his acclaimed series of WWII thrillers in this unforgettable novel.

©2022 P. T. Deutermann (P)2022 Tantor

Classic WWII Navy

Be of Dueterman's best.
I read it in one sitting.
Highly recommended, for any naval buff.

Gripping

I enjoy reading P. T. Deutermann’s books about World War II. One of the key things I like is they are well researched. Deutermann was a naval officer and his first-hand knowledge of the navy shows. The characters are interesting and pace is fast. This book is about a ship that specialized in hunting submarines. The ship had just arrived in the Pacific from hunting U-boats in the North Atlantic.

I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Peter Berkrot does a great job narrating the book. The book is nine hours and fifty-nine minutes.

Deutermann delivers another clean sweep.

Another great book to educate the reader, and to honor those who served and those still on patrol.

My God what a great book!!!!

This was such a great read that I just hated for it to end:( this is by far his best book yet and I have listened to every one more than once. I am looking so forward to listening to this book again and very soon as it was that good!!!!! Thank you so very much for sharing your thoughts with us with another Great book!!!!!! Larry

Paladin = hero

Once again, I really enjoyed the author's telling of what World War II was like in the Pacific Theater.

In this one, a destroyer escort finds itself all alone in the Philipine Sea fighting and destroying a line of Japanese subs. The subs were hiding trying to observe the US Navy fleet moving towards Japan to help them set up their own battle plans. Against all odds the US ships succeeds.

I was in the US Army and while stationed in Germany in the 1970s I never experienced combat, but I served with many that were in Vietnam and fought in jungle warfare. While I was OK that I didn't fight in combat you did discuss it with those that did. You couldn't help but wonder how you would have stood up to that test.

These guys in WWII were in the thick of it most of the time. You have to respect to the highest degree the courage they all showed at every level of the chain of command. I salute them all. And I'm glad the author has written this series as a testament of how WWII worked in the Pacific.