[Vanders9]

The BBC does still make some excellent documentaries. This is the latest one by Jeremy Clarkson (he of Top Gear and punching Piers Morgan fame) and this time it doesn't shirk from showing some not very comfortable shortcomings in Britain's war record. Interesting, and sad.

[tcrlaf]

PQ-17 was just one of several disastrous Arctic Convoys. The loss of life and equipment was huge through 1944, but it kept the Soviet northern front armies in the game.

[ken5050]

Alistair MacLean is best known for his WW II thrillers, many of which were made into blockbuster movies ( "Where Eagles Dare," "Guns of Navarone.") His first novel, "HMS Ulysses" is loosely based on PQ-17. MacLean served in the RN in the war, and his ship was an escort on two Artic convoys.

IMO, it's one of his finest works. It's honest..before he turned to the espionage techno-thriller genre. A good read.

Note: I recall reading somewhere that if you went into the Artic waters, your survival time was less than 2 minutes.

[sport]

Anybody that punches Piers Morgan can’t be all bad.

[bt_dooftlook]

I`ve just finished watching all three War Stories episodes:
1. PQ-17
2. The Greatest Raid
3. The Victoria Cross

I highly recommend the last, if you haven`t seen it; the ending is remarkable

[Riley]

Just finished it. Very sobering stuff, and a good documentary.