The Last Paladin

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

De: P. T. Deutermann

Narrado por: 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 Deuterman!

WWII Pacific theater properly documented.
Deuterman tells it like he was there. You will feel like you were there too.

Love this book

This book was a terrific story and listening to it was addictive.
I recommend it highly.

Entertaining WW2 Anti-Submarine Yarn

This is one of P.T. Deutermann’s more entertaining WW2 Pacific War novels. It features an experienced, and battle-hardened destroyer escort, the fictional USS Holland, that is transferred from escort duty in the Atlantic Theatre in 1944 to the Pacific and sets out alone to wage war on a suspected string of 6 IJN I-boats in a picket line tasked with early detection of the US Navy invasion fleet for Saipan and the Marianas. Craftiness of the commanding officer and technical brilliance of the executive officer combine to defeat the 6 submarines. It was an interesting story featuring the hedgehog mortar system developed by the Royal Navy and used with devastating lethality against submarines of the day. This is a fictional account of the actual exploits of the USS England (DE-635) that did sink 6 I-boats in combined anti-submarine action with many other destroyers and destroyer escorts.

Another Winner by P.T. Deutermann

Another excellent story by this author, P.T. Deutermann. This story is told in the first person by two protagonists, a DE’s Captain and its XO. The story is masculine; no heroine involved. The author gets the Navy bureaucratic shenanigans correct (as he should being a retired Commander). Dialogue is good, very realistic.

The reader should have done more research into how navy terms are actually pronounced. He makes amateurish mistakes. For example, it’s not “SUB-mariner” as in a below-par mariner, but rather it’s “sub-MAR-iner” with mariner pronounced like “Marine.” Also, it is not “boo-ships” or “boo-pers,” but “beu-ships” or “beu-pers.” Navy listeners wince at the reader’s mispronunciation of these words.

In spite of the reader's amateurishness, its a very good story that ends Deutermann's novels about WW II in the Pacific.

Highly recommended

I have read most of PT Deutermann’s books. This is one of the best if not the best that I’ve read. This is especially true because I was thinking no not likely to be real world then I looked up USS England. No spoiler, just don’t look up until you’re at least halfway through. Most of what happens is based on what really happened. And all of the dialogue sounds like you were there listening in narration was good. I only made it a four because it was hard to tell whether it was the captain or the exec, since both voices were very similar, not a big deal though. Read it you’ll like it.

PTD Does It Again!

The little DE that could. This is an amazing tale of an amazing ship and its crew doing the impossible. PTD never fails to amaze us readers with stories of derring do in WWII. You won’t be disappointed listening to this story. Well, I’m off to listen to my last PTD book…..

Best book in Deutermann's series so far

The story is through the destroyer escort vessel's skipper and XO's perspectives. Peter Berkrot's accents are spot on. Ficticious action in actual Naval engagements makes for great listening.

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.