I read my copy of Long Tan to death over the years, I must find another (it was the same edition as yours).

I have a lot to thank Hastings for, I read his book, Overlord, when I was younger and it re-kindled my interest. I thought his book on the first year of the Great War, Catastrophe was also good but he's wedded to an outdated view of the period and German capabilities in the SWW.

I'm afraid old Max had his day some years ago but the risk adverse publishing world would rather play the 'tried and trusted' card than give a talented interloper (like wot I am) a crack of the whip. It may sound big headed but I am a good writer, just not a Hastings or (even worse) a Beevor.

Now there's a thing, I've never really considered the Japanese Night Fighter arm or even its existence.

Not to mention a near useless senior commander attempting to disguise a personal failing by throwing the hero under the bus. Once identified, the loyal Number One should always arrange for that ne'er-do-well to be 'helped' over the side at the earliest opportunity, saving multiple lives later on.

They can fairly be described as formulaic but then again, so can many successful works of fiction (or non fiction for that matter!) but it doesn't stop them from being good reads. I just wish he'd steered clear of love scenes, they just don't work with their 'oh, darling' Brief Encounter schtick.

One of my favourite Reeman stories (my favourite being Rendezvous South Atlantic).

That's about the size of it but wait, it gets better. Once the Saudis have them then the Chinese will have access to what makes the F-35 tick exposing American and Allied pilots, carriers and territory to potential Stealth defeating countermeasures with all that implies. Lives for $£€. It's evil.

Clearly the patient is entering peak cognitive descent. Can't be long now until his Praetorian Guard turns on him.

I'll give you two for the price of one....

To answer your twin questions: Very and very.

Agreed, it's a subject which lends itself to that approach if for no other reason than the experiences of the U-boat crews was almost uniquely costly to them, so their descriptions of those experiences are unequally valuable, lending understanding to the overall campaign.

Excellent job, well done indeed.

I'd be interested in your opinion when you're done reading it.

There's a time and place for narrative history, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't - when it does it can enhance a period of history (James Holland's book on Malta is a good example) but it doesn't work for his book on Casino (not picking on JH btw).

I've got my eyes on these two, let me know what you think of them.

I've learned something here, I didn't know Tempests flew over Normandy.