In Harm's Way

IN HARM'S WAY This book records the action of the intrepid 'Fiji' class cruiser HMS Kenya and her many exploits throughout the Second World War and subsequent service until 1962, when she was scrapped. During the War she took part in many major events, the first of which was the pursuit of the German battleship Bismarck. During her convoy work she sank two enemy ships before joining in the clandestine raid on Vaagsö, Norway, an operation forever known as 'The Perfect Raid'. During the winter of 1941/42, Kenya endured the hardships of the Russian convoys and in the famous Malta convoy (Operation Pedestal) she sustained major damage to her bows. The book includes a powerful description of this heroic operation. Such was the tenacity of the enemy determination to sink the convoy, that only five supply ships out of fourteen, but one of which was the oil tanker Ohio, reached Valletta. This was the most bombarded convoy throughout the six years of the War, and the Royal Navy lost four of its warships in it, many others being damaged. 1945 did not spell the end of Kenya's exploits, for she later served in the Korean War before being finally decommissioned in 1959. Her full story is here brilliantly told and beautifully complemented with a hundred and six illustrations. Shaun Tyas - 1998