--- product_id: 456084607 title: "Down to the Sea: An Epic Story of Naval Disaster and Heroism in World War II" price: "VT1729" currency: VUV in_stock: false reviews_count: 7 url: https://www.desertcart.vu/products/456084607-down-to-the-sea-an-epic-story-of-naval-disaster store_origin: VU region: Vanuatu --- # Down to the Sea: An Epic Story of Naval Disaster and Heroism in World War II **Price:** VT1729 **Availability:** ❌ Out of Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Down to the Sea: An Epic Story of Naval Disaster and Heroism in World War II - **How much does it cost?** VT1729 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Currently out of stock - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.vu](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/456084607-down-to-the-sea-an-epic-story-of-naval-disaster) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Down to the Sea: An Epic Story of Naval Disaster and Heroism in World War II (Audio Download): Bruce Henderson, Jon Waters, Tantor Audio: desertcart.co.uk: Books Review: Halsey's Folley - In this book we gain an insight into the epic story of the history of the 1944 Typhoon, later known as Typhoon Cobra, that the Third Fleet Sailed into. The first half of the book introduces us to the destroyers and their crew that will suffer the tragedy that could have easily been avoided. In `Down to the Sea' the author does a wonderful job of detailing the strengths and failings of each ship as we follow its career from construction to its ultimate end. Using a vast number of references Henderson is able to recreate life aboard these destroyers and share with a look at what it was like to be there. We learned just enough to know the skill level of the officers and crew by the time of the storm, and all that these brave ships had accomplished while under competent command. As far as the actual details of the battles they were in, there are many books written on that subject. As you read this account of what transpired it becomes apparent that Admiral Halsey, a Naval Combat Hero, was not competent at commanding a large fleet. It was his bad judgment, tied in with his concern of appearing to not support MacArthur, that lead the fleet to sail directly into the typhoon. Though the navy made other mistakes, such as ignoring the very accurate weather reports from the Army, not recalculating the stability of the modified destroyers and the fear instilled in their crews to question their Captains so called "final decisions" lead to all these deaths and the loss of the three destroyers. It also had me questioning the motives of the board of inquiry, was it all just for show? According to this account there is no question that the surviving destroyer Captain should have been court-martialed and Admiral Halsey retired. This book is a very compelling read that was well written and researched. It flowed as if it was a novel and I wanted to continue turning each page to see what was going to transpire next. The accounts of the survivors on the last moments onboard and their many hours in the sea are harrowing. This book does not hide anything; it shows the good and the bad. I would highly recommend this book. It must be read by anyone interested in naval history. Review: True story - I found this book a little heavy going, the story was very good and the author really describes the sea conditions encountered really well, but it was slow going. ## Images ![Down to the Sea: An Epic Story of Naval Disaster and Heroism in World War II - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81nGBHh7Z+L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Halsey's Folley *by M***S on 14 November 2007* In this book we gain an insight into the epic story of the history of the 1944 Typhoon, later known as Typhoon Cobra, that the Third Fleet Sailed into. The first half of the book introduces us to the destroyers and their crew that will suffer the tragedy that could have easily been avoided. In `Down to the Sea' the author does a wonderful job of detailing the strengths and failings of each ship as we follow its career from construction to its ultimate end. Using a vast number of references Henderson is able to recreate life aboard these destroyers and share with a look at what it was like to be there. We learned just enough to know the skill level of the officers and crew by the time of the storm, and all that these brave ships had accomplished while under competent command. As far as the actual details of the battles they were in, there are many books written on that subject. As you read this account of what transpired it becomes apparent that Admiral Halsey, a Naval Combat Hero, was not competent at commanding a large fleet. It was his bad judgment, tied in with his concern of appearing to not support MacArthur, that lead the fleet to sail directly into the typhoon. Though the navy made other mistakes, such as ignoring the very accurate weather reports from the Army, not recalculating the stability of the modified destroyers and the fear instilled in their crews to question their Captains so called "final decisions" lead to all these deaths and the loss of the three destroyers. It also had me questioning the motives of the board of inquiry, was it all just for show? According to this account there is no question that the surviving destroyer Captain should have been court-martialed and Admiral Halsey retired. This book is a very compelling read that was well written and researched. It flowed as if it was a novel and I wanted to continue turning each page to see what was going to transpire next. The accounts of the survivors on the last moments onboard and their many hours in the sea are harrowing. This book does not hide anything; it shows the good and the bad. I would highly recommend this book. It must be read by anyone interested in naval history. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ True story *by M***E on 23 July 2009* I found this book a little heavy going, the story was very good and the author really describes the sea conditions encountered really well, but it was slow going. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review *by R***T on 26 December 2007* "Down to the Sea" is an intensely dramatic World War II story of heroism and hubris on the high seas. Against the backdrop of the war in the Pacific, Bruce Henderson relates the tragic saga of three doomed destroyers of the Third Fleet. The enemy was not the Japanese navy but a monstrous typhoon. What makes the tragic fate of the destroyers Hull, Monaghan, and Spence so real is Henderson`s masterful telling of the personal tale of the officers and men whose lives and deaths were tied to the fate of their ships. Like the families of these men, one comes to care about their personal welfare. Henderson also carefully sets the stage for what could probably have been an avoidable tragedy by analyzing the decisions and compromises that were the result of command egos and the exigencies of war. When the catastrophe finally struck, Henderson's vivid portrayal made me feel as though I was alongside the brave sailors as they were fighting for their lives against the wind and the seas. I highly recommend Bruce Henderson's "Down to the Sea." The book is breathtaking and haunting and will stay with the reader long after the final page is read. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.vu/products/456084607-down-to-the-sea-an-epic-story-of-naval-disaster](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/456084607-down-to-the-sea-an-epic-story-of-naval-disaster) --- *Product available on Desertcart Vanuatu* *Store origin: VU* *Last updated: 2026-05-07*