Book Review of Tin Cans and Greyhounds: The Destroyers That Won Two World Wars

Editor’s note: Book Review for Tin Cans & Greyhounds: The Destroyer That Won Two World Wars, Clint Johnson. Regnery History released February 12, 2019, hard cover $29.99 ISBN: 978-1-62157-647-1

ebook  ISBN: 978-1-62157-767-6

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Just in time for Tom Hanks’ major motion picture, Greyhound ( May 8, 2020), historian Clint Johnson is revealing the real stories in Hank’s fictional film through Tin Cans & Greyhounds: The Destroyers that Won Two World Wars.

Tin Cans & Greyhounds is an action-packed narrative that gives American-history readers a perspective of the fight for victory in World War II they aren’t used to—through the portholes of the destroyers that won the war. This book contains an action-packed narrative history of destroyer-class ships who began as torpedo boats in 1898 and were last used in the Vietnam War.

These destroyers were nicknamed “tin cans” because they had thin, metal hulls that were useful for quickly navigating the seas but not so great for protection of the soldiers that they transported. Their quick speeds gave them their second nickname, “greyhounds.”  Survival on a destroyer was not guaranteed.  While reading this book you will find yourself inside the quarter-inch hulls, meet brave soldiers who manned the five-inch guns and fought wars while risking death by cannon shells, shrapnel, fire, drowning, exposure, and……sharks.  The destroyers’ thin hulls made these ships versatile as they were used as swift scouts, able escorts, and gutsy rescuers.  Without the destroyers, WWII may have been lost.

You will read chapters titled: The Early Years, World War I in Europe: Do as much damage as possible, U.S. Enters the War: We are ready now, sir!, The 1920s: We have no destroyers today, The 1930s: A destroyer is not a likely target, Atlantic Theater 1939-1941: Keep on engaging the enemy, Pacific Theater 1941: Suddenly and deliberately attacked, Atlantic Theater 1942: American beacons and searchlights visible at night, Pacific Theater 1942: Courageous abandon against fearful odds, Atlantic Theater 1943: Wiped out every exposed member of the sub’s crew topside, Pacific Theater 1943: Our losses for this single battle were fantastic, Atlantic Theater 1944: Man on deck of sub attempting to man gun disintegrates, Pacific Theater 1944: A fight against overwhelming odds from which survival can’t be expected, Atlantic Theater 1945: I think that is the end of the sub, and Pacific Theater 1945: The gates of hell awaited us…..Carol

Meet the author: Clint Johnson has written more than a dozen American history titles including A Vast & Fiendish Plot: The Confederate Attack on New York City (2010) and one foray into history and politics in The Politically Incorrect Guide to the South (2007). Other books he has written are Civil War Blunders: Amusing Incidents From the War, Pursuit: The Chase, Capture, Persecution, and Surprising Release of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, and Bull’s-Eyes and Misfires  He graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in journalism and has written newspaper, magazine, and trade publication articles.

Carol Duff, MSN, BA, RN

Carol graduated from Riverside White Cross School of Nursing in Columbus, Ohio and received her diploma as a registered nurse. She attended Bowling Green State University where she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Literature. She attended the University of Toledo, College of Nursing, and received a Master’s of Nursing Science Degree as an Educator.

She has traveled extensively, is a photographer, and writes on medical issues. Carol has three children RJ, Katherine, and Stephen – one daughter-in-law; Katie – two granddaughters; Isabella Marianna and Zoe Olivia – and one grandson, Alexander Paul. She also shares her life with her husband Gordon Duff, many cats, and two rescues.

• Carol’s Archives 2009-2013