The Nugget (World War II Navy #6) by P.T. Deutermann

Jun 17, 2019 happy rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction-military

DISCLAIMER - I was given an advance copy of the novel by St. Martins in exchange for an honest review

Capt Deutermann has once again written a fascinating look at US Navy in World War II. In this novel he tells the story of Bobby Steele, a young naval aviator flying SBDs on his first tour on a carrier. In navy slang - a nugget.

The story in the novel has two distinct parts. The first starts on 6 December 1941, when Ens Steele arrives at Pearl Harbor to join the USS Enterprise. Those who know DISCLAIMER - I was given an advance copy of the novel by St. Martins in exchange for an honest review

Capt Deutermann has once again written a fascinating look at US Navy in World War II. In this novel he tells the story of Bobby Steele, a young naval aviator flying SBDs on his first tour on a carrier. In navy slang - a nugget.

The story in the novel has two distinct parts. The first starts on 6 December 1941, when Ens Steele arrives at Pearl Harbor to join the USS Enterprise. Those who know history, know the Enterprise was at sea that day. Ens Steele meets up with a friend who is assigned to the Battleship, USS Oklahoma. After having too much to drink, Ens Steele is sleeping it off on the Oklahoma and awakes during the attack. This scene evokes the terror that must have gone through those men on the Oklahoma, as well as the chaos of a surprise attack in general where nobody knows what exactly is going on. Steele barely escapes the capsizing battleship.

Steele duly joins the Enterprise and the author again shows his knowledge of the rhythms of the navy as Steele becomes carrier qualified and participates in the carrier battles of 1942. These include the raids on Japanese held Marshall Islands in February, the Dolittle raid in April and the Battle of Midway in June, when Steele succeeds in placing his bombs on one of the Japanese carriers.

After Midway, Steele and his gunner participate in the naval battles around Guadalcanal. The author places him near the spot where the Enterprise it is hit by bombs during the Battle of Easter Solomans. Once again, the author gives the reader some mesmerizing battle sequences. As the Enterprise is withdrawn for repairs, Steele is given the chance to transfer to the USS Hornet, which he accepts.

The second part of the novel begins when Steele and his backseater go into the water when the Hornet is sunk. At this point the author leaves actual history. They are picked up by a patrolling US Submarine, the fictional USS Hagfish, and stay on board her as she continues her war patrol. The sub is eventually sunk by a mine off one of the southern Philippines islands. The island is fictional as well as the actions that occur on it. After making to shore after the sinking, they are rescued by a guerilla group led by a disgraced Catholic priest. Their activities as well as the Japanese total lack of humanity are graphically shown. As a guerilla group, they are mainly responsible for keeping an eye on a transit anchorage on the island. As the story progresses the Japanese Commander decides he wants to rid the island of the pesky guerillas. This leads to a alliance of sorts between the Catholic and Muslim (Moro) inhabitants and well as some less advanced natives. While the story on the island is total fiction, the author claims it is representative of just what was happening on the Philippines during the Japanese occupation.

Eventually Steel is rescued and because he has been out of touch for so long, the Navy convenes a court of enquiry to ascertain if he is who he says he is.

All in all a fantastic read. It only took me 3 days to read. I did have some problems with some of the historical details. One of the main problems I had was the author’s identifications of the fighter aircraft aboard the the American Carriers. In one of early scenes immediately following Pearl Harbor, he identifies them is as F6F Hellcats. This airplane didn't have its first flight until the middle of 1942 and wasn't deployed to the fleet until mid 1943. Later he correctly identifies the fighters on the carriers as F4F Wildcats. Then in the Midway scenes, once again refers to them as Hellcats. I hope this is cleared up before publication. There seems to be a lot of these types of errors, both in fiction and nonfiction these days. Another point I wasn't clear on, is just how long one remained and Ensign in the prewar navy. As Capt Deutermann tells Steele's story, he says the Steele had completed two years on a cruiser along with flight school before boarding the Enterprise and is still an Ensign. As someone who is familiar with the modern military - that seems a bit long

In spite of those problems, which only a WW II nerd would pick up on, this was a great read. As is, this is a solid 4 star read, with the historical corrections 4.5 stars and would round it up for good reads. ...more

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Jun 03, 2019 Rob Roy rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction

Notice: I received an Advanced Reader Copy from St. Martin's Press, mainly because they have liked my reviews and I have read all of P. T. Deutermann's books.

This is another World War II historical fiction by Deutermann, and another goodie. I am an old history major as well as a Naval retiree from Naval Aviation. His aviation details are spot on. In this novel, we follow a newly minted Naval Aviator at the beginnings of World War II. The main character is just trying to get his job done, and in ...more

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Jul 02, 2019 Jim rated it it was amazing

Shelves: wwii-naval-fiction

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of THE NUGGET by PETER DEUTERMANN. Mr. Deutermann is one, if not THE, best writer of WWII military fiction on the market today. Both he and his father served in the U.S. Navy as senior officers. The father served in WWII, mainly in the Pacific Theater while Peter served more recently, including stops in the Philippines and Vietnam. The term “Nugget” refers to newly commissioned, newly assigned to an aircraft carrier, aviation ensigns. I Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of THE NUGGET by PETER DEUTERMANN. Mr. Deutermann is one, if not THE, best writer of WWII military fiction on the market today. Both he and his father served in the U.S. Navy as senior officers. The father served in WWII, mainly in the Pacific Theater while Peter served more recently, including stops in the Philippines and Vietnam. The term “Nugget” refers to newly commissioned, newly assigned to an aircraft carrier, aviation ensigns. I hope I got that description right.

As the story opens, Lieutenant, U.S.N., Bobby Steele is facing a Court of Inquiry because he has been Missing In Action for nearly two years. The Court needs to determine if he really is Bobby Steele and what took place while he was M.I.A. Therefore, Lt. Steele tells his story to the Court.
After a night of drinking on December 6, 1941, then Ensign Steele wakes up to to the sound of shooting. He had passed out in a cabin on the battleship Oklahoma. He barely has time to exit the ship before it rolled over and sinks on December 7, 1941 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Thus begins his amazing story.

Bobby is assigned to the aircraft carrier Enterprise where he partakes in the the sea battle that altered naval engagements forever. It was the Battle of Midway where United States and Japanese aircraft carriers a couple of hundred miles apart battled each other with airplanes. The U.S. lost one of its carriers but the Japanese lost four. It turned the tide in the Pacific Theater. Reading the author’s description of that air battle was like sitting in the cockpit with Steele and his radioman, Rooster Baynes.

Later on in the story, Steele and Baynes are shot down and rescued. After their rescue, Steele and Baynes, end up on the island of Guadalcanal where they get a firsthand look at ground fighting. Not a pleasant experience. Eventually, they are returned to aircraft on board the carrier Hornet shortly before that carrier is sunk. Once again, Steele and Rooster are rescued, this time by a submarine. Because of its mission, going to the Philippines, Steele and Rooster are stuck on board. On arriving at its patrol area, the submarine hits a mine while on the surface near the mythical island of Talawan.

A Catholic priest turned guerilla fighter rescues them. Steele, Rooster and the priest are joined by Negritos and Muslim fighters in a military campaign against the Japanese garrison on the island. To complicate matters, there is also a prisoner of war camp on the island that contains an ever-shrinking number of British P.O.W.s. It is bows and arrows against machine guns. Eventually, it all turns out well for Bobby and Rooster with some surprises.

Mr. Deutermann once again proves that he is a master storyteller. There were nights that I read until the wee hours of the morning because I could not wait to see what happens. The story is suited for WWII history buffs or readers who enjoy a story well told. As in his previous books, there is some real history involved.

GO! BUY! READ! ...more

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Jun 17, 2019 Karl rated it it was amazing

After 25 years in the Navy including the command of a destroyer and later the command of an entire destroyer squadron, it should come as no surprise that P.T. Deutermann has written a few novels about naval warfare. Preceded by “Pacific Glory” (2011), “Ghosts of Bungo Suido” (2013, “Sentinels of Fire”(2014), and “ The Iceman” (2018), “The Nugget” continues Deutermann’s tales of W.W. II in the Pacific Ocean. “ The Nugget” follows Lieutenant Bobby Steele, a fresh caught Navy pilot, fresh from ...more

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May 27, 2019 Dan Curnutt rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The Nugget follows the military exploits of a naval dive bomber pilot in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. Lieutenant Robert T. Steele. The story starts out with a board of inquiry about whether Lt. Steele is who he says he is. That is because he was lost at sea and presumed dead.

But the novel unfolds as Lt. Steele tells his story to the board of inquiry about what happened to him and how he fought the war even after being "lost at sea."

The story is well written and enthralling. It draws ...more

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Jul 05, 2019 Chuck rated it it was amazing

Recommended to Chuck by: George Witte

I am a long time P. T. Deutermann fan and I've been looking forward to this book. Mr. Deutermann is a naval academy graduate and was a career U.S. Navy officer. He has a special way with stories about the navy. The protagonist here is a carrier pilot fresh out of flight school, which is the definition of "Nugget." We fly with him on his first, and subsequent, missions in the Pacific theater during WWII. I thought Mr. Deutermann could have fleshed his characters out a little more and perhaps ...more

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Oct 10, 2019 Cathy Geha rated it it was amazing

The Nugget by P.T. Deutermann
World War II Navy #6

I remember reading books by C. S. Forester with Horatio Hornblower that were kept on a special shelf in my father’s library. Earlier than that I had an interest in women pirates after reading a book in an American Heritage series. This book took me back in time but not as far back in time as the books I just mentioned. This took me to WWII and Pearl Harbor when it was bombed and then later into battle in the Pacific.

The main character narrates ...more

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Jun 24, 2019 John rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read-in-2019

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advance copy of The Nugget by P. T. Deutermann. This is my second book by this author and I jumped at the chance to read more of his work. This novel is set during World War II. The main character is navy Lieutenant Bobby Steele, a dive bomber pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. “Nugget” is the slang term the navy used for its rookie officers. The book begins with the newly arrived lieutenant caught aboard ...more

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Jun 06, 2019 Keith rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019, military-fiction

The Nugget is the sixth novel in P.T. Deutermann’s World War Navy series. The series has had an interesting progression. The first novel, Pacific Glory (2011), is an epic novel with a large cast of characters and a time frame that begins with the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7th 1941 and continues through the brutal battles of the Pacific War. It is exceedingly well crafted. In the four novels that follow Pacific Glory Deutermann changes the focus slightly by concentrating on a smaller slice ...more

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Nov 24, 2019 Clark rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction

A great World War II novel with much of it based on a true story. I may be a sucker for WWII books but, nevertheless, this one has everything: extremely well-written, historical information, and thriller-like drama. I’ll be reading more of this series.

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May 26, 2019 Doug Yonce rated it it was amazing

The best way to read history is through a Deutermann novel. The research and details make history come alive. The experiences of the fresh-faced Annapolis grad/pilot keep the reader involved and appreciative of the sacrifices made by the greatest generation.

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Jun 05, 2019 Frank rated it it was amazing

Shelves: first-read

Gritty tale of naval air war and survival told as a testimony as to the identity of the speaker.. The Nugget is Lieutenant "Fish" Bobby Steele, USN, a Naval Academy graduate and dive bomber pilot who survives the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor then takes the war to the enemy. After a night of heavy drinking, Lt. Steele becomes a first hand witness of the sinking of the battleship Oklahoma (BB-37) having been on the ship during the bombing. He is assigned to the carrier USS Enterprise as a ...more

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Oct 12, 2019 Dennis L. rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A wonderful read, An authentic story

This novel presents itself as Court of Inquiry testimony in the closing days of WWII. Told as continuous flashback, the first third of the book is an eminently readable "coming of age as a combat naval pilot. With only a few minor anachronisms, the author presents a junior officer's view of the opening campaigns of the Pacific Carrier War. The final two thirds are a well written, comprehensivly characterized account of this officer's fictional, but authentic ...more

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Oct 21, 2019 Ben rated it really liked it

An exciting tale by former Naval officer P.T. Deutermann that I enjoyed totally.
Written in the first person, The Nugget ( a derisive term for a brand - new Naval Ensign) follows the adventures of Bobby Steel from his first action as a pilot of a dive bomber off the U.S.S. Enterprise into the battle of Midway, to his harrowing days on the Japanese occupied island of Talawan in the Philippines.
The writer is an experienced hand at bringing characters to life, while quickly involving the reader in ...more

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Nov 16, 2019 William rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The Nugget is another winner by Deutermann

Unusual story from a carrier pilot who was at battle of Midway and who later survives the sinking of the Hornet carrier. Rescued by a submarine which then is sunk by hitting a mine near a remote Japanese’s held island in the Philippines. There he tries to survive while being helped by the natives. I highly recommend.

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Sep 01, 2019 Jo Anne rated it it was amazing

This book is every bit as suspenseful and informative as every one of this author's "Sea" books have been. Heroic characters and difficult circumstances keep readers on edge and wanting the book to go on forever. Can':t wait until the next book..

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Oct 23, 2019 Mike Kim rated it really liked it

This novel tells a story about a Navy Flighter during WW II. It gives a little bit of how American Navy felt about Japanese bombing of Peral Harber and US' reaction to that.
It is very interesting book regarding resistence of local people against Japanese Invasion.

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Oct 17, 2019 Larry Fox rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Very good story

Well written WW11 novel. Lots of action. It makes you realize this truly was a world war with many different cultures affected

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Nov 08, 2019 larry anglada rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Well Written P.T. Loved it from start to finish

Some of the best sea stories being written today. Non stop action and a truthful feel to the scenes as they are played out.

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Nov 24, 2019 Matthew Dudley rated it it was amazing

Enjoyed this read a lot - first time I had read this author's works I intend to keep reading!

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Jul 02, 2019 Jim rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: wwii-naval-fiction

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of THE NUGGET by PETER DEUTERMANN. Mr. Deutermann is one, if not THE, best writer of WWII military fiction on the market today. Both he and his father served in the U.S. Navy as senior officers. The father served in WWII, mainly in the Pacific Theater while Peter served more recently, including stops in the Philippines and Vietnam. The term “Nugget” refers to newly commissioned, newly assigned to an aircraft carrier, aviation ensigns. I Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of THE NUGGET by PETER DEUTERMANN. Mr. Deutermann is one, if not THE, best writer of WWII military fiction on the market today. Both he and his father served in the U.S. Navy as senior officers. The father served in WWII, mainly in the Pacific Theater while Peter served more recently, including stops in the Philippines and Vietnam. The term “Nugget” refers to newly commissioned, newly assigned to an aircraft carrier, aviation ensigns. I hope I got that description right.

As the story opens, Lieutenant, U.S.N., Bobby Steele is facing a Court of Inquiry because he has been Missing In Action for nearly two years. The Court needs to determine if he really is Bobby Steele and what took place while he was M.I.A. Therefore, Lt. Steele tells his story to the Court.
After a night of drinking on December 6, 1941, then Ensign Steele wakes up to to the sound of shooting. He had passed out in a cabin on the battleship Oklahoma. He barely has time to exit the ship before it rolled over and sinks on December 7, 1941 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Thus begins his amazing story.

Bobby is assigned to the aircraft carrier Enterprise where he partakes in the the sea battle that altered naval engagements forever. It was the Battle of Midway where United States and Japanese aircraft carriers a couple of hundred miles apart battled each other with airplanes. The U.S. lost one of its carriers but the Japanese lost four. It turned the tide in the Pacific Theater. Reading the author’s description of that air battle was like sitting in the cockpit with Steele and his radioman, Rooster Baynes.

Later on in the story, Steele and Baynes are shot down and rescued. After their rescue, Steele and Baynes, end up on the island of Guadalcanal where they get a firsthand look at ground fighting. Not a pleasant experience. Eventually, they are returned to aircraft on board the carrier Hornet shortly before that carrier is sunk. Once again, Steele and Rooster are rescued, this time by a submarine. Because of its mission, going to the Philippines, Steele and Rooster are stuck on board. On arriving at its patrol area, the submarine hits a mine while on the surface near the mythical island of Talawan.

A Catholic priest turned guerilla fighter rescues them. Steele, Rooster and the priest are joined by Negritos and Muslim fighters in a military campaign against the Japanese garrison on the island. To complicate matters, there is also a prisoner of war camp on the island that contains an ever-shrinking number of British P.O.W.s. It is bows and arrows against machine guns. Eventually, it all turns out well for Bobby and Rooster with some surprises.

Mr. Deutermann once again proves that he is a master storyteller. There were nights that I read until the wee hours of the morning because I could not wait to see what happens. The story is suited for WWII history buffs or readers who enjoy a story well told. As in his previous books, there is some real history involved.

GO! BUY! READ! ...more

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May 23, 2019 Craig Pearson rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviewed

Another great World War II historical novel from Deutermann. The nugget ensign flyer is caught up in many improbable but still realistic situations as a carrier aviator. The author always provides accurate details thst keep the reader engaged. I did not understand the opening with the court of inquiry. Seemed an artificial addition and un-needed.

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