John Wingate’s ‘Frigate’ is the first book of his Cold War Series and does a great job pulling you into the possibilities of a very real situation we may all face soon. Set in England, with the English Navy serving as the weapon of choice, Wingate brings many different characters into play. You follow their lives and learn how naval service (any service, really) affects them and their loved ones in real ways.

Frigate tells the story of a new ship captain assuming charge of a new crew that is dysfunctional and the challenge of a confrontation between NATO and Russia. The USA only plays a small role in what occurs, so it was a learning experience for me to see how England and Europe see war happening.

In this story, not every character survives. This was disheartening at first because I had grown to like the characters. But I also realized that Wingate brought home to the reader that war is real. People do die and there are consequences. Thank you for not letting every hero live. We’ve grown used to hero’s shooting pistols vs. machine guns and being victorious.

The plot is a very real possibility. Reading this book during the Ukrainian War only serves to heighten my awareness that it could happen sooner than I think.

I’m looking forward to reading the next installments of the series.

I believe this is a reprint of a book first published in the 1980s. It's also the first of a series. Excellent book on the naval aspects of what would have happened if the Cold War had turned hot. Written by a Brit, and so uses British naval slang with which many readers may not be familiar; but this gives it an air of authenticity. Superb, yet approachable technical detail related to naval weapons systems and how they would have been employed in war.

A good detailed military story set and written at the height of the cold war. A long build up with the action in the last coup!e of chapters, but I enjoyed read the story. These days more of an alternative history tale. Good characters and atmospheric in parts, it is well researched and shows the author is knowledgeable. I received a complimentary copy from Netgear but then bought the book anyway.

An excellent novel about a British Royal Naval frigate, and its various key crew members during the Cold War..

An impressive book, with lots of technical detail about the vessel and its various weapon systems. The author also captured very well the everyday life on board a small warship.
I particularly liked the way the author also included in the story, the detachment of embarked Royal Marines and their almost suicidal role in the event of a Russian attack on Norway.

I believe that this book was written pre-Falklands war, when many of the shipboard weapon systems and communications equipment, mentioned in the book, were found to be totally inadequate against a determined foe. We must be very thankful that NATO did not have a full-blown war against the Warsaw Pact.

In summary, a classy, and well-researched military history novel that unfortunately had a very short and abrupt ending!

Life aboard ship is never easy. Particularly if you are stationed in the North Sea or more northerly environs closer to the north pole. Icarus is an older but very capable frigate assigned to Pasco Trevellion. New commanders to any ship in the fleet are accepted with trepidation and skepticism by the ship’s company and crew. Trevellion taking charge of the Icarus is no exception.

The shakedown cruise is to prepare ship and crew for deployment. The Icarus will join a NATO fleet in the northern waters to contain the Soviet fleet from breaking out and controlling the northern seaways from Finland and Iceland. The Russians enjoy larger and more sophisticated vessels and are like a bully in a new neighborhood.

The dialogue in this novel is extremely well written and uses copious naval terminology. Newer sailors always test their new Captain’s patience and abilities.

On station, the Icarus and other ships in the containing NATO force work to control the breakout of the Russian submarine fleet. The submarines are quicker and better equipped than most of the containment flotilla. The action becomes fast and furious as the naval blockade fails.

Any reader who understands the Navy’s function on the world stage of checks and balances will enjoy this read.