When the Soviet Union joined the Allies in 1942, one of the most perilous convoy operations in World War II was launched. Risking icebergs, dense fog, violent storms, and the U-boat menace, overloaded merchantmen and their thin-hulled escorts carried supplies through Arctic waters to prop up the vulnerable Russian war effort. The author draws on numerous archival sources and deftly integrates the human element into this concise historical narrative. He brings to life the bone-chilling cold and the courage of the crewmembers who risked collision only to see their danger-filled voyages often go for naught as military and food supplies were destroyed by enemy attacks in Russian ports. This fascinating saga is sure to be enjoyed by everyone with an interest in the strategy and heroics of the Battle of the Atlantic. 202 pages. 18 photographs. Hardcover. 6 x 9 inches.