davidclensy.com

November 2025 sees the release of In Danger’s Hour (preorder for Kindle now), the second part of the Romulus Hutchinson Naval Adventure Series. Following their earlier adventures in For Those In Peril, in this second instalment, we follow the twins’ service throughout 1941, from the Mediterranean to the coast of west Africa.

For our central character Rom, this means becoming a witness to one of the landmark moments of the Second World War – the Battle of Cape Matapan.

In the spring of 1941, the Mediterranean was a cauldron of tension. The Royal Navy, under Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham, was tasked with safeguarding Allied convoys and asserting dominance over the Axis powers in the region. The Italian Regia Marina, meanwhile, sought to disrupt these efforts and claim control of what Mussolini grandly referred to as Mare Nostrum. It was against this backdrop that the Battle of Cape Matapan unfolded between 27 and 29 March 1941, off the southern coast of Greece.

Intelligence coup

The battle was precipitated by a breakthrough at Bletchley Park, where British cryptanalysts decrypted Italian naval signals. These revealed that a sizeable Italian fleet, including the battleship Vittorio Veneto and several heavy cruisers, was preparing to intercept Allied convoys. Admiral Cunningham, informed by this intelligence, mobilised his forces with stealth and speed. He even went so far as to stage a decoy golf outing in Alexandria to conceal his departure aboard HMS Warspite.

The initial clash occurred on 28 March, when British and Australian cruisers encountered the Italian fleet near Gavdos Island. The Italians opened fire, and the Allied ships, outgunned and under pressure, laid smoke and retreated. The situation was perilous until aircraft from HMS Formidable struck Vittorio Veneto, damaging her and forcing a withdrawal. Later that evening, another air strike disabled the cruiser Pola, prompting the Italian admiral to send Zara and Fiume to assist her, unaware that Cunningham’s battleships were closing in.

At around 10.10pm, radar aboard HMS Valiant detected the Italian cruisers at close range. Illuminated by searchlights, the British battleships opened fire with devastating effect. Within minutes, Zara, Fiume, and Pola were reduced to burning wrecks. Two Italian destroyers were also sunk, and over 2,300 Italian sailors lost their lives. It was a crushing defeat for the Regia Marina and a turning point in the Mediterranean campaign.

HMS Defender

Romulus Hutchinson, our hero in the novel, witnesses the action from aboard British destroyer HMS Defender, a D-class vessel commissioned in the mid-1930s. Though not at the forefront of the gunnery action, Defender played a vital supporting role during the battle. She was part of the screening force and contributed to the pursuit and shadowing of the Italian fleet. Later, she assisted in rescue operations, helping to recover survivors from the wrecked Italian ships. Her crew, like many others that night, witnessed the brutal efficiency of naval warfare and the grim aftermath of victory.

The Battle of Cape Matapan was more than a tactical success. It demonstrated the effectiveness of radar and carrier-based aircraft in fleet engagements, marking a shift in naval doctrine. It also showcased the value of intelligence work, with Ultra decrypts proving decisive. For the Royal Navy, it was a morale-boosting triumph. For the Italians, it was a sobering lesson in the risks of underestimating enemy capabilities.

In Danger’s Hour is released in November 2025, in paperback and Kindle formats (preorder for Kindle now), the second part of the Romulus Hutchinson Naval Adventure Series – action-packed, authentic historical fiction following twin brothers serving with the Royal Navy and the Merchant Navy during the Second World War.