# Abandon Ship!: The True World War II Story about the Sinking of the Laconia - Hardcover

by **Michael J. Tougias** (Author), **Alison O'Leary** (Author)

**A remarkable World War II account of a maritime attack off the West African coast, for fans of Steven Sheinkin and Deborah Heiligman.**

On September 12, 1942, the RMS Laconia was attacked by a German submarine five hundred miles off the coast of western Africa. What the Germans didn't know was that they had just attacked their allies: locked below decks on the British ship were nearly 1,800 Italian prisoners of war. When the Germans realized their mistake, they made the unprecedented decision to rescue all survivors regardless of their nationality, attempting to declare the waters a neutral zone. But when an American bomber flew over the humanitarian effort, he was ordered to drop bombs, contributing to the deaths of many Italian POWs and British civilians in the process. Some of those who remained alive endured weeks adrift at sea, fighting for survival with little water or food, and in shark infested oceans.

Suspenseful and informative, this incredible true account, which includes historic photographs, is a testament to the idea that compassion can rule over conflict--even at the cruel heights of war.

### Author Biography

**Michael J. Tougias** is the author of many award-winning true rescue stories, including the _New York Times_ bestseller _The Finest Hours_, _A Storm Too Soon_, _Into the Blizzard_, and _Attacked at Sea_, as well as the young reader's adaptation of _In Harm's Way_ by Doug Stanton. A frequent lecturer, Tougias splits his time between Massachusetts and Florida.

**Alison O'Leary** is an award-winning journalist based in New England. She is a former correspondent for the _Boston Globe_ and the co-author with Michael Tougias of _Attacked at Sea_.

**Number of Pages:** 272

**Dimensions:** 1.2 x 7.8 x 5.3 IN

**Illustrated:** Yes

**Publication Date:** February 21, 2023

## Details

- **Price:** 18.99 USD
- **Vendor:** Books by splitShops
- **Type:** Books
- **Tags:** Books by splitShops, Shopify Collective

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 18.99 USD | In stock |

## Images

- Abandon Ship!: The True World War II Story about the Sinking of the Laconia - Hardcover

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> Updated: 2026-07-23