This account investigates the clandestine maritime operations conducted between the Shetland Islands and occupied Norway during the Second World War. David J. Howarth, a former commander of the operation, utilizes his firsthand experience and official records to document the logistical challenges and extreme risks faced by the Norwegian resistance and their British allies. The work details the establishment of the 'Shetland Bus,' a covert boat service designed to transport agents, weapons, and supplies across the North Sea under constant threat from German patrols.

This work is regarded as a definitive primary source on the maritime resistance efforts in the North Sea. The narrative provides a clinical yet immersive look at the technical and human requirements of maintaining a covert supply line under wartime conditions.