Naval forces and warfare Books

Book SynopsisHunt the Bismarck tells the story of Operation Rheinübung, the Atlantic sortie of Nazi Germany''s largest battleship, Bismarck, in May 1941 and her subsequent pursuit by the Royal Navy. Bismarck entered naval service in the summer of 1940. She was well-armed, with eight 15in guns as well as a powerful array of lighter weapons, while her armoured protection earned her the reputation of being unsinkable.This claim was put to the test in May 1941 when she sortied into the Atlantic and fought the legendary battle of the Denmark Strait, destroying HMS Hood, the pride of the Royal Navy. Bismarck was now loose in the North Atlantic. However, damage sustained in the battle limited her ability to roam at will, and the Royal Navy deployed the Home Fleet to avenge the sinking of the Hood. The stage was set for the greatest chase story in the history of naval warfare. Drawing on a wealth of first-hand accounts and iTable of ContentsPrologue Time, Speed, Distance and Bearing Preface Chapter 1: The Bismarck Chapter 2: Germany’s Atlantic Strategy Chapter 3: The Home Fleet Chapter 4: Preparations Chapter 5: Through the Baltic Chapter 6: Sojourn in Norway Chapter 7: Move and Countermove Chapter 8: The Denmark Strait Chapter 9: Duel at Dawn Chapter 10: Hood Has Blown Up Chapter 11: Breakout into the Atlantic Chapter 12: Hunting for the Bismarck Chapter 13: Air Strike Chapter 14: Destroyers in the Night Chapter 15: The Final Battle Epilogue Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIn the early months and years of World War II, it was Germany''s cruisers and battleships that most ravaged the Atlantic Convoys. This is the history of those raids, and how the success of 1941''s Operation Berlin led directly to the Kriegsmarine sending into the Atlantic its greatest battleship - the mighty, ill-fated Bismarck.At the outbreak of World War II the German Kriegsmarine still had a relatively small U-boat arm. To reach Britain''s convoy routes in the North Atlantic, these boats had to pass around the top of the British Isles - a long and dangerous voyage to their hunting grounds. Germany''s larger surface warships were much better suited to this kind of long-range operation. So, during late 1939 the armored cruiser Deutschland, and later the battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau were used as commerce raiders, to strike at Allied convoys in the North Atlantic. These sorties met with mixed results, but for Germany''s naTrade ReviewThe artwork in this book is extremely good and the narrative details the Kriegsmarine’s early Atlantic raids which led directly to the ill-fated Bismarck’s only voyage, that in turn led to Hitler’s loss of confidence in his surface Navy. -- SIMON HAILL * The Naval Review *Table of Contentsintroduction Initial Strategy Planning For War The Atlantic Sorties Aftermath Analysis Conclusion Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisA celebrated annual publication featuring the latest research on history, development, and service of the world''s warships.For 45 years, Warship has been the leading annual resource on the design, development, and deployment of the world''s combat ships. Featuring a broad range of articles from a select panel of distinguished international contributors, this latest volume combines original research, new book reviews, warship notes, an image gallery, and much more, maintaining the impressive standards of scholarship and research with which Warship has become synonymous. Detailed and accurate information is the keynote of all the articles, which are fully supported by plans, data tables, and stunning photographs.The varied topics in this year''s annual includes articles on the Imperial Japanese Navy carriers Soryu and Hiryu, post-war radar development in the Royal Navy, gunboats in the Imperial German Navy, Soviet battleship designs Trade ReviewThe authoritative contributors, along with the sheer level of research that's clearly been undertaken, continue to make the annual editions of Warship a genuine and reliable source of information for anyone interested in naval history and current development trends. -- Dave Woolley * Modelboats *This is a book aimed at the specialist naval reader looking to extend the breadth of their knowledge in an enjoyable manner. -- , * Army Rumour Service *For those interested in the history and development of world navies, it’s an annual treat with high production standards. -- Chris May * The Armourer Magazine *A superb collection of fascinating essays, beautifully presented and published this series never fails to deliver- and Jordan has already planned next year’s edition! Very highly recommended. -- Peter Wykeham-Martin * Warship World *The book is handsomely produced and is extensively furnished with a large number of black and white photographs. It also benefits considerably from some unusually clear line drawings of ship layouts, equipment and charts, many of which have been drawn by the Editor. This was an enjoyable read, with informative articles written by authoritative contributors. Recommended! -- REAR ADMIRAL R. G. MELLY * The Naval Review *Table of ContentsTHE 1927 SOVIET FLOTILLA LEADERS (Przemyslaw Budzbon & Jan Radziemski) THE CHALLENGE OF OPERATION ‘TUNNEL’ SEPTEMBER 1943 – APRIL 1944 (Michael Whitby) THE IJN CARRIERS SORYU AND HIRYU (Kathrin Milanovich) THE SMALL CRUISER IN THE IGN PART III: THE GUNBOATS (Dirk Nottelmann) THE BATTLESHIP JAURÉGUIBERRY (Philippe Caresse) POSTWAR RADAR DEVELOPMENT IN THE ROYAL NAVY (Peter Marland) SOVIET BATTLESHIP DESIGNS 1939–1941 (Stephen McLaughlin) THE GENESIS OF YOKOSUKA NAVY YARD (Hans Lengerer) ESPLORATORI OF THE REGIA MARINA, 1906–1939 (Enrico Cernuschi) MODERN EUROPEAN FRIGATES (Conrad Waters) THE AUSTRALIAN BATHURST-CLASS MINESWEEPER CORVETTE (Mark Briggs) C 65 ACONIT: FRANCE’S PROTOTYPE OCEAN ESCORT (John Jordan) NAVAL BOOKS OF THE YEAR WARSHIP NOTES: · Italian Ship Medallions (Enrico Cernuschi) · The Royal Navy and ‘National’ Names (Kenneth Fraser) WARSHIP GALLERY The breaking-up of three iconic British warships, HM Ships Agincourt, New Zealand and Princess Royal, at Rosyth during 1923–25 (Aidan Dodson)

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Book SynopsisAn absorbing study of the duels fought between the US Navy''s escort warships and Hitler''s U-boats between December 1941 and May 1945. Although the Battle of the Atlantic lasted several years, its most critical phase began once the United States entered World War II. By December 1941, the British had mastered the U-boat threat in the Eastern Atlantic, only to see the front abruptly expand to regions the US Navy would patrol, chiefly the Atlantic Seaboard. Unless the US Navy overcame the U-boat threat, the Allies would struggle to win. The Battle of the Atlantic was made up of thousands of individual duels: aircraft against U-boats, aircraft against aircraft, aircraft against ships-but most crucially, ships against U-boats. The individual clashes between Germany''s U-boats and the Allied warships escorting the vital convoys often comprised one-on-one actions. These stories provide the focus of this detailed work. The technical details of the U-boats, destroyeTrade ReviewLardas writes well and clearly knows his material, and he is ably supported by Osprey’s usual excellent illustrations, including some 3D colour graphics and maps. -- Neil Smith * Wargames Illustrated *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chronology Design and Development The Strategic Situation Technical Specifications The Combatants Combat Analysis Aftermath Further Reading Index

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Naval warfare is the unsung hero of ancient Greek military history, often overshadowed by the more glorified land battles. Owen Rees looks to redress the balance, giving naval battles their due attention. This book presents a selection of thirteen naval battles that span a defining century in ancient Greek history, from the Ionian Revolt and Persian Invasion to the rise of external naval powers in the Mediterranean Sea, such as the Carthaginians. Each battle is set in context. The background, wider military campaigns, and the opposing forces are discussed, followed by a narrative and analysis of the fighting. Finally, the aftermath of the battles are dealt with, looking at the strategic implications of the outcome for both the victor and the defeated. The battle narratives are supported by maps and tactical diagrams, showing the deployment of the fleets and the wider geographical factors involved in battle. Written in an accessible tone, this book successfully shows that Greek naval warfare did not start and end at the battle of Salamis.

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Book SynopsisOn 1st June 1666, during the second Anglo-Dutch War, a large but outnumbered English Fleet engaged the Dutch off the mouth of the Thames in a colossal battle that was to involve nearly 200 ships and last four days. False intelligence had led the English to divide their fleet to meet a phantom fleet from France and although the errant squadron rejoined on the final day of the battle, it was not enough to redress the balance. More than 1,500 English sailors were killed, 2,000 taken prisoner and two vice admirals killed. The battle ended when the English escaped into a fog bank, both fleets by this time having expended their ammunition. Like many a defeat, it sparked controversy at the time, and has been the subject of speculation and debate ever since. The battle was an event of such overwhelming complexity that for centuries it defied description and deterred study, but this superbly researched book is now recognised as the definitive English-language account. First published in 1996, it provides the only clear exposition of the opposing forces, fils many holes in the narrative and answers most of the questions raised by the actions of the English commanders. The narrative is totally engrossing and worthy of what was the greatest battle anywhere in the age of sail, and this new paperback edition will bring the story to new readers who missed the book in its earlier editions.

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Book SynopsisCruisers probably vary more in their characteristics than any other warship type and have certainly been subject to the most convoluted development. There was always a basic tension between quantity and quality, between numbers and unit size, but at a more detailed level every one of the naval powers made different demands of their cruiser designers. This makes the story of cruiser evolution in the world's major navies fascinating but complex. This book sets out to provide a coherent history of the fortunes of this ship-type in the twentieth century, beginning with a brief summary of development before the First World War and an account of a few notable cruiser actions during that conflict that helped define what cruisers would look like in the post-war world. The core of the book is devoted to the impact of the naval disarmament treaty process, which concentrated to a great extent on attempting to define limits to the numbers and size of cruisers that could be built, in the process creating the treaty cruiser' as a type that had never existed before and that existed solely because of the treaty process. How the cruisers of the treaty era performed in the Second world War forms the final focus of the book, which concludes with a look at the fate of the cruiser-type since 1945. The result is probably the best single-volume account of the subject to date.

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Book SynopsisThe technical details of British warships were recorded in a set of plans produced by the builders on completion of every ship. Known as the as fitted' general arrangements, these drawings represented the exact appearance and fitting of the ship as it entered service. Intended to provide a permanent reference for the Admiralty and the dockyards, these highly detailed plans were drawn with exquisite skill in multi-coloured inks and washes that represent the acme of the draughtsman's art. Today they form part of the incomparable collection of the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich, which is using the latest scanning technology to make digital copies of the highest quality. This book is one of a series based entirely on these draughts which depict famous warships in an unprecedented degree of detail - complete sets in full colour, with many close-ups and enlargements that make every aspect clear and comprehensible. Extensive captions point the reader to important features to be found in the plans, and an introduction covers the background to the design. This volume is devoted to the sloops of the Black Swan class and its improved derivatives, widely regarded as the Rolls-Royce' of Second World War convoy escorts. Heavily armed and superbly equipped for their role, they were among the most effective anti-submarine ships of the battle in the Atlantic. The design was gradually improved and this book uses plans of four selected ships to chart that development. These comprise: Black Swan as built; Flamingo as modified later; Starling, the single most successful U-boat hunter of the war, as in 1943; and Amethyst, as refitted after her clash with Chinese communists on the Yangtze in 1949.

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Book SynopsisMade famous by her final commanding officer, John F. Kennedy, PT-109 is one of the most celebrated warships in American history. However, a full chronicle of PT-109’s wartime story has heretofore been lacking. Behind the familiar account of the future president and the boat’s violent demise is the little-known record under two previous officers during the swirling battles around Guadalcanal.In these mainly nocturnal fights, when the Japanese navy was at its apex, America’s small, fast-boat flotillas would sally out to probe enemy strength, vying with enemy destroyers, who were similarly roaming the waters and able to blast a PT-boat out of the water if main armament could be brought to bear. It was constant hit-and-run and dodging between searchlights across Iron Bottom Sound, as the PT-boats darted in among the enemy fleet, like a“barroom brawl with the lights turned out.”Bryant Larson and Rollin Westholm preceded Kennedy as commanders of PT-109, and their fights with the brave ship and its crew hold second to none in the chronicles of US Navy daring. As the battles moved on across the Pacific the PT-boat flotillas gained confidence, even as the Japanese, too, learned lessons in how to destroy them.Under its third and final commander, Kennedy, PT-109 came a cropper as a Japanese destroyer suddenly emerged from a dark mist and rammed it in half. Two crewmen were killed immediately but Kennedy, formerly on the swim team at Harvard, was able to shepherd his wounded and others to refuge. His unsurpassed gallantry can not resist retelling, yet the courage of the book’s previous commanders have not till now seen the light of day.This book provides the complete record of PT-109 in the Pacific, as well as a valuable glimpse of how the American Navy’s daring and initiative found its full playing field in World War II.Trade ReviewA useful and comprehensive niche contribution to naval history. * Army Rumour Service 13/03/2019 *

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Book SynopsisHarrier was the world's first V/STOL jet combat aircraft design, development and service with the RAF, USMC, and other overseas air arms. From the initial tentative beginnings, into an effective precision ground attack aircraft in all weathers and at night, it served in Europe, the Middle East, and the USA as well as the Falklands Campaign.

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Book SynopsisIn 1922 the US Navy commissioned its first small experimental aircraft carrier. This was followed into service by two much larger and capable carriers in 1927 with five more being built prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor including three large Yorktown class. To take the offensive against the Japanese Navy, the American Congress funded by far the largest carrier building programme in history based on the Essex class, a larger version of the pre-war Yorktown vessels. Of the twenty-six ordered, fourteen were commissioned in time to see Second World War service. These were joined by many smaller classes of carriers, including light carriers and escort carriers. Post-war ever larger and more capable carriers were commissioned. Since 1975, when the first of a fleet of ten nuclear-powered Nimitz class carriers was commissioned, they have epitomized United States superpower status and worldwide power projection. These are due to be replaced in the decades to come with the even more sophisticated nuclear-powered Gerald R. Ford class. Compiled and written by Michael Green, Aircraft Carriers of the United States Navy contains superb images of all the different types of classes of carriers employed by the US Navy since 1922. These and its highly informative text and captions give the reader a broad overview of this fascinating subject.Trade Review"This book contains superb images of all the different types of classes of carriers employed by the US Navy since 1922. These and its highly informative text and captions give the reader a broad overview of this fascinating subject."--Warship World

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Book Synopsis*Shortlisted for the 2019 Mountbatten Award* "We went up on deck and were looking around when the awful crash came. The ship listed so much that we all scrambled down the deck and for a moment everything was in confusion. When I came to myself again I glanced around but could find no trace of Mr Prichard. He seemed to have disappeared." - Grace French The sinking of the Lusitania is an event that has been predominantly discussed from a political or maritime perspective. For the first time, The Lusitania Sinking tells the story in the emotive framework of a family looking for information on their son's death. On 1 May 1915, the 29-year-old student Preston Prichard embarked as a Second Class passenger on the Lusitania, bound from New York for Liverpool. By 2pm on the afternoon of 7 May, the liner was approaching the coast of Ireland when she was sighted by the German submarine U-20\. A single torpedo caused a massive explosion in the Lusitania's hold, and the ship began sank rapidly. Within 20 minutes she disappeared and 1,198 men, women and children, including Preston, died. Uncertain of Preston's fate, his family leaped into action. His brother Mostyn, who lived in Ramsgate, travelled to Queenstown to search morgues but could find nothing. Preston's mother wrote hundreds of letters to survivors to find out more about what might have happened in his last moments. The Lusitania Sinking compiles the responses received. Perhaps sensing his fate, Prichard had put his papers in order before embarking and told a fellow student where to find his will if anything happened to him. During the voyage, he was often seen in the company of Grace French, quoted above. Alice Middleton, who had a crush on him but was too shy to speak to him throughout the entire voyage, remembered that he helped her in reaching the upper decks during the last moments of the sinking: "[The Lusitania] exploded and down came her funnels, so over I jumped. I had a terrible time in the water, 41/2 hours bashing about among the wreckage and dead bodies... It was 10.30 before they landed me at the hospital in an unconscious condition. In fact, they piled me with a boat full of dead and it was only when they were carrying the dead bodies to the Mortuary that they discovered there was still life in me."Trade ReviewA fascinating, excellently-written reassessment of the sinking of the iconic liner Lusitania using the letters, diaries and memoirs of those who were extremely fortunate to survive. Anthony Richards is at his best in this ground-breaking history. - Richard van Emden

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Book SynopsisDuring 1940 the German army swept with devastating speed across the Low Countries and into northern France and drove Allied forces back into a small pocket around Dunkirk. Without a swift withdrawal across the English Channel, the latter faced certain death or capture. The evacuation plan – Operation Dynamo – initially calculated that 45,000 men might be rescued, but between 26 May and 4 June 338,226 men were in fact brought back to England. Naval historian Philip Weir shows how this was made possible by a vast armada of disparate vessels including destroyers, minesweepers, fishing vessels and, most famously of all, the privately owned ‘Little Ships’. He explores the vessels’ various roles within the evacuation, and their subsequent fates, including preservation and participation in commemorative return runs to the port, which now take place every five years.Table of ContentsThe Fall of France The Evacuation The Ships Other Evacuations and the Big Ships The Five-yearly Commemorative Returns Places to Visit Index

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Book SynopsisSoldier by instinct, sailor by fate… The relationship that defined a career – and saved a nationThe Navy almost finished the career of Britain’s greatest wartime leader. As a young minister responsible for the senior service from 1911, Churchill ruffled feathers and gave scant regard for the feelings of the admirals. When disaster struck in the First World War, it was the navy that led to his political downfall.But when he returned to power after years in the wilderness, the Royal Navy welcomed him with the cry, ‘Winston is back!’ From that point onwards, the successful pursuit of the war at sea remained his primary consideration.Within a few days of his return to the Admiralty, Churchill received a friendly overture from President Roosevelt, and there began a steady communication and friendship between the self-styled ‘Former Naval Person’ and the President of the United States, their differences subordinated in the pursuit of one shared goal: winning the war.From a veteran naval historian comes the extraordinary and gripping story of Churchill’s stormy association with the navy and the sea, perfect for readers of Richard Overy and Jonathan Dimbleby.

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Book Synopsis‘…and if there had been only one survivor, there would have been no mystery in any of these cases…’Bestselling author John Harris freshly investigates seven of the most gripping and intriguing voyages of the past 150 years. Bringing his unique skills as a novelist and sailor to reassess the fragmentary evidence, he aims to finally answer these enduring and terrifying mysteries.He takes us: Aboard Erebus and Terror on Sir John Franklin’s disastrous Arctic expedition, last seen parting from their escort… Aboard the Mary Celeste, crewed by a well-respected captain and an experienced crew, abandoned in the mid-Atlantic… Aboard the battleship Maine, blown sky-high in Havana harbour… Aboard the collier Cyclops, disappeared between Barbados and Virginia during the First World War… Aboard the Teignmouth Electron, winner-apparent of the round the world yacht race, sighted deserted and drifting… This is life at sea at its most epic and frightening.

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Book SynopsisThe Sword of Albion concludes the most comprehensive and intimate life of Nelson ever written, one that teems with a glittering array of sailors and civilians, heroes and villains, husbands, wives and lovers. Here are Nelson's famous victories at the battles of the Nile, Copenhagen and Trafalgar as well as his lesser-known yet equally gripping campaigns. But behind the military prowess is a man riven with paradoxes and schisms: the fighting admiral and the glory-hunter, the national hero and the indigent commoner, the family man and the adulterer. This is an epic, triumphant and tragic life, and a masterpiece of the biographer's art.Trade ReviewAn absolutely excellent book. Every bit is beautifully judged -- William Leith * Evening Standard *Sweeping, thrilling and psychologically acute, this second volume in John Sugden’s biography will hardly be bettered...this book is a monumental achievement. Some readers may be daunted by its length, but the investment of time and effort is unquestionably worth it... It is a tribute to Sugden’s skill that as Nelson lies stricken below desks, gasping for air, blood pouring into his chest, his officers biting back the tears and Hardy desperately wringing his hand, you pray that somehow, against all sense and reason, England’s greatest hero might just pull through -- Dominic Sandbrook * Sunday Times *The Last eight years of his [Nelson’s] life dealt with in thrilling, monumental detail * Sunday Times *There isn’t the slightest hint of modishness in Sugden’s study, which not only has all the old-fashioned scholarly virtues but is also, in the time-honoured tradition of naval history, a thumping good read * Scotsman *John Sugden’s utterly epic Nelson: The Sword of Albion is the longest, richest, most absorbing biography I’ve ever read… Sugden’s book is of Tolstoyan dimensions -- Roger Lewis * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisBetween the wars the French produced some of the largest, and certainly the fastest, destroyers in the world. Known as Contre-Torpilleurs, these striking and innovatory super-destroyers form the core of this book, but the more conventional Torpilleurs d'Escadre are also covered. This history combines the technical and service material published in French-language monographs over the past two decades with the authors' own research from primary sources. The structure of the book follows that of the highly successful French Cruisers, with Part I devoted to the design of each of the classes built after 1922. The text is accompanied by detailed data tables and illustrated by a comprehensive set of specially-drawn plans and schemas based on official documents, as well as carefully-selected photographs from French naval sources and from private collections. Coverage runs down to the Le Hardi class, the last pre-war design. Part II deals with the historical side, covering the eventful careers of these ships before, during and after the war. This section is illustrated by maps specially drawn for the book, and by contemporary photographs.Like its highly successful predecessors, French Battleships and French Cruisers, this beautifully presented book blends technical and historical analysis to produce what must become the standard English-language reference work.

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Book SynopsisFrom the end of the 19th century through the first half of the 20th, most Western powers maintained a naval presence in China. These gunboats protected traders and missionaries, safeguarded national interests, and patrolled Chinese rivers in search of pirates. It was a wild, lawless time in China as ruthless warlords fought numerous small wars to increase their power and influence. This book covers the gunboats of all the major nations that stationed naval forces in China, including America, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Japan, and looks at such famous incidents as the Japanese bombing of the USS Patay and the dramatic escape of the HMS Amethyst from Communist forces in 1947, which marked the end of the gunboat era.Trade Review"This monograph presents the true story of the gunboats from the U.S. Navy and the navies of many European powers and Japan that patrolled the Yangtze River, protecting missionaries and trade and diplomatic outposts, as well as countering warlords and pirates. Each type of gunboat is described in detail, but even more valuable are the descriptions of life on the gunboats and the exotic political and cultural environment in which they operated." -Richard R. Burgess, "Seapower"(September 2011) "A worthy addition to the library and is thoroughly recommended for those with an interest in the era" -- Miniature WargamesTable of ContentsIntroduction Chronology Design & Development Construction & Operation Life on Board Gunboats in Action The Gunboats Bibliography

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Book SynopsisTogo Heihachiro (1848-1934) was born into a feudal society that had lived in seclusion for 250 years. As a teenage samurai, he witnessed the destruction wrought upon his native land by British warships. As the legendary Silent Admiral, he was at the forefront of innovations in warfare, pioneering the Japanese use of modern gunnery and wireless communication. He is best known as the Nelson of the East for his resounding victory over the Tsar's navy in the Russo-Japanese War, but he also lived a remarkable life studying at a British maritime college, witnessing the Sino-French War, the Hawaiian Revolution, and the Boxer Uprising. After his retirement, he was appointed to oversee the education of the Emperor, Hirohito. This new biography spans Japan's sudden, violent leap out of its self-imposed isolation and into the 20th century. Delving beyond Togo's finest hour at the Battle of Tsushima, it portrays the life of a diffident Japanese sailor in Victorian Britain, his reluctant celebrity in America where he was laid low by Boston cooking and welcomed by his biggest fan, Theodore Roosevelt , forgotten wars over the short-lived Republics of Ezo and Formosa, and the accumulation of peacetime experience that forged a wartime hero.

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Book SynopsisThis series of books provides details of all USN warships from 1893 to the present day. Every class and individual ship has an entry providing details of the procurement, dimensions and characteristics, and a summary of each ship's history and development. Profusely illustrated with photos. An essential manual for all US Navy enthusiasts and historians.This is volume four, part three - Destroyers (1937-1943).

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Book SynopsisA detailed account of the Royal Navy''s near fatal expedition into the polar regions in 1773--with the young Horatio Nelson on board.In the summer of 1773 the 14-year old Horatio Nelson took part in an expedition to the Arctic, which came close to ending his naval career before it had begun. Two bomb vessels, HMS Racehorse and Carcass, were fitted out and strengthened under the command of Captain Hon. Constantine Phipps for an expedition to find the Northwest Passage. It was an extremely cold Arctic summer and the ships became locked in ice unable to cut their way out for days until the wind changed and the ice broke up. The ships were eventually extricated and sailed home, and the legend of Horatio Nelson began. During the voyage, the young Nelson had command of one of the smaller boats of the ships, a four-oared cutter manned by twelve seamen. In this he helped save the crew of one of the Racehorse''s boats from an attack by a herd of enTable of Contents1. Introduction. 2. The Royal Society Mission for Exploration. 3. Captain James Cook and the South Seas. 4. The Quest for the North West Passage. 5. Admiralty Planning and Organisation. 5. Ships: Carcass and Racehorse. 6. The Commanders. 7. Preparing and Equipping the Expedition. 8. Manning the Ships. 9. Young Nelson enters into the Carcass. 10. The Voyage Commences. 11. Robin Hood Bay. 12. Svalbard and the Norwegian Archipelago. 13. ‘Seahorses’ Flora and Fauna. 14. Nelson and the ‘Incident of the Polar Bear’? 15. Ice-bound and Abandoning Ship. 16. Failure and Return. 17. Conclusions.

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Book SynopsisEquipped with the largest guns and heaviest armour and with the greatest displacement of any ship ever built, the Yamato proved to be a formidable opponent to the US Pacific Fleet in the Second World War. The book contains a full description of the design and construction of the battleship including wartime modifications, and a career history followed by a substantial pictorial section with rare onboard views of Yamato and her sister ship Musashi, a comprehensive portfolio of more than 1,020 perspective line artworks, 350 colour 3D views, and 30 photographs. The wreck of Musashi has been recently discovered to great excitement in Japan, renewing interest in these iconic warships.Janusz Skulski''s anatomies of three renowned ships of the 20th century Japanese navy are among the most comprehensive of the Anatomy series with hundreds of meticulously researched drawings of the ships. Since their first publication he has continued to research

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Book SynopsisThe Kriegsmarines Scharnhorst was a German capital ship, described either as a battleship or battlecruiser, and the lead ship of her class, which included one other ship, Gneisenau. She was launched on 3 October 1936 and completed in January 1939, armed with nine 28cm C/34 guns in three triple turrets. She operated with Gneisenau for much of the early portion of World War II, including sorties into the Atlantic to raid British merchant shipping. They took part in Operation Weserübung (AprilJune 1940), the German invasion of Norway, during which they sank the aircraft carrier HMS Glorious and her escort destroyers Acasta and Ardent. Scharnhorst also sank HMS Rawalpindi in November 1939. In early 1943, Scharnhorst joined the Tirpitz in Norway to intercept Allied convoys to the Soviet Union. On a sortie from Norway to attack a convoy, the German force was intercepted by British ships and during the Battle of the

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Book SynopsisA uniquely detailed study of a Japanese aircraft carrier that took part in the attack on Pearl Harbor, before being sunk at Midway.Hiryu was an aircraft carrier built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the 1930s. Her aircraft supported the Japanese invasion of French Indochina in mid-1940 and during the first month of the Pacific War, she took part in the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Wake Island. She supported the conquest of the Dutch East Indies in January 1942 and her aircraft bombed Darwin, Australia, and continued to assist in the Dutch East Indies campaign. In April, Hiryu''s aircraft helped sink two British heavy cruisers and several merchant ships during the Indian Ocean raid. After a brief refit, Hiryu and three other fleet carriers of the First Air Fleet participated in the Battle of Midway in June 1942. After bombarding American forces on the atoll, the carriers were attacked by aircraft from Midway and the Trade ReviewI have seen similar books with 3D artwork before, but nothing has come close the sheer detail and quantity to be found in this one. Simply stunning book. -- Robin Buckland * Military Model Scene *Stefan Draminski has done an incredible job of creating a coherent set of ship’s plans, drawing on original documents from the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, as well as providing a potted history of Japanese carrier development and the career of Hiryu herself. -- Joe Coles * HushKit Magazine *An excellent and detailed guide -- Duncan Evans * The Armourer Magazine *Draminski has ably put together a book that is highly detailed but accessible -- James Bosbotinis * The Naval Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction Technical Description History Primary Views The Drawings: A General arrangements B Hull structure C Superstructure D Rig E Armament F Fittings G Aircraft H Boats

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Book SynopsisAn detailed illustrated exploration of the Japanese raid into the Indian Ocean in April 1942 one of the largest operations conducted by the Imperial Navy during the war.In the wake of Japan's conquest of Burma in early 1942, plans were formed by the Imperial high command to capture Ceylon (modern Sri Lanka) to consolidate Japan's defensive perimeter and disrupt British shipping lanes to India, Australia, and the Middle East. The Imperial Japanese Army, however, could not release sufficient troops for an invasion, and so in response the Japanese Navy developed Operation C, an aggressive raid by the Combined Fleet into the Indian Ocean. The key objective was to destroy the British Eastern Fleet in port.Expert naval historian Mark Stille documents the high point of Japanese naval air power as its carriers struck Ceylon the heart of British naval power in the East sinking several Allied ships. He describes the Allied air attempts to destroy Admiral Chuichi NaTable of ContentsORIGINS OF THE CAMPAIGN CHRONOLOGY OPPOSING COMMANDERS Japanese British OPPOSING FORCES Japanese British Orders of Battle OPPOSING PLANS Japanese British THE CAMPAIGN Opening Japanese Moves The Invasion of the Andaman Island The Striking Force Enters the Indian Ocean Somerville’s Manoeuvring The Striking Force is Detected The Attack on Colombo The Death of Cornwall and Dorsetshire Shadow Boxing Between 5 and 9 April The Attack on Trincomalee Operations of the Malaya Unit Striking Force Japanese Submarine Operations Operation C – the Final Accounting AFTERMATH FURTHER READING INDEX

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Book SynopsisA brilliantly detailed visual representation of one of the greatest US warships, the USS Iowa, whose four decades in service took her from the Pacific War in World War II to the Persian Gulf in the late 1980s.USS Iowa (BB-61) was the lead ship in one of the most famous classes of battleships ever commissioned into the US Navy. Transferred to the Pacific Fleet in 1944, the Iowa first fired her guns in anger in the Marshall Islands campaign, and sank her first enemy ship, the Katori. The Iowa went on to serve across a number of pivotal Pacific War campaigns, including at the battles of the Philippine Sea and Leyte Gulf. It ended the war spending several months bombarding the Japanese Home Islands before the surrender in August 1945.After taking part in the Korea War, the Iowa was decommissioned in 1958, before being briefly reactivated in the 1980s as part of President Reagan''s 600-Ship Navy Plan. After being decommissiTable of ContentsIntroduction The battleship USS Iowa (BB-61) - Technical description History of the battleship USS Iowa (BB-61) Primary Views The drawings Bibliography

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Book Synopsis''The art of command isto be the complete master, and yet the complete friend of every man on board; the temporal lord and yet the spiritual brother of every rating; to be detached and yet not dissociated.''A Seaman''s Pocket-Book, 1943 has found huge appeal with the British public. Presented in the same format, The Royal Navy Officer''s Pocket-Book gathers together useful advice and instruction for those naval officers fighting the Second World War on all aspects of their job, expressed in the benevolent language of the day, when authority was respected.The book has been compiled and edited by Brian Lavery, who provides commentary and an introduction. Sections include: the Officer''s Aid Memoire containing notes of the training course at one of the officer training schools; Notes for medical officers and treatment of battle casualties afloat; Notes for captains on taking command of their first ship; Notes for commanding officers; Notes on the handling and sTrade Review..this is an important document, significant for its sense of time and place. * Good Book Guide *Pure undiluted nostalgia! * Ships Monthly Magazine *...an authentic presentation of life in the wartime Navy and issues of leadership, discipline and initiative. * Best of British Magazine *...this book has enough illustrations, layouts, definitions and first hand information to keep any naval enthusiast fascinated for hours. * Family History Monthly *...exceptional value in every respect. * Navy News *...very highly recommended - another 'little gem' to go alongside the Seaman's Pocket Book on your yacht bookshelf. * Royal Naval Sailing Association Journal *

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Book SynopsisThe destruction of the HMS Hood by the Bismarck in 1941 was one of the most shocking episodes in the history of the Royal Navy. Built during World War I, the Hood was the largest, fastest and one of the most handsome capital ships in the world. For the first time, this volume in the renowned Anatomy of a Ship series is available in paperback, and features a detailed description of every aspect of the beloved battlecruiser. In addition to analysing the genesis of its design and contemporary significance, this exceptional study provides the finest documentation of the Hood, with a complete set of superb line drawings, supported by technical details and a record of the ship''s service history.Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION Design Construction Service history The loss of Hood General arrangements and hull structure Machinery Armament Control systems Ground tackle Aircraft Modifications The PHOTOGRAPHS The DRAWINGS General arrangements Hull construction Machinery Accommodation Superstructure Rig Armament Fire-control Fittings Ground tackle Ship’s boats Aircraft arrangements

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Book SynopsisAn illustrated history of one of the US Navy's earliest aircraft carriers

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Book SynopsisA visual history of USS Intrepid, one of the most visited museum ships in the world!

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Book SynopsisA new framework contextualizes crucial international security issues at sea in the Indo-Pacific Competition at sea is once again a central issue of international security. Nowhere is the urgency to address state-on-state competition at sea more strongly felt than in the Indo-Pacific region, where freedom of navigation is challenged by regional states’ continuous investments in naval power, and the renewed political will to use it to undermine its principles. The New Age of Naval Power in the Indo-Pacific provides an original framework in which five “factors of influence” explain how and why naval power matters in this pivotal part of the world. An international group of contributors make the case that these five factors draw upon a longstanding influence of naval power on regional dynamics and impact the extent to which different states in the region use naval power: the capacity to exert control over sea-lanes, the capacity to deploy a nuclear deterrent at sea, the capacity to implement the law of the sea in an advantageous way, the ability to control marine resources, and the capacity for technological innovation. The New Age of Naval Power in the Indo-Pacific offers a fresh approach for academics and policy makers seeking to navigate the complexity of maritime security and regional affairs.Trade ReviewAn impressively timely contribution to our military strategy debates with respect to dealing with Chinese naval aggression in the Indo-Pacific, a new framework contextualizes crucial international security issues at sea. * Midwest Book Review *The New Age of Naval Power in the Indo-Pacific is a most incisive and valuable study, defining maritime power as a control feature of regional security. The book's contributors provide a comprehensive macro-overview with interlinked sub-regional analyses. * Australian Naval Institute *Table of ContentsList of IllustrationsForeword: Vice Adm. Anne Rondeau, (USN, Ret.)AcknowledgmentsList of Acronyms1. Naval Power and a Framework for Regional Security in the Indo-PacificAlessio Patalano, James A. Russell, and Catherine L. Grant Part I: The Factors of Influence in Indo-Pacific Security2. Geopolitics and Strategic Geography in Sino-US CompetitionChristopher Twomey3. Law, Order, and Maritime (In)StabilityPeter Dutton4. Maritime Resources and Regional CompetitionClive Schofield5. Nuclear Order at SeaNicola Leveringhaus6. Technology, Escalation, and War in the Indo-PacificJames A. Russell Part II: Naval Power in the Indo-Pacific as History7. Asian States and Early Imperial Competition in the Indian OceanRyan Gingeras8. The “Problem of Asia” and Imperial Competition before WWIRichard Dunley9. The Far East Between the World WarsDaniel Moran 10. Superpower Rivalry and the Strategic Balance in the Cold WarKevin Rowlands Part III: Naval Power and Contemporary Security in the Indo-Pacific 11. Northeast AsiaIan Bowers12. East and South China SeasAlessio Patalano and Julie Marionneau13. The Taiwan StraitSheryn Lee14. South PacificJames Goldrick15. Indian OceanJames Wirtz and Abhijit SinghConclusions: Strategy, Order, and Regional Security in the Indo-PacificAlessio Patalano, James A. Russell, and Catherine L. GrantIndexList of Contributors

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Book SynopsisThe full history of how the United States targeted and destroyed the Japanese capital from the air, in a ten-month long campaign by the US Army Air Force and the US Navy.In November 1944, the US Army Air Force launched a 111-plane B-29 strike against Tokyo, the first raid since the morale-boosting Doolittle Raid of 1942. From then until August 13, 1945, the United States would attack Tokyo 25 times, 20 from B-29s based in the Marianas and five from US Navy carrier task forces. The campaign included the single deadliest air raid in human history, when around 100,000 people were killed by the firestorm created by the Operation Meetinghouse raid of March 10, 1945.This book, the first to examine the full history of the United States' air campaign against the greatest target in Japan, looks at the USAAF's and US Navy's efforts to use air power to eliminate Tokyo's strategic value to the Empire. It considers how the campaign developed from daylight bombing toTable of Contents(Subject to confirmation) Introduction Chronology Attacker's Capabilities Defender's Capabilities Campaign Objectives The Campaign Aftermath and Analysis Conclusion Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe perfect guide to Nelson''s Navy for all those with an interest in the workings of the great fleet.Patrick O''Brien provides the forward to this edition of the most successful Conway Maritime title. The book is eminently readable and is the first single-volume work to cover in such depth this vast and complex subject.Written by one of the world''s leading authorities on the sailing navy the book contains considerable original research to give a clear and authentic picture of the Senior Service as a whole.The book is also of interest to all those with enthusiasm for the literature based on the Nelsonic-era.Table of ContentsForeword Preface PART 1: BACKGROUND 1 The Wars with France 2 Early Naval History 3 The Naval Administration 4 Britain and the World PART 2: TYPES OF SHIPS 1 The Principles of Ship Design 2 Ships-of-the-Line 3 Frigates 4 Unrated Ships and Vessels PART 3: SHIPBUILDING 1 Ship Construction 2 Fitting of ships 3 Masts, Sails and Rigging 4 Armament PART 4: OFFICERS 1 Officers’ Entry and Training 2 Commissioned Officers 3 Warrant Officers 4 Officers’ Living Conditions 5 Ship Administration PART 5: NAVAL RECRUITMENT 1 The Problem of Naval Recruitment 2 The Press Gang 3 Other Methods of Recruiting PART 6: SEAMEN AND LANDMEN 1 Seamen’s Conditions of Service 2 Seamen and Petty Officers 3 Landmen, Artifi cers and Servants 4 Mutiny and Desertion PART 7: MARINES 1 Role and Organisation 2 Marines in Service 3 Marine Equipment and Uniform PART 8: TECHNIQUES 1 Basic Seamanship 2 Ship Handling 3 Boat and Anchor Work 4 Gunnery and Fighting 5 Navigation 6 Disaster at Sea PART 9: SHIPBOARD LIFE 1 The Organisation of the Crew 2 The Ship’s Day 3 The Necessities of Life 4 Rewards and Pleasures 5 Medicine and Health 6 Discipline PART 10: DOCKYARDS AND BASES 1 The Work and Facilities of the Dockyards 2 The Dockyard Workforce 3 Home Anchorages and Naval Bases 4 Overseas Bases 5 The Victualling Organisation PART 11: FLEETS 1 The Distribution of Fleets 2 Fleet Administration 3 Fleet Tactics 4 Signals PART 12: THE SEAMAN’S WORLD 1 Winds and Currents 2 The Merchant Marine 3 Other Naval Services PART 13: FOREIGN NAVIES 1 The French Navy 2 The Spanish Navy 3 The American Navy 4 Other Foreign Naval Forces PART 14: TACTICS 1 Fighting Tactics 2 Blockade 3 Convoys and Cruisers 4 Amphibious Operations 5 Victory and Defeat Afterword Appendices Sources Index

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Book SynopsisWith the publication of their previous book on the battleships of the _Littorio_ class, the authors set new standards for the detailed coverage and sophisticated analysis of Italian warship design. Inspired by its success, both critically and commercially, the authors were inspired to follow up with a similar study of the earlier Italian battleships that were built in the First World War but survived to fight in the Second. Given the level of new research required, this has taken a decade to achieve but the result is a similarly comprehensive coverage. Originally comprising five ships in two related classes, they entered service at the beginning of the Great War. As designed, they were powerful examples of the second generation of dreadnoughts, with a combination of twin and triple turrets producing a unique main armament of thirteen 12-inch guns. One ship, _Leonardo da Vinci_, was sunk by an internal explosion at Taranto in 1916, and although the hull was raised post-war, the plan to rebuild the ship was abandoned as it was not deemed cost-effective. However, the remaining four ships were to undergo one of the most radical reconstructions of any battleship class during the 1930s, emerging with an entirely new profile, more powerful machinery and all the characteristics of a modern fast battleship. In this form they became an important element in the Italian fleet that opposed the British after 1940\. This book covers all the technical details of the ships, both as built and as rebuilt, but also provides an extended history of their active service, including battle plans and track charts. Thoroughly illustrated with photographs, ship and armament plans, detail drawings and colour camouflage schemes, the book is a fitting companion to _The Littorio Class_.

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Book SynopsisA masterful account of a vital four months in the bloody battle for the Pacific, giving fresh insights into the Guadalcanal and Solomons campaign, a key turning point in both the Pacific Theater and the wider Second World War.From popular Pacific Theater expert Jeffrey R. Cox comes this insightful new history of the critical Guadalcanal and Solomons campaign at the height of World War II. His previous book, Morning Star, Rising Sun, found the US Navy at its absolute nadir with the fate of the Enterprise, the last operational US aircraft carrier at this point in the war, unknown. This new volume completes the history of this crucial campaign, combining detailed research with a novelist''s flair for the dramatic to reveal exactly how, despite missteps and misfortunes, the tide of war finally turned. By the end of February 1944, thanks to hard-fought and costly American victories in the first and second naval battles of Guadalcanal, the battleTrade ReviewThis is naval history at its best. * Neil Baird, Baird Maritime *Jeffrey R. Cox offers an authoritative account of the Solomon Islands campaign. * History of War *For students of the Pacific campaigns, these books are essential reading. * The Armourer *Table of ContentsList of Maps Prologue: Rumblings 1. The Storms before the Storm 2. Barfight in the Dark 3. The Morning After 4. The Reckoning Begins 5. Just When You Think 6. Delay, Linger, and Wait 7. Turn Around and Advance 8. Pappy’s Folly Epilogue: Previews Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisRoyal Navy Uniforms 1930 - 1945 uses over 400 illustrations - both period images and new colour photographs of original items - to show the clothing of both Officers and Ratings in World War II and during the years leading up to it, when Naval uniforms underwent significant modernization. The illustrations are supported by detailed text describing the development and use of Naval clothing of the time. Its contents include Officers' clothing and effects; Class 1 and III Ratings' clothing and effects; seamens' clothing and effects; battledress and tropical clothing; miscellaneous clothing, personal effects and substantive and non-substantive insignia. This is the first book to offer a detailed study of Royal Navy clothing in the 1930s and World War II and will be a vital resource for collectors, historians and enthusiasts.

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Book SynopsisThis fascinating title explains and analyzes the history, technology, and service of the Soviet Navy''s nuclear attack submarines, the formidable high-tech boats on the front line of the Cold War at sea. In this highly detailed book, naval historian Edward Hampshire reveals the fascinating history of the nuclear-powered attack submarines built and operated by the Soviet Union in the Cold War, including each class of these formidable craft as they developed throughout the Cold War period.The November class, which were the Soviet Union''s first nuclear submarines, had originally been designed to fire a single enormous nuclear tipped torpedo but were eventually completed as boats firing standard torpedoes. The Alfa class were perhaps the most remarkable submarines of the Cold War: titanium-hulled (which was light and strong but extremely expensive and difficult to weld successfully), crewed with only thirty men due to considerable automation and 30% faster than Table of ContentsIntroduction Weapons Systems and Sensors November Class (Projects 627, 627A and 645) Victor Class (Projects 671, 671RT, 671RTM, 671RTMK) Alfa Class (Project 705) Mike Class (Project 685) Sierra I and II Classes (Projects 945/945A) Akula Class (Project 971) Operational Service Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisFor over a century and a half, since the Uniform Regulations of 1856 were introduced, identification of rank amongst officers in the Royal Navy, its branches and its reserves has not been restricted to a single, or even small number, of insignia. Rank may be seen on jacket cuffs, on shoulder badges, on shoulder boards and on epaulettes. It may be seen on swords and buttons, and in the manner in which buttons are worn. Cap peaks indicate rank, as do collars, cocked hat ornaments and cuff slashes.

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Book SynopsisA monumental, wholly accessible work of scholarship that retells human history through the story of mankind's relationship with the sea.An accomplishment of both great sweep and illuminating detail, The Sea and Civilization is a stunning work of history that reveals in breathtaking depth how people first came into contact with one another by ocean and river, and how goods, languages, religions, and entire cultures spread across and along the world's waterways.Lincoln Paine takes us back to the origins of long-distance migration by sea with our ancestors' first forays from Africa and Eurasia to Australia and the Americas. He demonstrates the critical role of maritime trade to the civilizations of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, and the Indus Valley. He reacquaints us with the great seafaring cultures of antiquity like those of the Phoenicians and Greeks, as well as those of India, Southeast and East Asia who parlayed their navigational skills, shipbuilding techniques, and commercial acumen to establish vibrant overseas colonies and trade routes in the centuries leading up to the age of European overseas expansion. His narrative traces subsequent developments in commercial and naval shipping through the post-Cold War era. Above all, Paine makes clear how the rise and fall of civilizations can be traced to the sea.Trade ReviewA magnificently sweeping world history that takes us from the people of Oceania and concludes with the container. In contrast to most books on maritime history, the majority of The Sea and Civilization covers the history of the world before Columbus sailed the ocean blue and at least as much of the narrative focuses on Asia as it does on Europe. -- Ben Wilson * Daily Telegraph *The Sea and Civilization is, without doubt, the most comprehensive maritime history ever produced... Some of the most exciting history published today is by freelancers like Paine who can ignore the rules of academia * The Times *A brilliantly researched and ambitious affirmation of the sea and civilisation -- Philip Hoare * New Statesman *A true expert, Paine offers up treats... and drenches his pages with diverse, immersive detail -- Bettany Hughes * Prospect *The most enjoyable, the most refreshing, the most stimulating, the most comprehensive, the most discerning, the most insightful, the most up-to-date - in short, the best maritime history of the world. -- Felipe Fernández-ArmestoElegantly written and encyclopedic in scope, with an expert grasp of the demands of seamanship in every age, The Sea and Civilization deserves a wide readership. * Wall Street Journal *Fascinating and beautifully written . . . Paine steps back from [an] Eurocentric view to tell the story of maritime travel through the entire sweep of human history. . . With its richness of detail, [The Sea and Civilization offers] an eloquent vision of how the sea served as a path to the modern world. * Foreign Affairs *

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Book SynopsisIn the vast literature of the Second World War there has never been a naval atlas showing graphically the complexities of the war at sea, a war which spread across every ocean. This new book will fill the gap.With more than 200 beautifully-designed maps and charts, the atlas sets out to visualise the great campaigns and major battles as well as the smaller operations, amphibious landings, convoys, sieges, skirmishes and sinkings. While whole sections are given over to the Pacific war, the battle of the Atlantic and the campaigns in the Mediterranean, smaller but crucial events such as the landings at Dieppe receive in-depth treatment. The maps depict the dynamics of campaigns and battles but also include extensive information on the opposing forces, their ships and equipment and the strategic significance of events. General thematic maps, for instance, on ship losses, aerial strengths or convoy routes, give the reader an understanding of the many contributing factors that shaped the tactics and strategies of the Allied and Axis forces.No other work has attempted such an ambitious coverage of the war at sea in this period and it is destined to become a definitive reference work for naval enthusiasts and historians as well as general readers fascinated by the naval war that extended from the coldest arctic seas to the tropical islands of the Pacific.

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Book SynopsisThis is a major new study of Italian naval camouflage schemes developed and used during World War Two. When Italy entered the War in June 1942, the Regia Marina (Italian navy) was a force still under development and both Italian warships and merchant ships faced the War in their peace colours; and nor had any had prewar plans been made for camouflaging ships. At that time all the principal warships were painted in a light matt grey ('grigio cenerino chiaro'), which had been adopted in the 1920s and early '30s. With the advent of War, and the start of convoy traffic to Libya, the need to camouflage ships for purposes of deception, rather than outright concealment, became apparent and the first initiatives were undertaken. In the first part of the book, employing contemporary schematic drawings, photographs and his own CAD profiles, the author describes the development of the varied schemes that were adopted for the capital ships, such as _Caio Duilia_ and _Littorio_, cruisers, destroyers and torpedo boats, landing craft and merchant ships; even the royal yacht and small tugs were given camouflage schemes. In the second, and longest, part he depicts all the ships and their schemes, at different dates, with both sides of a ship shown where possible, in his own beautifully rendered schematic profiles, all in full colour, and it is this section with more than 700 drawings that gives the reader a complete and detailed picture of the whole development of Italian naval camouflage. He also looks in detail at the Greek theatre where there were many exceptions, influenced by the German presence and by the camouflage schemes of captured vessels. This major new reference book will prove invaluable to historians, collectors, modelmakers and wargamers and follows in the wake of the hugely successful Seaforth editions covering German and British camouflage schemes of the Second World War.

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Book SynopsisThe complete and authoritative account of the sinking of the HMAS Sydney, and the finding of her wreck in 2008. On 19 November 1941, the pride of the Australian Navy, the light cruiser Sydney, fought a close-quarters battle with the German armed raider HSK Kormoran off Carnarvon on the West Australian coast. Both ships sank - and not one of the 645 men on board the Sydney survived. Was Sydney''s captain guilty of negligence by allowing his ship to manoeuvre within range of Kormoran''s guns? Did the Germans feign surrender before firing a torpedo at the Sydney as she prepared to despatch a boarding party? This updated edition covers the discovery of the wreck - with the light this sheds on the events of that day in 1941, and the closure it has brought to so many grieving families. ''Tom Frame has produced the most comprehensive and compelling account of the loss of HMAS Sydney to dateTrade ReviewA major work of Australian maritime history. - Sydney Morning HeraldFrame has produced an entertaining, passionate and complex work of popular history in which the subsequent efforts to piece together the evidence provide a good dose of detective story. - Courier-MailAn excellent and objective analysis, and well worth reading for anyone with an interest in naval history or the curious behaviour of those writing history with axes to grind. - Newcastle HeraldTom Frame has written a number of books on Australian naval events. With this book, he has produced a most comprehensive and interesting account of the loss of the Sydney. - Australian Defence MagazineFrame's story is a balanced and comprehensive account of the now complete Sydney story. - The Launceston ExaminerFor those with an interest in our naval, maritime or military history, this is an absorbing account of one of our most famous ships and her devastating loss. - Manly DailyTom Frame has produced the most comprehensive and compelling account of the loss of HMAS Sydney to date. His judgements are fair and his conclusions reasoned. If you only read one book on this tragic event in Australian naval history, and want all the facts and theories presented in a balanced way, Tom Frame's book is for you. - Vice Admiral Russ Shalders AO CSC RANR Chief of Navy, 2005-08

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Book SynopsisOften romanticized in print and on the silver screen, real-life pirates were a brutal menace that plagued the high seas. In this book, Angus Konstam separates myth from reality, tracing the history of piracy through the centuries, from the pirates who plagued the Ancient Egyptians to the Viking raids and on to the era of privateers. He discusses the so-called Golden Age of Piracy and colorful characters such as Blackbeard and Captain Kidd, before examining the West''s initial encounters with Eastern pirates off the Chinese coast and the phenomenon of the modern pirate. Highly illustrated with color images and specially commissioned maps throughout, this is a unique exploration of the pirate world.Table of ContentsIntroduction /1.Pirates of the Ancient World /2. Medieval Pirates /3.The Sea Dogs of the Renaissance /4. Mediterranean Corsairs /5. The Buccaneers /6. The Golden Age of Piracy /7. The Pirate Round /8. The Last of the Pirates /9. The Chinese Pirates /10. Modern Piracy /11. Pirates in Fiction /Conclusion /Notes /Select Bibliography /Index

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Book SynopsisThe old light cruiser Marblehead was living out her final years of naval service as a member of the United States Asiatic Fleet in 1941\. The small group of mostly antiquated ships based in the Philippines sailed the waters of East Asia to show the American flag in places like China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore. The sudden eruption of World War II in the Pacific put the warship on the front lines of the conflict as Imperial Japan unleased a series of devastating attacks across the region. On the morning of February 4, 1942, the warship was surprised by Japanese planes northeast of Java. Two large bombs slammed into Marblehead causing fires, casualties, and knocking out her steering gear. A third bomb exploded close by underwater. The near miss ripped a large gash into her hull allowing a torrent of water to rush inside the ship. Escape from Java takes the reader all throughout the ship as the story unfolds -next to gunners toiling to keep their guns firing, with medical staff tending to the wounded, and alongside damage control sailors working in flooded compartments. The damage was critical, so much so the Japanese radioed they had sunk the ship. In fact, through courage, sacrifice, and super-human effort, Marblehead would successfully make a harrowing 13,000 mile journey back to the US.

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Book SynopsisAn authentic and gripping account of one boat's war in the Atlantic. Profusely illustrated with contemporary photographs. Written by an acknowledged expert of the U-boat war.

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