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WWII General III: Sea
WORLD WAR TWO GENERAL
PART Three: SEA
   
see #114 below
see #122 below
see #111 below
1. U.S. DESTROYER OPERATIONS IN WORLD WAR II,
Theodore Roscoe, C, O,
A detailed account, prepared from personal narratives and official records, new
lower price,
582 pp.
$55.00*
2. U.S. SUBMARINE OPERATIONS IN WORLD WAR II,
Theodor Roscoe, C, O,
The complete and dramatic story of how the U.S. Navy's "Silent Service" helped
win the most extensive underseas war in history,
578 pp.
$55.00*
6. WARBIRDS OF THE SEA: A HISTORY OF AIRCRAFT CARRIERS & CARRIER BASED
AIRCRAFT,
Walter Musciano, C, O,
Covers the history, design development, and
combat career of aircraft carriers and shipboard aircraft from their
conception and into the future, also presents the personalities involved,
336 pp.
$50.00
7. LIBERTY SHIP: THE VOVAGES OF THE JOHN W. BROWN, 1942-1946,
Sherod Cooper, C,
The only book devoted exclusively to a single merchantman's seagoing
career during WWII describing the activitiesof the Liberty ship in the Battle
of the Atlantic and of the crews who manned the ship,
264 pp.
$37.00
8. AMERICAN CRUISERS OF WW II, A PICTORIAL ENCYCLOPEDIA,
Steve Ewing, S, O,
142 pp.
$10.00
9. AMERICAN BATTLESHIPS: A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF BB-1 TO BB-2 WITH PROTOTYPES
MAINE & TEXAS,
Max Newhart, S, O,
133 photos and drawings,
112 pp.
$10.00
10. SMALL BOATS AND LARGE TARGETS: ORAL HISTORIES OF US AMPHIBIOUS FORCES
PERSONNEL IN WWII,
Robert Witter, S,O,
this book tells the unvarnished
reminiscences of former small boatsmen and LST crewmen who, in their own
words tell of their unique participation in the Second World War, 91 photos,
156 pp.
$15.00
11. AMERICAN PT BOATS IN WWII,
Victor Chun, C,O,
an illustrated history of
the development, construction, tactics, and combat actions ofPT boats, many
declassified documents are used for the first time,
240 pp.
$45.00
12. THE FIGHTING LADY,
Clark Reynolds, S,O,
The epic story of the aircraft
carrier New Yorktown (CV-10) which dominated the greatest sea war of all time
as told by the men who sailed and fought on her,160 photos,
360 pp.
$15.00
13. CARRIER AIR GROUP COMMANDERS: THE MEN AND THEIR MACHINES,
Robert Lawson, C,O,
this book gives a listing of every known CAG and dates of his command
profiling more than forty of the Navy's more notable CAG's, and well
illustrated with over 250 color and b/w photos,
208 pp.
$45.00
14. PT BOATS AT WAR,
Norman Polmar, S,O,
this in-depth volume chronicles the
devlopment and combat history of PT boats from the South Pacific to the
Mediterranean and Europe, and includes first person narravites and coverage
of PT boat use in Vietnam. Appendices list and describe every PT boat ever
built, 200 photos,
160 pp.
$20.00
15. BATTLESHIP MISSOURI: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY,
Paul Stillwell, C, O,
The author interviewed dozens of men who served on the Missouri crew to trace the
ship's complete history, 380 photos,
450 pp.
$60.00
17.THE WINNING EDGE: NAVAL TECHNOLOGY IN ACTION, 1939-1945,
Kenneth Poolman, C,
In this surprisingly lively approach to recording the impact of technology
on the war at sea, Poolman follows comprehensive descriptions of each new
technical development with dramatic examples of its use in action,
240 pp.
$33.00
18.A PASSAGE TO SWORD BEACH: MINESWEEPING IN THE ROYAL NAVY,
Brendan Maher, C,
Rich in detail and narrative quality, this firsthand account of service in
WWII British minesweepers draws on the author's personal diaries and official
records,
272 pp.
$33.00
19. E-BOAT ALERT: DEFENDING THE NORMANDY INVASION FLEET,
James Foster, C,
Combining newly released top-secret Admiralty reports, rare photographic
materials, and extensive interviews with eyewitnesses from three nation, this
ground breaking work studies the campaign to defend the Allied fleet at
Normandy from the torpedoes of Germany's high-performance E-boats,
308 pp.
$35.00
20.A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF THE SEA WAR, 1939-1945,
Paul Kemp, C, O,
From international archives and personal collections, this superb collection of
photographs demonstrates the diversity and drama of the naval element of
WWII, 470 photographs,
192 pp.
$40.00
21.HEROES IN DUNGAREES,
John Bunker, C,
The story of the American merchant marine in WWII,
392p.
$35.00
22.PT 105,
Dick Keresey, C,
The fastest craft on the water during WWII, PT
boats were tough and versatile little fighters. This firsthand account of
their operations throws new light on their contributions to the war,
232 pp.
$30.00
24. SECRET WEAPON: U.S. HIGH-FREQUENCY DIRECTION FINDING IN THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC,
Kathleen Williams, C,
Told here for the first time is the story is
the development and use of a high frequency direction finder that could
pinpoint radio transmitters to help search for U-Boats,
312 pp.
$35.00*
25.TO FOREIGN SHORES: U.S. AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS IN WWII,
John Lorelli, C,
This is the first single source to cover the entire development of U.S. Army,
Navy, and Marine Corps amphibious operation during WWII, covering the whole
spectrum of modern seaborne assaults,
392 pp.
$43.00*
26.THE UNSINKABLE FLEET: THE POLITICS OF U.S. NAVY EXPANSION IN WWII,
Joel Davidson, C,
The author details some of the political and strategic
complexities involved when a nation allocates finite resources to seemingly
endless needs,
224 pp.
$33.00
27.CRUISERS OF WWII: AN INTERNATIONAL ENCYCLOPEDIA,
M.J. Whitley, C, O,
This comprehensive reference describes all cruisers, regardless of nation, for the
period 1939 to 1945. 312 photos,
288 pp.
$50.00
28. SEARCH FIND AND KILL: COASTAL COMMAND'S U-BOAT SUCCESSES IN WWII,
Norman Franks, C,
the aerial heroism of the RAF's sub-killing Coastal Command as it
patrolled the North Sea and Atlantic hunting Axis U-boats,
288 pp.
$35.00
29.THE NAKED WARRIORS: THE STORY OF THE U.S. NAVY'S FROGMEN,
Francis Fane, C,
The author's blow-by-blow account of UDT operations in WWII and Korea is the
classic frogmen story told by a legendary commander,
328 pp.
$28.00
30.UNDERWATER WARRIORS: MIDGET SUBMARINE OPERATIONS IN WAR,
Paul Kemp, C,
Provides a complete design and operational history of midget submarines,
supplying the reader with enough technical data to understand the mechanics
of this element of naval warfare. Also includes details of a variety of
subversive actions performed by the fascinating craft. Photos show the full
range of development and experience,
256 pp.
$35.00
31. CONVOY, MERCHANT SAILORS AT WAR 1939-1945,
Philip Kaplan, S,O,
nearly 50,000 men of the Allied merchant services lost their lives to Axis
torpedoes, bombs and guns. This stunning portrait pays tribute to their all
important role, and in words (drawing on unpublished memoirs) and pictures it
details some of the most vivid and desperate actions performed by the
convoys, and the men who won this victory, includes rare photos, color and
b/w, paintings and memorabilia,
224 pp.
$29.00
32. PEDESTAL: THE CONVOY THAT SAVED MALTA
Peter Smith, S,
detailed account of one of the greatest convoy operations of WWII, based on British, German, and Italian records and includes maps, diagrams, and 24 page b/w photo section. This was the last attempt to relieve Malta, 14 merchant ships were allocated and the Royal Navy provided the most powerful force ever to escort a convoy. The Germans and Italians themselves let fly with their short-based aircraft on an unprecedented scale.
280 pp.
$13.00
34. THE BISMARCK CHASE: NEW LIGHT ON THE FAMOUS ENGAGEMENT,
Robert Winklareth, C,
on May 24, 1941 one of the most famous naval engagements of
WWII, the sinking of the battlecruiser HMS Hood, by the Bismarck, took place
in the Denmark Straight and people have been arguing about it ever since. In
this book, a professional defense analyst offers an original and highly
credible explanation of the battle based on extensive computer modeling. This
book also covers the entire Bismarck campaign, from the genesis of the
revived German Navy in the 1930's to the final sinking of the Bismarck three
days after the loss of the hood,
192 pp.
$35.00
35. THE BUCKLEY-CLASS DESTROYER ESCORTS,
Bruce Hampton, C,O,
This book combines unique photographs, firsthand accounts, ship plans, and
well-researched text to recapture the history of the largest class of
destroyer escorts ever built, The Buckley,
36. SHADOWS ON THE HORIZON: THE BATTLE OF CONVOY HX-233,
W.A. Haskell, C,
the author presents a brilliant narrative to the ferocious battle that nearly
severed Britain,s lifeline across the Atlantic, combining meticulous research
or original documents with personal testimonies, to reconstruct exactly what
happned to the U-boats and their quarry in the crucial spring months of 1943,
and the battle around Convoy HX-233,
192 pp.
$35.00
37. THE FIGHTING COMMODORES: CONVOY COMMANDERS IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR,
Alan Burn, C,
this book is the first to profile the heroic men and their actions
that eventually helped turn the tide of war. The author pays tribute to 180
commodores who not only took on the treacherous U-boats but also had to deal
with the fiercely independent merchant sea masters,
256 pp.
$35.00
38. THE CAPTAIN-CLASS FRIGATES IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR,
Donald Collingwood, C,
This engaging narrative of their operations has been written by a member
of the Royal Navy who served on one these combat vessels in the Atlantic,
describing the close teamwork and comradeship that existed with the escort
groups as they faced the lethal submarine threat,
224 pp.
$35.00
39. BATTLESHIPS OF WWII: AN INTERNATIONAL ENCYCLOPEDIA,
M.J. Whitley, C,O,
devoted to the hundred battleships that served or were under construction in
WWI, detailing and illustrates the design of each battleship, complete
service histories, and data lists that include dimensions, armament, speed, &
armor,
320 pp.
$85.00
40. Q SHIPS VERSUS U-BOATS: AMERICA'S SECRET PROJECT,
Kenneth Beyer, C,
For the first time, Beyer, a U.S. naval officer who served in a Q-boat, reveals
the origins and operations of Project LQ, decoys disguised as merchant ships,
as the secret plan was known. Described as the most self-destructive
operation undertaken by the US Navy in WWII, the project had very limited
success,
272 pp.
$33.00
41. MIDGET SUBMARINES OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR,
Paul Kemp, C,O,
looks at why the major navies engaged in their construction and then details all the types
of craft that were built, broadly divided into three groups: human torpedoes,
true midget submarines, and the suicidal machines. With no comparable book
available, this volume will be of significant interest because of its
detailed plans and photos, foldout modeler's plan,
128pp.
$55.00
42. NOTHING FRIENDLY IN THE VICINITY: MY PATROLS ON THE USS GUARDFISH IN
WWII,
C,
autobiography of an enlisted submariner and his harrowing
experiences as a crew member of the submarine USS Guardfish during WWII,
highlighting the submarines exciting early operations and documents deeply
the four war patrols in which he personally participated, The Guardfish's
history is marred with a horrendous "friendly fire" tragedy, when the
Guardfish's skipper misidentified and sunk USS Extractor in a torpedo attack,
240 pp.
$25.00
43. MEDITERRANEAN MTBs AT WAR,
Len Reynolds, C,O,
this is the definitive
account of operations in the Mediterranean carried out by the Royal Navy's
'short' Motor Torpedo boats during WWII, 100 photos,
224 pp.
$36.00
44. DECODING HISTORY: THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC AND ULTRA,
W.J.R. Gardner, C,
this book makes a fresh and significant contribution to the literature on
the battle of the Atlantic and the impact of codebreaking on the Allied
defeat of the German U-boats. The author critically evaluates the role Ultra
played in the strategy, tactics and operations of the battle and places
Ultra's contributions in the broader context of the naval war, arguing that
its use during the war has been overvalued, leading to a distortion to
Ultra's actual role in the war and preventing a balanced perspective,
304 pp.
$35.00
45. INVADERS: BRITISH AND AMERICAN EXPERIENCE OF SEABORNE LANDINGS,
1939-1945,
Colin Bruce, C,
drawing on testimony of hundreds of participants,
the author recounts their experiences in the Allied amphibious landings,
vividly describing some of the most significant battles of the war. The first
half focuses on the European theater such as Salerno, Diepe, and D-Day while
the second half focuses on the Pacific including Iwo Jima and Okinawa. From
the experiences of the planners and the landing craft crews to the crews of
the support ships and the assault troops, technicians, aircrews and troop
replacements all aspects are covered,
288 pp.
$37.00
47. A SUBMARINER'S WAR: THE INDIAN OCEAN 1939-45,
Michael Wilson, C,
Account of operatoins in the Indian Ocean by the submarines of seven nations - Great
Britain, the Netherlands, USA, France, Italy, Germany and Japan, 70
illustrations,
192 pp.
$33.00
48. KING GEORGE V CLASS BATTLESHIPS,
V.E. Tarrant, S,O,
dramatic photos of both battle action and close-up detail, along with exhaustive charts of
technical specifications highlight this book. The personality of each of the
five ships comes through in sketches of many of the 1,500 officers and men,
in more than six years of battle, on most sea theaters,
288 pp.
$28.00
49. MALTA CONVOYS,
David Thomas, C,
Malta was the sceneof some of the most
savage air and sea attacks of WWII. The Royal Navy suffered the heaviest
casualties in the theatre, losing battleships, aircraft carriers, cruisers
and the merchant ships they were escorting. The principal convoy operations
are covered here in detail, drawing heavily on eyewitness accounts,
224 pp.
$37.00
50. DOG BOATS AT WAR: ROYAL NAVY 'D' CLASS MTBs AND MTGBs 1939-1945,
Len Reynolds, C,O,
the first fully illustrated authoritative account of the "Dog
Boats" in action in British Mediterranean and Norweigian waters, drawing on
official records and vivid eyewitness accounts, over 160 photos,
288 pp.
$45.00
paperback, 288 pp.
$22.00
51. USS PAMPANITO: KILLER ANGEL,
Gregory Michno, C,
this is not a typical
submarine adventure. It is the story of a sub and crew that, though they
caused plenty of destruction, found the pinnacle of their honor and fame in
the dramatic sea rescue during Sept. 12-14, 1944, attack on a Japanese convoy
carrying English and Australian POW's from the Burma- Siam Railway to prison
camps in Japan. The Pampanito helped sink two of the prison ships,
unwittingly killing hundreds of Allied soldiers, then returned to rescue its
own victims,
464 pp.
$38.00
52. SUBMARINES OF WWII,
Erminio Bagnasco, S,O,
all classes and types of
submarines are covered in this book. From midgets to large U-cruisers, along
with projected and experimental designs, a mass of detail records and
technical characteristics for each class of submarine. Includes facts and
figures about construction, displacement, dimensions, speed, range,
operational depth, fuel load, armament, and complement, 427 photos,
256pp.
$30.00
53. ENIGMA U-BOAT: BREAKING THE CODE - THE TRUE STORY,
Jak Mallmann-Showell, C, O,
This skillful analysis of Britains cracking the code and how it turned
into victory the battle of the Atlantic. Also covers the Enigma's development
and its role during U-boat operations, including details of Allied boardings
of U-boats from which Enigma machines could have been captured. One of the
geatest espionage stories in the history of naval warfare, over 300
illustrations,
192 pp.
$37.00
54. TIRPITZ: HUNTING THE BEAST,
John Sweetman, C,
Based on extensive research
of British and German records, plus interviews with a wide range of
participants, this book presents one of the most comprehensive accounts yet
to be published of the air attacks on the Tirpitz. The narrative is supported
by a fine collection of archive photographs, drawings and explantory maps,
192 pp.
$29.00
56. SPLINTER FLEET: THE WOODEN SUBCHASERS OF WWII,
Theodore Treadwell, C,
hastily built at the onset of WWII to stop German U-boats from taking their
toll on Allied shipping, the 110-foot wooden subchasers were the smallest
commissioned warships in the U.S. Navy yet they saw as much action as ships
ten times their size. This book, written by a commander of one of these
ships, defines their place in WWII naval history and gives readers a taste of
life aboard the wooden warships, 42 photographs,
272 pp.
$35.00
57. THE WATER IS NEVER COLD: THE ORIGINS OF U.S. NAVAL COMBAT DEMOLITION,
James Douglas O'Dell, C,
a groundbreaking study of the birth of the U.S.
Navy's combat demolition teams. They played a crucial role in the Pacific and
European theaters during WWII. As the vanguard for amphibious assaults, they
were tasked with beach reconnaissance, depth sounding, and clearing
obstacles, mines, and enexploded ordnance so the troops could land - all wile
exposed to enemy fires. Their work was as hazardous as it was indispensable,
288pp.
$25.00
58. TEMPEST, FIRE AND FOE: DESTROYER ESCORTS IN WWII AND THE MEN WHO MANNED THEM,
Lewis Andrews, C,O,
the author, who commanded a series of ships is the
perfect person to write this book. It is an exciting and excellent read of
his accurate and in depth accounts of the heroics of officers and men that
manned the destroyer escorts of WWII. Superbly illustrated by authenic
pictures of DE combat and its aftermath giving this informative and
comprehensive text an immediacy that is starkly realistic. Appendices provide
information on all ships lost and commendations. A truly remarkable work, and
I do have signed copies!,
482 pp.
$50.00
60. THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER STORY 1908-1945,
Guy Robbins, C,O,
A valuable history recounts the rough beginnings in WWI, the developments made by
Britain, the U.S., and Japan in technology and strategy, and how carriers
supplanted traditional capital ships as the core of naval warfare. Includes
superb photographs and reports of their wartime engagements, successful and
not, May,
288 pp.
$45.00
61. FLEETS OF WWII,
Richard Worth, C,O,
This large single volume study covers
the entire scope of the navies of WWII. Packed with data and illustrated
throughout, it is not a simple list of ships, but an examination of those
ships and the fleets they served. It goes beyond the statistics to provide
astute, practical analysis, and provides a straightforward and unapologetic
critique, not unlike the Siskel and Ebert at the navies! Includes every
nation that took part in the war, along with key neutrals. Each fleet is
surveyed in totatlity, fom the mighty battleships to the humble motor
launches, 70 photographs,
336 pp.
$35.00
62. HMS TRENCHANT: FROM CHATHAM TO THE BANKA STRAIT,
Arthur Hezlet, C,
the author was the commander of the Trenchant, a British T-Class submarine with a
distinguished record in the closing months of WWII. It made 5 successful
cruises in 1945, culminating in the sinking of the Japanese cruiser Ashigara.
Hezlet brings years of sea experience and skill as a writer to his personal
narrative,
224 pp.
$37.00
63. CRUISERS FOR BREAKFAST: WAR PATROLS OF THE U.S.S DARTER AND U.S.S DACE,
John Mansfield, C,
signed by author, epitomizes the actions, triumphs,
tragedies and personal accounts of two gallant diesel submarines and the
members of their crews at the height of the war in the Pacific. Filled with
action, humor and emotional challenges, the author has woven true accounts
recalled from actual war patrol reports, deck logs and personal interviews,
306 pp.
$25.00
64. SEA HAWKS: WITH THE PT BOATS AT WAR, A MEMOIR,
Lt. Comdr. Edgar Hoagland, C,
Starting as an ensign assigned to an Atlantic-based destroyer author
Hoagland participated in Operation Torch, the 1942 invasion of North Africa.
Thirsting for greater adventure than he found in the blue-water navy,
Hoagland volunteered for PT boat duty. Following training and familiarization
he and his crew were off to the Pacific. He eventually was given command of a
PT boat squadron and went to sea. This book illuminates for the reader how
the PT boats and their plucky crews battled the Japanese, what life was like
with the boats, as well as details about the boats themselves, their weapons,
and tactics.
256 pp.
$25.00
65. SILENT VICTORY: THE U.S. SUBMARINE WAR AGAINST JAPAN,
Clay Blair, S,
the author interviewed scores of Skippers, staff officers and code breakers and
combed thousands of documents and personal reports and produced the most
informative and entertaining book on the submarine war against Japan, now
reprinted in a quality paperback version,
1,104 pp.
$32.50
66. BRITISH WARSHIPS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR,
John Roberts, C,O,
This large volume showcases a representative sampling of British ship plans from the
archives of the National Maritime Museum, that shows how the ships were
built, converted or refitted. Includes both pre-war and wartime plans of the
principle classes - from aircraft carriers and battleships down to corvetters
and landing craft. Each plan is reproduced at a size that ensures the
relevant details of the vessels are visible, 100 illustrations,
160 pp.
$55.00
67. THE PRICE OF DISOBEDIENCE: THE BATTLE OF THE RIVER PLATE RECONSIDERED,
Eric Grove, C,
the author reassesses the first British naval enounter of
WWII, the Battle of the River Plate. In late 1939, a force from the Royal
Navy engaged the German battleship Graf Spee. Though outnumbered, the Graf
Spee inflicted serious damage to the British ships before taking refuge in
the harbor at Montivideo, Uruguay. Four days later her commander assuming a
much superior force waited for him, scuttled his ship and then committed
suicide. The author has unearthed previously unpublished sources to provide
the definitive account of the battle,
224 pp.
$33.00
68. WARSHIP OF THE BRITISH NAVY: WARSPITE,
Iain Ballantyne, C,
examines the careers of all eight vessels to bear the name since 1596, but concentrates on
the seventh vessel, the dreadnought battleship conceived as the ultimate
answer to German naval power during the pre WWI arms race. HMS Warspite
fought off the entire German fleet at Jutland, survived a mutiny between the
wars, and covered herself in glory during WWII, including narrowly avoiding
destruction by the Japanese carrier force that devastated Pearl Harbor and
provding the crucial fire support for Allied landings in Sicily, Italy and
Normandy,
224 pp.
$35.00
69. HOME WATERS AND THE ATLANTIC TO DECEMBER 1941,
C.L. Page C,
(part of the Whitehall Official History series) 2 volume set, C, These volumes cover the
period from the outbreak of war until the attack on Pearl Harbor, after when
the US Navy added its weight to the naval war. The first volume in concerned
with Home Fleet and Atlantic operations up to April 1940. Major operations
covered in Volume II include the Norway campaign and the evacuation from
Dunkirk and other ports, early convoys, and surface raiders, 2002 publication
date,
Volume I, 15 plans, 250 pp.
$tba
Volume II, 23 plans, 390 pp.
$tba
70. MEDITERRANEAN: SEPTEMBER 1939-OCTOBER 1940,
C,
Volume I, (part of the Whitehall Official History series), C, This volumes deals with the first 15 months of the Mediterranean campaign, including the preparations for war, the
effect of the entry of Italy into the war, the tragic actions against the
French Fleet, and the achievement of British command of the sea, which was
the defining factor for all subsequent Mediterranean operations,
210p.
$70.00
71. MEDITERRANEAN: NOVEMBER 1940-DECEMBER 1941,
C,
Volume II, (part of the Whitehall Official History series), C, This volume deals with the exercise of the Royal Navy command of the sea to attack enemy shipping, particularly the
convoys supplying the Axis forces in North Africa, while supporting the
British Army ashore. The latter task included the evacuations from Greece,
where over 51,000 British and Greek troops were taken off, and Crete, where
more than 16,500 soldiers were rescued, at great cost to the Royal Navy,
320 pp.
$70.00
72. HMS HOOD: PRIDE OF THE ROYAL NAVY,
Andew Norman, C,
In just seven minutes, after an encounter with Bismark and her consort Prinz Eugen, HMS
Hood sunk to the bottom of the Atlantic, taking the lives of 1,418 men with
her. Norman explores the events leading up to the disaster and the legacy
left in its wake, 61 b/w photographs, 4 maps,
192 pp.
$27.00
73. BATTLESTATIONS! AMERICAN WARSHIPS OF WWII,
Nicholas Veronico, C,O,
Battleships, aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, submarines, PT boats
and landing craft are all featured in this look back at U.S. Navy prowess in
WWII. Rare color photos from the war years, as well as a selection of b/w
shots, illustrate a compelling text that features anecdotes and memories from
officers and sailors who served. In addition to profiling the service
histories, sepcifications, armaments and fate, this book also serves as a
valuable chronicle of navy life during the war, 100 color and 75 b/w photos,
168 pp.
$35.00
74. NAVAL CAMOUFLAGE 1914-1945: A COMPLETE VISUAL REFERENCE,
David Williams, C,O,
the first authoritative history of the subject of Naval Camouflage. This
comprehensive study brings fragmented historical evidence into focus by
listing all of the major patterns and schemes, as well as their colors,
characteristics, and functions. Photographs and approved pattern drawings
with variations provide a clarifying visual reference to an art form that was
often a product of ad hoc wartime developement. The accompanying narrative
describes the theory of visual deception with an emphasis on British and
American ships and selected German and neutral ships. This generously
illustrated volume will become a standard reference, 350 illustrations,
256 pp.
$65.00
75. LIBERTY: THE SHIPS THAT WON THE WAR,
Peter Elphick, C,
tells the complete story of the renowned Liberty ships, from their design concept and production through their war service and post war careers. Designed for speed and ease
of production, Liberty ships were turned out at American shipyards so rapidly
that the Allies were able to replace thousands of ships lost to U-boats and
keep the vital transatlantic supply routes open. Filled with firsthand
accounts, the book brings to life the amazing industiral effort and sacrifice
and heroism of the men who sailed the ships in every theater of the war, 50
photos,
288 pp.
$45.00
76. CAPTAINS,
Sandford Margalith, C,
what happened in the English Channel six
weeks before D-Day that nearly caused the invasion to be canceled? Why did
the survivors keep it secret for more than forty years? What were the
blunders that led to the catastrophe that cost 3 LST's and hundreds of lives?
The author was a young U.S. Navy quartermaster serving on the flagship during
this incident. Considered too controversial by a leading Naval Press, made
into a feature film,
224 pp.
$25.00
77. ALLIED SECRET: THE SINKING OF HMT ROHNA,
Carlton Jackson, S,
recounts the single greatest loss of American lives at sea during WWII; the sinking of the British troopship HMT Rohna on 26 November 1943 by a German guided bomb. Over 1,000 American soldiers died in the disaster which was kept secret during the war for security reasons and then largely forgotten. This book brings the tragedy to life.
232 pp.
$18.00
78. CARRIER WAR: AVIATION ART OF WWII
Paul Stillwell, C,O
Through breathtaking paintings by the most respected aviation and military artists, this crucial period lives again. From the earliest demonstrations of planes flying from and landing on a vessel at sea, and the carrier's evolutions in the period between the war, to the carriers of the British, Japanese and U.S. fleets. Written by a renowned military historian, packed with thrilling accounts of daring missions, here is a unique look at one of the most effective weapons platforms in the world. Huge oversize book, very reasonably priced, every page in color,
160 pp.
$30.00
79. MIGHTY HOOD, INVINCIBLE BISMARCK
David Means, C,O
This book is a mixture of history and adventure and includes interviews with survivors of both ships. Illustrated throughout with state-of-the-art underwater photography of the wrecks, computer graphics, and sonar scans as well as archive paintings and photographs showing the dramatic battle, 120 photos
226 pp.
$20.00
80. USS NEW JERSEY: WWII TO THE PERSIAN GULF
Robert Dorr, S,O
The complete construction and combat history is accompanied by photos depicting its restoration and action in all conflicts, 40 color, 40 b/w photos,
128 pp.
$18.00
81. WARRIOR QUEENS: THE QUEEN MARY AND THE QUEEN ELIZABETH IN WWII
Daniel Butler, C,
recounts the histories of the two Queens during WWII along with the stories of the soldiers who served or sailed on them, illustrated with photos,
224 pp.
$27.00
82. WAVES OF HATE: NAVAL ATROCITIES OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR
Tony Bridgland, C,
Drawing on official and unofficial records, personal testimony, and
little-known, previously unpublished works, the author catalogs atrocities
perpetrated by all sides, the Allies as well as the Germans and Japanese. The
author describes in gripping detail the sinking of hospital ships and neutral
liners and the abandonment and gunning down of survivors. An additional
chilling reminder of the cost of total war is the horrific story of the
Japanese hellships. This book makes for compelling, if not uneasy reading,
June,
256 pp.
$33.00
 83. THE KELLYS: BRITISH "J", "K" AND "N" CLASS DESTROYERS OF WWII
Christopher Langtree, C,O,
This superbly illustrated book is the first comprehensive history of the
British J,K, and N class destroyers, 11 of the 23 of which were eventually
lost in battle. The author's full account of the destroyers' valiant service
history is balanced with in-depth coverage of the Kelly-class design,
construction, and armament. With line drawings by the well-known naval
draftsman John Lambert, full-color camouflage designs by naval historian and
illustrator John Roberts, and rare photographs, this work is a classic volume
that will be valued for years to come,
224 pp.
$47.00
84. BLUEJACKET ODYSSEY, 1942-1946: GUADALCANAL TO BIKINI, NAVAL ARMED GUARD IN THE PACIFIC
William McGee, S,
Combining interviews with shipmates, records from the National Archives, and exhaustive research, McGee has produced an engrossing books that
has the imitable mark of one that has been there. He tells an honest, factual story that takes the reader for a ride through the war zones on four merchant ships and the heavy cruiser Fall River. Also
includes a 30 page condensed summary of the invaluable global contributions of the U.S. Merchant Marine during WWII, by Vice Admiral E.S. Land, 250 photos.
546 pp.
$35.00
AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC IN WWII
85. volume 1 - THE AMPHIBIANS ARE COMING! EMERGENCE OF THE "GATOR NAVY" AND ITS REVOLUTIONARY LANDING CRAFT
William McGee, S,
this book is the first in a three volume series on amphibious operations in the South Pacific. This volume is a biographical history of the revolutionary WWII landing craft
and the brave men who manned them. McGee's exhaustive research, 100's of live interviews, and a point blank writing style combine to capture the very essence of the
amphibians assignments in WWII. 110 photos
308 pp.
$30.00
86. volume 2 - THE SOLOMONS CAMPAIGN: FROM GUADALCANAL TO BOUGAINVILLE
William McGee, S,
this volume covers the Solomon campaigns. Part 1 covers the bloody six-month struggle for Guadalcanal. Part 2 chronicles the amphibious operations in the New Georgia Islands group, including the five separate landings at Rendova, Segi Point, Viru Harbor, Wickham Anchorage, and Rice Anchorage. Part 3 recounts the seizure of the treasuries, the Chioseul Diversion, and the Bougainville campaign, 352 photos, 42 maps.
688 pp.
$40.00
87. RED SKY IN THE MORNING: THE BATTLE OF THE BARENTS SEA 1942
Michael Pearson, C,
The story of convoy JW51B that sailed in December 1942 with a small escort of 5 destroyers and a reserve of two light cruiser that shadowed the convoy at a distance of 70 miles. The convoy was attacked by a powerful German force that included the heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper, the pocket battleship Lutzbow, and six destroyers. In the ensuing battle the Royal Navy held off the German force and the convoy suffered no losses, 34 photos, 15 maps.
224 pp.
$25.00
88. COCKLESHELL COMMANDO: THE MEMOIRS OF BILL SPARKS
Bill Sparks, C,
One of only two survivors of the famous Cockleshell Hero raid, Spark's war and post-war career has never before been told in full. In this gripping book, he describes not only his part in Operation FRANKTON, the daring Gironde raid, and his escape back to Britain, but how he fought with the Greek Sacred Squadron
thereafter. Operating in small groups, they raided and liberated islands in the Aegean Sea, illustrated,
224 pp.
$33.00
89. NAVAL WEAPONS OF WWII
John Campbell, C,O,
Encyclopedic in scope and meticulously researched, this comprehensive, heavily illustrated single-volume reference is now back in print by popular demand. Listed by country, the book covers guns, mountings, torpedoes, mines, antisubmarine and aerial weapons, and the earliest naval missiles for all Allied and Axis nations and even minor power not directly involved in the war. Weapons of earlier vintage employed during the war and those in experimental stages in 1945 are also outlined. A summary of the economic and political factors affecting naval armament design and procurement introduces the national sections that provide detailed weapon descriptions, tabular specifications, design and performance history, number manufactured, and notations of which shops or aircraft carried the weapons. Some 500 photographs and line drawings accompany the text, its size, scope, and originality of presentation make Campbell's work a reference without equal,
416 pp.
$67.50
90. THE BATTLESHIP WARSPITE (ANATOMY OF THE SHIP SERIES, REVISED EDITION)
Ross Watton, C,O,
This new edition provides the most detailed description and illustrations of the Warspite available anywhere. A pictorial section contains numerous photographs with close-up and onboard views of ship equipment and spaces. Over 100 keyed drawings illustrate every detail of the ship, including hull construction machinery, superstructure, armament, boats and aircraft, and fittings. Information on appearance changes and interwar reconstruction is also included.
120 pp.
$40.00
91. UNDER THE RED DUSTER: THE MERCHANT NAVY IN WWII
William Lewis, C,
Details the massive contribution and sacrifices made by the men of the
British Merchant Marines and contains a collection of untold tales of some of
the most extraordinary incidents that occurred to the ships and men who kept
Britain's vital maritime lifeline open,
256 pp.
$29.00
92. RESURRECTION: SALVAGING THE BATTLE FLEET AT PEARL HARBOR
Daniel Madsen, C,O,
This book looks at the massive salvage effort that followed the attack on Pearl Harbor, beginning with the damage control efforts aboard the sinking and damaged ships in the harbor on December 7th and ending in March 1944 when salvage efforts on the USS Utah were finally abandoned. The author tells the story in a narrative style, moving from activity to activity as the days and months wore on, in what proved to be an incredibly difficult and complex endeavor, and also describes the Navy's dramatic race to clear the harbor and repair as many ships as possible so they could return to the fleet ready for war. Numerous photographs, many unpublished, give reader a real appreciation for the momentous task involved, from the raising of the USS Ogallala in 1942 and the USS Oklahoma in 1943 to the eventual dismantling of the above-water portions of the USS Arizona. Based almost entirely on primary sources including the records of the fleet salvage units and the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, 90
photographs.
264 pp.
$37.00
93. BITTER VICTORY: THE DEATH OF HMAS SYDNEY
Wesley Olson, S,
The author re-examines the case of the ship that never arrived back to port on its scheduled return after a routine escort mission. The author tries to answer the questions of why the Sydney sank, how did it disappear without a trace, and why there were no survivors. By examining every piece of evidence and carefully reconstructing the event through eye-witness accounts, Olson has produced both a compelling narrative and the most persuasive explanation yet for the mystery and tragedy of the HMAS Sydney.
436 pp.
$23.00
94. AT CLOSE QUARTERS: PT BOATS IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY
Robert Bulkey, S,
The author, a distinguished PT boat commander in the Pacific, compiled this history of PT-boat operations in WWII for the U.S. Navy shortly after V-J Day, when memories were fresh and records easily assessable. The book was first made available to the public in 1962 and has stood as the definitive book on the subject. Bulkey provides a wealth of facts about these motor torpedo boats, whose vast ranged of operation covered two oceans as well as the Mediterranean and the English Channel.
604 pp.
$22.00
95. RUSSIAN AND SOVIET BATTLESHIPS
Steven McLaughlin, C,O
There is the definitive English-language overview of Russian and Soviet battleships, from the ironclad Petr Velikii of 1869 to Stalin's final projects. Meticulously researched, this work describes and illustrates the design history, technical detail, characteristics and service history of the forty sea-gong battleships that served in the Russian and Soviet navies. Over 100 drawings of the ships and design studies are showcased, as well as over 100 photographs. The author analyzes all aspects of battleship design, from the policy decisions behind their construction to details of fire control and gunnery, and evaluates the strengths and weaknesses compared with their foreign contemporaries. In addition numerous projected battleships and conjectural studies are outlined. Large oversize book. July.
528 pp.
$90.00
96. U.S. DESTROYERS: AN ILLUSTRATED DESIGN HISTORY, REVISED EDITION
Norman Friedman
For two decades this book has been the standard reference. The revised edition includes the two eventful decades of designs since the Prance and Perry classes. The design evolution of the Arleigh Burke class, which has become the standard U.S. surface combatant, is described in detail for the first time. Friedman also describes the attempts to develop a follow-on class, beginning in the late 1980's and culminating in the current DD(X) program. Friedman provides fully detailed and illustrated descriptions of all classes of U.S. destroyers, from their torpedo boar forebears onward. Includes detailed ship profiles, section views that show internal arrangements, engineering plants, complete descriptions of antiaircraft and antisubmarine weapons systems and more. April.
504 pp.
$85.00
98. LONDON: WARSHIPS OF THE ROYAL NAVY
Ian Ballantyne, C,
A fascinating and lively account of these British warships named London. It is told form the perspective of the men who were onboard, including interviews with veterans of the grim Arctic convoys, the Yangtze incident, and warriors of the Cold War and Gulf War. The result is a thoroughly researched and exciting narrative that is illustrated throughout with photographs,
224 pp.
$33.00
99. THE ROAD TO RUSSIA: ARCTIC CONVOYS 192
Bernard Edwards, C,
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 of for naught as military and food supplies were destroyed by enemy attacks in Russian ports, March
202 pp.$33.00
 100. BATTLECRUISER HOOD (ANATOMY OF THE SHIP SERIES, REVISED EDITION)
John Roberts, C,O,
This book features 300 perspective and 3-view drawings of every detail of the ship general arrangements, hull construction, machinery, superstructure, rig, armament, fire control, fittings, boats and aircraft, with in-depth descriptive keys. Also a full description of the ship, including modifications and career history. There is also a pictorial section
emphasizing close-up and on-board photographs, and a large-scale plan (1/400 scale) on the reverse of the fold-out dustjacket.
130 pp.
$38.00
 101. THE BATTLESHIP DREADNOUGHT (ANATOMY OF THE SHIP SERIES, REVISED EDITION)
John Roberts, C,O,
This book features 650 perspective and 3-view drawings of every detail of the ship general arrangements, hull construction, machinery, superstructure, rig, armament, fire control, fittings, boats and aircraft, with in-depth descriptive keys. Also a full and detailed description of the ship, which analyses the genesis of the design and its contemporary significance and then examines her long career history including many modifications. There is also a pictorial section
emphasizing close-up and on-board photographs, and a large-scale plan (1/400 scale) on the reverse of the fold-out dustjacket.
258 pp.
$40.00
 102. SHIPS OF THE ROYAL NAVY: THE COMPLETE RECORD OF ALL FIGHTING SHIPS OF THE ROYAL NAVY FROM THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY TO THE PRESENT
J.J. Colledge, C,
Excellent reference that list every single fighting vessel that served in the Royal Navy providing key data for each vessel such as size, weight and brief summary of when the ship was in or out of service. Also provides the ship's eventual fate, whether sinking, destruction or being sold off.
368 pp.
$40.00
 103. THE CRUISER BELFAST (ANATOMY OF THE SHIP SERIES
Ross Watton, C,O,
This book features 300 perspective and 3-view drawings of every detail of the ship general arrangements, hull construction, machinery, superstructure, rig, armament, fire control, fittings, boats and aircraft, with in-depth descriptive keys. Also a full and detailed description of the ship and her weapons, including appearance changes and postwar reconstruction. There is also a pictorial section emphasizing close-up and on-board photographs, and a large-scale plan (1/400 scale) on the reverse of the fold-out dustjacket.
120 pp.
$37.00
104. WARBIRDS OF THE SEA: A HISTORY OF AIRCRAFT CARRIERS & CARRIER BASED AIRCRAFT,
Walter Musciano, C, O,
Covers the history, design development, and
combat career of aircraft carriers and shipboard aircraft from their
conception and into the future, also presents the personalities involved,
336 pp.
$50.00
105. HUNT AND KILL: U-505 AND THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC
Theordore Savas, C
One of WWII's pivotal events was the capture of U-505 on June 4, 1944. The top secret seizure of this massive Type IX submarine provided the Allies with priceless information on German technology and innovation. After the war U-505 was transported to Chicago, where today 1,000,000 visitors a year pass through her at the Museum of Science and Industry. Hunt and Kill offers the first definitive study of U-505. The chapters cover her construction, crew and commanders, combat history, general Type IX operations, naval intelligence, the eight fatal German mistakes that doomed the boat, and her capture, transportation, and restoration for posterity. June release.
288 pp.
$33.00
106.
BATTLECRUISER HMS HOOD: AN ILLUSTRATED BIOGRAPHY, 1916- 1941
Bruce Taylor, C,O,
Through the twilight years of the British Empire the battlecruiser HMS
Hood was the glory ship of the Royal Navy. Unmatched in size and beauty,
Hood defined English sea power from her keel-laying in 1916 to her
destruction at the hands of the Bismarck in 1941. This fascinating new
volume is a seminal work in the field of naval ship histories. Among its
eye-catching features is a unique gallery of photographs, including
still frames from a recently discovered piece of color film of the ship,
plus a spectacular set of computer-generated images of the ship's
exterior and interior. The comprehensive text draws on official
documents and the letters, diaries, memoirs, and reminiscences of more
than 150 crewmen. Additionally, a wealth of new information on Hood's
structure and operations make it important reading for everyone wanting
to understand the inner functioning of one of the great capital ships of
the past. 41 photos, 220 illustrations, 16 pages of color, including 2
large foldouts in full color showing colors etc.
256 pp.
$75.00
 107. D-DAY SHIPS: THE ALLIED INVASTION FLEET, JUNE 1944
Yves Buffetaut, C,O,
Published to coincide with the sixtieth anniversary of the landings at Normandy, this reprint of a classic work offers a superb appraisal of the Allies' naval contribution to the largest amphibious operation in history. The author examines the ships, strategic and tactical planning, the channel voyage, landings on both American and British beaches, the Mulberry Harbours, the great storm, and looks at the invasion from the perspective of amphibious operations throughout World War II. With the huge range of craft detailed and supporting plans and action photographs, this reprint is the best available account of Operation Overlord. 164 pages. 140 illustrations.
164 pp.
$40.00
 108. BLOOD IN THE SEA: HMS DUNEDIN AND THE ENIGMA CODE
Stuart Gill, C,
Over 300 men died when the light cruiser Dunedin went down in the South Atlantic, victim of two torpedoes fired from the German submarine U124. For the 250 or so who managed to escape the ship, the next seventy eight hours were to be a nightmare of torture and slow death. Some men died of their injuries, some died of exhaustion, some went insane, others were drowned, some were bitten and killed by vicious fish. Only six Carley rafts were left afloat when rescue arrived in the form of an American merchantman, who lifted 72 men to safety: five died before they made it to port. This moving, intensively researched book is an account of life and death at sea, and tells also the story of how the Dunedin came to be where she was, looking for a U boat wolf pack as a result of information received from the Enigma codebreakers in Bletchley Park. Amazingly, the story of the Dunedin has never been told before in any detail. This book has it all. Fantastic price on the book has it has a cover price of 20 pounds.
256 pp.
$20.00
 109. WAR IN THE MEDITERRANEAN 1940-1943
Bernard Ireland, C,
An acknowledged expert on World War II naval matters and the author of twenty-five books, Bernard Ireland examines the thousand-day battle between Allied and Axis forces for domination of the North African shores. His book offers graphic accounts of the stirring action as each side, realizing the consequences of defeat, struggled to control the Mediterranean and maintain their seaborne supply chain. Ireland brings fresh clarity to the complexities and factors at play during this critical period of the war. 224 pages. 16 illustrations.
224 pp.
$35.00
111. CHARIOTS OF WAR: THE HISTORY OF THE HUMAN TORPEDO
Robert W. Hobson Jr., C,O,
The full story of both Italian & British Human Torpedoes. Much has been written about the underwater endeavours of the Allied and Axis navies of WWll, how ever one area of underwater naval warfare has never been properly researched until now. The story of the Human Torpedo or Chariot as it was more affectionately termed is at last available. This book details in great depth the story of both Italian and British Human Torpedoes. including the quest to find suitable diving suits, the various types of Chariots and detailed accounts of the actions against shipping by both the Italians and British. The author's father, Robert Hobson, who died in 1990 aged 72 believed he was taking many war secrets with him to the grave. The most remarkable being he was one of only a handful of British men to have ridden astride a torpedo! Having signed the Official Secrets Act, he was obliged not to tell his family his adventures, and it was only when his son and author of this book explored the loft in the family house in Petts Wood and found confidential papers that his exploits came to light. Since the discovery, the author has made it his mission to track down his father's comrades and find out more about the 32ft-long human torpedoes. His search has taken him far and wide, and has culminated in his book Chariots Of War. 215 photos/documents.
120 pp.
$50.00
 112. FLOWER CLASS CORVETTE AGASSIZ (ANATOMY OF THE SHIP)
John McKay, C,O,
The Flower class corvette was one of the most famous and numerous of all escort vessels, and the corvette Agassiz is the most representative of the Canadian Flowers, which were thrown into the thick of the bitter Atlantic convoy battles of 1941–2. Derived from a whalecatcher hull design, and intended as a cheap coastal escort that could be built by non-specialist yards, the Flowers were the only class available in large numbers when the submarine war flared up in earnest in 1941. As a result they were used on rigorous ocean convoy duties for which they were barely adequate, and their crews suffered greatly in one of the harshest arenas of the second world war. This is a superb description of the ship and her career. The ‘Anatomy of the Ship’ series aims to provide the finest documentation of individual ships and ship types ever published. What makes the series unique is a complete set of superbly executed line drawings, both the conventional type of plan as well as explanatory views, with fully descriptive keys. These are supported by technical details and a record of the ship’s service history
160 pp.
$37.00
 113. WITH UTMOST SPIRIT: ALLIED NAVAL OPERATIONS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN, 1942-1942
B. Brooks Tomblin, C,
This book takes a fresh look at this crucial naval theater of the Second World War. Tomblin tells of the U.S. Navy’s and the Royal Navy’s struggles to wrest control of the Mediterranean Sea from Axis submarines and aircraft, to lift the siege of Malta, and to open a through convoy route to Suez while providing ships, carrier air support, and landing craft for five successful amphibious operations.
Examining official action reports, diaries, interviews, and oral histories, Tomblin describes each of these operations in terms of ship to shore movements, air and naval gunfire support, logistics, countermine measures, antisubmarine warfare, and the establishment of ports and training bases in the Mediterranean. Firsthand accounts from the young officers and men who manned the ships provide essential details about Mediterranean operations and draw a vivid picture of the war at sea and off the beaches.
616 pp.
$40.00
114. ALLIED COASTAL FORCES OF WWII, 2 VOLS.
VOLUME 1: FAIRMILE DESIGNS AND U.S. SUBMARINE CHASERS
John Lambert, C,O,
The first volume for this established series detailing all the designs for Motor Torpedo Boats, Motor Gun Boats and Motor Launches that served the Allied Forces in the period 1939-45 is to examine the remaining designs and their weapons. Volume II looks at Vesper MTB designs, and the US Elcos with their weapon systems while Volume III examines in depth the remaining types designed and built on both sides of the Atlantic.
Volume I covers all the designs of the British Fairmile Marine Company (including those craft built and equipped in Canada), together with the 72ft Admiralty Harbour Defense Motor Launch designs and the US Navy’s 110 ft submarine chaser. Design, construction, equipment and subsequent development are all covered, and builders, construction lists, fates and technical data are given for each type. Separate sections deal with Coastal Forces armament and equipment in full, and appendices include further technical detail, production data, provisioning and typical service records. John Lambert is the author of a number of books for Conway Maritime Press including Allied Coastal Forces, volume 2 and the forthcoming volume 3, and The Submarine Alliance in the ‘Anatomy of the Ship’ series. 700 line drawings, 250 photos
256 pp.
$60.0
 115.
FAIRMILE D MOTOR TORPEDO BOAT (Anatomy of the Ship Series)
John Lambert, C,O,
The Fairmile Type D torpedo/gun boat was the most heavily armed coastal vessel regularly employed by Allied forces in World War II. With a top speed of 31 knots and an 80-ton displacement, the boat was a potent force in protecting littoral waterways and was tasked with performing anti-submarine and mine warfare operations. This heavily illustrated volume covers the development, armament, and specifications of the Type D as well as all of the principle design variations, including long-range air-sea rescue craft. First published in 1985 and back by popular demand, this reprint contains a new fold-out large-scale plan of the Fairmile on the reverse of the book jacket. 324 photos/line drawings
120 pp.
$45.00
 116.THE ROYAL NAVY HANDBOOK 1939 - 1945
David Wragg, C,O-
Overstretched from the start of the Second World War in 1939, the Royal Navy acquired First World War surplus destroyers from the United States Navy and embarked on a massive programme of construction, building and buying aircraft carriers, escort carriers and frigates and corvettes, building up a powerful submarine arm and, almost from scratch, re-creating the naval air arm taken from it in 1918. The service had to learn fast. It soon became clear that the Germans would not provide an opportunity for a major battleship to battleship fleet action along the lines of Jutland, but that submarine warfare and surface raiders were to be just as effective at undermining the British war effort. The Royal Navy was expected to be active in the North Atlantic and in British waters, and then after the Soviet Union was invaded by Germany, it had to protect the Arctic convoys. Meanwhile, it also had to keep control of the Mediterranean, alone after the fall of France, supporting ground forces in North Africa and then in Greece, send convoys to Malta and disrupt the Axis supply lines both in the Mediterranean and off the coast of Norway, and then it had to face the Japanese in the Far East. By the war’s end the Royal Navy had grown from its pre-war strength of 129,000 to 863,000 men. Its fleet had also grown from 12 to 61 battleships and cruisers, seven to 59 aircraft carriers, and 100 to 846 destroyers, by 1945.
320 pp.
$45.00
 117. SACRIFICE FOR STALIN: THE COST AND VALUE OF THE ARCTIC CONVOYS RE-ASSESSED
David Wragg, C,
Operation BARBAROSSA, the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, was a turning point second only to Pearl Harbor. Russia became an ally overnight but a most difficult, dangerous and demanding one. Stalin desperately needed oil, equipment and modern technology but the only practical route was round the North Cape to the ports of Archangel and Murmansk. The dual enemies of the vulnerable merchantmen were the German naval and air forces and the weather.While no-one questioned that the Russians needed assistance, the author finds evidence that the supplies that did get through the gauntlet, at great cost, were all too often not put to good use. Elsewhere the Allies were having to make do with old and insufficient equipment, such as aircraft. He finds that little mention is made of the impact of British and American weapons and material by Soviet reports. Yet at the same time there is evidence that Allied supplies may have made it possible for the Soviets to occupy central and Eastern Europe and so dominate those countries for half a century of the Cold War.
224 pp.
$40.00
 118. DEPTH CHARGE: ROYAL NAVAL MARINES, DEPTH CHARGES & UNDERWATER WEAPONS 1914 - 1945
Chris Henry, C,
The history of weapons and warfare is usually written from the point of view of the battles fought and the tactics used. In naval warfare, in particular, the story of how these weapons were invented, designed and supplied is seldom told. Chris Henry, in this pioneering study, sets the record straight. He describes how, to counter the extraordinary threat posed by the U-boats in the world wars, the Royal Navy responded with weapons that kept open the vital supply routes of the Atlantic Ocean.He also celebrates the remarkable achievements of the engineers and inventors whose inspired work was essential to Britain's survival.
208 pp.
$45.00
 119. U.S. NAVY AGAINST THE AXIS: SURFACE COMBAT, 1941 - 1945
Vincent O'Hara, C,
The U.S. Navy Against the Axis recounts the dramatic story of the U.S. Navy’s surface fleet in World War II—especially its ship-to-ship combat. Renowned naval historian Vincent O’Hara refutes the widely held notion that the attack on Pearl Harbor rendered surface warfare obsolete and that naval aviation and submarines dominated the Pacific War. Indeed, he demonstrates that the battleships, cruisers, and destroyers of the fleet made major contributions to America’s victory by playing a decisive role at critical junctures. He also documents the performance of weapon systems, shows how doctrine developed, and examines the role played by new technologies.
384 pp.
$37.00
 120. WAR OF THE U-BOATS: BRITISH MERCHANTMEN UNDER FIRE
Bernard Edwards, C,
From the earliest days of the Second World War, Hitler’s U-Boats were unleashed with the mission of sinking as much Allied merchant tonnage as possible. From the sinking of the Glasgow-based ship Olivegrove by U-23, to the end of hostilities six years later officers and seamen of the Merchant Marine played a key role in winning the war by their blatant disregard of the risks from Axis forces. The most dangerous were the U-Boats working unseen but there were also surface raiders and aircraft. All too often the result was the loss of ship, cargo and, tragically, crew. But as described in this excellent book great gallantry against overwhelming odds brought rewards and surprising results. We learn of acts of both chivalry and brutal activity by the enemy. The actions described in this book are varied but always make for excellent reading.
224 pp.
$40.00
 121.
NAVAL WARFARE IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL 1939 – 1945
Peter C. Smith, C,
From the year 1066 the English Channel has provided Great Britain with a natural
defensive barrier, but never more than in the early days of World War Two. This
book relates how the Royal Navy defended that vital seaway throughout the war.
From the early days of the Dover Patrols, through the traumas of the Dunkirk
evacuation, the battles of the Channel convoys; the war against the E-boats and
U-boats; the tragic raids at Dieppe and St Nazaire; the escape of the German
battle-fleet; coastal convoys; the Normandy landings and the final liberation of
the Channel Islands. Many wartime photographs, charts and tables add to this
superb account of this bitterly contested narrow sea. 35 b/w photos
256 pp.
$40.00
122.
ATLANTIC ESCORTS: SHIPS, WEAPONS AND TACTICS IN WWII
David K. Brown, C,O
A warship designer and well-known author of a quartet of books on British
warships, David K. Brown takes a detailed look at the Allied ships, weapons, and
tactics that won the submarine war in the Atlantic in this handsomely
illustrated book. Beginning with the lessons learned from World War I, the
author outlines inter-war developments in technology and training and describes
preparations for World War II. He then examines the balance of advantage as it
see-sawed between U-boats and escorts when new weapons and sensors were
introduced at a rapid rate. For defending navies, the prime requirement was
numbers, and Brown explains that the most pressing problem was to improve
capability without sacrificing simplicity and speed of construction. The
author’s analyses of the resulting designs of sloops, frigates, corvettes, and
destroyer escorts, and his determination of their relative effectiveness, offer
insights new even to those well versed on the subject of anti-submarine warfare
during the Atlantic War, a campaign that Winston Churchill famously claimed was
the only one that really frightened him. 200 photos.
176 pp.
$50.00
 123.
DIESELS FOR THE FIRST STEALTH WEAPON: SUBMARINE POWER 1902 - 1945
Lyle Cummins, C,O,
A comprehensive and profusely illustrated history of the world's submarine
diesels from origins to peak of perfection in World War II. It tells of their
designers, builders and the dedicated submariners caring for these always state
of the art engines in their demanding roles. Illustrated with photos and
technical drawings, . For $55 this book is a steal.
756 pp.
$55.00*
 124.
BIG GUN MONITORS: DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATIONS,1914-1945
Ian Buxton, C,O
Little more than huge gun mountings fitted on simple, self-propelled rafts, the
Royal Navy's big gun monitors were designed and built rapidly to fulfill an
urgent need for heavy shore bombardment during World War I. They were largely
forgotten when this short-lived requirement was over until Buxton produced the
first edition of this book in 1978. Now completely revised, expanded, and
redesigned to a larger format, the book provides a top-notch technical and
operational history, supported by more than 200 illustrations of the ship. A
final class, built in World War II, along with new material on the heavier
monitors, is included in this revised and expanded edition of a classic work,
165 photos, 60 line drawings.
225 pp.
$85.00
 125.
SUMNER-GEARING-CLASS DESTROYERS: THEIR DESIGN, WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT
Robert F. Sumrall
In this handsomely illustrated work, the well-known ship expert Robert Sumrall
traces the origins of the U.S. Navy's Sumner-Gearing-class destroyers through
half a century of changing naval technology. He shows the great advances made in
ordnance, fire control, and steam engineering in a destroyer class that served
as a standard for post-World War II destroyer design and development. Long out
of print, this classic work once again is available to ship enthusiasts. Nearly
three hundred illustrations, many in color, enhance the authoritative text. 228
photos, 45 line drawings, 5 color photos.
304 pp.
$65.00
 127.
CARRIER OPERATIONS IN WORLD WAR II
J D Brown, C,O
The Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm grew from a small force into a powerful strategic
weapon during World War II, with British carrier-based aircraft fighting
throughout the world. This complete history describes their activities in the
Home, Mediterranean, Eastern, and British Pacific Fleets, together with forces
created for specific operations, and lists aircraft and units embarked during
the various phases. The author also covers carrier operations in the Pacific
between 1941 and 1945, noting that both the U.S. Navy and Imperial Japanese Navy
watched the Royal Navy's early carrier operations in the European Theatre and
benefited from the lessons. This work combines material from two earlier studies
by J. D. Brown and adds information the author was compiling for a third volume
at the time of his death. 250 photos,
320 pp.
$73.00
 128. FORGOTTEN
WEAPON: U.S. NAVY AIRSHIPS AND THE U-BOAT WAR
William Althoff, C,O,
Airships played an important but overlooked role in World War II, and with this
study their contributions to antisubmarine warfare are examined in depth for the
first time. Aviation historian William F. Althoff takes a close look at the U.S.
naval airship's admirable wartime record. In analyzing its development and use,
he credits the collaboration between the naval aviators and scientists from such
government-sponsored institutions as the National Defense Research Committee (NDRC)
for the urgent evolution of the modern anti-submarine airship. He explains key
NDRC projects that exploited lighter-than-air platforms for airborne tests and
special devices and that were hurried into production in the race against the
Germans to gain a technological advantage in the Battle of the Atlantic. These
efforts, he argues, helped turn the tide against the U-boat menace and saved
countless lives, ships, and cargoes. 150 photos,
432 pp.
$50.00
 129.
FRENCH BATTLESHIPS 1922 - 1956
John Jordan, C,O.
The French battleships of the Dunkerque and Richelieu classes were the most
radical and influential battleship designs of the interwar period, and were
coveted by the British, German and Italian navies following the Armistice of
June 1940. Using a wealth of primary-source material, some of which has only
recently been made available, the authors provide a full account of their
development and a detailed analysis of their design characteristics. The
technical chapters are interspersed with operational histories, with a
particular focus on the operations in which the ships engaged other heavy units.
The book is extensively illustrated with hundreds of photographs and technical
drawings, including twenty-two color profile and plan views of the ships. 180
pages,
224 pp.
$75.00
 130.
BRITISH DESTROYERS: FROM EARLIEST DAYS TO THE SECOND WORLD WAR
Norman Friedman, C,O,
Noted historian Norman Friedman provides the first detailed study of the Royal
Navy's destroyer from its predecessors from the 1880s to the 1930s, and its use
in both World Wars. He shows how the Royal Navy developed the torpedo and its
surface carrier—the destroyer—as both an offensive and defensive naval weapon.
Friedman also discusses the influence the British exerted on foreign navies,
including the American and Japanese fleets, destroyer design and tactics, and
the British use of U.S.-supplied destroyers during World War II. The book is
profusely illustrated with hundreds of photographs and drawings by A.D. Baker
III and Alan Raven. 75 line art, 220 photographs,
320 pp.
$85.00
 131.
ASSAULT LANDING CRAFT: DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATIONS
Brian Lavery, C-,O
The landing craft assault or LCA was one of the unsung heroes of the Second
World War. It took part in practically every amphibious operation from Norway to
Normandy and landed around 400,000 men in action conditions, plus many more in
training. It was the only serviceable British landing craft at the beginning of
the War, and it remained in service until the Suez operation of 1956. It landed
the first waves of infantry on the British and Canadian beaches in Normandy in
1944, and Americans on the notorious Omaha Beach. Its far-sighted design of 1938
remains the basis for the landing craft of today. This is the first book devoted
to this humble but essential craft. It examines its design history before the
War, when amphibious operations were deeply unfashionable. It describes its
design and construction with plans that will be useful to modelers and wargamers.
It includes information on the role of the crew and the techniques and tactics
used in landings. It gives an account of the larger ships which carried it and
the life of the sailors and soldiers who traveled in it, with many vivid
personal accounts. Finally, it describes its role in the many operations in
which it took part, including withdrawals such as Dunkirk and the catastrophic
Dieppe raid of 1942. 75 b/w photographs
120 pp.
$40.00
ALastName, FirstInitial. Year. Title of
publication. City, State: Publisher.
BLastName, FirstInitial. Year. Title of
publication. City, State: Publisher.
CLastName, FirstInitial. Year. Title of
publication. City, State: Publisher.
Revised:
January 27, 2010
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