Download or read book Commonwealth Cruisers 1939 45 written by Angus Konstam and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2015-10-20 with total page 52 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the early 20th century Britain's largest colonies established their own small naval presence, and their ships fought alongside the Royal Navy during World War I. These fleets were expanded during the inter-war years, and in 1939 the Royal Australian Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy willingly joined the fight on behalf of the British Commonwealth. For the most part these small navies consisted of a few cruisers and destroyers, designed to protect territorial waters and local sea lanes. However, these warships and their crews soon found themselves involved in a global war, and consequently were called upon to fight wherever they were needed, against the Germans, the Italians and the Japanese. This book tells the story of these small cruiser forces, and the men who served the Allied cause so well during the long and brutal war at sea.
Download or read book Commonwealth Cruisers 1939 45 written by Angus Konstam and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2015-10-20 with total page 109 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the early 20th century Britain's largest colonies established their own small naval presence, and their ships fought alongside the Royal Navy during World War I. These fleets were expanded during the inter-war years, and in 1939 the Royal Australian Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy willingly joined the fight on behalf of the British Commonwealth. For the most part these small navies consisted of a few cruisers and destroyers, designed to protect territorial waters and local sea lanes. However, these warships and their crews soon found themselves involved in a global war, and consequently were called upon to fight wherever they were needed, against the Germans, the Italians and the Japanese. This book tells the story of these small cruiser forces, and the men who served the Allied cause so well during the long and brutal war at sea.
Download or read book British Commonwealth Cruiser vs Italian Cruiser written by Angus Konstam and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2022-09-15 with total page 100 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This illustrated history explores the cruiser forces of the Italian and British Royal navies, the jack-of-all trades warships of the Mediterranean Naval War. In 1940, when Italy entered World War II, the Royal Navy was badly overstretched, and its Mediterranean Fleet had to face both the Italian Navy and the German and Italian Air Forces in a battle for supremacy. Although the British and Italian battle fleets squared off against each other, they were both often held in reserve, in case the enemy fleet put to sea. So, it was left to the cruisers to wage their own naval war in the Mediterranean. This involved a range of missions, from escorting convoys and hunting enemy ones, to fighting for control of the sea around key locations such as the waters off Malta and Crete. This superbly illustrated study, written by renowned naval expert Angus Konstam, compares and contrasts the design, weapon technologies and combat performance of the opposing cruiser forces. It also documents several major clashes between British, Commonwealth and Italian cruisers, including spirited actions fought off Cape Spada in 1940, a string of actions in the Gulf of Sirte throughout 1941, battles against Axis convoys in 1941–42, and the Battle of Pantelleria in 1942. Among the subjects of the specially commissioned colour artworks are HMAS Sydney, HMS Naiad, RM Trento and RM Raimondo Montecuccoli.
Download or read book Cruisers in Action 1939 1945 written by Peter Charles Smith and published by . This book was released on 1981 with total page 342 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Java Sea 1942 written by Mark Stille and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2019-11-28 with total page 97 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The battle of the Java Sea, fought in February 1942, was the first major surface engagement of the Pacific War and one of the few naval battles of the entire war fought to a decisive victory. It was the culminating point of the Japanese drive to occupy the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) and, to defend the territory, the Allies assembled a striking force comprised of Dutch, American, British and even an Australian ship, all under the command of a resolute Dutch admiral. On 27 February 1942, the Allied striking force set course to intercept the Japanese invasion force in the Java Sea. In one of the few such times during the whole of World War II a protracted surface engagement was fought unmolested by airpower. For over seven hours, the Allied force attempted to attack the Japanese invasion force, finally breaking off in the early evening. Some three hours later, the Allied force, now reduced to just four remaining cruisers and two destroyers, attempted another attack on the invasion convoy during which Japanese torpedoes scored heavily, sinking two Dutch cruisers and bringing the battle to a conclusion. Over the next two days, as the Allies attempted to flee, five more ships were sunk. From that point on, Allied naval power was eliminated from Southeast Asia. In this illustrated title, Mark Stille tells the full story of the battle of the Java Sea, explaining how and why the Japanese achieved such a resounding victory, and delving into the tremendous impact of the battle on the course of the Pacific War.
Download or read book The War at Sea 1939 1945 written by Stephen Wentworth Roskill and published by . This book was released on 1961 with total page 634 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book British Cruiser Warfare The Lessons of the Early War 1939 1941 written by Alan Raven and published by Seaforth Publishing. This book was released on 2019-02-28 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cruisers were the Navy's maids-of-all-work employed in a greater variety of roles than any other warship type. Smaller faster and far more numerous than battleships they could be risked in situations where capital ships were too vulnerable while still providing heavy gunfire support for smaller ships or anti-aircraft cover for the fleet. As such they were in the frontline of the naval war from the outset - and from its first days the fighting provided unexpected challenges and some very unpleasant surprises not least the efficacy of air power. Cruisers learned to deal with these new realities in the Norway campaign and later in the Mediterranean partly through the introduction of new technology - notably radar - but also by codifying the hard-won experience of those involved. This highly original book analyses the first years of the war when the sharpest lessons were learned initially describing every action and its results and then summarising in individual chapters the conclusions that could be drawn for the many aspects of a cruiser's duties. These include the main roles like surface gunnery shore bombardment anti-aircraft tactics and fighter direction but also encompass technology like radar asdic and shipborne aircraft and even tackle more human issues such as shipboard organization damage control the impact of weather and the morale factor. It also attempts to evaluate the importance of electronic warfare intelligence and code-breaking and concludes with a comparison between the performance of British cruisers and their Italian and German opponents. Thought-provoking and sometimes controversial this is a book that should be read by everyone interested in World War II at se
Download or read book British Cruisers written by Norman Friedman and published by Seaforth Publishing. This book was released on 2011-01-24 with total page 433 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For most of the twentieth century Britain possessed both the worlds largest merchant fleet and its most extensive overseas territories. It is not surprising, therefore, that the Royal Navy always showed a particular interest in the cruiser a multi-purpose warship needed in large numbers to defend trade routes and police the empire. Above all other types, the cruisers competing demands of quality and quantity placed a heavy burden on designers, and for most of the inter-war years Britain sought to square this circle through international treaties restricting both size and numbers. In the process she virtually invented the heavy cruiser and inspired the large 6in-armed cruiser, neither of which, ironically, served her best interests. For the first time this book seeks to comprehend the full policy background, from which a different and entirely original picture emerges of British cruiser development. After the war the cruisers role was reconsidered and the final chapters of the book cover modernisations, the plans for missile-armed ships and the convoluted process that turned the through-deck cruiser into the Invincible class light carriers. With detailed appendices of ship data, and illustrated in depth with photos and A D Bakers specially commissioned plans, British Cruisers truly matches the lofty standards set by Friedmans previous books on British destroyers.
Download or read book Brassey s Naval Annual written by and published by . This book was released on 1953 with total page 612 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Cape Matapan 1941 written by Angus Konstam and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2023-12-21 with total page 168 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The first ever illustrated study of the largest and most significant clash between the Royal Navy and the Italian Regia Marina. The Battle of Matapan witnessed the first use of decisive new technologies to bring about a stunning British victory over the Italian Navy. The Allies had tapped into the Ultra coded messages sent by the Axis powers, and the battle witnessed the use of radar and carrier-based air strikes to bring about a critical night action. The result was the most decisive engagement of the Mediterranean naval war. Written by renowned naval historian Angus Konstam, this book offers for the first time a unique and fully illustrated exploration of the battle. It also examines why, despite the emphatic and decisive Royal Navy victory, the Allies failed to capitalize on the strategic advantage earned in the months that followed. Battlescene artworks bring to life the cruiser clashes early on 28 March off Gavdos, the Fleet Air Arm attacks on the Italian fleet, and the 28/29 March night action that resulted in the destruction of Admiral Carlo Cattaneo's ships – Italy's worst naval defeat. The progress of the action from the initial Operation Gaudo sweep by Italy's powerful battle fleet towards Crete (aimed at disrupting Allied convoys) to the events of the climactic battle itself is revealed in detailed maps.
Download or read book Forgotten War written by Brian E. Walter and published by Casemate. This book was released on 2023-12-31 with total page 337 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A new assessment of the British and Commonwealth contribution to the defeat of Japan in the Pacific. The monumental struggle fought against Imperial Japan in the Asia/Pacific theater during World War II is primarily viewed as an American affair. While the United States did play a dominant role, the British and Commonwealth forces also made major contributions—on land, at sea and in the air, eventually involving over a million men and vast armadas of ships and aircraft. It was a difficult and often desperate conflict fought against a skilled and ruthless enemy that initially saw the British suffer the worst series of defeats ever to befall their armed forces. Still, the British persevered and slowly turned the tables on their Japanese antagonists. Fighting over an immense area that stretched from India in the west to the Solomon Islands in the east and Australia in the south to the waters off Japan in the north, British and Commonwealth forces eventually scored a string of stirring victories that avenged their earlier defeats and helped facilitate the demise of the Japanese Empire. Often overlooked by history, this substantial war effort is fully explored in Forgotten War. Meticulously researched, the book provides a complete, balanced and detailed account of the role that British and Commonwealth forces played on land, sea and in the air during this crucial struggle. It also provides unique analysis regarding the effectiveness and relevance of this collective effort and the contributions it made to the overall Allied victory.
Download or read book The Longest Campaign written by Brian Walter and published by Casemate. This book was released on 2020-04-30 with total page 353 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The award-winning historian’s acclaimed account of British sea power throughout WWII: “a must-read for anyone interested in Naval warfare” (PowerShips magazine). For four centuries the British realm depended on sea power to defend itself against a myriad of threats. The Royal Navy established itself as the “Sovereign of the Seas,” helping transform a small island nation into the center of a global empire. But Britain’s maritime services faced an unprecedented challenge during World War II, and the survival of the nation was at stake. The Longest Campaign tells the epic story of British sea power in the Second World War. It is a comprehensive and detailed account of the activities, results, and relevance of Britain’s maritime effort in the Atlantic and off northwest Europe. Military historian Brian Walter looks at the entire breadth of the maritime conflict, exploring the contribution of the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, and British merchant marines, as well as their Commonwealth equivalents. Walter puts the maritime conflict in the context of the overall war effort and shows how the various operations and campaigns were intertwined. Finally, he provides unique analysis of the effectiveness of the British maritime effort and role it played in Allied victory.
Download or read book Churchill s Navy written by Brian Lavery and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2016-06-02 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this remarkable book, now reissued in paperback, Brian Lavery examines every aspect of the Royal Navy, both ashore and at sea, during the Second World War, and casts a lucid eye over the strengths and weaknesses of an organisation that was put under acute strain during the period, yet rose to the challenge with initiative and determination. Divided into twelve sections, the book delves into the structure of naval power from the Board of Admiralty and shore commands to officers and crews, their recruitment and training, daily life and discipline. The roles of the Reserves, Merchant Navy, Royal Marines and Wrens within this structure are also explained. Developments in ship design and technology, as well as advances in intelligence, sensors and armament are all discussed and set in context. The different divisions are dealt with one by one, including the Submarine Service, Fleet Air Arm, Coastal Forces, and Combined Operations. The text is complemented by over 300 illustrations and the personal accounts of those who served.
Download or read book The Big Book of Gun Trivia written by Gordon L. Rottman and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2013-10-20 with total page 406 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Everything you want to know, don't want to know, and don't know you need to know about weapons. A complete guide to weapons history, facts, myths and trivia, Gordon Rottman offers a step by step guide through interesting weapon facts and statistics, including a section on ammunition, while breaking apart popular myths and misconceptions. Covering subjects from weapons designations to the longest serving military rifles, where rifles get their names from and everything in between, Osprey is proud to present The Big Book of Gun Trivia.
Download or read book The Structure and Capacity of Australian Manufacturing Industries written by Australia. Division of Industrial Development and published by . This book was released on 1952 with total page 544 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Commonwealth Rescue Boats of World War Two written by Geoffrey D. Pilborough and published by . This book was released on 1995 with total page 48 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book British Town Class Cruisers written by Conrad Waters and published by Seaforth Publishing. This book was released on 2019-11-18 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Entering service between 1937 and 1939, the ten British ‘Town’ class cruisers were the most modern vessels of their type in the Royal Navy when the Second World War began. Built in response to large 6-inch gunned cruisers in the US and Japanese Navies and primarily designed for the defence of trade, they saw arduous service in a wide range of roles, playing a decisive part in victories such as the Battle of the Barents Sea and the destruction of the German Scharnhorst at the North Cape. The cost was heavy: four of the ships were lost and the other six all survived heavy damage, in some cases on more than one occasion. In this major study, Conrad Waters makes extensive use of archive material to provide a technical evaluation of the ‘Town’ class design and its subsequent performance. He outlines the class’s origins in the context of inter-war cruiser policy, explains the design and construction process, and describes the characteristics of the resulting ships and how these were adapted in the light of wartime developments. An overview of service focuses on major engagements, assessing the extent to which the class met its designers’ expectations and detailing the consequences of action damage. Concluding chapters continue the story into the Cold War era, examining the modernisation programme that kept the remaining ships fit for service during the 1950s. Heavily illustrated with contemporary photographs and drawings by A D Baker III, John Jordan and George Richardson, British Town Class Cruisers provides a definitive reference to one of the Royal Navy’s most important Second World War warship designs.
