British Battleships 1939–45 (1)

Queen Elizabeth and Royal Sovereign Classes

British Battleships 1939–45 (1) cover

Description

With the outbreak of World War II, Britain's Royal Navy and her fleet of battleships would be at the forefront of her defence. Yet from a fleet of 12 battleships, ten were already over 20 years old, venerable veterans of World War I. Extensive modifications throughout the 1930s allowed these ships to perform a vital service throughout the six long years of conflict, and further improvements made during the course of the war enabled them to hold their own against their German and Italian counterparts. This title offers a comprehensive review of the development of these British battleships from their initial commissioning to their peacetime modifications and wartime service. Detailed descriptions of the main armament of each ship will offer further analysis of individual battleships' effectiveness, discussing how the guns were manned when engaging the enemy. Describing HMS Warspite during the battle of Matapan in 1941, the author details how this British battleship, together with other Royal Navy and Australian vessels, defeated the might of the Italian navy so that they never again threatened Allied fleets within the Mediterranean. With specially commissioned artwork and a dramatic retelling of key battleship engagements, this book will highlight what it was like on board for the sailors who risked their lives on the high seas.

Table of Contents

· Introduction: Background to the subject, covering the changing role of battleships between 1918 and 1945 · Design and development: Covers the chronological development of these battleships, covering modifications made during their lives · Operational history: Follows the service history of each of the ten battleships covered in each volume, including a brief description of the actions they participated in · Armament: This section describes the main armament of the ships, demonstrates their effectiveness, and discusses the way in which the guns were operated · Battleships in action: A detailed and dramatic account of HMS Warspite at the Battle of Matapan (1941) · Bibliography

Product details

Published Apr 21 2009
Format Paperback
Edition 1st
Extent 48
ISBN 9781846033889
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 7 col
Dimensions 10 x 7 inches
Series New Vanguard
Short code NVG 154
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Angus Konstam

Angus Konstam is a Fellow of the Royal Historical…

Illustrator

Tony Bryan

Illustrator

Paul Wright

Paul Wright has painted ships of all kinds for mos…

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