{"title":"Naval \u0026 Military History Books","description":"\u003cp\u003eNaval warfare has shaped world history from Trafalgar to the Falklands. This collection covers sea battles, naval strategy, warship design and the experiences of those who served at sea. The Second World War is well represented, with titles on the Battle of the Atlantic, Arctic convoys, the Pacific theatre, U-boat warfare and the D-Day naval operations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeyond WW2, you will find books on the Falklands conflict, naval intelligence, the Crimean War and individual warship classes. The Seaforth World Naval Review is stocked annually for those who follow modern naval developments.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"churchill-s-secret-chart-makers","title":"Churchill’s Secret Chart Makers","description":"\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:301\"\u003eDive into the fascinating hidden history of World War Two with \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurchill's Secret Chart Makers\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e. This captivating book reveals the unsung heroes of the Hydrographic Department, the tireless individuals who provided the vital charts and navigational tools that guided the Allied forces to victory.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:311\"\u003eAuthor Dr Adrian Webb, a local historian, uncovers the remarkable story of these \"secret chart makers\" based in Taunton and Bath. Working in complete secrecy, they produced a staggering number of charts – almost seven million in 1944 alone! – ensuring that Allied vessels could navigate safely and effectively.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"7:1-7:51\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHere's what you'll discover within these pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-sourcepos=\"9:1-12:0\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-sourcepos=\"9:1-9:139\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe crucial role of the Hydrographic Department:\u003c\/strong\u003e Learn how their work was essential to the success of D-Day and other key operations.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-sourcepos=\"10:1-10:152\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLife behind the scenes:\u003c\/strong\u003e Gain insights into the daily lives and challenges faced by the chart makers, drawn from interviews and personal accounts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-sourcepos=\"11:1-12:0\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA unique piece of local history:\u003c\/strong\u003e Explore the story of the purpose-built \"CBH\" chart making factory, designed in the Art Deco style and sadly demolished in 2021.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"13:1-13:49\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eChurchill's Secret Chart Makers\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-sourcepos=\"15:1-18:0\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-sourcepos=\"15:1-15:275\"\u003e\n\u003cem\u003e\"Adrian Webb has done well to spot this important gap in our knowledge of the UKHO and its vital role in Britain’s war-time chart making...a highly readable, gloriously illustrated and brilliantly-researched account.\"\u003c\/em\u003e — \u003cstrong\u003eDr Vanessa Collingridge, Author and Broadcaster\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-sourcepos=\"16:1-16:205\"\u003e\n\u003cem\u003e\"It is so good that these [details] have been recorded and are now much more accessible through your work.\"\u003c\/em\u003e — \u003cstrong\u003eMr Robert Ward, Former Secretary-General of the International Hydrographic Organization\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-sourcepos=\"17:1-18:0\"\u003e\n\u003cem\u003e\"A superb tribute to the work that went into the mapping: people, places, processes, and products, fully referenced and lavishly illustrated.\"\u003c\/em\u003e — \u003cstrong\u003eDr Jonathan Harlow, Avon Local History \u0026amp; Archaeology\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"19:1-19:80\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMore than just a history book, \u003cem\u003eChurchill's Secret Chart Makers\u003c\/em\u003e offers:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-sourcepos=\"21:1-24:0\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-sourcepos=\"21:1-21:118\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA tribute to unsung heroes:\u003c\/strong\u003e Discover the dedication and skill of those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-sourcepos=\"22:1-22:116\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA fascinating glimpse into wartime Britain:\u003c\/strong\u003e Experience the challenges and triumphs of life on the home front.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-sourcepos=\"23:1-24:0\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA richly illustrated account:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bring the story to life with photographs, maps, and other visual treasures.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"25:1-25:140\"\u003eIf you're interested in World War Two history, maritime history, or simply enjoy a good tale of human endeavour, then this book is a must-read.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Harry Galloway Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Hardback \/ 2024","offer_id":53598159012214,"sku":null,"price":29.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/Churchill_sSecretChartMakers.webp?v=1731523847"},{"product_id":"home-waters","title":"Home Waters","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHome Waters: Discovering the Submerged Science of Britain's Coast\u003c\/em\u003e offers a fascinating exploration of how the sea has shaped Britain's history and identity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eDive into Britain's Maritime Story\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis insightful book takes you beneath the surface to uncover the hidden forces that have influenced Britain for thousands of years. Professor David Bowers combines oceanography with maritime history to reveal how tides, currents, and waves have played a pivotal role in both salvation and disaster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eExplore the Depths of British Waters\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHome Waters\u003c\/em\u003e covers a wide range of topics, including:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBritain's unique position on the edge of a continental shelf.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe forces behind coastal currents and tides.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe impact of temperature differences on marine life.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow ocean swell waves were first recorded in preparation for D-Day.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe catastrophic 1953 flooding and the development of the Thames tidal barrier.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe science behind tidal bores and double tides.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow underwater light measurements paved the way for modern ocean satellite observation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith exclusive photos and illustrations, \u003cem\u003eHome Waters\u003c\/em\u003e encourages you to explore the British coastline with a newfound appreciation for the powerful forces that have shaped it. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in British history, oceanography, or the fascinating interplay between the two.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid Bowers is an Emeritus Professor of Oceanography with extensive experience researching and teaching about the secrets of the ocean. He has a passion for making scientific discoveries accessible to the general public.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eHome Waters\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Bowers looks beyond the beach to what lies beneath the surface of the sea and how it works. The intertwining of oceanography and history is fascinating.\" — \u003cem\u003eGeographical\u003c\/em\u003e, magazine of the Royal Geographical Society\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShortlisted for the Maritime Foundation Award for Best Book 2024\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Adlard Coles","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ 1st edition (2023)","offer_id":54833345626486,"sku":"9781472990686","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/9781472990686_8389b1c0-3ecd-40f5-8177-ad1537fc666a.jpg?v=1733095133"},{"product_id":"the-official-illustrated-history-of-raf-search-and-rescue","title":"The Official Illustrated History of RAF Search and Rescue","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn February 2016 the RAF's Search and Rescue Force (SARF) celebrated its 75th anniversary. In June that year the world-renowned and universally admired service was officially disbanded, despite attempts from many, including HRH Prince William, to save it as part of the RAF.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is an official, fully illustrated, in-depth account of the SARF's rich and glorious history, from its origins in World War II through to its recent withdrawal. The book contains a foreword by HRH Prince William himself, plus action-packed and awe-inspiring photographs from the RAF's archive of photographs and exclusive interviews with former crewmembers, telling their own dramatic stories of derring-do.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOfficially endorsed by the RAF, \u003cem\u003eThe Official Illustrated History of the RAF Search and Rescue\u003c\/em\u003e is the first, and probably the only, major book of its kind written on this subject. It is an essential purchase for anyone with an interest in military history, British history, the Royal Family and those who love stories of extreme and daring rescue missions.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Adlard Coles","offers":[{"title":"Hardback \/ 1st edition (2020)","offer_id":54833351721334,"sku":"9781472960900","price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/9781472960900.jpg?v=1736703085"},{"product_id":"uncommon-courage","title":"Uncommon Courage","description":"\u003cp\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eUncommon Courage: The Yachtsmen Volunteers of World War II\u003c\/i\u003e tells the remarkable true story of a group of civilian sailors – writers, lawyers, artists and adventurers – who volunteered for war through the Royal Naval Volunteer Supplementary Reserve (RNVSR). Drawn from Julia Jones’ personal discovery of her father’s wartime accounts, this is an absorbing and deeply personal history.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nThese men, united by a love of the sea, found themselves in destroyers, submarines, minesweepers and covert operations, taking on roles far beyond their expectations. From intelligence missions and sabotage to high-speed skirmishes and mine clearance, their bravery, resourcefulness and quick thinking shaped vital aspects of the naval war effort.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nJones traces their stories with warmth and precision, exploring not only what they endured, but how their love of sailing withstood – or was shaped by – the brutal realities of war. Rich with archive material and firsthand testimony, this is a powerful account of quiet heroism and the human cost of conflict.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch6\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e23 chapters based on direct quotes from wartime reflections\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eEndnotes, Acknowledgements, Bibliography and Index\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\nJulia Jones is a writer, editor and classic yacht owner. She is the Literary Contributor for \u003ci\u003eYachting Monthly\u003c\/i\u003e and author of the acclaimed \u003ci\u003eStrong Winds\u003c\/i\u003e sailing adventure series. Her father served in the RNVSR, and his legacy inspired this moving work of rediscovery.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch6\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eUncommon Courage\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n“An extraordinary account of heroism and sacrifice... rivetingly told. Rip roaring stuff. Get this into the paws of the sea dog in your life.”  \n\u003cbr\u003e– \u003ci\u003eGriff Rhys Jones\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\n“This is a magnificent portrait of men at war and a most scholarly history.”  \n\u003cbr\u003e– \u003ci\u003eCountry Life\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\n“Jones describes ordinary men in extraordinary circumstances... but does not allow the picturesque to distract from the gruelling realities.”  \n\u003cbr\u003e– \u003ci\u003eThe Tablet\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\n“Jones writes with vim and vigour... a continuously astonishing book.”  \n\u003cbr\u003e– \u003ci\u003eThe Spectator\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\n“A good book that offers a welcome insight and turns the spotlight anew on some of the forgotten men of a terrible conflict.”  \n\u003cbr\u003e– \u003ci\u003eSailing Today\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Adlard Coles","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ 1st edition (2023)","offer_id":55141406376310,"sku":"9781472987112","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/9781472987112.jpg?v=1743649442"},{"product_id":"arctic-convoys","title":"Arctic Convoys","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBetween 1941 and 1945, more than eight hundred shiploads of supplies were delivered to the Soviet Union protected by allied naval forces. 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This was quickly shown to be a delusion, as neither the scale of forces available nor their tactics were sufficient. The Germans were even less prepared, having only a small number of U-boats and fewer still that were large enough for operations in the Atlantic. The Germans attempted to win a tonnage war against Allied shipping, with well-trained and bold U-boat commanders enjoying some brilliant successes. However, torpedo problems and the shortage of U-boats prevented the Germans from inflicting crippling losses, even though the British found it impossible to protect all shipping, primarily because of a lack of convoy escorts and inadequate air cover.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRespected naval historian Mark Stille examines the struggle between Allied naval and air forces and German U-boats in the first 15 months of World War II. 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The subsequent speed of exploration by European seafarers, encompassing the New World, the extraordinary voyages around the Cape of Good Hope and the opening up of the trade to the East, India and the Spice Islands were both a result of the development of the sea chart and additionally as an aid to that development.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBy the eighteenth century the discovery and charting of the coasts and oceans of the globe had become a strategic naval and commercial requirement. Such involvements led to Cook's voyages in the Pacific, the search for the Northwest Passage and races to the Arctic and Antarctic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe volume is arranged along chronological and then geographical lines. Each of the ten chapters is split into two distinct halves examining the history of the charting of a particular region and the context under which such charting took place following which specific navigational charts and views together with other relevant illustrations are presented. Key figures or milestones in the history of charting are then presented in stand-alone story box features.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis new edition features around 40 new charts and accompanying text.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch6\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eThe Sea Chart\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"The magnificent, enduring legacy which Lt Cdr John Blake, RN, has bequeathed to the world is one of those astonishing volumes which changes lives because it transforms the way history is viewed. Thank you, Lt Cmdr Blake. You have become the second Blake to bring nautical greatness to the Royal Navy!\"\u003cbr\u003e\n   - \u003ci\u003eDefense \u0026amp; Foreign Affairs Special Analysis\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"... in this lustrous work, John Blake ... has assembled a mouth-watering collection with which to illuminate this history of cartography.\"\u003cbr\u003e\n   - \u003ci\u003eClassic Boat Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"... the book is a useful and beautifully produced look at a subject which has important implications in the study of navigation, exploration, whaling, colonisation and empire.\"\u003cbr\u003e\n   - \u003ci\u003eRichard Pflederer, History Today\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"New books on sea charts are most welcome, especially when they contain material rarely or never previously published. John Blake has trawled a variety of chart collections ... and has put together a most interesting volume.\"\u003cbr\u003e\n   - \u003ci\u003eNavigation News\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLieutenant-Commander John Blake, FRIN, spent twelve years in the Royal Navy. He has worked extensively with the UK Hydrographic Office, the producers of Admiralty Charts, and is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation and the Royal Geographical Society. John is the author of the acclaimed Bloomsbury publications \u003ci\u003eThe Sea Chart\u003c\/i\u003e (2003) and \u003ci\u003eSea Charts of the British Isles\u003c\/i\u003e (2005). His research interests span the maritime world, from nautical charts and surveying to merchant shipping.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Conway","offers":[{"title":"Hardback \/ 2nd edition (2016)","offer_id":55437445562742,"sku":"9781844863143","price":32.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/9781844863143.jpg?v=1743224394"},{"product_id":"british-naval-intelligence-through-the-twentieth-century","title":"British Naval Intelligence through the Twentieth Century","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhen published in 2020 it offered the first comprehensive account of how intelligence influenced and sustained British naval power from the mid nineteenth century through to the end of the Cold War. The book describes why and how intelligence was collected and assesses its real impact on policy and operations. It confirms that naval intelligence was critical to Britain's survival and ultimate victory in the two World Wars but significantly reappraises its role, highlighting the importance of communications intelligence to an effective blockade in the First, and according Ultra less dominance compared to other sources in the Second.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt reveals that coverage of Germany before 1914 and of the three Axis powers in the interwar period was more comprehensive and effective than previously suggested; and while British power declined rapidly after 1945, the book shows how intelligence helped the Royal Navy to remain a significant global force for the rest of the twentieth century, and in submarine warfare, especially in the second half of the Cold War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis compelling history of naval intelligence, now in a new and revised paperback edition, will appeal to a wide body of naval historians and enthusiasts interested in the crucial part it played on naval policy and operations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eBritish Naval Intelligence through the Twentieth Century\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWinner of the Mountbatten Maritime Literary Award, 2021\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHighly Commended by the Society for Nautical Research in their award for the 2021 Anderson Medal\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNamed as the Naval Review's Book of the Quarter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eBritish Naval Intelligence\u003c\/i\u003e is an unprecendented and important addition to our knowledge.\"\u003cbr\u003e   - \u003ci\u003eProfessor Gwythian Prins\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"An original and masterful history of British naval intelligence. Remarkably valuable, and in many ways the definitive, addition to the serious study of naval history.\"\u003cbr\u003e   - \u003ci\u003eCaptain Stephen Maffeo\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"A remarkable book which for the first time puts intelligence in its place and tells us what happened and why. For any modern naval officer, gives a systematic picture of naval warfare in a way not done by anybody else.\"\u003cbr\u003e   - \u003ci\u003eRear Admiral James Goldrick\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAndrew Boyd CMG, OBE, DPhil was educated at Britannia Royal Naval College and St Johns College, Oxford. He served as a submariner in the Royal Navy before joining the Foreign \u0026amp; Commonwealth Office in 1980. He has had a long standing interest in 20th-century naval history and was awarded a research fellowship to undertake a DPhil. This was the basis of his first book, \u003ci\u003eThe Royal Navy in Eastern Waters\u003c\/i\u003e, which was followed by the critically-acclaimed \u003ci\u003eBritish Naval Intelligence through the Twentieth Century.\u003c\/i\u003e His most recent book, \u003ci\u003eArms for Russia and the Naval War in the Arctic 1941–1945\u003c\/i\u003e, is a fascinating reassessment of Allied support for the Soviets.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Seaforth","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ 2025","offer_id":55445922480502,"sku":"9781399021197","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/9781399021197.jpg?v=1743485245"},{"product_id":"the-crimean-war-at-sea","title":"The Crimean War at Sea","description":"\u003cp\u003eToo often historical writing on the Russian War of 1854-56 focuses narrowly on the land campaign fought in the Crimean peninsula in the Black Sea. The wider war waged at sea by the British and French navies against the Russians is ignored. The allied navies aimed to strike at Russian interests anywhere in the world where naval force could be brought to bear and as a result campaigns were waged in the Baltic, the Black Sea, the White Sea, on the Russian Pacific coast and in the Sea of Azoff. Yet it is the land campaign in the Crimea that shapes our understanding of events.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this graphic and original study, Peter Duckers seeks to set the record straight. He shows how these neglected naval campaigns were remarkably successful, in contrast to the wretched failures that beset the British army on land. Allied warships ranged across Russian waters sinking shipping, disrupting trade, raiding ports, bombarding fortresses, destroying vast quantities of stores and shelling coastal towns. The scale and intensity of the naval operations embarked upon during the war are astonishing, and little appreciated, and this new book offers the first overall survey of them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeter Duckers is one of the leading authorities on British medals, decorations and orders writing today. He is currently curator of the Shropshire Regimental Museum in Shrewsbury Castle. As well as producing over 120 articles for a wide range of publications, he is a prolific author of books on medals and military history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eThe Crimean War at Sea\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"The excellent text is enhanced by a large number of very good engravings and maps. The failings of the British Army in the Crimean War – remember the charge of the Light Brigade – are well known. The successes of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines are hardly known at all. This excellent book puts the record straight.\"\u003cbr\u003e   - \u003ci\u003eWork Boat World\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"A useful contribution to the literature on Crimea, and on the development of naval warfare during the nineteenth century.\"\u003cbr\u003e   - \u003ci\u003ehistoryofwar.org\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Quite an eye opener, an important bit of history for anybody trying to understand this period and naval developments more generally.\"\u003cbr\u003e   - \u003ci\u003eShropshire Star\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"A most useful summary of the Royal Nay's part in the Crimean War. It is well produced, profusely illustrated and excellent value.\"\u003cbr\u003e   - \u003ci\u003eThe War Correspondent - Journal of the Crimean War Research Society\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Pen \u0026 Sword Maritime","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ 2025","offer_id":55445936832886,"sku":"9781036150488","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/CrimeanWaratSea.jpg?v=1743485253"},{"product_id":"lusitania-an-illustrated-biography-volume-two","title":"Lusitania: An Illustrated Biography (Volume Two)","description":"\u003cp\u003eOn 7 May 1915, one of the most beloved and legendary liners of the North Atlantic was torpedoed by a German U-boat, taking 1,187 of her passengers and crew to an untimely demise. She had become a victim of the First World War, the most brutal conflict the world had yet seen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eLusitania: An Illustrated Biography\u003c\/i\u003e is a comprehensive two-part look at her entire story, from her origins in the shipyards of Clydebank to her terrible, tragic end. It reveals her as she has never been seen before through words, historical photographs, and breath-taking computer-rendered imagery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eVolume Two: A Greyhound's Downfall\u003c\/i\u003e joins Lusitania on the eve of war, just days after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. It tells her story through the First World War, to her violent sinking and the repercussions in her wake; it details how her name, once synonymous with technological marvels and magic, became a rallying cry on the battlefields.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrepare to take a journey back in time. Step aboard one of the largest, fastest and most beloved ocean liners of all time – a triumph of the Edwardian era – and relive her complete history in all its splendour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Authors\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJ. Kent Layton has been passionate about the great Atlantic liners from a young age and has written prolifically about them ever since. He is the author of \u003ci\u003eThe Unseen Mauretania (1907)\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eTransatlantic Liners\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eConspiracies at Sea: Titanic\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eLusitania\u003c\/i\u003e. Together with Tad Fitch and Bill Wormstedt, he co-authored the groundbreaking volume \u003ci\u003eOn a Sea of Glass: The Life \u0026amp; Loss of the RMS Titanic\u003c\/i\u003e (nominated for the 2012 Mountbatten Maritime Award), \u003ci\u003eRecreating Titanic and Her Sisters: A Visual History\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eTitanic: Solving the Mysteries\u003c\/i\u003e. He lives in the Finger Lakes region of Central New York.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTad Fitch is a member of both the Titanic Historical Society and the Titanic International Society, and has appeared in the documentary series \u003ci\u003eTitanic: Stories from the Deep\u003c\/i\u003e. He has been researching maritime history for over 30 years and has co-authored such books as \u003ci\u003eReport Into the Loss of SS Titanic: A Centennial Reappraisal\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eInto the Danger Zone: The Lusitania\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eFirst Battle of the Atlantic\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eLiners During the Great War\u003c\/i\u003e. His books have twice been nominated for the Mountbatten Award. Alongside J. Kent Layton, he is the author of \u003ci\u003eThe Unseen Aquitania\u003c\/i\u003e (The History Press, 2024). 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He was the lead animator for the virtual museum experience \u003ci\u003eBritannic: Patroness of the Mediterranean\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eTitanic\u003c\/i\u003e's real-time sinking animation \u003ci\u003eOn a Sea of Glass\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The History Press","offers":[{"title":"Hardback \/ 2025","offer_id":55445964587382,"sku":"9781803995243","price":40.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/Lusitaniavolumetwo.jpg?v=1743485245"},{"product_id":"lusitania-an-illustrated-biography-volume-one","title":"Lusitania: An Illustrated Biography (Volume One)","description":"\u003cp\u003eOn 7 May 1915, one of the most beloved and legendary liners of the North Atlantic was torpedoed by a German U-boat, taking 1,191 of her passengers and crew to an untimely demise. She had become a victim of the First World War, the most brutal conflict the world had yet seen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eLusitania: An Illustrated Biography\u003c\/i\u003e is a comprehensive two-part look at her entire story, from her origins in the shipyards of Clydebank to her terrible, tragic end. It reveals her as she has never been seen before through words, historical photographs, and breath-taking computer animations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eVolume One: Life of a Greyhound\u003c\/i\u003e tells how \u003ci\u003eLusitania\u003c\/i\u003e came to be built, shows her construction, discusses her technical marvels and reveals her incredible seven-and-a-half-year career. As you feel her magic stir in these pages, you will see why passengers travelled on her again and again, even after larger and more comfortable liners like White Star's \u003ci\u003eOlympic\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eTitanic\u003c\/i\u003e came on the scene.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrepare to take a journey back in time. Step aboard one of the largest, fastest and most beloved ocean liners of all time – a triumph of the Edwardian era – and relive her complete history in all its splendour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Authors\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJ. Kent Layton has been passionate about the great Atlantic liners from a young age and has written prolifically about them ever since. He is the author of \u003ci\u003eThe Unseen Mauretania (1907)\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eTransatlantic Liners\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eConspiracies at Sea: Titanic\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eLusitania\u003c\/i\u003e. 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He collects ocean liner memorabilia and has provided research materials for numerous books and documentaries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThomas Lynskey is the founder of HFX Studios, which creates and produces documentaries and virtual museum experiences that bring history to life. He is currently working on a virtual museum experience for \u003ci\u003eLusitania\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLevi Rourke is an animator for HFX Studios who specialises in vivid recreations that show great liners in all their glory. 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Seeing the potential for developing nuclear energy for the US Navy, Captain Hyman Rickover initiated a research programme that culminated in the launch of USS \u003ci\u003eNautilus\u003c\/i\u003e, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine. Meanwhile, ballistic missile technology was developing fast but was still reliant on complex liquid fuels.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe US Navy partnered with the army to develop a ballistic missile for both services but withdrew when solid fuels became a practical proposition. Under the leadership of Rear Admiral William Raborn, the US Navy set up its own project: the Polaris weapon system. In 1960, the first missile-armed nuclear-powered submarine left on patrol, with forty more to follow in subsequent years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwo years later, when Britain's Blue Streak and Skybolt plans were cancelled, Harold Macmillan and John F. Kennedy agreed for Polaris to be supplied to the Royal Navy. At a time of intensive re-examination of the NATO alliance, the 'special relationship' between the UK and USA, and Britain's role as a nuclear power, this is the first comprehensive history of Polaris.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt brings together technical aspects, the key characters, and the full stories of the American and British programmes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJohn Boyes was born in Edinburgh in 1947. Educated at Rugby School, he qualified as a chartered accountant in 1972 and thereafter pursued a career in the motor industry until his retirement in 2005. He has had a lifelong interest in the history of missiles and published his first book, \u003ci\u003eProject Emily: Thor IRBM and the RAF\u003c\/i\u003e, in 2008. He is the treasurer of the Royal Air Force Historical Society and financial controller of the Bomber Command Association, responsible for the financial management of its memorial in London. He has given a number of lectures on Thor and regularly contributed to the British Nuclear History meetings at Charterhouse. He is married and lives in West Wickham, Kent.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Fonthill Media","offers":[{"title":"Hardback \/ 2025","offer_id":55446245179766,"sku":"9781781559314","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/Polaris.webp?v=1743485251"},{"product_id":"convoy-pq-17-1942-disaster-in-arctic","title":"Convoy PQ-17 1942","description":"\u003cp\u003eA gripping account of the most famous convoy operation of the war, which marked a high-water mark for the German naval campaign in the Arctic. The Arctic was a vital conduit for transporting supplies directly from Great Britain to Russia. The British Home Fleet was tasked with protecting these convoys, which passed within range of the German bases in Norway. By 1942, the Germans had reinforced their air and naval forces, stationing a powerful naval surface group there centred around the battleship \u003ci\u003eTirpitz\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConvoy PQ-17 was set to be the last convoy to sail until the autumn of 1942, and was a particularly large one, involving 35 merchant ships, over half of which were American. When it departed Reykjavik on 27 June, bound for Archangel, the Germans were ready and waiting. The convoy was the first large joint Anglo-American naval operation under British command.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere, expert naval historian Angus Konstam documents the withdrawal of the Allied close escort to intercept the German raiders, and the devastating attacks on the scattered merchant ships by German aircraft and U-boats. Maps and diagrams plot the passage and fate of the convoy elements, and stunning artworks bring to life key moments of their efforts to escape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the end, 24 Allied ships were sunk, and only ten merchant ships and four auxiliaries reached the port of Archangel. PQ-17 would prove to be the worst convoy loss of World War II, and the most controversial.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrigins of the Campaign\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChronology\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOpposing Commanders\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOpposing Forces and Orders of Battle\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOpposing Plans\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Campaign\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAftermath\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Battlefield Today\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBibliography\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIndex\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Authors\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAngus Konstam is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and has written widely on naval history, with well over a hundred books in print. He is a former Royal Navy officer, maritime archaeologist and museum curator, who has worked in the Royal Armouries, Tower of London, and Mel Fisher Maritime Museum. Now a full-time author and historian, he lives in Orkney.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdam Tooby is an internationally renowned digital artist and illustrator. His work can be found in publications worldwide and as box art for model aircraft kits. He also runs a successful illustration studio and aviation prints business. He is based in Cheshire, UK.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Osprey","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ 1st edition (2025)","offer_id":55446258844022,"sku":"9781472864277","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/ConvoyPQ-171942.jpg?v=1743485251"},{"product_id":"in-the-wake-of-the-empress-of-ireland","title":"In the Wake of the Empress of Ireland","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e‘The masterful, compelling story of salvaging RMS \u003ci\u003eEmpress of Ireland\u003c\/i\u003e, as told by one of the liner’s foremost historians.’ – \u003ci\u003eJ. Kent Layton, co-author of \u003ci\u003eOn a Sea of Glass\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eRecreating Titanic and Her Sisters\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIt started with two photographs.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese old prints, up for online auction, showed Royal Navy sailors carrying a buoy on a wharf on a Canadian river, with the Pointe-au-Père lighthouse in the background. David Saint-Pierre knew that this had only happened once – when the crew of HMS \u003ci\u003eEssex\u003c\/i\u003e helped salvage RMS \u003ci\u003eEmpress of Ireland\u003c\/i\u003e. Her sinking at the mouth of the St Lawrence River remains the worst peacetime maritime disaster in Canadian history, with a death toll of over 1,000 people. More passengers died on the \u003ci\u003eEmpress of Ireland\u003c\/i\u003e than on \u003ci\u003eTitanic\u003c\/i\u003e two years prior.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut these images were just the beginning. When Saint-Pierre made contact with the seller, he discovered that they were part of an album of over 500 pictures that told a story that history had largely forgotten: the diving and salvage on the wreck in the summer of 1914, by an international team that featured North American divers working alongside Royal Navy sailors. \u003ci\u003eIn the Wake of the Empress of Ireland\u003c\/i\u003e is that story and more, exploring the aftermath of the \u003ci\u003eEmpress\u003c\/i\u003e disaster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eIn the Wake of the Empress of Ireland\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“The masterful, compelling story of salvaging RMS \u003ci\u003eEmpress of Ireland\u003c\/i\u003e, as told by one of the liner’s foremost historians.”\u003cbr\u003e– \u003ci\u003eJ. 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He has collaborated on documentaries and TV shows and with other authors, and has published two books on this subject.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The History Press","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ 2025","offer_id":55588651303286,"sku":"9781803998213","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/9781803998213.jpg?v=1746259777"},{"product_id":"the-surrender-of-the-u-boat-fleet-1945","title":"The Surrender of the U-Boat Fleet 1945","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn the weeks after the end of the War in May 1945, 156 U-boats surrendered to the Allies. Some of these either surrendered at sea or directly in a variety of ports, whilst the majority were taken over whilst moored in German bases in Norway, Denmark and France. Nine gave themselves up in the USA, Canada and Argentina. This book provides a comprehensive record of the surrender of all these vessels, and it also includes the story of the 200 or so U-boats which were scuttled, rather than surrendered, in the final days of the War. And it includes details of others which have been raised since and then either been used or scrapped.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe author begins by describing the development of Allied policy in 1943, 1944 and early 1945 for the surrender and disposal of the German Navy and its surviving U-boats. It then explains the surrender arrangements, as well as the discussions concerning U-boats at the Potsdam Conference in July 1945 and by the Tripartite Naval Commission (TNC) in Berlin between August and December 1945. The uses and fates of all the surrendered U-boats are then described, particularly those which were formally allocated to the UK, the USA and the USSR. 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My congratulations for a wonderful piece of research.”\u003cbr\u003e– \u003ci\u003eHorst Bredow, Director of the Cuxhaven U-Boat Archive and Museum\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“A remarkably well researched work.”\u003cbr\u003e– \u003ci\u003eGlenn Helm, US Naval History and Heritage Command\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDerek Waller’s interest in the fate of the remaining vessels of the German Navy began in the early 1950s as a schoolboy hobby, leading to the publication of a short article about the surviving U-boats in 1970. Then, after a full career in the Royal Air Force, he picked up the topic again as a retirement project in 2010, since when he has written many articles about the U-boats which survived the War.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Seaforth","offers":[{"title":"Hardback \/ 2025","offer_id":55588663689590,"sku":"9781036135492","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/9781036135492.jpg?v=1746259779"},{"product_id":"u-boat-commanders-knights-cross-holders","title":"The U-Boat Commanders","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Knight’s Cross (Ritterkreuz) was one of the highest decorations given for extreme acts of valour to all ranks of the German armed forces during the Second World War. Few awards captured the respect and admiration of the German public as the Knight’s Cross – it was the greatest honour one could achieve.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the perilous and close-knit world of the U-boat crews, the award of the decoration to their captain was an event of particular pride – sometimes even added to the boat’s insignia. In all, there were 123 recipients, including their commander-in-chief Karl Dönitz, and Jeremy Dixon’s highly illustrated book is the ideal guide to all these men and their wartime service.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA graphic text accompanied by almost 200 archive photographs describes the exploits of each of them, including those who received the higher grades of the award. Full details are given of their tours of duty, the operations they took part in, how they won their award, how many ships they sank and their subsequent careers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJeremy Dixon has been interested in Nazi Germany for over thirty-five years and has written several books on the subject. His first book \u003ci\u003eCommanders of Auschwitz\u003c\/i\u003e detailed the careers of the SS officers who served at Auschwitz concentration camp. It was followed by books dealing with Luftwaffe generals who won the Knight’s Cross, a two-volume study of recipients of Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, and the third which details the holders who served in the Fallschirmjäger, Germany’s elite parachute unit. 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They quit summer England to face within hours a storm of machine-gun and mortar fire. They witnessed scenes – above all of sudden death – such as no exercise had prepared them for.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eSword\u003c\/i\u003e, veteran chronicler of war Max Hastings explores with extraordinary vividness the actions of the Commando brigade, Montgomery’s 3rd Infantry and 6th Airborne divisions on and around a single British beach. He describes their frustrations, hopes, loves and fears through the apparently interminable years training and preparing in England, then their triumphs and tragedies on the beach and beyond.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere are the airborne assaults on the Caen Canal bridge and Merville Battery, the battles on the shoreline and against the German strongpoints inland, narrated and explained with all the insights that Hastings’ decades of study, veterans’ interviews and new archive research enable him to deploy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book offers a searching analysis of why British troops did not reach Caen on 6 June, as Montgomery had promised Churchill that they would – and the story of the brigadier who was sacked for that failure. 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He also reveals how the Luftwaffe failed the surface fleet, both in scouting at sea and defending them in port.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith superb artwork, 3D diagrams, maps and archive photos, this book explores and assesses Germany's commerce war – from the \u003ci\u003eGraf Spee\u003c\/i\u003e's cruise to the ill-fated exploits of \u003ci\u003eBismarck\u003c\/i\u003e, and the final high-risk retreat from Brest, the Channel Dash.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Fleet's Purpose\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFleet Fighting Power\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBattleships: \u003ci\u003eScharnhorst\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eGneisenau\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eBismarck\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eTirpitz\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePanzerschiffe: \u003ci\u003eDeutschland\u003c\/i\u003e (later \u003ci\u003eLützow\u003c\/i\u003e), \u003ci\u003eAdmiral Scheer\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eAdmiral Graf Spee\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeavy cruisers: \u003ci\u003eAdmiral Hipper\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003ePrinz Eugen\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eBlücher\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLight forces\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGunnery and Fire Control\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow the Fleet Operated\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNaval Command: Marinegruppenkommando West\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFleet Command (Flottenkommando)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Move to France\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOperational Doctrine\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntelligence\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLogistics and Facilities\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSupply Ships and French Bases\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCombat and Analysis\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFurther Reading\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLawrence \"Larry\" Paterson is a qualified scuba diving instructor who spent many years living in France and researching German wrecks from World War II in Breton waters. 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Fully illustrated, this book studies the big-gun warships that never were.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e1918 was a moment of great naval change. Britain still had the largest fleet in the world, but its ships were ageing, and many of them were markedly inferior to the latest American and Japanese battleships. An arms race loomed between the war’s victors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this book, naval expert Angus Konstam studies and compares the battleships being designed between 1918 and 1922, which drew on the lessons of World War I. Britain was designing four G3-class 15in-gun battlecruisers, plus four N3 'hyper-dreadnoughts' mounting colossal 18in guns. The US Navy was planning six new South Dakota battleships, carrying an incredible twelve 16in guns, plus six Lexington-class battlecruisers. Japan was working on a similar project, and in 1920 the first of four Amagi-class battlecruisers were laid down.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHowever, in 1922 this costly arms race was averted by the Washington Naval Treaty, which halted new battleship construction and limited the major fleets. These battleships and battlecruisers were mostly cancelled and scrapped, with a few, such as \u003ci\u003eLexington\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eAkagi\u003c\/i\u003e, converted into aircraft carriers. With new colour reconstructions of the G3, N3, South Dakota, Lexington and Amagi classes, this is the first book to study these never-built monster warships.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch6\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eIntroduction\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eDesign and Development\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eConstruction History\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eCapabilities\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eFurther Reading\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eIndex\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAngus Konstam is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and has written widely on naval history, with well over a hundred books in print. He is a former Royal Navy officer, maritime archaeologist and museum curator, who has worked in the Royal Armouries, Tower of London, and Mel Fisher Maritime Museum. Now a full-time author and historian, he lives in Orkney.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Osprey","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ 1st edition (2025)","offer_id":55588798595446,"sku":"9781472866905","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/9781472866905.jpg?v=1746259779"},{"product_id":"pearl-harbor-japans-greatest-disaster-mark-stille","title":"Pearl Harbor","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePearl Harbor: Japan’s Greatest Disaster\u003c\/em\u003e is a detailed re-examination of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor – the Day of Infamy that saw the United States enter World War II.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this first comprehensive treatment of Pearl Harbor since the early 1990s, respected Pacific War naval historian Mark E. Stille traces the road to war and the Japanese attack itself. He examines the role of the man behind the operation, Admiral Yamamoto, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the plan. The American preparations for an attack are also carefully reviewed. At the heart of the book is a thorough narrative of the assault and its aftermath, with the results placed in their full historical context.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn common with many of the major campaigns of the Pacific War, myths continue to surround Pearl Harbor. Among others, Stille dismantles the myth of Yamamoto as a military genius and the belief that the attack was brilliantly executed. He argues instead that it was a tactical disappointment, an operational failure, and a strategic disaster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch6\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntroduction: The Myths of Pearl Harbor\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChapter 1: The Road to Pearl Harbor\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChapter 2: Japanese Options and the Great Debate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChapter 3: The Japanese Plan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChapter 4: Imperial Japanese Navy Forces Employed in the Attack\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChapter 5: The US Pacific Fleet and Pearl Harbor Defences\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChapter 6: The Japanese Striking Force Approaches Pearl Harbor\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChapter 7: The First Attack Wave\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChapter 8: The Second Attack Wave\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChapter 9: After the Attack\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChapter 10: The Forgotten Offensive – Japanese Submarines off Hawaii\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChapter 11: The Reckoning\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChapter 12: Why Pearl Harbor Matters\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChapter 13: Responsibility Misplaced?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAppendices\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMark Stille is the author of numerous Osprey titles focusing on naval history in the Pacific. He recently concluded a nearly 40-year career in the intelligence community, including service on the faculty of the Naval War College, on the Joint Staff, and aboard US Navy ships. He received his BA in History from the University of Maryland and an MA from the Naval War College.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Osprey","offers":[{"title":"Hardback \/ 1st edition (2025)","offer_id":56560760619382,"sku":"9781472865311","price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/9781472865311.jpg?v=1761867464"},{"product_id":"kriegsmarine-north-sea-command-1939-42-lawrence-paterson","title":"Kriegsmarine North Sea Command 1939–42","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eKriegsmarine North Sea Command 1939–42\u003c\/em\u003e is an authoritative, illustrated history of how Germany fought to dominate the North Sea in the early years of World War II and take the naval war to Britain’s coasts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBritain’s war economy depended on more than the Atlantic convoys – its coastal shipping routes were vital too. Every week, convoys departed Scotland and northern England carrying the coal that powered the south, with London alone consuming 40,000 tons weekly. Disrupting these supply lines, and striking at Britain’s military and naval operations, was the responsibility of Germany’s North Sea Command.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this first detailed study of Germany’s North Sea campaign, naval historian Lawrence Paterson examines the conflict from both strategic and operational perspectives. While the Kriegsmarine’s fast S-boats are well known, the North Sea saw a much broader range of vessels – from destroyers and torpedo boats to converted trawlers and minelayers – all operating in hazardous coastal waters against the Royal Navy. Paterson also explores the command’s shore-based defences, including artillery batteries, flak units, and marine detachments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith archival photographs, technical diagrams, and original artwork by Edouard A. Groult, this volume offers a comprehensive picture of the Kriegsmarine’s campaign to sever Britain’s maritime lifelines.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch6\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Fleet’s Purpose\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFleet Fighting Power\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Ships\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTechnical Factors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow the Fleet Operated\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrganisation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCommand\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntelligence\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLogistics and Facilities\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCombat and Analysis\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Fleet in Combat\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnalysis\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFurther Reading\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIndex\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Authors\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLawrence “Larry” Paterson is a naval historian and qualified scuba instructor who has spent many years researching German wrecks in Breton waters. His first book, \u003cem\u003eFirst U-boat Flotilla\u003c\/em\u003e, stemmed from his work near Brest. A former member of the Royal Navy Submarine Museum Archive Working Group, he specialises in U-boat records. His interest in naval history was shaped by his grandfathers – one an ANZAC of the First World War, the other a Royal Navy stoker in the Second – and his books have been published worldwide.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEdouard A. Groult is an illustrator and concept artist, whose fascination with military history began in childhood. Educated in Paris and Belgium, he has worked in the videogame industry and on historical commissions for magazines. He lives near London.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Osprey","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ 1st edition (2025)","offer_id":56563111297398,"sku":"9781472867438","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/9781472867438.jpg?v=1761906845"},{"product_id":"fifty-ships-that-changed-the-course-of-history-ian-graham","title":"Fifty Ships that Changed the Course of History","description":"\u003cp\u003eFrom the Stone Age to the present day, no invention has shaped civilisation more profoundly than the ship. Boats and ships enabled settlement, conquest and exploration, determining the victors of wars and facilitating the spread of cultures, ideas and trade across the globe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFifty Ships that Changed the Course of History\u003c\/em\u003e offers more than a celebration of maritime achievement – it is a history of the world told through the vessels that altered its course. Each entry explores a ship that influenced human progress, from ancient craft to modern giants, revealing how they transformed societies and redefined global connections.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLavishly illustrated with art and photographs, the book brings to life the evolution of seafaring and its impact on humanity. It is a fascinating guide to how people have gone to sea in every age and how these voyages have shaped the course of history itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIan Graham has written and co-authored more than 200 books on science, technology and transport, as well as numerous magazine articles. He holds a degree in applied physics and a postgraduate diploma in journalism. 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His research focuses on early twentieth-century naval design and engineering innovation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMartin Kelly is a naval researcher whose interests include espionage and amphibious planning in the early twentieth century and the naval career of Erskine Childers, both central to the story of the Coastal Motor Boats.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Seaforth","offers":[{"title":"Hardback \/ 2025","offer_id":56565299052918,"sku":"9781036137939","price":40.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/81yUhPWP6yL.jpg?v=1761926863"},{"product_id":"unsung-hero-of-the-falklands-war-anthony-cumming","title":"Unsung Hero of the Falklands War","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eUnsung Hero of the Falklands War\u003c\/em\u003e redresses the balance in the story of Britain’s 1982 conflict, restoring Commodore Michael Clapp to his rightful place among the key figures of the campaign.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs commander of the Amphibious Task Group, Clapp was responsible for Operation Sutton – the successful San Carlos landings that proved crucial to Britain’s victory. 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It rightfully returns Commodore Clapp to his correct place in naval history and also functions as a celebration of those whose deeds often go unrecognised.” – Graham Ward, retired history teacher\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAnthony J. Cumming earned his PhD at the University of Plymouth and won the University of London’s Julian Corbett Prize for Research in Modern Naval History. He is the author of \u003cem\u003eBattle for Britain\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eInter-service Rivalry between the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, 1909–40\u003c\/em\u003e. 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During the First World War, converted merchant ships supported flying operations, and the former sloop \u003cem\u003eBapaume\u003c\/em\u003e became the first French vessel to launch wheeled aircraft while underway.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing the Washington Treaty of 1922, France joined other naval powers in converting incomplete battleships into carriers, resulting in \u003cem\u003eBéarn\u003c\/em\u003e. Between 1929 and 1936, fifteen design studies were produced, though only the distinctive \u003cem\u003eCommandant Teste\u003c\/em\u003e entered service. 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The final chapters cover the nuclear-powered \u003cem\u003eCharles de Gaulle\u003c\/em\u003e and the French Navy’s future carrier plans, bringing the narrative up to date.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIllustrated with more than 200 photographs, line drawings and plans, this is an indispensable reference for naval historians and enthusiasts alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Authors\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eJohn Jordan is the editor of \u003cem\u003eWarship\u003c\/em\u003e and a leading historian of the French Navy. 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What followed was a diverse sequence of designs – some converted from capital ships, others purpose-built – culminating in the \u003cem\u003eShokaku\u003c\/em\u003e-class, completed just before the outbreak of war. The 1930s saw highly original and sometimes unconventional experimentation, including the rare decision to mount the island structure on the port side of certain ships.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAfter Pearl Harbor, Japan’s carriers dominated the Pacific until the devastating losses at Midway in June 1942. To recover, the navy converted merchant vessels and auxiliaries and introduced a simplified fleet-carrier design for mass production. In total, 29 carriers are covered in this volume, each with its own dedicated technical chapter illustrated with photographs, line drawings and colour artwork.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMartino also provides an overview of Japanese naval aviation policy, a summary of key carrier operations, and appendices on weaponry, radar, camouflage and aircraft types. With over 200 illustrations, this concise yet authoritative reference fills a long-standing gap in English-language naval literature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eErmanno Martino was a founding member of Italy’s first group of naval historians in the late 1950s. Since the 1960s he has been active in naval journalism and research, contributing extensively to \u003cem\u003eStoria Militare\u003c\/em\u003e, Italy’s leading military history journal, where he sits on the scientific committee. He has previously authored companion volumes on \u003cem\u003eJapanese Battleships\u003c\/em\u003e (2019) and \u003cem\u003eJapanese Cruisers\u003c\/em\u003e (2023).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Seaforth","offers":[{"title":"Hardback \/ 2025","offer_id":56565302985078,"sku":"9781036133528","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/9781036133528.jpg?v=1761926861"},{"product_id":"british-amphibious-operations-of-the-first-world-war-joseph-moretz","title":"British Amphibious Operations of the First World War","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBritish Amphibious Operations of the First World War\u003c\/em\u003e offers a new perspective on Britain’s experience of joint land–sea warfare during the Great War, moving beyond the familiar narrative of failure at Gallipoli.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhile Gallipoli has long been viewed as the defining example of amphibious misjudgment, Joseph Moretz shows that Britain’s experience was both broader and more complex. Through detailed studies of three campaigns – Tanga in German East Africa, Mesopotamia, and the Dardanelles–Gallipoli – he evaluates the state of British amphibious warfare on the eve of the war and the operational lessons that were absorbed, ignored, or misunderstood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe analysis reveals early successes, such as the near-flawless amphibious entry in Mesopotamia, and contrasts them with the difficulties that followed when inadequate logistics met overambitious aims. The book also revisits the Dardanelles campaign, reassessing its operational and strategic outcomes, and considering its enduring impact on British military thinking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDrawing on extensive research and military insight, Moretz provides a balanced, thought-provoking examination of how inter-service coordination, leadership, and geography shaped Britain’s wartime performance in amphibious operations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eJoseph Moretz is an independent historian specialising in the modern Royal Navy and British Army. A graduate of the U.S. Naval War College, he holds both an M.A. and Ph.D. in War Studies from King’s College London. He has written extensively on naval and military history, and previously served as a civilian analyst for the U.S. Navy and Department of Defence. A Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, he is also a member of the Navy Records Society, Army Records Society, and British Commission for Military History.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Pen \u0026 Sword Maritime","offers":[{"title":"Hardback \/ 2025","offer_id":56565303968118,"sku":"9781036123543","price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/916J6N5KwvL._AC_UF1000_1000_QL80.jpg?v=1761926862"},{"product_id":"one-submarines-secret-war-against-the-axis-gav-don","title":"One Submarine's Secret War Against the Axis","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eOne Submarine’s Secret War Against the Axis\u003c\/em\u003e tells the extraordinary story of HMS \u003cem\u003eTriumph\u003c\/em\u003e and her crew during a pivotal year of the Second World War in the Mediterranean.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eArriving in theatre in early 1941, \u003cem\u003eTriumph\u003c\/em\u003e became a key player in a rapidly shifting campaign. As Allied troops retreated from Greece and Crete under the pressure of the advancing Wehrmacht, the submarine carried out a remarkable range of missions—landing SOE agents, rescuing escapers, and attacking Axis supply convoys and Italian warships with gun and torpedo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAmong the many figures drawn into her story are Greek smuggler Harry Grammatikakis and Lieutenant John Atkinson MC*, who escaped captivity to serve as an SOE and MI9 operative before being captured again and executed by firing squad alongside members of the Greek resistance. Their fates are intertwined with \u003cem\u003eTriumph\u003c\/em\u003e’s own, which ended in tragedy when she disappeared in January 1942 while on what was to be her final patrol before refit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe rediscovery of \u003cem\u003eTriumph\u003c\/em\u003e’s wreck in 2023 has allowed her final mission to be reconstructed in unprecedented detail, revealing new insights into her clandestine operations and the courage of those who served aboard her.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Pen \u0026 Sword Maritime","offers":[{"title":"Hardback \/ 2025","offer_id":56565304852854,"sku":"9781036132514","price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/9781036132514.jpg?v=1761926862"},{"product_id":"seaforth-world-naval-review-2026-conrad-waters","title":"Seaforth World Naval Review 2026","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSeaforth World Naval Review 2026\u003c\/em\u003e provides an authoritative and comprehensive overview of developments in the world’s navies over the past year. This highly regarded annual combines regional surveys with detailed studies of new warships and major technological advances, offering balanced insight into global naval affairs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2026 edition focuses on two key fleets: the Russian Navy and the Royal Navy. It also includes in-depth features on the Indian aircraft carrier \u003cem\u003eVikrant\u003c\/em\u003e, Japan’s \u003cem\u003eMogami\u003c\/em\u003e-class frigates, and the Turkish \u003cem\u003eAda\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eIstanbul\u003c\/em\u003e-class ships and their derivatives. Broader analyses explore advances in naval aviation—including the growing role of F-35B operators—and shipboard anti-submarine warfare, as well as an extensive study of the U.S. Navy’s RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCombining expert commentary with over 200 photographs, this annual remains the only publication of its kind in the world—an essential reference for professionals, scholars, and enthusiasts alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch6\u003ePraise for Seaforth World Naval Review\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e“… this is a marvellous asset for those wishing to keep up to date with naval matters. Very highly recommended.” – \u003cem\u003eWarship World\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Editor\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eConrad Waters, a barrister by training and banker by profession, has a lifelong interest in modern navies. He has edited the \u003cem\u003eSeaforth World Naval Review\u003c\/em\u003e since its inception in 2009 and is also the author of several acclaimed studies, including \u003cem\u003eNavies in the 21st Century\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eBritish Town Class Cruisers\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eBritish Fiji Class Cruisers\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Seaforth","offers":[{"title":"Hardback \/ 2026","offer_id":56565307048310,"sku":"9781036150761","price":40.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/9781036150761.jpg?v=1761926863"},{"product_id":"the-great-museum-of-the-sea-james-p-delgado","title":"The Great Museum of the Sea","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Great Museum of the Sea: A Human History of Shipwrecks\u003c\/em\u003e takes readers on an enthralling voyage through the depths of maritime history, uncovering the stories, mysteries and meanings of the world’s shipwrecks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eArchaeologist and explorer James P. Delgado draws on decades of underwater expeditions to illuminate how ships meet their end, why they sink, and how their remains continue to shape our understanding of the past. From \u003cem\u003eTitanic\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eUSS Arizona\u003c\/em\u003e to the slave ship \u003cem\u003eClotilda\u003c\/em\u003e, Delgado explores more than a hundred wrecks he has personally studied, revealing what these sunken vessels tell us about human ingenuity, tragedy, and resilience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe book delves into the many ways people engage with wrecks — as memorials, archaeological sites, sources of inspiration, and, at times, of treasure. Delgado’s perspective as both scholar and diver brings readers beneath the waves and into the heart of discovery, offering a deeply human account of our ongoing relationship with the sea’s lost ships.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch6\u003ePraise for The Great Museum of the Sea\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e“An encyclopaedic but engaging history of all things related to ships, sailors and their sometimes disastrous ends.” – \u003cem\u003eThe Wall Street Journal\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“A superb overview of shipwrecks from around the world … Delgado is a master storyteller.” – Andrea Hamel, \u003cem\u003eCurrent Archaeology\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“A truly fascinating book about the human history of shipwrecks.” – Katy Stickland, \u003cem\u003ePractical Boat Owner\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eJames P. Delgado is Senior Vice President of SEARCH, Inc., and former Director of Maritime Heritage for NOAA. An archaeologist, author and television presenter, he has led numerous shipwreck expeditions and appears regularly in National Geographic’s \u003cem\u003eDrain the Oceans\u003c\/em\u003e series.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Oxford University Press","offers":[{"title":"Hardback \/ 2025","offer_id":56565308719478,"sku":"9780197780756","price":20.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/81AjA3tfCLL.jpg?v=1761926863"},{"product_id":"quirky-history-john-quirk","title":"Quirky History","description":"\u003cp\u003eJohn Quirk loves history, drawing and boats and these three elements come together in this attractive and entertaining book. He has sought out obscure episodes or familiar events from the past and written engagingly about them, illustrated with his excellent colour cartoons. Where possible he relates the historical happenings and maritime moments to the present day, be it when tracing the history of the screw, misinformation (fake news) during the Second World War, plague ships in the fourteenth century, or Russia's ill-fated war with Japan in 1904.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe events covered range from Henry V's invasion of France in 1415, consisting mainly of chartered French ships and paid for partially by Dick Whittington, to episodes in the Second World War, like the Somali Camel Corps capturing a German U-boat. Other historic figures involved include Horatio Nelson, Napoleon, Rudolf Diesel and Lawrence of Arabia. The 25 stories and over 100 cartoons are a treasure-trove of compelling, salt-infused, tales told with imagination and humour, with an eye on the present day, which will be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in maritime history (or even just history).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch6\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eQuirky History\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Some of the stories are amusing… some inspiring… some poignant… and a few downright sad – but all are true and are well worth reading. Quirky History would make a great Christmas present for almost anyone, but do give yourself time to enjoy it first!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-left: 2em;\"\u003e— \u003cem\u003eFlying Fish\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"Funny, informative, and above all quirky … He prods, entertains, and startles us with implausible stories which he manages to convince us were not altogether impossible. His vignettes are particularly rich with geographical diversity and humour.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-left: 2em;\"\u003e— \u003cem\u003eThe Northern Mariner\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"A book billed as 'quirky' is likely to be opinionated, individual and occasionally provocative. John Quirk's book is all of these things. It's also clever and funny and will make an attractive gift.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-left: 2em;\"\u003e— \u003cem\u003eYachting Monthly\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"John Quirk's 25 stories and 100 cartoons are a guide to entertaining maritime history.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-left: 2em;\"\u003e— \u003cem\u003eThe Armourer\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"The book is filled with cartoons and jokes that run throughout the 25 stories featured, all designed to inspire and grab the attention of kids young and old.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin-left: 2em;\"\u003e— \u003cem\u003eCoast Magazine\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJohn Quirk's biography would have been a lot shorter if the German bomb that landed outside the air raid shelter in which he was born, had gone off. He started drawing soon after and left UK at 25 for East Africa, followed by New York. He moved to Australia nearly 40 years ago and lives on the water at Patonga Creek with his wife where he enjoys drawing, writing and messing about in boats.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout Fernhurst Books\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFernhurst Books was founded in 1979, initially publishing books related to dinghy racing. The list soon expanded to include cruising and other watersports. In 2006 the business was sold to John Wiley, but in 2013 a group of sailing enthusiasts (including the original founder) bought the list and name back, once again creating an independent nautical publisher owned and run by sailors. Fernhurst continues to publish books that instruct, inform and inspire those with a passion on, in or under the water. Their 140+ titles range from how-to guides to narrative to coffee-table books, covering sailing, surfing, canoeing, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, swimming, diving and fishing.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Fernhurst Books","offers":[{"title":"Hardback \/ 1st edition (2022)","offer_id":56770165703030,"sku":"9781912621422","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/9781912621422-Quirky_History-1-CWNB.jpg?v=1764532949"},{"product_id":"midway-pacific-war-most-famous-battle","title":"Midway","description":"\u003cp\u003eA detailed re-examination of Midway, one of the most significant battles in the Pacific Theatre of World War II.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn April 1942, the Combined Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy was at the zenith of its power. It had struck a severe blow against the US Navy at Pearl Harbor in December 1941, before spearheading the Japanese advance through Southeast Asia and rampaging across the South Pacific. Only a few months later, in June 1942, the US Navy managed to inflict a decisive defeat on this mighty force off Midway Atoll and the strategic initiative in the Pacific Theatre passed to the US Navy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMidway is one of the most mythologised battles of World War II. The traditional view of the battle, popularised in its immediate aftermath and surviving through to the present day, is of a heavily outnumbered American force snatching victory in the face of overwhelming odds. This view is simplistic and, in many respects, wrong.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePacific War expert Mark E. Stille provides a detailed analysis of this pivotal battle, and argues that Midway was neither a miraculous American victory, nor a product of good fortune, but that the plans, personalities, doctrines, ships and weapons of the two sides meant that a Japanese defeat was the more likely outcome. This up to date study provides an unparalleled level of insight and thorough analysis into one of the decisive moments of the Pacific War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMark Stille is the author of numerous Osprey titles focusing on naval history in the Pacific. He recently concluded a nearly 40-year career in the intelligence community, including tours on the faculty of the Naval War College, on the Joint Staff and on US Navy ships. He received his BA in History from the University of Maryland and also holds an MA from the Naval War College.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eMidway\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'[Mark Stille] ably presents the strategic context of the campaign, illuminates the tactical similarities and differences between the two navies, and adroitly compares the opposing commanders… a wonderful introduction to, as the subtitle boldly declares, The Pacific War's Most Famous Battle.'\u003cbr\u003e– John B. Lundstrom, author of \u003cem\u003eBlack Shoe Carrier Admiral\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe First Team\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Mark Stille's unique perspective as a former naval intelligence officer, and his adroit utilisation of newer Japanese sources, make this a must-have for any serious student of this, the most important naval battle of the Second World War.'\u003cbr\u003e– Jon Parshall, co-author of \u003cem\u003eShattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'A major contribution to naval history.'\u003cbr\u003e– Alan D. Zimm, author of \u003cem\u003eAttack on Pearl Harbor\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Stille once again takes on the monumental task of challenging an accepted historical narrative and carries it off splendidly. The Midway epis is no longer gathering historical dust – it has emerged again as a stirring chapter in modern naval warfare.'\u003cbr\u003e– \u003cem\u003eHistory of War\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Provides an unparalleled level of insight and analysis into one of the decisive moments of the Pacific War.'\u003cbr\u003e– \u003cem\u003eShips Monthly\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'An important addition to the growing corpus of new literature on this fascinating and complicated battle.'\u003cbr\u003e– \u003cem\u003eMilitary History Matters\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Mark Stille's \u003cem\u003eMidway\u003c\/em\u003e is an engrossing analysis of the most famous battle of the Pacific War.'\u003cbr\u003e– Neil Smith\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrologue\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntroduction\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eList of Illustrations\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eList of Maps\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChapter 1: The Road to Midway\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChapter 2: Yamamoto Plans His Battle\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChapter 3: Nimitz Plans an Ambush\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChapter 4: The Combined Fleet\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChapter 5: American Forces at Midway\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChapter 6: Midway – The Opening Phases\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChapter 7: Fletcher's and Spruance's Decisions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChapter 8: Nagumo's Decisions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChapter 9: The American Carriers Strike\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChapter 10: The Japanese Strike Back\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChapter 11: The Victory Complete\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChapter 12: Final Actions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChapter 13: Winners and Losers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChapter 14: The Meaning of Midway\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAppendices\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBibliography\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNotes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIndex\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Osprey","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ 1st edition (2026)","offer_id":57354222829942,"sku":"9781472862075","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/9781472862075.jpg?v=1771855444"},{"product_id":"loss-of-hms-hood-pride-of-the-royal-navy","title":"The Loss of HMS Hood","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn 1941, the battlecruiser HMS Hood – at 860 feet long, with a beam of 105 feet, a displacement of 48,360 tons (fully loaded), and a maximum speed of 32 knots – was Britain's largest and fastest warship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd yet on 24 May, \u003cem\u003eHMS Hood\u003c\/em\u003e, the epitome of British naval power, with an armament which included eight 15-inch guns, was blown up a mere eight minutes after engaging the German battleship \u003cem\u003eKMS Bismarck\u003c\/em\u003e and her consort, the heavy cruiser \u003cem\u003eKMS Prinz Eugen\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs \u003cem\u003eHMS Hood\u003c\/em\u003e sank into the icy depths of the Atlantic Ocean on 24 May 1941, she took with her the lives of 1,415 brave men – there were only three survivors – and a secret that has haunted the maritime world ever since. How could this possibly have happened? \u003cem\u003eHMS Hood\u003c\/em\u003e had seemed invincible, and the hopes of the British Navy in wartime had rested upon her great reputation. Her tragic demise was greeted with disbelief by the nation, and the shock waves reverberated all around the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVarious theories have been put forward to account for her sinking, none of them entirely satisfactory. Here, these theories are reappraised in the light of the discovery of the wreckage of \u003cem\u003eHMS Hood\u003c\/em\u003e in 2001. Furthermore, a new and intriguing theory is proposed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAndrew Norman was born in Newbury, Berkshire, UK in 1943. Having been educated at Thornhill High School, Gwelo, Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Midsomer Norton Grammar School, and St Edmund Hall, Oxford, he qualified in medicine at the Radcliffe Infirmary. He has two children Bridget and Thomas, by his first wife.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom 1972-83, Andrew worked as a general practitioner in Poole, Dorset, before a spinal injury cut short his medical career. He is now an established writer whose published works include biographies of Charles Darwin, Winston Churchill, Thomas Hardy, T. E. Lawrence, Adolf Hitler, Agatha Christie, Enid Blyton, Beatrix Potter, Marilyn Monroe, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Andrew married his second wife Rachel, in 2005.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Pen \u0026 Sword Maritime","offers":[{"title":"Hardback \/ 2026","offer_id":57358628290934,"sku":"9781399036306","price":22.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/611pBUR6IzL._AC_UF894_1000_QL80.jpg?v=1771918465"},{"product_id":"shipbreaker-extraordinaire-harry-pounds-portsmouth","title":"Shipbreaker Extraordinaire","description":"\u003cp\u003eFor many years anyone driving into Portsmouth would be treated to the surprising roadside sight of warships, submarines and unusual small craft in various states of decay and demolition. This fleeting glimpse was all that most would ever see of the extraordinary business of the Pounds family, which ranged from shipbreaking to trading profitably in surplus ships and demolishing (and on occasions selling) war-surplus military vehicles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter beginnings in general scrap in the 1860s, Pounds started breaking up ships in 1921 with German U-Boats. Proximity to the royal dockyard at Portsmouth meant they were able to secure naval shipping ranging from Royal Navy submarines and frigates down to unusual dockyard vessels and landing craft. In due course ships were also bought from the US and European navies. The emphasis of the business turned to ship trading – for example, landing craft might be resold to become ferries, minesweepers turned into Mediterranean pleasure craft, and lightships converted into floating restaurants. Vessels that could not be sold, lingered in the yard for many years – some Victorian ships lasted until well into the 1970s and beyond – but Pounds were also alert to the historical significance of the craft in their possession, some of which were donated to heritage organisations for long term conservation, a notable example being a Japanese Kairu midget submarine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Pounds yard was a bizarre landscape and film companies were quick to see the potential of this unusual setting. Probably the most notable example was the 1974 film \u003cem\u003eTommy\u003c\/em\u003e in which Pounds' marker buoys were painted silver and to depict giant pinballs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA fascinating family business, Pounds finally closed its doors in 2023. Although visitors were never encouraged, the author was permitted to visit and photograph the Pounds yard on many occasions. Furthermore, the Pounds family have also kindly lent him business records and their own photos and discussed many aspects of their story. A chapter on military vehicles and a detailed list of all ships bought since 1921 complete a comprehensive and authoritative account of an extraordinary enterprise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRichard Holme has had an interest in naval shipping from an early age and has had books published on Cairnryan Military Port; from U Boats to the Ark Royal (1997) and \u003cem\u003eHMS Warspite\u003c\/em\u003e in Cornwall 1947\/56 (2023). He was editor of the newsletter of the Naval Dockyards Society from 2013 to 2023, and has written many articles in the maritime press; The World Ship Society awarded him best naval essay of 2022 for his research into the covert British mission to acquire the \u003cem\u003eGraf Spee\u003c\/em\u003e Wreck in 1940. He is Treasurer of the Friends of the Falkland Museum in Stanley, and recently completed a Masters in UK shipbreaking 1945–95 at Newcastle University.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Seaforth","offers":[{"title":"Hardback \/ 2026","offer_id":57358628618614,"sku":"9781036133603","price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/9781036133603.jpg?v=1771918467"},{"product_id":"master-and-cartographer-greenvile-collins","title":"Master and Cartographer","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is a book about maps and map-making, about power and class, and about war, seamanship and navigation. It is a study of wealth, patronage and money, in an England riven by religious disorder and toxic politics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGreenvile Collins (1643–94) was a naval warrant officer who caught the attention of a King. His seagoing career took him from Patagonia to the Arctic, into battles against Dutch men of war and Barbary corsairs, and to the slave markets and Silk Road ports of the Mediterranean. A scientific navigator, his professional drive drew him to Shetland, the Scilly Isles and all points in between, as he undertook the most ambitious hydrographic survey of the British coastline yet attempted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThen, even as he laboured to complete his monumental sea atlas, he was summoned yet again to the service of the Crown. The Glorious Revolution was a campaign of crisis for a deeply conflicted Royal Navy, and a crucial test of loyalty for Greenvile Collins and his fellow officers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlan Harper was born in Scotland, raised in East Africa and educated in England. He is an RYA Yachtmaster, maritime journalist, and magazine editor, and has contributed articles on yachting, aviation, seamanship, navigation and travel to publications throughout the English-speaking world. His previous books include \u003cem\u003eWaiting For Buddy Guy: Chicago Blues at the Crossroads\u003c\/em\u003e, which won the ASCAP Foundation Award and was a \u003cem\u003eLiving Blues\u003c\/em\u003e book of the year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eMaster and Cartographer\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Fascinating and elegantly written, \u003cem\u003eMaster \u0026amp; Cartographer\u003c\/em\u003e introduces a largely-forgotten naval hero of Stuart England.'\u003cbr\u003e– N.A.M. 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Entering service in the 1920s, they would be heavily modernized before the outbreak of the Pacific War, which Nagato would start as Yamamoto's flagship for the Pearl Harbor attack. Both ships were present at the Battle of Midway, and though Mutsu would be sunk by a magazine explosion in 1943, Nagato fought at Philippine Sea and Leyte Gulf, before being modified again and moored at Yokosuka as an antiaircraft battery. The last Japanese battleship afloat on VJ-Day, Nagato was sunk in 1946 at Bikini Atoll in the Crossroads nuclear test.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDrawing on Japanese-language sources and original documentation, this is a concisely detailed account of these formidable battleships, superbly illustrated with archive photos and artwork showing the ships through their careers and in action.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStefan Draminski is a naval researcher and illustrator. Since 2002 he has worked on numerous publications on military history subjects. Using 3D software, he creates highly detailed and historically accurate digital models of warships, aircraft and vehicles. He is the author and illustrator of several acclaimed recent titles in the Anatomy of the Ship series, most recently \u003cem\u003eThe Aircraft Carrier Hiryu\u003c\/em\u003e. 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While the fighting had ended, a new weapon had been unleashed onto the world stage that nations rushed frantically to develop and master.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe USA needed somewhere extremely remote to conduct its experimental nuclear weapons testing. They chose Bikini Atoll – a beautiful Pacific coral atoll in the Marshall Islands in the middle of the Pacific and perhaps the most remote group of islands on the planet. The initial nuclear experiments were assigned the codename Operation Crossroads. The 167 local islanders were moved out of their once tranquil tropical paradise whilst American, and captured German and Japanese, battleships, cruisers, destroyers, submarines, and aircraft carriers were moved to the lagoon and moored strategically around the test area so that the effects of a nuclear blast on them could be studied. In total, the US conducted twenty-five nuclear tests on the atoll between 1946 and 1957.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnsurprisingly, Bikini was closed to all visitors until the 1990s. But with radiation in the waters of the lagoon at safe levels, Bikini was able to open its lagoon to divers - and hosting wrecks of some of the most famous shipwrecks of the Second World War, Bikini soon became a magnet for technical divers. Today, diving the Bikini Atoll wrecks is seen as the ultimate diving experience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA renowned diver, Rod Macdonald is famous for his books about the Second World War shipwrecks of Truk Lagoon and Palau. He has now investigated the Bikini wrecks and presents a detailed analysis of the ABLE and BAKER nuclear tests, alongside a stunning collection of unique images of the wrecks, which graphically portray the effects of the most devastating weapons known to mankind.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eROD MACDONALD is an internationally renowned shipwreck explorer, undersea adventurer and best-selling diving author with eleven books about shipwrecks, the culmination of a lifetime of diving. His beautifully illustrated books are the internationally accepted definitive guides to many world-famous dive locations such as Scapa Flow and Truk Lagoon. Rod is a graduate of the University of Aberdeen School of Law. He is a Fellow of the Explorers Club of New York and a Patron of the GB \u0026amp; Ireland Chapter of the Explorers Club. When not writing or exploring shipwrecks he is a big boat yachtsman, former volunteer lifeboatman, a RYA Advanced Powerboat Instructor and a Search and Rescue (SAR) instructor. He lives in Stonehaven, a small fishing town on the north east coast of Scotland with his wife, his two children having flown the coup.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Frontline Books","offers":[{"title":"Hardback \/ 2026","offer_id":57358630814070,"sku":"9781399053198","price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/81Qbm9bATsL._AC_UF1000_1000_QL80.jpg?v=1771918464"},{"product_id":"last-resting-place-loss-hms-hood-british-capital-ships","title":"Last Resting Place","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLast Resting Place\u003c\/em\u003e looks at the loss of each of the ten capital ships of the Royal Navy that were sunk during the Second World War. The stories of some of the sinkings are well known and have become deemed simply part of the fortunes of war. Naval war involves battles, and in sea battles, sooner or later, protagonists are sunk.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut for some of the capital ship losses the stories of how disaster struck are not quite as straightforward. The sinking of \u003cem\u003eHMS Hood\u003c\/em\u003e, for instance, has led to questioning the verdict of the official enquiry over many years, even up to the present day. It was concluded at the time that \u003cem\u003eHood\u003c\/em\u003e was lost to a lucky hit from \u003cem\u003eBismarck\u003c\/em\u003e that drove through the ship and caused a magazine at the stern to catch fire. The inquiry did go through various possibilities in detail but this was the best fit of three alternatives considered and has been left to stand. Yet \u003cem\u003eHood\u003c\/em\u003e's record of numerous dockings for repairs before her last sortie – some of which were heavy – was never even brought up, a surprising omission and the more so since close to the outbreak of war the First Sea Lord had commented: 'she [\u003cem\u003eHood\u003c\/em\u003e] needs a complete and total change of machinery as hers is twenty years old,' and 'the likelihood of her being able to steam at speed for any distance must be considered remote.' Why was mechanical breakdown overlooked? The author's detective work has brought to light some radical new conclusions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome other ships such as \u003cem\u003eArk Royal\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eHermes\u003c\/em\u003e had their wrecks located on the seabed miles away from the official recorded position of their sinking and the loss of \u003cem\u003eRoyal Oak\u003c\/em\u003e in Scapa Flow was an avoidable debacle. Even more contentious was the loss of \u003cem\u003eGlorious\u003c\/em\u003e, sent to Norway to recover some hopelessly antiquated Gloster Gladiator aircraft and lost on her return when she ran into the German battleships \u003cem\u003eScharnhorst\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eGneisenau\u003c\/em\u003e. The results of the inquiry into her sinking were later locked away for 100 years, a decision that has led to much speculation about the actual purpose of her mission and what is it about it that is being hidden from public view.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn ten chapters the author dissects what happened to these fine ships, how their losses came about and where their wrecks are located; and he looks in detail at theories, causes and conclusions surrounding the sinkings. 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These included voyages of discovery to unknown lands, engagements in war and sea and general trade. Many of their logs, diaries and letters were lodged at The National Archives and give a vivid picture of the situations that they encountered.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEntries range from Captain James Cook's notes of his discovery of the South Pacific and Australia, to logs of the great naval battles, such as Trafalgar and the Battle of the Nile. From the ships that attempted to stop piracy in the Caribbean, to the surgeons who recorded the health of the men they tended and naturalists who noted the exotic plants and animals they encountered, comes a fascinating picture of life at sea, richly illustrated with maps, drawings and facsimile documents found alongside the logs in the archives.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Adlard Coles","offers":[{"title":"Hardback \/ 1st edition (2017)","offer_id":57366735454582,"sku":"9781472948663","price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/9781472948663-Tales_from_the_Captains_Log-1-CWNB.jpg?v=1772032065"},{"product_id":"royal-navy-force-h-1940-42-gibraltar","title":"Royal Navy Force H 1940–42","description":"\u003cp\u003eFormed to project British naval power from Gibraltar, Force H was the Royal Navy's unique strategic task force. This fully illustrated study explains its roles, organization and history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn June 1940, the fall of France and its powerful fleet completely changed the naval balance in both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. To counter this, the Admiralty formed Force H, a unique task force based at Gibraltar, which was assigned some of Britain's most powerful capital ships. Command was given to James Somerville, one of Britain's finest admirals, who reported directly to the Admiralty. Force H would be the Royal Navy's 'fire brigade' in the theatre.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this book, naval historian Angus Konstam presents a detailed study of Force H's purpose, capabilities, organization, and how it fought to dominate the seas around the crucial Straits of Gibraltar. Until the Italian surrender in 1943, Force H would be tasked with crucial actions from the destruction of the French fleet at Mers-el-Kebir to hunting the \u003cem\u003eBismarck\u003c\/em\u003e in the Atlantic, and from Malta convoy escort to supporting Allied amphibious landings from Madagascar to Sicily.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePacked with spectacular original artwork, maps and diagrams, it demonstrates how Force H, more than any other British naval force, had the strategic flexibility and firepower to turn the tide of war in not just one, but two vital theatres.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAngus Konstam is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and has written widely on naval history, with well over a hundred books in print. He is a former Royal Navy officer, maritime archaeologist and museum curator, who has worked in the Royal Armouries, Tower of London, and Mel Fisher Maritime Museum. Now a full-time author and historian, he lives in Orkney.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaul Wright has painted ships of all kinds for most of his career, specializing in steel and steam warships from the late 19th century to the present day. Paul's art has illustrated the works of Patrick O'Brian, Dudley Pope and C.S. Forester amongst others, and hangs in many corporate and private collections all over the world. 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Seventh Fleet's role included blockading enemy ports, escorting convoys, close air support, interdiction, naval gunfire support, and amphibious invasions and evacuations. With few exceptions, Seventh Fleet's command of the sea around Korea was unchallenged, allowing the fleet to focus its efforts on supporting the ground war.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Korean War was also part of a period of intense technological change, and it saw the combat debut of naval jet aircraft and helicopters. Packed with battle diagrams, photographs and meticulously researched battlescenes, this book examines the ships and technology, command and organisation, logistics, intelligence, and combat performance of the fleet. It is a rounded portrait of how Seventh Fleet proved the flexibility and importance of sea power in an unexpected theatre.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDr Corbin Williamson is an Associate Professor and Associate Dean at the Air War College where he teaches courses on strategy, World War II, and the Korean War. He holds a PhD in history from Ohio State University and has previously worked in the Historical Office of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. His first book, \u003cem\u003eThe U.S. Navy and its Cold War Alliances, 1950–1953\u003c\/em\u003e was published in 2020.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaul Wright has painted ships of all kinds for most of his career, specialising in steel and steam warships from the late 19th century to the present day. Paul's art has illustrated the works of Patrick O'Brian, Dudley Pope and C.S. Forester amongst others, and hangs in many corporate and private collections all over the world. A Member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists, Paul lives and works in Surrey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTHE FLEET'S PURPOSE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFLEET FIGHTING POWER\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Ships\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTechnical Factors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHOW THE FLEET OPERATED\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDoctrine, Command, and Communication\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntelligence and Deception\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLogistics and Facilities\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCOMBAT AND ANALYSIS\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Fleet in Combat\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnalysis\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFURTHER READING\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Osprey","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ 1st edition (2025)","offer_id":57442794832246,"sku":"9781472866868","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/9781472866868-US_Seventh_Fleet_Korea_195053-1-CWNB.jpg?v=1773167382"},{"product_id":"atlanta-class-cruisers-us-navy-antiaircraft-pacific-war","title":"US Navy Atlanta-class Light Cruisers 1940–49","description":"\u003cp\u003eA comprehensively illustrated account of the Atlanta-class cruisers, warships that found a surprising key role in the Pacific War as the US Navy's superb antiaircraft warships.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the late 1930s, the US Navy created a class of small, light cruisers intended as a versatile destroyer leader. The Atlantas could provide antiaircraft support, lead and launch torpedo attacks, serve as antisubmarine vessels, and outgun other light warships in a surface engagement. The wartime reality was different. In every surface action they fought, they found themselves pitted against bigger cruisers (or even battleships) instead of the destroyers they were designed to defeat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this book, naval historian Mark Lardas explains that despite their flaws, they proved one of the most useful warships in the US Navy: with a main battery of sixteen 5in guns, they proved to be superb antiaircraft cruisers. From the battle of Midway onwards, they protected the Navy's most valuable ships – its aircraft carriers – so effectively that later Atlantas were built to a modified design as specialist antiaircraft ships. The Navy even ordered a follow-on class postwar and considered building a 'super-Atlanta,' armed only with heavy antiaircraft guns.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePacked with illustrations, this book examines the history, development, and modifications of these unusual warships, and their impact on the Pacific War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMark Lardas has always been fascinated by things related to the sea and sky. From building models of ships and aircraft as a teen, he then studied Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, but his interest in aviation led him to take a job on the then-new Space Shuttle program, where he worked for the next 30 years as a navigation engineer. Currently he develops commercial aircraft systems as a quality assurance manager. He has written numerous books on military, naval or maritime history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStefan Draminski is a naval researcher and illustrator. 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He lives in Torun, Poland, with his wife, children and dog.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eINTRODUCTION\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGenesis\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eForeign contemporaries\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDesign\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEquipment\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVARIANTS, MODIFICATIONS, AND SUBCLASSES\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOakland subclass\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJuneau class\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCL-154 class\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWartime modifications\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOPERATIONAL HISTORY\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntroduction\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1941–43\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1944–45\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePostwar\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCONCLUSION\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFURTHER READING\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eINDEX\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Osprey","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ 1st edition (2025)","offer_id":57442794865014,"sku":"9781472866523","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/Atlanta_class_Cruisers-1-CWNB.jpg?v=1773167371"},{"product_id":"william-bligh-that-bounty-bastard","title":"William Bligh","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWilliam Bligh – That Bounty Bastard\u003c\/em\u003e tells the story of a man whose reputation has been permanently ruined by his portrayal in films as a cruel and vindictive tyrant. The facts prove otherwise. This book looks at the life of a much-maligned man who was a protégé of the explorer James Cook and who enjoyed the unwavering patronage of the botanist Sir Joseph Banks throughout his life. Sent to Tahiti to transport breadfruit plants to the West Indies, he is nowadays renowned only for his part in the Mutiny on the \u003cem\u003eBounty\u003c\/em\u003e. Critics overlook the astonishing feat of navigation and leadership in bringing his men to safety after a voyage of more than 4000 miles in an open boat – with very limited supplies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe was successful in his breadfruit mission on the second attempt and then went on to considerable naval glory due to his courage in battle. It earned him the prestigious appointment of Governor of New South Wales. This proved to be a poisoned chalice – and he was thrown out of office by an insurrection intent on preserving the army's corrupt hold on power.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book also examines what happened to Fletcher Christian after he sailed the \u003cem\u003eBounty\u003c\/em\u003e to Pitcairn, examines the voyage of the \u003cem\u003ePandora\u003c\/em\u003e, which brought some of the mutineers back to Britain, and examines the ensuing courts martial.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the story of a man who was sincere, stubborn and somewhat staid – but with astonishing temper tantrums when provoked or opposed in the execution of what he saw to be his duty.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMike Rendell has written 13 books, all of them about Georgian England. His interest in the period was inspired by a fascinating cache of papers left by his 18th century ancestors. 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