Osprey Essential Histories 30 : The Second World War (3) : The War at Sea

In September 1939 began the longest campaign of the Second World War - the War at Sea. This book will encompass three major theatres of combat; the battles for the Atlantic, the war in the Mediterranean and the contest in the Indian Ocean. The Atlantic campaign will analyse the struggle for supremacy at sea between Britain, Germany and the United States. It will assess the differing strategies (convoys and wolfpacks) and consider the role of intelligence as well as opposing personalities (Max Horton versus Karl Donitz). The war in the Mediterranean covers a broad range of operations from air strikes such as Taranto by the Fleet Air Arm, sea engagements such as Matapan, convoy operations like Pedestal and amphibious operations in North Africa and Italy. The contest in the Indian Ocean will illustrate the struggle between the Allied navies against the initial supremacy of the Imperial Japanese Navy. It will also contextualise the problems facing the depleted Allied forces in trying to turn the tide against the Japanese forces between 1941-1945. The war at sea was a vital contest, which if lost would have irreversibly altered the balance of the military forces on land. An island nation like Britain could not have sustained itself to triumph over Germany, Italy and Japan after five years of fighting without having first assured victory at sea. The sea lanes were the logistical arteries of British and subsequent Allied armies fighting on the three continents of Africa, Asia and Europe. The Second World War was ultimately won by land forces but it could always have been lost at sea. Text by Alastair Finlan.

Contents

• Introduction
• Chronology
• Background to War : The Second World War
• Warring Sides : Reluctant Adversaries
• Outbreak : Opening Moves
• The Fighting : Across the World's Seas
• Portrait of a Soldier : Peter Herbert Owen, Royal Navy Midshipman
• The World around War : The Impact of War
• Portrait of a Civilian : John Delaney-Nash, Merchant Mariner
• How the War Ended : The German Fleet is Scuttled
• Conclusion and Consequences : The Price of Admiralty