Royal Navy in World War II, The

by Robert Jackson

When Nazi Germany struck out from its borders in 1939, the force and efficiency of its land and air forces cut an unstoppable swath through mainland Europe. Only at sea was their new-found might tamed. Afraid to confront the British fleet in battle Hitler kept his most lethal ships hidden, although the Kriegsmarine's superior ships and guns probably would have won a confrontation. This is the story of how, despite all odds, the Royal Navy helped Britain survive during the critical times of the Battle of the Atlantic, the Siege of Malta, the convoys to northern Russia, and the D-Day landings. It credits the dogged determination of British seafarers in the early part of the war for causing the demise of the German big-ship fleet, leaving the U-boat and E-boat to fight Hitler's war at sea. The book also explains why the British could not play the part they wished in the Eastern and Pacific war.Heavily illustrated with more than 170 authentic wartime action photographs, this book captures Britain's proud tradition as one of the world's greatest seafaring nations, and it offers a wealth of information to all students of World War II history.

176 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1998

About the author

Robert Jackson was born in 1941 in the North Yorkshire village of Melsonby. A former pilot and navigation instructor, his active involvement with aviation lasted many years. Following his retirement from the RAFVR in 1977 as a squadron leader, he became a full-time aviation writer and aerospace correspondent and lectured extensively on strategic issues. He speaks five languages, including Russian, and has written more than forty nonfiction works on military affairs. He is also the author of the popular Yeoman and SAS fiction series.