| ID | Description | Categories | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | ROSSITER, Mike. Ark Royal: The Life, Death and Rediscovery of the Legendary Second World War Aircraft Carrier. xvi, 302p., illus., index. London: Bantam, 2006. ISBN: 0593055519.
A history of the renowned carrier is intertwined with the contemporary story of the search for and discovery of her wreck. |
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| 2023 | RUSSELL, Herbert, & PURSEY, Harry. Ark Royal: The Story of a Famous Ship. 92p., illus. London: Lane, 1942.
A brief hagiographic account of the career of one of the most famous ships to serve in the Royal Navy in WWII. Due to its date of publication, it is far from explicit about many events. For example, the Norwegian Campaign is described in three sentences. |
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| 2024 | SHAW, Frank H. The Navy of Tomorrow: The Story of HMS Illustrious. 232p., illus., index. London: Laurie, 1950.
In praise of the aircraft carrier, "the ship of tomorrow." It includes a brief and unoriginal retelling of her wartime exploits. |
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| 2025 | SMITH, Peter C. Eagle's War: The War Diary of an Aircraft Carrier. 200p., bibliog., illus., index. London: Crecy, 1995. ISBN: 0947554602.
Based heavily on the reminiscences of survivors and Reports of Proceedings this is an operational history of her three years of war before being sunk in the Pedestal convoy. Not his best book. |
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| 2026 | STEELE, John, & STEELE, Noreen. They Were Never Told: The Tragedy of HMS Dasher. 192p., illus. Glendaruel: Argyll Publishing, 1997. ISBN: 1874640335.
A huge quantity of information came to light after the publication of the author's previous book, The Tragedy of HMS Dasher, begging the question of the fine line between proper wartime secrecy and official cover-up. A fascinating exploration of an emotive subject. Although it differs substantially this claims to be a second edition. A paperback revised edition entitled The Secrets of HMS Dasher was published in 2002 (ISBN: 1902831756). It claims that the body of Major Martin, "the man who never was" may have been a member of Dasher's crew. A paperback version of this, described as a fourth edition, was published in 2004. A fourth revised edition entitled The American Connection to the Sinking of HMS Dasher appeared in 2010. (ISBN: 0953263711), published by North Shore. |
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| 2027 | STEELE, John. The Tragedy of HMS Dasher. 192p., illus. Glendaruel: Argyll Publishing, 1995. ISBN: 1874640416.
A mish-mash of eyewitness and survivor accounts plus official reports and some connecting text. |
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| 2028 | TROMAN, L. Wine, Women and War. 97p., illus. London: Regency, 1979. ISBN: 072120578X.
A young sailor's account of WWII as seen from the lower deck of Victorious during 1942–44. |
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| 2029 | WARD, Peter. Pacific Voyage: A Year on the Escort Carrier HMS Arbiter During WWII. xvi, 104p., illus. Studley: Brewin, 2005. ISBN: 1858582768.
A very personal account of the last year of the war, covering travel from the UK to Australia and service with the Fleet Train. At times reads like a travel guide as it describes the ports and countries visited. |
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| 2030 | WATTON, Ross. The Aircraft Carrier Victorious (Anatomy of the Ship). 160p., bibliog., illus. London: Conway, 1991. ISBN: 0851775802.
Design drawings and photographs are used to give a technical description of the ship. |
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| 2031 | WEAVER, D. G. The History of HMS Queen: A World War II Lend Lease Escort Aircraft Carrier. 260p., bibliog., illus., index. Hong Kong: D. G. Weaver, 2004. ISBN: 9889727218.
An excellent account of the story of an escort carrier which contains in-depth material on the building and conversion process in the United States and Canada. |
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| 2032 | WINTON, John. Carrier Glorious: The Life and Death of an Aircraft Carrier. viii, 254p., bibliog., illus., index. London: Cooper, 1984. ISBN: 0436578069.
Mainly concerned with the tragic end of the carrier. Attempts an objective and therefore painful review of all the evidence. |
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| 2033 | WOODMAN, D. W. J. HMS Tracker & The Attacker Class Escort Carriers (Society of Friends of the Fleet Air Arm Museum Monograph no. 2). 43p., illus. [n.p.: Skylark], 1987. ISBN: 0951313908.
A brief memoir with some information on other ships of the class. |
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| 2034 | COX, Leonard J. HMS Moreton Bay: Armed Merchant Cruiser Manned by the RAN 1939–41 (Naval Historical Society of Australia, Monograph, No. 22). 20p. Sydney: Naval Historical Society of Australia, 1991.
A slightly vague account of her career by her radio officer. |
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| 2035 | HAMPSHIRE, A. Cecil. The Blockaders. 224p., bibliog., illus., index. London: Kimber, 1980. ISBN: 0718302273.
Describes the role of Armed Merchant Cruisers on the Northern Patrol in both world wars. About two-thirds is devoted to WWII. |
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| 2036 | OSBORNE, Richard. Conversion for War. 84p., illus. Kendal: World Ship Society, 1983. ISBN: 0905617258.
A series of essays on the RN fighting auxiliaries used in WWII. All are listed and discussed, with some technical and operational details. Also contains an essay on Italian AMCs. |
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| 2037 | OSBORNE, Richard, SPONG, Harry & GROVER, Tom. Armed Merchant Cruisers 1878-1945. 328p., illus., index. Windsor: World Ship Society, 2007. ISBN: 0954331087.
A beautifully produced volume which is probably the definitive work on these converted vessels. Packed with information and individual ships details. |
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| 2038 | POOLMAN, Kenneth. Armed Merchant Cruisers: Their Epic Story. x, 228p., illus., index. London: Cooper, 1985. ISBN: 0436377063.
Half on WWII. A competent account of their role and actions. |
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| 2039 | THORNE, Anthony. I'm a Stranger Here Myself. [xi], 188p. London: Heinemann, 1943.
A popular view of lower deck life on an AMC, cast in the form of a novel-cum-diary. |
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| 2040 | BASSETT, Ronald. Battle Cruisers: A History, 1908–48. xxii, 296p., bibliog., illus., index. London: Macmillan, 1981. ISBN: 0333281640.
The 16 battle cruisers - the "Splendid Cats" - built for the RN and RAN formed a ship type which lasted only 40 years but which was in the thick of the fray in two world wars. A sound history with no startling revelations. |
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| 2041 | BRADFORD, Ernle. The Mighty Hood. 224p., bibliog., illus., index. London: Hodder, 1959; Cleveland: World Publishing, 1960.
Hood was the epitome of British seapower until her tragic sinking in 1941 by the Bismarck. This very well written popular account has almost half its length devoted to her wartime service with the Home Fleet and Force H and, of course, devotes much space to the causes of the sinking. |
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