Category: Reference Works

BROWN, George A. Lloyd’s War Medal for Bravery at Sea. 181p.,Western Canadian Distributors Ltd.: Langley, B.C., 1992. ISBN: 9780094813656.

These were awarded to seaman in the Merchant Navy during World War IIfor acts of bravery. The awards are listed with a brief account of circumstances.

WRIGHT, Malcolm. British and Commonwealth Warship Camouflage of WWII. Volume III: Cruisers. 192p., illus., index. Barnsley: Seaforth; Annapolis: NIP, 2016. ISBN: 1848324200.

 A maritime artist lovingly recreates both official and unofficial schemes for cruisers, minelayers and Armed Merchant Cruisers. The final volume in the series.

DIXON, Jeremy. The U-Boat Commanders: Knight’s Cross Holders 1939-1945. 352p., bibliog., illus., index.   Annapolis, Naval Institute Press, 2019. ISBN: 9781526718730.

In all, there were 123 recipients of the Knight’s Cross. Dixon's highly illustrated book offers a guide to all these men and their wartime service. There are almost 200 archive photographs. 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.

MACE, Martin. The Royal Navy at Dunkirk: Commanding Officers’ Accounts of British Warships in Action During Operation Dynamo. ixx, [that is xix], 428 pages, illus.  Barnsley: Frontline, 2017. ISBN:  9781473886728.

The Admiralty issued an order requiring the Commanding Officers of those British warships involved in the evacuation to submit a report detailing their actions. These carefully organised accounts bring to life the chaos, professional skill, bravery and improvisation which made Operation Dynamo a success.

HOCKING, Charles. Dictionary of Disasters at Sea during the Age of Steam, 1824–1962: Including Sailing Ships and Ships of War Lost in Action. 2 vols. London: Lloyd's Register of Shipping, 1969.

An alphabetical listing, with brief leading details of the ships and some account of the circumstances of loss. A very useful, if incomplete work. Reprinted in a one volume edition by the London Stamp Exchange in 1990, ISBN: 9780948130687 and again in 2002 by the Naval and Military Press, ISBN: 9780948130724.

PARIS, Michael. The Novels of World War Two: An Annotated Bibliography of World War Two Fiction. xii, 184p., index. London: Library Association, 1990. ISBN: 0853659184.

An annotated list of some 2000 novels arranged chronologically, by author, by title and by subject.

Convoys in World War II (World War II Commemorative Bibliography No 4). 14p. Washington: Navy Department Library, 1993.

One of 10 planned bibliographies, this covers selectively the literature of books and journals held by the Library, with over 150 entries, mainly for the Atlantic and Arctic theaters.

Another line!

THOMAS, David A. Battles and Honours of the Royal Navy. 362p., bibliog., illus., index Barnsley: Leo Cooper, 1998. ISBN: 085052623X.

Claims to be the first comprehensive list of such honours and provides good brief accounts of the relevant battles. An alphabetical list of battles and campaign honours includes good brief summaries of the battles and their context. There are then further sections on battles not awarded honours, on single ship actions, FAA Squadrons and the Royal Marines.

PHILLIPS, Lawrie. The Royal Navy Day by Day. 4th ed. xi, 853p., bibliog., illus., index. Stroud: Spellmount, 2011. ISBN: 970752461779.

A fourth edition of the indispensable reference work previously edited by Shrubb then Sainsbury (qv). A much revised fifth edition was published in 2018 (ISBN: 9780750982665).

CHASSEAUD, Peter. Mapping the Second World War. 304p., bibliog., illus., index. Glasgow: Collins; London: Imperial War Museum, 2015. ISBN: 9780007950027.

A profusely illustrated history of the war, based on the map collection of the Imperial War Museum. These contemporary maps cover both the war at sea and a variety of landings and assaults as well as the land campaigns.

NESBIT, Roy Conyers. An Expendable Squadron: The Story of 217 Squadron Coastal Command. 256p., bibliog., illus., index. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Aviation, 2014. ISBN: 9781473823280.

A highly illustrated account of the squadron in which he flew and its hazardous missions.

JONES, Ben. The Fleet Air Arm in the Second World War: Volume II - 1942-1943, The Fleet Air Arm in Transition – The Mediterranean, Battle of the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean. (Publications of the Navy Record Society, Vol. 165). xxix, 618p., bibliog., illus., index. Abingdon: Routledge for the Navy Records Society, 2018. ISBN: 9780815355076.

An excellent set of essays accompanies each section of well-chosen and edited documents. This volume focuses as much on policy and planning as on action.

COLEMAN, Arthur & NEEL, Hildy. Great Stories of World War II: An Annotated Bibliography of Eyewitness War-Related Books Written and Published Between 1940 and 1946. viii, 133p., bibliog. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press, 2007. ISBN: 9780810850491.

The first personal narrative about World War II was published two months after America formally entered the war in 1941. Between then and 1946, over 500 of these books were published. These eyewitness accounts, written by war correspondents, service men and women, home front civilians, and defence workers, were very different from the stark military dispatches printed in the daily press. Each entry includes citations for any reviews the work received in any of six major American reviewing journals. Although an American work there is some relevant naval material.

BERTKE, Donald A., KINDELL, Don & SMITH, Gordon.. World War II Sea War, Volume 12: Anzio, Kwajalein, Eniwetok and the Admiralty Islands. 455p. Dayton, OH: Bertke Publications, 2018. ISBN: 9781937470234.

Volume 12 covers all naval engagements during the first three months of 1944. In the Pacific, US Operation Cartwheel successfully isolates the strong Japanese force at Rabaul. US and Australian forces advance along the New Guinea coast toward the Philippines. The US Navy wages the air attack on Truk, then captures the Gilbert and Marshall Islands. Meanwhile in Europe, the Allies invade Italy at Anzio and prepare for their landing at Normandy,

BERTKE, Donald A., KINDELL, Don & SMITH, Gordon.. World War II Sea War, Volume 11: Bougainville, Tarawa and Cape Gloucester. 472p. Dayton, OH: Bertke Publications, 2017. ISBN: 9781937470210.

This volume contains day-to-day naval and merchant actions for October to December 1943, sorted by month, location, date, and time. Vessels of all countries involved in World War II are included, including merchantmen. Major actions include: British attempt to seize Italian-held Aegean Islands; Royal Navy's return to Ceylon; US landing on Bougainville Island; the arrival of new USN Essex-class aircraft carriers, enabling the occupation of the Gilbert Islands; the sinking of the Scharnhorst; and the evacuation of Sevastopol.

BERTKE, Donald A., KINDELL, Don & SMITH, Gordon. World War II Sea War, Volume 10: Il Duce Deposed. 476p. Dayton, OH: Bertke Publications, 2016. ISBN: 9781937470173.

A comprehensive list of day-to-day naval actions from July 1943 to September 1943. Major events include the Allied invasions of Sicily and Italy, plus continued action in the Solomon and New Guinea Islands, and the US liberation of Kiska Island.

BERTKE, Donald A., KINDELL, Don & SMITH, Gordon.. World War II Sea War, Volume 9: Wolfpacks Muzzled. 562p. Dayton, OH: Bertke Publications, 2016. ISBN: 9781937470166.

This volume covers day-to-day naval actions during March-June 1943. The Allies attacked German U-boats day and night, forcing their withdrawal from the vital North Atlantic convoy routes, clearing the way for the eventual invasion of Europe from Britain. In the Bismarck Sea, Allied aircraft destroyed an entire Japanese troop convoy bound for New Guinea. In the Komandorski Islands, the US Navy engaged a superior Japanese force and outfought them. The Allies isolated the German and Italian troops fighting in Tunisia with an air and sea blockade. Without support from Italy, Tunisia fell. US aircraft ambushed Admiral Yamamoto while he was en route to an inspection visit in the Solomon Islands. The US 7th Infantry Division liberated Attu Island in the Aleutian Islands.

BERTKE, Donald A., KINDELL, Don & SMITH, Gordon. World War II Sea War, Volume 8: Guadalcanal Secured. 448p. Dayton, OH: Bertke Publications, 2015. ISBN: 9781937470135.

Volume 8 documents the swing of battle from the Axis to the Allies from December 1942 to February 1943 as naval actions forced the Japanese to begin their retreat and their efforts to forestall the inevitable. Meanwhile, naval actions slowly strangled the Axis nations in Europe Specific events include: the last naval battles for Guadalcanal; the IJN’s secret evacuation of the Japanese Army from Guadalcanal; the Russian encirclement and destruction of the German Sixth Army at Stalingrad; the German counterattacks against the much larger Russian Army in the Ukraine; the Battle in the North Atlantic between Allied convoy escorts and German U-boats; the Allies’ advance to trap German and Italian troops in Tunisia; intense actions in the Arctic Ocean as the German surface fleet tried to destroy the Arctic Convoys; increased attacks by USN submarines on Japanese shipping.

DUNN, Steve R.  British Naval Trawlers and Drifters in Two World Wars: From The John Lambert Collection edited by Steve R. Dunn. 208p., bibliog., illus., index. Barnsley: Seaforth, 2021. ISBN: 1526794861.

The fourth of a planned series of albums using John Lambert’s detailed drawings. In his accompanying text, the editor examines the ships themselves, their design, construction, arming, operations and development; and he also relates how the trawlermen and skippers, from the age-old fishing ports of Britain, came to be part of the Royal Navy, and describes the roles they played.

BERTKE, Donald A., KINDELL, Don & SMITH, Gordon. World War II Sea War, Volume 17: Götterdämmerung and Sayonara – Germany and Japan Surrender. 392p. Dayton, OH: Bertke Publications, 2021. ISBN: 9781937470333.

Covers the final naval events of the war.

BERTKE, Donald A., KINDELL, Don & SMITH, Gordon. World War II Sea War, Volume 18: Additions and Corrections August 1939-February 1941. 533p. Dayton, OH: Bertke Publications, 2021. ISBN: 9781937470357.

Corrects some old data entries, but mainly consists of additional information. Further volumes of corrections and editions for each quarter year are in the process of publication.

COCKER, Maurice. Aircraft-Carrying Ships of the Royal Navy. 160p., bibliog., illus., index. Stroud: History Press, 2008. ISBN: 9780752446332.

A comprehensive guide and directory to this ships from 1912-2000. Covers all classes of aircraft carrying ships whether built or converted with specifications and building details and some minimal service details. A useful reference guide.

GHIGLINO, Marco. Italian Naval Camouflage of World War II. 240p., bibliog., illus., index. Barnsley: Seaforth, 2018. ISBN: 1526735393.

Italian naval camouflage was one of the most varied of all. This is a comprehensive survey by an acknowledged expert.

HEPPER, David. British Warship Losses in the Modern Era 1920-1982. viii, 424p. bibliog., illus., index. Barnsley: Seaforth, 2022. ISBN: 9781399097666.

An excellent reference work. Arranged chronologically there is a brief account of each loss which includes relevant background information. Covers everything from trawlers to battleships.

KEMP, Paul. The Admiralty Regrets: British Warship Losses of the 20th Century. xii, 275p., bibliog., illus., index. Stroud: Sutton, 1999. ISBN: 0750915676.

A chronological listing with details on each sinking varying from a sentence to a page of information. Really only covers major vessels.

BERTKE, Donald A., KINDELL, Don & SMITH, Gordon. World War II Sea War, Volume 17: Götterdämmerung and Sayonara – Germany and Japan Surrender. 392p. Dayton, OH: Bertke Publications, 2021. ISBN: 9781937470333.

Covers the final naval events of the war.

SHORES, Christopher & MASSIMELLO, Giovanni with GUEST, Russell. A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940-1945. 4 vols., bibliog., illus., index. London: Grub Street, 2012-16. ISBN: 9781908117076 (V.1); 190916612X (V.2); ISBN: 1910690007 (V.3); ISBN: 9781911621102 (V.4).

A monumental reference working describing activity in the theatre day-by-day. Vol. 1 covers June 1940 –January 1942; Vol. 2 covers February 1942 – March 1943; Vol. 3 covers Tunisia and the end in Africa November 1942-May 1943; Vol. 4 covers Sicily and Italy to the Fall of Rome 1943-44; Vol 5. covers the period from the Fall of Rome to the end of the war in 1945. Includes material on maritime support and reconnaissance.

BERTKE, Donald A., KINDELL, Don & SMITH, Gordon. World War II Sea War, Volume 7: The Allies Strike Back. 442p. Dayton, OH: Bertke Publications, 2014. ISBN: 9781937470111.

From September to November 1942, the Allies defeated the Axis forces on all active fronts. On land, the British defeated Rommel in Operation SUPERCHARGE, the US Marines defeated the Japanese on Guadalcanal, and the Russians trapped the German Sixth Army at Stalingrad and disrupted the entire Axis southern front in Russia. At sea, the Royal Navy landed desperately needed supplies on Malta in Operations PEDESTAL and STONEAGE; the USN defended the US Marines on Guadalcanal from a Japanese attack in the Battle of Cape Esperance; the Allies landed troops at Morocco and Algeria in Operation TORCH; USN cruisers sank a Japanese battleship in the 1st Battle of Savo Island; the 2nd Battle of Savo Island was the only battleship-to-battleship engagement of the war in the Pacific; the Battle of the North Atlantic increased in intensity; and the Germans tried to capture the French Fleet at Toulon, France, in Operation ANTON, only to arrive as the ships sank beneath the sea.

BAGNASCO, Erminio & TORO, Augusto de. Italian Battleships: Conte di Cavour and Diulio Classes 1911-1956. 272p., bibliog., illus., index. Barnsley: Seaforth; Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 2021. ISBN: 9781526799876.

Covers all the technical details of the ships as well as giving detailed operational histories and a wide range of illustrations.

MACE, Martin & GREHAN, John. The Battle for Norway 1940-1942.  xii, 174p., illus., index. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Maritime, 2015. ISBN: 1783462329.

Reprints six despatches from the London Gazette with a brief introduction, namely 37584, Operations in Central Norway in 1940; 38005, First and Second Battles of Narvik; 38011, Operations in Northern Norway; 38300, Carrier-borne aircraft attack on Kirkenes and Petsamo; 38331, Raid on the Lofoten Islands; 38342, Raid on Vaagso Island.

BURNS, K. V. Badges and Battle Honours of H.M. Ships. 208p., illus., index. Liskeard: Maritime Books, 1986. ISBN: 0907771262.

A heavily illustrated alphabetical list of all RN ships, showing each crest and any battle honours followed by a potted one paragraph description and biography of each vessel which bore the name.

BERTKE, Donald A., KINDELL, Don & SMITH, Gordon. World War II Sea War, Volume 16: Lingayen Gulf, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and the Attack of the Kamikaze. 620p. Dayton, OH: Bertke Publications, 2020. ISBN:     9781937470319.

Covers the first quarter of 1945, including the Allies’ final struggles against Nazi Germany and the last major battles against Japan.

BERTKE, Donald A., KINDELL, Don & SMITH, Gordon. World War II Sea War, Volume 15: Return to the Philippines. 498p. Dayton, OH: Bertke Publications, 2020. ISBN: 9781937470296.

Covers the fourth quarter of 1944. In Europe, the RAF attacked the Tirpitz in Norway, but most naval activity was between the US and Imperial Japanese Navies for the Philippines.

BERTKE, Donald A., KINDELL, Don & SMITH, Gordon. World War II Sea War, Volume 14: Guam, Tinian, Southern France, Peleliu and Morotai. 546p. Dayton, OH: Bertke Publications, 2019. ISBN: 9781937470272.

Covers the third quarter of 1944. Includes the continuing naval battle in the English Channel; the landing in southern France by US and French troops; the liberation of French ports along the Atlantic and Mediterranean; the liberation of Guam by US Army and Marine troops; capture of Tinian Island by US marines; landing on Morotai Island by US troops; capture of Peleliu, Angaur Island and Ulithi Atoll by US forces; the landing at Noemfoor, New Guinea, by US and Australian troops; operations of USN submarines in the Pacific Ocean

BERTKE, Donald A., KINDELL, Don & SMITH, Gordon. World War II Sea War, Volume 13: New Guinea, Normandy, and Saipan. 478p. Dayton, OH: Bertke Publications, 2018. ISBN: 9781937470258.

Covers the second quarter of 1944, In April, May and June 1944, there were three major areas of naval conflict: in New Guinea: US and Australian forces landed at Aitape and Hollandia, then at Arare, Wakde and Biak Island. The German navy attacked what they thought was an Allied convoy along the English southwestern coast. They had actually stumbled upon Operation TIGER, the Allied training exercise for the upcoming Normandy landing. This culminated in the Allied landing in Normandy in Operation OVERLORD. In the Pacific: The US landed on Saipan, considered Japanese territory, in Operation FORAGER, which caused the Battle of the Philippine Sea.

ROBERTS, John. Destroyer Cossack: Detailed in Original Builder’s Plans. 128p., bibliog., illus., index. Barnsley: Seaforth, 2020. ISBN: 9781526777065.

Using the original plans as the centrepiece of this book, an acknowledged expert gives a full description of the design and construction and service of the famous destroyer. Profusely illustrated.

MACE, Martin & GREHAN, John. Unearthing Churchill’s Secret Army: The Official List of SOE Casualties and Their Stories. xi, 268p., bibliog., illus., index. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military, 2012. ISBN: 1848847947.

A list of agents who died, with biographical details. Some relevant if marginal naval material and some background on some raiding units.

BENBOW, Tim. Operation Neptune: The D-Day Landings, 6 June 1944 (Naval Staff Histories of the Second World War Volume 1). 423p., bibliog., illus., index. London: Helion, 2015. ISBN: 9781909982970.

First published by the Admiralty in 1948 in two volumes as Staff History No. 39 Operation “Neptune” The Landings in Normandy 6th June, 1944 (B.R.1736 (42) (1 & 2)). Reprinted and edited with a preface by David Brown in 2000 as part of a set including two other staff histories on the European landings. Then reprinted in 2015 by Helion Press with a new introduction by Tim Benbow. (ISBN: 9781909982970).

STEWART, Andrew. Operation Dragoon. The Invasion of the South of France, 15 August 1944 (Naval Staff Histories of the Second World War Volume 2). 125, (4)p., bibliog., illus., index. Solihull: Helion, 2015. ISBN 9781909982987.

First published in 1950 as Staff History No. 43 The Invasion of the South of France Operation Dragoon (B.R.1736 (36)). by the Admiralty. Reprinted and edited with a preface by David Brown in 2000 as part of a set on the 1944 invasions.

COCKER, Maurice. Destroyers of the Royal Navy 1893-1981. 136p., bibliog., illus., index. London: Ian Allan, 1981. ISBN: 0711010757.

A brief guide arranged by class, with leading details and some note of losses. A revised edition entitled Royal Navy Destroyers 1893 to the Present Day (ISBN: 0752461591) was published by Seaforth in 2011.

CRITCHLEY, Mike. The Royal Navy in Focus 1930–39. 110p., illus., index. Liskeard: Maritime Books, [1982]. ISBN: 0907771041.

A series of captioned photographs in A–Z order by ship name, mainly from the immediate pre-war period and all from the collection of Messrs Wright and Logan of Portsmouth

LEGG, Rodney. Dorset’s War Diary: Battle of Britain to D-Day.336p., illus., index. Wincanton: Dorset Publishing Company, 2004. ISBN: 0948699795.

An amended and updated version of his earlier work on this frontline county. Has  almost 900 entries and 500 photographs. Despite its title, the whole 1939-45 period is covered.

YOUNG, Ron. The Comprehensive Guide to the Shipwrecks of the North East Coast. Volume Two (1918-2000). 256p., illus., index. Stroud: Tempus, 2001. ISBN: 0752417509.

Organised geographically from Whitby to Berwick this lists some 204 wrecks for which remains still exist on the seabed. It gives details of the ships, the sinkings and the wreck site.

TOGHILL, Gerald. Royal Navy Trawlers. 2 vols., illus., index. Liskeard: Maritime Books, 2003-4. ISBN: 0907771955 (Vol. 1); 1904459021(Vol.2).

A comprehensive listing of hundreds of these vessels covering both world wars. Volume 1 covers Admiralty Built trawlers and volume two requisitioned trawlers. Brief details are given of origins, deployment and fate.

BERTKE, Donald A., KINDELL, Don & SMITH, Gordon. World War II Sea War. Volume 4: Germany Sends Russia to the Allies. 452p. Dayton, OH: Bertke Publications, 2012. ISBN: 9781937470036.

Describes day-to-day naval actions from June through November 1941 and includes civilian and military vessels from Allied, Axis, and neutral nations. Data is organized by month, then by geographical area, then by date.

McMURTRIE, Francis E. The World’s Warships. [various paginations], illus. London: Sampson Low, 1939-45.

A small reference book published annually throughout the war. Arranged by country it gives brief details of warships, with class, name, leading details and a generous quantity of photographs.

BAYLISS, Gwyn M. Bibliographic Guide to the Two World Wars: An Annotated Survey of English Language Reference Materials. xv, 578p., index. London: Bowker, 1977. ISBN: 0859350134.

The Librarian of the Imperial War Museum provides a treasure trove of information on reference works, from dictionaries to chronologies and from maps to theses.

ANDERSON, Frank John. Submarines, Submariners, Submarining: A Bibliography. xii, 140p. Hamden, Conn.: Shoestring, 1963.

A checklist of submarine books, principally of the twentieth century, arranged by author, title and subject. The author list has full bibliographic details then uses coded appendices and short entries for the other lists. It covers some 450 titles in English and has 200 foreign language titles in an appendix. A new edition was published by Archon in 1975 as: Submarines, Diving and the Underwater World: A Bibliography, (ISBN: 0208015086) containing some 1500 entries.

STUBBS, Pam. Unsung Heroes of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines: The Far East Prisoners of War 1941-1945. 144p. Lincoln: Tucann, 2011. ISBN: 9781907516115.

A Roll gives the full name and service number of each of these Far East Prisoners of War (FEPOW's) and the countries in which they were held. Included for those who did not survive is the place and date of death and where buried - or, for those with no known grave, the memorial where commemorated.

JAMES, Tony. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary 1905–1985. 144p., illus., index. Liskeard: Maritime Books, 1985. ISBN: 0907771211.

A class list with leading details of each vessel plus brief notes on service and many illustrations.

WINSER, John de S. Coasters Go to War: Military Sailings to the Continent, 1939-1945. 144p., illus., index. Preston: Ships in Focus, 2009. ISBN: 9781901703566.

The book details the convoys, cargoes and challenges faced by almost 500 coasters of ten nationalities which supplied the Army in France and Norway in 1939-40 and again in Northern Europe from D-Day onwards.

WILSON, Alastair. A Biographical Dictionary of the Twentieth-Century Royal Navy. Volume 1 - Admirals of the Fleet and Admirals. 96p., Barnsley: Seaforth, 2013. ISBN: 9781848320888.

The book comes with a CD which contains the service histories and careers of the 336 most senior admirals on the Navy List from 1900 onwards. A treasure trove of information.

MALCOLM, Ian M. Shipping Company Losses of the Second World War. 272p., bibliog., illus., index. Stroud: History Press, 2013. ISBN: 9780752493428.

An excellent reference work covering the British Merchant Navy. Gives shipping losses from all causes arranged by shipping company and then alphabetically by ship name. Has a paragraph on cause of loss and fate of the crew.

JORDAN, John & MOULIN, Jean. French Cruisers 1922-1956. 232p., bibliog., illus., index. London: Seaforth; Annapolis: NIP, 2013. ISBN: 9781848321335.

French cruisers were often striking and innovative designs. This volume covers design, construction and operation.

FRIEDMAN, Norman. The British Battleship 1906-1946.Barnsley: Seaforth, 2015. ISBN: 9781848322257.

Covers the development of Royal Navy capital ships, including battlecruisers, from the pre-history of the revolutionary Dreadnought of 1906 to the last of the line, HMS Vanguard in 1946. A good work from an expert.

BERTKE, Donald A., KINDELL, Don & SMITH, Gordon. World War II Sea War. Volume 6: The Allies Halt the Axis Advance. 584p. Dayton, OH: Bertke Publications, 2014. ISBN: 9781937470098.

Covers actions from April to August 1942 including the Japanese attack on Ceylon, the Doolittle Raid on Japan, the battle of the Coral Sea, the battle of Midway Island, the US landing on Guadalcanal, the battle of Savo Island, and the battle of the eastern Solomon Islands. Arctic actions include the battle for convoy PQ.17. In the Mediterranean, the RN interdicts Axis supply lines along the Libyan and Egyptian coasts. In the Atlantic, the U.S. implements convoys along the East Coast.

BERTKE, Donald A., KINDELL, Don & SMITH, Gordon. World War II Sea War. Volume 5: Air Raid Pearl Harbor. This Is Not a Drill. 540p. Dayton, OH: Bertke Publications, 2013. ISBN: 9781937470050.

In Volume 5, the United States officially enters the war. Highlights of this volume include: minute detail of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor; Wake Island, Luzon, Hong Kong, Malaya, Burma, etc., early attacks by US Navy submarines in the Pacific; Russian Black Sea Fleet landing troops in the Crimea; the continuing naval struggle in the Mediterranean; German U-boat attacks along the US Atlantic coast; Japanese attacks on the US Pacific coast; the ABDA Command battling the superior forces of the Imperial Japanese Navy; and the Battle of the Java Sea and the Battle of Sunda Strait.

BERTKE, Donald A., KINDELL, Don & SMITH, Gordon. World War II Sea War. Volume 3: The Royal Navy is Bloodied in the Mediterranean. 560p. Dayton, OH: Bertke Publications, 2012. ISBN: 9781937470012.

Day-to-day naval actions from October 1940 to May 1941. Provides detailed information on movements of all identifiable vessels of Allied, Axis, and neutral countries, plus convoy movements and minefields.

BERTKE, Donald A., KINDELL, Don & SMITH, Gordon. World War II Sea War. Volume 2: France Falls, Britain Stands Alone. 527p. Dayton, OH: Bertke Publications, 2011. ISBN: 9781937470005.

Volume 2 covers the period from April to September 1940, breaking down events by month and geographical area, then by date and time. Information is included for both military and civilian vessels, from both combatant and neutral nations.

JEFFORD, C. G. Observers and Navigators: and Other Non-pilot Aircrew in the RFC, RNAS and RAF. xiii, 274p., bibliog., illus., index. Shrewsbury: Airlife, 2001. ISBN: 1840372753.

Traces the rise of the first generation of non-pilot aircrew between 1914 and 1919, examines the way in which in peacetime the RAF rapidly dispensed with its observer officers and their reinstatement in 1934, and looks at the rest of the century including the "1946 Aircrew Scheme". Has full coverage of FAA and Coastal Command. A revised and much expanded second edition was published by Grub Street in 2014, ISBN: 1909808024.

GREHAN, John & MACE, Martin. The BEF in France 1939-1940: Manning the Front Through to the Dunkirk Evacuation. xxiv, 194p., bibliog., illus., index. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military, 2014. ISBN: 1783462116.

With an introduction and commentary this gives the official account of the experiences of the BEF in 1939-40 as reported in official despatches printed in the London Gazette, namely: 35305 (Lord Gort’s two despatches on the land forces in 1939-40); 38017 (Admiral Ramsey’s report of Operation Dynamo); 37573 (Alan Brooke’s Despatch on the BEF left in France after Dunkirk).

BENNETT, G. H. Admiralty Despatches: The Story of the War from the Battlefront, 1939-1945. 288p., bibliog., illus., index. Stroud: Amberley in Association with the National Archives, 2017. ISBN: 9781445662442.

        An introduction by the well-known naval historian leads to a reprinting of eight despatches chosen to depict different aspects of the war at sea. They were printed originally as supplements to the London Gazette and are: 38273 (Action off Calabria); 38023 (Carrier Operations against Taranto); 39041 (Convoys to North Russia); 38296 (The Battle of Crete); 38342 (Raid on Vaagso Island); 38045 (Dieppe Raid, August 1942); 38110 (Assault Phase of the Normandy Landings, June 1944); 38432 (Coastal Forces Actions, 1943-44).

GROVES, Robert E. Book of Warships of the British Empire. 40p., illus. London: Rolls House, 1941.

“An artist’s impressions of the Great Fleet which guards the shores of the Empire,” giving some details of the various classes.         

HEATON, P. M. Welsh Shipping Forgotten Fleets. 91p., illus. Abergavenny: author, 1989. ISBN: 1872006000.

A reference guide to the ships of five Welsh shipping companies which gives details of their war service and fates.

ROGERS, Anthony. Air Battle of Malta: Aircraft Losses and Crash Sites 1940-1942. 220p., bibliog., illus., index. London: Greenhill, 2017. ISBN: 1784381888.

Of more than 1,000 aircraft destroyed during the battle, many fell into the Mediterranean or were written off in landing, and at least 200 crashed among the Maltese Islands. This book documents all known aircraft crashes that occurred in and around Malta and Gozo during 1940-42, describing in detail the circumstances of each loss and what became of the pilot or crew, including some who even today are officially listed as missing. An excellent piece of research.

SIMPSON, Geoff. A Dictionary of Coastal Command 1939-1945. 151p., bibliog., illus., index. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Aviation, 2016. ISBN: 1473872715.

From A to Z this well-illustrated book tells the story of the gallantry, the achievements, the losses, the VCs, the aircraft and much else about RAF Coastal Command.  

BALLANCE, Theo. The Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm. xx, 492p., illus., index. Staplefield: Air-Britain Publishing, [2016]. ISBN: 9780851304892.

There are brief histories of every Naval Air Squadron - including Australian, Canadian and Dutch squadrons where these have been numbered in the 700- and 800-series - aircraft- and helicopter-capable ships, bases, Battle Honours, Trophies and Awards, detailed sections on helicopter Flights and notes of many of the Schools, Sections and Units that have supported the Fleet Air Arm for more than eight decades, illustrated throughout by more than 800 photographs and over 180 squadron, ship and unit badges.

HOBBS, David. C Class Destroyers. x, 214p., illus. Liskeard: Maritime Books, 2012. ISBN: 9781904459491.

A good and well-illustrated history by this prolific author. Although it focuses on their post-war service, there is a good account of their design and building and such war service as took place. A chapter is devoted to each ship and its career.

SHORES, Christopher & MASSIMELLO, Giovanni with GUEST, Russell. A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940-1945. 2 vols., bibliog., illus., index. London: Grub Street, 2012-13. ISBN: 9781908117076 (V.1); 190916612X (V.2); ISBN: 1910690007 (V.3).

A monumental reference working describing activity in the theatre day-by-day. Vol. 1 covers June 1940 –January 1942; Vol. 2 covers February 1942 – March 1943. Vol. 3 covers Tunisia and the end in Africa November 1942-May 1943. Includes material on maritime support and reconnaissance.

SIMKINS, Peter J. Battleships: the Development and Decline of the Dreadnought. 80p., bibliog., illus. London: Imperial War Museum, 1979.

A short but well researched and well-illustrated study offering a useful overview.

WILLIAMS, David. Naval Camouflage 1914-1945: A Complete Visual Reference. 256p., bibliog., illus., index. London: Chatham, 2001. ISBN: 1861761546.

Covers both world wars with the main focus being on British and US camouflage schemes. Profusely illustrated.