The Royal Navy 1939-45

Description

The outbreak of war found the Royal Navy with world-wide responsibilities but, despite its legendary professionalism, out-of-date strategic doctrines. Despite some early clashes between capital ships, advances in submarine warfare and naval aviation would soon come to dominate the war at sea. By mid-1943, however, the Royal Navy dominated the Mediterranean, was winning the campaign against the Atlantic U-boats, and was convoying vast quantities of war material across the Atlantic and to Russia. The 'senior service' made a huge contribution to the D-Day landings, and sent strong units to support the USN in the final campaigns against Japan.

Ian Sumner was born in 1953 in Eccles, near Manchester. He originally trained as a librarian in Newcastle-upon-Tyne but is now a freelance author. His previous work for Osprey includes two Men-at-Arms titles on the French Army 1914-45; he has also written several books on the history of the East Riding of Yorkshire, where he now lives with his wife. Alix Baker, one of Britain's leading military artists with an international reputation, works full time for regiments, museums and on publics and private commissions. She has contributed artwork and maps to many military history books and journals. Her paintings, both military and non-military, have been exhibited in many countries, and historians, silversmiths and sculptors frequently seek her assistance. An organiser of, or exhibitor at, several art exhibitions, she is an active committee member of the Armed Services Art Society. Her mail order site markets her products worldwide (www.alix-baker-militaryart.com). Alix is married with two sons and lives in Hampshire, UK.