Collins Jane S Warships Of World War Ii

This Collins Gem is being reissued in flexibinding, providing the durability of a hardback with the flexibility of a paperback. The stylish new cover design will enliven this and 70 other bestselling Gems.The attractive guide uses information provided by the renowned Jane’s group on over 100 naval vessels used during World War II.Each entry includes the following:A contemporary photographBackground information on the history, appearance and military record of the vesselTechnical specifications such as displacement, armaments, maximum speed and crew complementSo, if you want to know about an Effingham class cruiser, Chiyoda class aircraft carrier or a Fletcher class destroyer, Collins Gem Warships of World War II is the place to look.

More than 6,000 warships are included in this comprehensive encyclopedia of the world's navies during World War II. --Publisher.

The author, a naval historian, reveals the critical elements that determined the war at sea.

A fascinating and lively account of the lives of British warships named London, looking at history from the perspective of the men who were there. There is no current warship in the Royal Navy called HMS London, but vessels carrying the name have featured in some of the most controversial episodes of British naval history. For example, the wooden wall battleship HMS London of the late 18th century could be called “the ship that lost America” while the heavy cruiser of WW2 was command vessel for the escort force that failed to safeguard the controversial convoy PQ17. Examining the stories of HMS Londons all the way from the English Civil War, through the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801—where Nelson famously ignored signals to break off the action displayed by HMS London—we also learn of the pre-dreadnought London’s participation in the ill-fated Dardanelles campaign of WW1. Among the people Iain Ballantyne interviewed for this book were veterans of the Arctic convoys of WW2, the Yangtse Incident and warriors of the Cold War and 1991 Gulf War. It all adds up to a thoroughly researched and exciting narrative of naval history. Adding to the authenticity of the tale, Iain even sailed to Russia in the last HMS London, a Type 22 guided-missile frigate, in August 1991. During a WW2 convoy re-enactment the ship was almost hit by a practice torpedo launched from a Soviet submarine and had to take evasive action.