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Three intertwined stories that reveal the challenges faced by the US Navy in its evolution between the Civil War and the First World War Hard Aground brings together three intertwined stories documenting the US Navy's strategic and matériel evolution from the end of Civil War through the First World War. These incidents had lasting consequences for how the navy would modernize itself throughout the rest of the twentieth century. The first story focuses on the reconstruction of the US Navy following the swift and near-total dismantling of the Union Navy infrastructure after the Civil War. This reconstruction began with barely enough time for the navy's campaigns in the Spanish-American War, and for its role in the First World War. Jampoler argues that the federal government discovered that the fleet requested by the navy, and paid for by Congress, was the wrong fleet. Focus was on battleships and cruisers rather than destroyers and other small combat vessels needed to hunt submarines and serve as convoy escorts. The second story relates the short, tragic life of the USS Tennessee (later renamed Memphis), one of the steel-hulled ships of the new Armored Cruiser Squadron that was a centerpiece of the navy's modernization effort. The USS Tennessee was ordered on two unusual missions in the early months of the First World War, long before the United States formally entered the war. These little-known missions and the ship's shocking destruction in a storm surge in the Caribbean serve as the centerpiece of the story. Threaded through the narrative are biographical sketches of the principal players in the drama that unfolded following the ship's demise, including two of Tennessee's commanding officers: Vice Admiral Sims, who commanded the US Navy squadrons deployed to Europe in support of the Royal Navy; Rear Admiral William Caperton, who commanded the Caribbean squadron before the Memphis (formerly the Tennessee) was lost; Charles Pond, squadron commander during the wreck; and the American ambassador to the Ottoman court, President Wilson's enthusiastic supporter, Henry Morgenthau. Jampoler rounds out this fascinating account with the story of how the USS Tennessee's destruction prompted fierce deliberations about the US Navy's operations and chains of command for the remainder of the First World War and the high-level political wrangling inside the Department of the Navy immediately after the war, as civilian appointees and senior officers wrestled to reshape the department in their image.

During the First World War, Britain relied heavily on resources imported across the Atlantic by its merchant marine. From the very beginning of the war, German U-boats targeted the merchant convoys, sinking millions of tons of essential produce and threatening Britain's war effort. Were it not for the heroic efforts of the Q-ships, the naval war could have proven disastrous for the allies. Between 1914 and 1918, nearly 200 commercial vessels were transformed into armed decoy ships that lured U-boats into attacking them at close range before responding with their own deadly fire at the very last moment. (Amazon)

A look at the day-to-day work of the Allied Naval Forces during the First World War, particularly in regard to the relationship between the British navy and the U.S. navy in 1918. It is partly based on the author's five months of active service with the American destroyers, and makes for some interesting reading about World War I submarines and destroyers. Ralph D. Paine was an American author of many maritime books and a friend of Stephen Crane, author of The Red Badge of Courage.

The shipwrecks of WWI constitute a vast, dispersed and distinctive underwater legacy. This insightful book addresses the need to rethink how they can be protected, through an examination of both private and public international law and the conventions governing them. The recent centenary of WWI has prompted a shift in the way attention is focused on legacy wrecks. In this timely book, Craig Forrest considers both the development and current state of the laws that apply to these wrecks, as well as the issues that surround them, such as regulated and unregulated salvage and the potentially hazardous nature of wrecks left in situ. The author then deftly analyses the adequacy of the existing legal framework, in particular the Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, to fulfill its promise of protecting legacy wrecks for future generations as historical and archaeological resources, memorials and, more importantly, as maritime war graves. This incisive book will prove necessary reading for all with an interest in underwater cultural heritage and its protection, including academics, practitioners and managers, government officials and policymakers. Underwater archaeologists and others interested in maritime law and naval history more broadly will also find its unique analysis useful.

Scapa Flow, a vast, natural harbour in the Orkney Islands, served as the Royal Navy's main base during the two world wars, from where ships sailed to the Battle of Jutland in the First and in convoy to northern Russia in the Second. Thousands of men and women saw service in and around this remote anchorage, including soldiers and sailors who crewed the ships and manned the lonely batteries, and Wrens, nurses and civilians who were posted there. Scapa Flow brings together their memories – the bleak isolation, its implacable winds and glorious sunsets, the camaraderie and good humour – forming a compelling portrait of a unique war station that left its mark on all who served there.

This is the story of the naval war in northern European waters following the critical if inconclusive battle of Jutland. There is a popular misconception that the battle marked the end of the operational career of the German High Sea Fleet. The reality is much more complex. The German battle fleet may have been quiescent in the North Sea, but it supported an ambitious amphibious campaign in the Baltic while an ever more bitter commerce war was waged by U-boats; and smaller warships of both sides fought a gruelling campaign in the waters of the English Channel and the Belgian Coast. While the book focuses primarily on the Royal Navy as the dominant maritime force, it also analyses the struggles of the beleaguered German Navy as it sought to find ways to break the tightening stranglehold of the Allied blockade. It includes an assessment of the small, but increasingly significant supporting role played by the French Navy from its bases in northern France, while the continuing conflict in the Baltic is explored as the Germans increased pressure on Russian territory and the Russian fleet, despite the descent into revolution, still managed to strike heavy blows at the Imperial German Navy. This period was one of great change. The Royal Navy improved the way that ships and their crews were organised for battle, and there were great leaps in communications and in command and control; aviation and undersea operations, including mine warfare, developed at breakneck pace. Both Germany and Russia undertook far more naval innovation and technological development in the final years of the War than is often realised, and by 1918 the protagonists were fighting what was, in every way, a multi-dimensional maritime war – the forerunner of the form of naval conflict of the remainder of the twentieth century. The author deals with the entry into the conflict of the United States and the increasing commitment of the US Navy to operations in Northern European waters. Many of the foundations of success in the next war were laid by the USN at this time, and there are strong links between the performance of all the navies and their experiences in 1939–45. Not only were doctrine and technology shaped by the events of the First War, so were the cultures of the various services and the characters of the individuals who would go on to serve in the highest ranks in the next. All of this makes the 1916-18 period so significant in naval history. In addition to his huge historical knowledge, the author brings his own extensive personal experience of naval operations and command at sea to this study, and this fusion of history with practical understanding sheds a unique and fascinating perspective on his analysis of the conflict.

After Jutland analyses the naval war in Northern European waters following the critical, but inconclusive Battle of Jutland. A popular misconception is that Jutland marked the end of the operational career of the German High Sea Fleet and the beginning of a period of stagnation for both it and its opponent, the Grand Fleet. The reality is much more complex. The German battle fleet was quiescent for much of the time in the North Sea, but it supported an ambitious amphibious campaign in the Baltic while a bitter commerce war was waged by U-Boats and the light craft fought a grueling campaign in the waters of the English Channel and the Belgian Coast. After Jutland focuses primarily on the Royal Navy as the dominant maritime force, but it also analyses the struggles of the beleaguered German Navy as it sought to find ways to break the tightening stranglehold of the blockade and undermine Allied control of the world's oceans —and of British home waters in particular. The continuing conflict in the Baltic will also be explored as the Germans increased the pressure on the Russian territory and the Russian fleet while the latter, despite its descent into revolution, still struggled to provide an effective counter to the Imperial German Navy. The Royal Navy learned much from Jutland and applied those lessons to good effect. It greatly improved the way that ships were organized for battle, as well as developing new tactics. There were also great leaps in communications and in command and control, while both aviation and undersea operations, including mine warfare, developed at breakneck pace. The Imperial German Navy made its own changes as a result of Jutland. Indeed, both Germany and Russia undertook much more naval innovation in the final years of the conflict than is often realized. By 1918, all the protagonists were fighting what was, in every way, a multi-dimensional maritime war that was the forerunner of naval conflict for the remainder of the twentieth century. The period also saw the entry to the conflict of the United States and the increasing commitment of the United States Navy. USN units saw hard service before the Armistice of November 1918. Many of the foundations of success in the next war were laid by the USN at this time. The learning curve was steep as officers and sailors alike sought to catch up on the experience of nearly three years of conflict, but they brought new methods and new applications of technology to the operational problems with which their coalition partners had been struggling. This included the Sixth Battle Squadron, which was rapidly assimilated into the Grand Fleet, absorbing the hard-won knowledge of their British colleagues, but applying some of their own ideas.

For years before the outbreak of the First World War, it was the expectation of most officers of the Royal Navy and the Imperial German Navy that very shortly thereafter; a decisive fleet action would be fought. This had a major impact on the strategic thinking on both sides of the North Sea. In fact, the unalterable geographic situation meant that for the Grand Fleet in its Scottish bases, the correct course to follow was not to seek a major fleet encounter. Essentially, it was by staying where it was that it could neutralise the High Seas Fleet and enforce an economic blockade of Germany.The history of the war in the North Sea between 1914 and 1918 is a record of the attempts to break the deadlock - and it is also the history of the men who led the British and German navies. On both sides, the stresses of the huge burden which they bore led to a serious breakdown of trust in each other on the part of the admirals charged with the responsibility. Still more serious was the mutual loss of confidence between the admirals on the one hand and the politicians on the other; their letters and diaries reveal the bitter personal disputes that arose between them. The principal naval battle of Jutland occurred when the two most powerful fleets that the world had ever known clashed, almost by accident, in the North Sea on 31 May 1916. The outcome of the battle has prompted a minute examination of the tactics employed by the commanders, and a continuous debate as to who won, as well as a bitter controversy between the supporters of Sir John Jellicoe (the commander-in-chief of the Grand Fleet) and Sir David Beatty (the commander of the battle cruisers). Most British historians claim the battle as a British victory - a view which this book questions. It has been often suggested that after Jutland, the High Seas Fleet remained in harbour for the rest of the war, but as this book shows, the underrated Admiral Reinhard Scheer (its commander-in-chief) subsequently launched a number of major sorties. It was a series of chances that had determined the outcome of Jutland - and it was chance that repeatedly intervened to prevent a decisive encounter subsequently.This book reviews the entire course of the war in the North Sea, from the first contacts between the fleets in the early days, to the ambitious (but abortive) mission planned at the end of the war for the High Seas Fleet - and, as a dramatic epilogue, its scuttling in Scapa Flow.

The wonderful and brave story of ships and men here presented needs but the briefest introduction. The deeds will forever remain one of the most glorious chapters in the chronicles of the sea. No excuse is offered for adding another volume to the literature of the war, for the subject is deserving of greater attention than has hitherto been possible. Lord Jellicoe once remarked that he did not think English people realized the wonderful work which these mystery ships had done in the war, and that in these vessels there had been displayed a spirit of endurance, discipline, and courage the like of which the world had never before seen. To few naval historians, I believe, has it ever been permitted to enjoy such complete opportunities for acquiring authentic information as is here presented. Unquestionably the greatest sphere of Q-ship operations was off the south-west coast of Ireland, owing to the fact that the enemy submarines from the summer of 1915 to 1918 concentrated their attacks, with certain intervals, on the shipping in the western approaches to the British Isles. It was my good fortune during most of this period to be at sea patrolling off that part of Ireland. These Q-ships were therefore familiar in their various disguises at sea or in harbour at Berehaven and Queenstown during their well-earned rest. Throughout this time I kept a diary, and noted down much that would otherwise have been forgotten. Many of the Q-ship officers were my personal friends, and I have enjoyed the hospitality of their ships. Valuable data, too, were obtained from officers of merchant ships who witnessed Q-ships engaging submarines. A considerable number of authentic manuscripts has been examined. By the courtesy of commanding officers I have been lent documents of priceless historical value, such as copies of official reports and private diaries, plans, sketches, photographs, and so on.

Clash of Fleets is an operational history that records every naval engagement fought between major surface warships during World War I. Much more than a catalog of combat facts, Clash of Fleets explores why battles occurred; how the different navies fought; and how combat advanced doctrine and affected the development and application of technology. The result is a holistic overview of the war at sea as it affected all nations and all theaters of war. A work of this scope is unprecedented. Organized into seven chapters, the authors first introduce the technology, weapons, ships, and the doctrine that governed naval warfare in 1914. The next five chapters explore each year of the war and are subdivided into sections corresponding to major geographic areas. This arrangement allows the massive sweep of action to be presented in a structured and easy to follow format that includes engagements fought by the Austro-Hungarian, British, French, German, Ottoman, and Russian Navies in the Adriatic, Aegean, Baltic, Black, Mediterranean, and North Seas as well as the Atlantic, India, and Pacific Oceans. The role of surface combat in the Great War is analyzed and these actions are compared to major naval wars before and after. In addition to providing detailed descriptions of actions in their historical perspectives, O'Hara and Heinz advance several themes, including the notion that World War I was a war of navies as much as a war of armies. They explain that surface combat had a major impact on all aspects of the naval war and on the course of the war in general. Finally, Clash of Fleets illustrates that systems developed in peace do not always work as expected in war, that some are not used as anticipated, and that others became unexpectedly important. There is much for today's naval professional to consider in the naval conflict that occurred a century ago.

Der Erste Weltkrieg war in erster Linie ein Krieg, der an verschiedenen Fronten in West-, Ost- und Südeuropa, aber auch im Mittleren Osten, in Afrika und im Fernen Pazifik ausgefochten wurde. Der Erste Weltkrieg war aber von Beginn an auch ein Seekrieg, ausgetragen auf den Ozeanen der Welt.Die Schlachten zu Lande dominieren nach wie vor das öffentliche Gedenken an den Ersten Weltkrieg. Das spiegelt sich auch in den großen neuen Erzählungen über das Kriegsgeschehen: Der Seekrieg wird hier allenfalls am Rande behandelt. Zudem haben nationale Perspektiven immer noch Vorrang vor vergleichenden Analysen. Vor diesem Hintergrund erschien es sinnvoll, mit einschlägigen Fachleuten Bilanz zu ziehen und neue Perspektiven der Forschung zu diskutieren.Auf der Grundlage des gegenwärtigen Forschungsstandes und aus internationaler, vergleichender Perspektive beleuchten daher in diesem Tagungsband Historiker aus Deutschland, Großbritannien und Kanada, aus den USA, Australien und Russland, aus Frankreich und Österreich die Planungen für den Krieg zur See, dessen Verlauf und dessen vielfältige Wandlungen, aber ebenso den Alltag in den damaligen Marinen sowie die verschiedenen Formen der Erinnerung an das Geschehen.

The Command of the Sea (A.D. 1915) A Lesson from Cæsar Ancient War-ships Fighting-ships of the Middle Ages Mariners of Other Days Some Mediæval Sea-fights The Navy in Tudor Times From Elizabeth to Victoria The'Turks'in the Channel The Honour of the Flag The Evolution of Naval Gunnery Evolution of the Ironclad Battleship The Evolution of the Submarine and Submarine Mine Naval Brigades War-ships of all Sorts The Manning of a Ship Beginning of the War Afloat Operations in the North Sea and Channel In the Outer Seas A Reverse and a Victory German Raids and their Signal Punishment The Royal Naval Air Service

In 1910 the first aircraft was successfully launched from a small wooden platform on a stationary ship. Just four years later, seaplane-carrying warships were being used to launch the first naval air raids, and by 1918 the first aircraft carrier to feature a full-length flight deck was in service. High quality artwork and historical photographs help author Mark Lardas tell the fascinating story of the pioneering years of naval aviation, covering such historic clashes as the Japanese siege of Tsingtao, the British raid against German Zeppelin bases at Cuxhaven and the Battle of Jutland, which saw the first airplane take part in a naval battle. Through detailed analysis he explores their development from hastily adapted merchant ships to the launch of HMS Argus, the first aircraft carrier to have a full-length flight deck, and shows how they paved the way for the aircraft carriers of the future.

Naval histories often stop short at the death of Nelson. This book succinctly fills the gap by covering the golden age of British sea power – the period which saw the defeat of Napoleon, the American War, the expansion of the empire, the introduction of the steamship and the defeat of the first German menace. Not only a galaxy of heroic episodes, this book also highlights the relationship between the Navy in war and peace to the nation as a whole.

The Q-ship, an ordinary merchant vessel with concealed guns, came into its own during the First World War, when the Royal Navy to trap and destroy German U-boats. Deborah Lake uses a wide range of primary and secondary source material drawn from archives in the UK, Germany and the USA to tell the compelling story of the Q-ships and their U-boat adversaries. The Q-ship operations themselves will be covered by following the careers of the eight men who won the Victoria Cross on Special Service Operations; and by accounts of German U-boat crews being on the receiving end. No book on Q-ships can avoid the Baralong incident in which a Q-ship's crew allegedly executed the survivors of the German submarine U-27, on 19 August 1915. In a subsequent encounter with U-41, more British atrocities were alleged by the only two German survivors. Revealing extracts from the diary of a Royal Marine who served on board the Baralong are reproduced in the book together with other first-hand accounts. With charge and counter-charge, this incident provides a fascinating story.

Although it was first published in 1931, Endless Story remains the only comprehensive account of the services of the Navys small craft destroyers, torpedo boats and patrol vessels during the First World War, and moreover the only one written by an officer personally involved. Even if Dorling did not take part in all the actions he describes, he knew the men who did, and gleaned much of his information from personal contact. As a result the book has both authenticity and authority, but is composed with the all verve of the popular novelist that Taffrail was to become. It was a bestseller in its day, and now enjoys the status of a classic.

Honorable Mention, 2016 Lyman Awards, presented by the North American Society for Oceanic History This book is a thrillingly-written story of naval planes, boats, and submarines during World War I. When the U.S. entered World War I in April 1917, America's sailors were immediately forced to engage in the utterly new realm of anti-submarine warfare waged on, below and above the seas by a variety of small ships and the new technology of airpower. The U.S. Navy substantially contributed to the safe trans-Atlantic passage of a two million man Army that decisively turned the tide of battle on the Western Front even as its battleship division helped the Royal Navy dominate the North Sea. Thoroughly professionalized, the Navy of 1917–18 laid the foundations for victory at sea twenty-five years later.

La Grande Histoire a mis en lumière d'incontournables figures. Mais que seraient-elles sans tous ceux qui, héros de l'ombre, ont contribué à la construire? Né à Barneville-Carteret en 1855 et mort à Cherbourg en 1933, François-Octave Le Cannellier nous fait découvrir l'importance du rôle joué à cette époque par la Marine dans l'épopée coloniale et dans le premier grand conflit mondial. Ce premier tome couvre la période de 1872 à 1905, de l'Ecole navale jusqu'à l'obtention du grade de capitaine de vaisseau.

Ce tome II montre le rôle essentiel que François Octave Le Cannellier a joué à la tête de la 2e division et de la 2e escadre légère dans la défense de la Manche occidentale contre les incursions des U-boote. Il accèdera alors, en 1916, au rang de vice-amiral et de directeur militaire des services de la Flotte. Il est alors un des quatre personnages principaux de la Marine.

In the vast literature of the First World War there has never been a naval atlas that depicts graphically the complexities of the war at sea, and puts in context the huge significance of the naval contribution to the defeat of Germany.With more than 125

The pursuit of Goeben and Breslau was a naval action that occurred in the Mediterranean Sea at the outbreak of the First World War when elements of the British Mediterranean Fleet attempted to intercept the German Mittelmeerdivision consisting of the battlecruiser SMS Goeben and the light cruiser SMS Breslau. The German ships evaded the British fleet and passed through the Dardanelles to reach Constantinople, where they were eventually handed over to the Ottoman Empire. Renamed Yavuz Sultan Selim, the former Goeben was ordered by its German captain to attack Russian positions, in doing so bringing the Ottoman Empire into the war on the side of the Central Powers.Though a bloodless “battle”, the failure of the British pursuit had enormous political and military ramifications. In the short term it effectively ended the careers of the two British Admirals [one of whom is the author of this book] who had been in charge of the pursuit. Writing several years later, Winston Churchill - who had been First Lord of the Admiralty - expressed the opinion that by forcing Turkey into the war the Goeben had brought “more slaughter, more misery, and more ruin than has ever before been borne within the compass of a ship.”

Includes The First World War At Sea Illustrations Pack with 189 maps, plans, and photos.Although written under anonymously, the writer of the famous quartet of famous First World War sea-reportage novels, was identified as Rev. Montague T. Hainsselin. He was appointed to the chaplaincy of the Royal Navy in 1903, although he had been almost born into the Navy having raised in Plymouth. He served on many ships in his long career, from battlecruisers to the huge superdreadnoughts in the Mediterranean, Home and Channel Fleets. During the First World War he served in the Home Fleet based in Scapa Floe and was present at the only major sea-battle of the war at Jutland. Few men were been appointed so well as the Chaplain to report the inner workings of the Royal Navy from the lowliest stoker in the boiler room to the officers commanding entire behemoths of steel. Observant and witty, Rev. Hainsselin offers a view of the Royal Navy at War that has rarely been surpassed.Reviews of IN THE NORTHERN MISTS“Nothing, so far as one can remember, gives as good an idea as this book does of life in the Royal Navy in time of war.”—World. “Full of intimate touches, and full of good stories of quarter-deck and lower-deck.... The Padre is a man of infinite humour, as all truly religious men are. There is not a line of preaching in his book, an there is many a good yarn, but, for all that, it is a good book, it is a book of manliness and cleanliness and godliness. Read his one little incursion into religion, ‘Strad Cords,'and you will love him for a practical muscular Christian.”—Daily Express.“The unnamed Padre... tells us a great deal about the little ways of the Services, the psychology of its members, and the spirit that animates them; and always in a style so entertaining as well as sympathetic that these pages from his note-hook should prove one of the most popular and appreciated of books that the war has directly or indirectly inspired.”—Scotsman.

Includes The First World War At Sea Illustrations Pack with 189 maps, plans, and photos.Although written under anonymously, the writer of the famous quartet of famous First World War sea-reportage novels, was identified as Rev. Montague T. Hainsselin. He was appointed to the chaplaincy of the Royal Navy in 1903, although he had been almost born into the Navy having raised in Plymouth. He served on many ships in his long career, from battlecruisers to the huge superdreadnoughts in the Mediterranean, Home and Channel Fleets. During the First World War he served in the Home Fleet based in Scapa Floe and was present at the only major sea-battle of the war at Jutland. Few men were been appointed so well as the Chaplain to report the inner workings of the Royal Navy from the lowliest stoker in the boiler room to the officers commanding entire behemoths of steel. Observant and witty, Rev. Hainsselin offers a view of the Royal Navy at War that has rarely been surpassed.Reviews of IN THE NORTHERN MISTS“Nothing, so far as one can remember, gives as good an idea as this book does of life in the Royal Navy in time of war.”—World. “Full of intimate touches, and full of good stories of quarter-deck and lower-deck.... The Padre is a man of infinite humour, as all truly religious men are. There is not a line of preaching in his book, an there is many a good yarn, but, for all that, it is a good book, it is a book of manliness and cleanliness and godliness. Read his one little incursion into religion, ‘Strad Cords,'and you will love him for a practical muscular Christian.”—Daily Express.“The unnamed Padre... tells us a great deal about the little ways of the Services, the psychology of its members, and the spirit that animates them; and always in a style so entertaining as well as sympathetic that these pages from his note-hook should prove one of the most popular and appreciated of books that the war has directly or indirectly inspired.”—Scotsman.

This powerful collection, depicting the events of the Great War at sea, showcases the work of the contemporary combat artists and illustrators from the Great War era. The result is a stunning and vivid graphic record of life and death on the high-seas from 1914-18, as reported to contemporary audiences at a time when the events of the Great War were still unfolding. During the Great War artists and illustrators produced a highly accurate visual record of the fleeting moments the bulky cameras couldn't reproduce. These works form a body ofwar reportage that are as valid as the written word. Today, the work of the combat illustrators and the official war artists from the Great War era is overlooked by historians in favour of photographs, but these illustrations are nonetheless important, as they provide a contemporary record of hand-to-hand fighting, trench raids, aerial dogfights, sea battles, desperate last stands, night actions and cavalry charges.

Naval action in World War I conjures up images of enormous dreadnoughts slugging it out in vast oceans. Yet the truth is that more sailors were killed serving on gunboats and monitors operating far from the naval epicentre of the war than were ever killed at Jutland. Gunboat engagements during this war were bloody and hard fought, if small in scale. Austrian gunboats on the Danube fired the first shots of the war, whilst German, British and Belgian gunboats fought one of the strangest, most intriguing naval campaigns in history in far-flung Lake Tanganyika. From the Mediterranean to the Black Sea, from the Balkans to Mesopotamia, gunboats played an influential part in the story of World War I. This detailed technical guide to the gunboats of all the major navies of the war means that, for the first time, the story can be told.

Before Jutland is a definitive study of the naval engagements in northern European waters in 1914–15 when the German High Sea Fleet faced the Grand Fleet in the North Sea and the Russian Fleet in the Baltic. Author James Goldrick reexamines one of the key periods of naval operations in the First World War, arguing that a focus on the campaign on the western front conceals the reality that the Great War was also a maritime conflict. Combining new historical information from primary sources with a comprehensive analysis of the operational issues, this book is an extensive revision of The King's Ships Were at Sea, Goldrick's earlier work on this naval campaign. In all, Before Jutland shows not only what happened, but how the various navies evolved to meet the challenges that they faced during the Great War and whether or not that evolution was successful.

Hector C. Bywater was perhaps the British secret service's finest agent operating in Germany before the First World War, tasked with collecting intelligence on naval installations. Recruited by Mansfield Cumming, the first'C'(or head of what would become MI6), Bywater was given the designation'H2O'in what was a rather obvious play on his name - and the equivalent of James Bond's'007'. Indeed, the charming, courageous Bywater probably came as close to the popular image of Ian Fleming's most famous character as any British secret agent ever did. Originally written up in 1930 as a series of thrilling articles in the Daily Telegraph, his experiences were soon turned into a book, with the help of Daily Express journalist H. C. Ferraby, collating Bywater's espionage endeavours in one rollicking tale of secret service adventure. Although the identities of the British spies carrying out the missions in Strange Intelligence are disguised, we now know that most of them were in fact Bywater himself. Ahead of a war that was to put the British Navy to its sternest test since Trafalgar, Bywater reveals how he and his fellow agents deceived the enemy to gather vital intelligence on German naval capabilities. His account is a true classic of espionage and derring-do.

As the Great War loomed, the transatlantic passenger trade was at its peak, and as the enormity of the conflict grew, liners were conscripted into service. In an attempted blockade to cut off supplies, Germany began sinking Allied merchant vessels until by war's end just 351 U-boats sank over 5,000 merchant ships, killing 15,000 sailors. Into the Danger Zone recounts what it was like for both the military and civilians to experience a transatlantic voyage in a time of war and uncertainty, at risk from any number of dangers, including U-boats, mines and enemy surface vessels. Attacks were frequent and tragedy all too common. Explore this little-known chapter of the twentieth century here with engrossing narrative and a large quantity of rare and unpublished first-hand accounts, illustrations and photographs.

From a British Royal Navy officer, a detailed history of World War I's principal battles at sea. With the call to action stations in August 1914, the Royal Navy faced its greatest test since the time of Nelson... This classic history of the Great War at sea combines graphic and stirring accounts of all the principal naval engagements—battles overseas, in home waters and, for the first time, under the sea—with analysis of the strategy and tactics of both sides. Geoffrey Bennett brings these sea battles dramatically to life, and confirms the Allied navies'vital contribution to victory.Praise for Naval Battles of the First World War“Strongly recommended.” —RUSI Journal“Excellent balanced accounts and judgements.” —Richard Hough, historian and author“Extensive photographs, include key aspects such as the German battle cruiser Blucher at the Dogger Bank battle, the destruction of the British battle cruiser Queen Mary, as well as the German dreadnaught Bayern sinking after being scuttled at Scapa Flow. A fascinating diagram shows Battleship Turrets, which provides insight into the process of action, such as the shell room, cordage charge, magazine, to the cordite hoist and gun.” —Jon Sandison, historian

This is a major new naval history of the First World War which reveals the decisive contribution of the war at sea to Allied victory. In a truly global account, Lawrence Sondhaus traces the course of the campaigns in the North Sea, Atlantic, Adriatic, Baltic and Mediterranean and examines the role of critical innovations in the design and performance of ships, wireless communication and firepower. He charts how Allied supremacy led the Central Powers to attempt to revolutionize naval warfare by pursuing unrestricted submarine warfare, ultimately prompting the United States to enter the war. Victory against the submarine challenge, following their earlier success in sweeping the seas of German cruisers and other surface raiders, left the Allies free to use the world's sea lanes to transport supplies and troops to Europe from overseas territories, and eventually from the United States, which proved a decisive factor in their ultimate victory.

How much can you really find out about the War at Sea during the First World War in five minutes? This handy little history book will surpass all your expectations and leave you well versed on all you wish to know, and maybe even a little bit more…Which was stronger, the German or British navy?What was the biggest battle?Who were the heroes?Who led the navies?And how successful were they?Jam-packed with facts, stats and first-hand accounts of the action, all woven together in an accessible way by an expert in the field, this 5 Minute History is a valuable addition to anyone's bookshelf, ready to be delved into at a moment's notice.

The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich houses the largest collection of scale ship models in the world, many of which are contemporary artifacts made by the craftsmen of the navy or the shipbuilders themselves, ranging from the mid-seventeenth century to the present day. Treated as historical evidence, they offer far more detail than even the best plans or the finest marine paintings. This book features a selection of over one hundred ship models, all in full color, of the various classes of warship that fought in the First World War, from dreadnoughts to coastal motor boats, including many close-up views. These color photos are captioned in depth, and many are also annotated to note interesting or unusual features. Although pictorial in emphasis, the book weaves the pictures into an authoritative text, producing an unusual and attractive form of technical history.

At the outbreak of the First World War, Barry Bingham, an Ulsterman and career sailor who joined the Royal Navy in 1895, was a Lieutenant-Commander gunnery officer on the new battlecruiser HMS Invincible.He and his men did not have to wait long before they were pitched into battle against the German fleet, Invincible was part of the taskforce sent into the South Atlantic to avenge the defeat at the Battle of Corondel. The ensuing battle of the Falkland Islands was a decisive encounter, the lighter German Squadron under Admiral Graf Spee were surprised by their British opponents and lost all but two of their ships.The author's reward for his conduct was command of a destroyer squadron in the Home Fleet and in May 1916 at the Battle of Jutland he was to win the Victoria Cross. He was ordered along with six other destroyers, along with the three of his squadron, to attack Admiral Hipper's battlecruiser squadron. Out-ranged and out-gunned, Bingham's ship drove for his target hard and fast, hoping to come within torpedo range of the heavier German ships. The German destroyer screen intercepted the majority of the British ships, of which two were sunk and others disabled; Bingham in HMS Nestor along with HMS Nicator of his squadron plowed forward. With reckless bravery the two ships carried on to 3,000 yards but were disabled before they could release their torpedoes; the Nestor continued to fight the unequal battle until sunk., Bingham and many of his crew were picked up a German destroyer bound for captivity warmed only by the thought that they had done more than their duty.

Winner of the John Lyman Book Award for Naval and Maritime Science and Technology. “A compelling and convincing historical analysis of World War I.” —Navy News While the overriding image of the First World War is of the bloody stalemate on the western front, the overall shape of the war arose out of its maritime character. It was essentially a struggle about access to worldwide resources, most clearly seen in Germany's desperate attempts to counter the American industrial threat, which ultimately drew the United States into the war. This radical new book concentrates on the way in which each side tried to use or deny the sea to the other, and in so doing, describes rapid wartime changes not only in ship and weapons technology but also in the way naval warfare was envisaged and fought. Melding strategic, technical, and tactical aspects, Friedman approaches the First World War from a fresh perspective and demonstrates how its perceived lessons dominated the way navies prepared for the Second World War. “Friedman is a master of the evolution of naval strategy, tactics and technology... a rewarding read that will leave many wanting to return again and again just to see what they might have missed the first time.” —Australian Naval Institute “Dr. Friedman's research credentials are impeccable, and the huge amount of factual detail he has unearthed will be sure to delight many... there is nothing comparable in either depth or scope out there, and for this reason, if no other, this book is likely to become a standard work on the naval aspects of the Great War.” —Naval War College Review

This new addition to the Images of War series takes as its focus the early Big Gun battleships that saw development and deployment during the First World War. Iconic ships such as HMS Warspite and Malaya feature amidst this pictorial history that is sure to appeal to fans of the series, and naval enthusiasts in particular. Vessels featured include the battleship Royal Sovereign, the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle, the cruiser HMS Gloucester, the Queen Elizabeth class battleship HMS Barham and the Italian battleships Littorio, Cesare, Duillo, Vittorio Veneto, Conte di Cavour and Doria, amongst many others. British and international battleships feature side by side in a publication that offers a truly representative selection of the kind of vessels in action at this time.

How much can you really find out about the War at Sea during the First World War in five minutes? This handy little history book will surpass all your expectations and leave you well versed on all you wish to know, and maybe even a little bit more… Which was stronger, the German or British navy? What was the biggest battle? Who were the heroes? Who led the navies? And how successful were they? Jam-packed with facts, stats and first-hand accounts of the action, all woven together in an accessible way by an expert in the field, this 5 Minute History is a valuable addition to anyone's bookshelf, ready to be delved into at a moment's notice.

Contains 10 maps, diagrams and illustrations.Arthur Pollen, was a famous British naval historian and inventor of naval warfare equipment, particularly noted for his computer based fire-control system; as with many scientists on the outside of the Admiralty he met with resistance. The British naval establishment were none too fond of Pollen's biting magazine articles on their conduct of the war; Pollen wrote extensively on Naval matters during the period of the First World War and also penned this volume entitled “The Navy in Battle”. In keeping with his disestablishment line, he was very critical of the handling of the Navy and covers herein the submarine menace, the battle of the Falkland Islands, the engagement at Helgoland Bight and the Battle of Jutland. Although he saluted the heroism of the Royal Navy on the seas in general he pulled no punches on what he saw as fundamental issues of handling of the war effort, indeed he aimed particular criticism at Admiral Jellicoe and his actions at the battle of Jutland.Refreshingly an unjingoistic work free form many of the prejudices of British naval works on the First World War.

The five volumes that constitute Arthur Marder's From the Dreadnought to Scapa Flow represented arguably the finest contribution to the literature of naval history since Alfred Mahan. A J P Taylor wrote that'his naval history has a unique fascination. To

The five volumes that constitute Arthur Marder's From the Dreadnought to Scapa Flow represented arguably the finest contribution to the literature of naval history since Alfred Mahan. A J P Taylor wrote that'his naval history has a unique fascination. To unrivalled mastery of sources he adds a gift of simple narrative... He is beyond praise, as he is beyond cavil.'The five volumes were subtitled The Royal Navy in the Fisher Era, 1904–1919 and they are still, despite recent major contributions from Robert Massie and Andrew Gordan, regarded by many as the definitive history of naval events leading up to and including the Great War.This last volume describes the Royal Navy's final triumph. The convoy system brought rewards and the US Navy arrived in European waters. The striking 1918 raid on Zeebrugge was a big morale booster, and in November 1918 Beatty received the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet. In June the following year the Germand scuttled their fleet at Scapa Flow and so came to an end a major era in naval history.A new introduction by Barry Gough, the distinguished Canadian maritime and naval historian, assesses the importance of Marder's work and anchors it firmly amongst the great naval narrative histories of this era.This new paperback edition will bring a truly great work to a new generation of historians and general readers.

The most comprehensive English-language study of the German Imperial Navy's WWI battlecruisers, fully illustrated with drawings, diagrams and photographs. In this in-depth study, naval historian and author of Battle on the Seven Seas Gary Staff presents a full analysis of Imperial Germany's battlecruisers. Known as Panzerkreuzer, the eight ships of this class were involved in several early North Sea skirmishes before their historic victory against the Royal Navy in the Battle of Jutland. Staff details the design and construction of these ships, and traces the full-service history of each one, recounting their actions, largely from first-hand German sources and official documents. Detailed line drawings and maps augment the text throughout, as do a wealth of contemporary photos that depict the vessels at sea as well as in dock, where many aspects of their design—as well as damage sustained in action—can be viewed in close up. A superb series of full-color computer graphics show full length profiles and top-down views of each ship in precise and clear detail.German Battle Cruisers of World War One presents a major contribution to German naval history in the English language. It is a must-have volume for Great War historians and enthusiasts, as well as battlecruiser modelers.

“A masterpiece... an indispensable source on the Royal Navy's development in the decade before the First World War.” —War in HistoryThe five volumes that constitute Arthur Marder's From the Dreadnought to Scapa Flow represented arguably the finest contribution to the literature of naval history since Alfred Mahan. A. J. P. Taylor wrote that “his naval history has a unique fascination. To unrivalled mastery of sources he adds a gift of simple narrative... He is beyond praise, as he is beyond cavil.”The five volumes were subtitled The Royal Navy in the Fisher Era, 1904–1919 and they are still, despite recent major contributions from Robert Massie and Andrew Gordan, regarded by many as the definitive history of naval events leading up to and including the Great War. This first volume covers many facets of the history of the Royal Navy during the pre-war decade, including the economic and political background such as the 1906 Liberal Government hostility towards naval spending. Inevitably, however, attention moves to the German naval challenge, the arms race and the subsequent Anglo-German rivalry, and, finally, the British plans for the blockade of the German High Seas Fleet. A new introduction by Barry Gough, the distinguished Canadian maritime and naval historian, assesses the importance of Marder's work and anchors it firmly amongst the great naval narrative histories of this era.This ebook edition will bring a truly great work to a new generation of historians and general readers.“[An] extensive and masterly classic work of the Royal Navy in the Great War. A prodigious work of scholarship.” —Scuttlebutt (Friends of the RN Museum)

The five volumes that constitute Arthur Marder's From the Dreadnought to Scapa Flow represented arguably the finest contribution to the literature of naval history since Alfred Mahan. A J P Taylor wrote that'his naval history has a unique fascination. To unrivaled mastery of sources he adds a gift of simple narrative... He is beyond praise, as he is beyond cavil.'The five volumes were subtitled The Royal Navy in the Fisher Era, 1904–1919 and they are still, despite recent major contributions from Robert Massie and Andrew Gordan, regarded by many as the definitive history of naval events leading up to and including the Great War.The fourth volume covers the period from Jellicoe's arrival at the Admiralty to deal with the U-boat menace until his dismissal a year later. Mounting losses brought about the introduction of the convoy system and the turn of the tide in anti-submarine warfare. The volume also looks at the beginnings of naval aviation.A new introduction by Barry Gough, the distinguished Canadian maritime and naval historian, assesses the importance of Marder's work and anchors it firmly amongst the great naval narrative histories of this era.This new paperback edition will bring a truly great work to a new generation of historians and general readers

The only comparative analysis available of the great navies of World War I, this work studies the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, the German Kaiserliche Marine, the United States Navy, the French Marine Nationale, the Italian Regia Marina, the Austro-Hungarian Kaiserliche und Königliche Kriegsmarine, and the Imperial Russian Navy to demonstrate why the war was won, not in the trenches, but upon the waves. It explains why these seven fleets fought the way they did and why the war at sea did not develop as the admiralties and politicians of 1914 expected. After discussing each navy's goals and circumstances and how their individual characteristics impacted the way they fought, the authors deliver a side-by-side analysis of the conflict's fleets, with each chapter covering a single navy. Parallel chapter structures assure consistent coverage of each fleet—history, training, organization, doctrine, materiel, and operations—and allow readers to easily compare information among the various navies. The book clearly demonstrates how the naval war was a collision of 19th century concepts with 20th century weapons that fostered unprecedented development within each navy and sparked the evolution of the submarine and aircraft carrier. The work is free from the national bias that infects so many other books on World War I navies. As they pioneer new ways of viewing the conflict, the authors provide insights and material that would otherwise require a massive library and mastery of multiple languages. Such a study has special relevance today as 20th-century navies struggle to adapt to 21st-century technologies.

A British Royal Navy sailor recounts his service about the HMS Clio and the action he saw during the Mesopotamian campaign during World War I.Sailor in the Desert is the personal account of a Royal Navy sailor's experiences during the Mesopotamian campaign of 1915. As an able seaman on an armed sloop supporting the British expedition up the River Tigris, Philip Gunn's recollections give a rare perspective of this ill-fated campaign.At the outbreak of war, Phillip Gunn was serving on HMS Clio, a naval sloop fitted with sails and guns stationed in China and immediately tasked with hunting the soon-to-be-famous German cruiser Emden, but failed to prevent her escape. Gunn and Clio were next in action defending the Suez Canal against an attempted Turkish invasion before joining the expedition to invade Turkish-held Mesopotamia (Iraq).When the River Tigris became too shallow for Clio, Gunn took over a Calcutta River Police launch. He towed improvised gunboats to bombard the enemy in close support of the advancing land forces, whose assaults on enemy positions he witnessed. Though he repeatedly came under fire, it was malaria which finally struck him down during the pivotal Battle of Ctesiphon. He was fortunate to survive the journey back downriver.Sailor in the Desert is an authentic account drawn from Phillip Gunn's unpublished memoirs as well as conversations with the author, his son David. It is illustrated with archive photographs and colour paintings by Philip Gunn himself.

An in-depth reference to the naval weapons used by Britain, Germany, the US, and the other combatants in the Great War, with photos: “Superb…invaluable.”—History of War Although the Great War might be regarded as the heyday of the big-gun at sea, it also saw the maturing of underwater weapons, the mine and torpedo, as well as the first signs of the future potency of air power. Between 1914 and 1918 weapons development was both rapid and complex, so this book has two functions: on the one hand it details all the guns, torpedoes, mines, aerial bombs and anti-submarine systems employed during that period; but it also seeks to explain the background to their evolution: how the weapons were perceived at the time and how they were actually used. This involves a discussion of tactics and emphasizes the key enabling technology of fire control and gun mountings. In this respect, the book treats the war as a transition from naval weapons which were essentially experimental at its outbreak to a state where they pointed directly to what would be used in World War II. Based largely on original research, this sophisticated book is more than a catalogue of the weapons, offering insight into some of the most important technical and operational factors influencing the war at sea.

“Another in the fantastic Battleground series of Great War histories combined with battlefield guides... with a good narrative and personal accounts.” —The Great War MagazineThe landing at Suvla Bay, part of the August Offensive, commenced on the night of 6 August 1915. It was intended to support a breakout from Anzac Beach. Despite early hopes from a largely unopposed landing, Suvla was a mismanaged affair that quickly became a stalemate. The newly formed IX Corps, commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Frederick Stopford, failed, not for lack of sacrifice by its New Army and Territorials, but because of a failure of generalship. Opportunities were thoughtlessly wasted due to lethargy. Suvla not only signaled the end of Stopford and many of his Brigadiers, but also saw the end of the Commander in Chief, Sir Ian Hamilton. It was the beginning of the end of the Gallipoli gamble and in its own right created a catalyst of disaster that would come to represent the failed campaign.This book adds to the Gallipoli story by recounting the Suvla Bay landing through a mix of official accounts intertwined with a rich collection of the participants letters, diaries, personal accounts, photographs and maps.“Chock-a-block with excellent personal experience quotes, some old favourites to be sure, but many of them will be new to most readers. They are skilfully woven into the account, bringing the fighting alive and illustrating the manifold confusions of this truly awful battle. The text is also wonderfully illustrated with photos and crystal-clear maps. A splendid book that I found invaluable during my recent visits to Gallipoli.” —Stand To!DESC>History;world war I;great war;WWI;travel;battlefield guide;reference;map;military history;british history;20th century;british military history;battleground Gallipoli;turkey;suvla bay landing;august offensive;anzac beach;lieutenant general sir Frederick stopford;new army;territorials;generalship failure;brigadiers;sir ian hamilton;commander in chief;disaster;failed campaign;diary;personal account;1915;stalemate;tourist;traveler;traveller;scimitar hill;battle of kucuk anafarta ova;ottoman fifth army;general otto liman von sandersHIS027090 HISTORY / Wars & Conflicts / World War ITRV026110 TRAVEL / Special Interest / MilitaryREF002000 REFERENCE / Atlases, Gazetteers & MapsHIS027000 HISTORY / Military / GeneralHIS015070 HISTORY / Europe / Great Britain / 20th Century9781781598085Falklands Hero: Ian McKay—The last VC of the 20th CenturyJon Cooksey

Fast, manoeuvrable and heavily armed, destroyers were the most aggressive surface warships of the twentieth century. Although originally conceived as a defensive screen to protect the main battlefleet from torpedo attack, the gamekeeper soon turned poacher, and became primarily a weapon of offence. As such they were involved in many hard-fought battles, using both torpedoes and guns, especially with enemy vessels of the same kind. This book recounts some of the most significant, spectacular or unusual actions in the history of destroyer warfare, from the first employment of torpedo craft during the Russo-Japanese War to the recent terrorist attack on USS Cole. With individual chapters devoted to each incident, the book may be read as a series of dramatic narratives, but each reflects a development in the tactics or technology, so taken as a whole the book amounts to a complete history of the destroyer from an unusual and previously neglected angle.

“A very detailed operational account of the highly successful German amphibious landings in October of 1917 on the Russian islands of Osel and Dago.”—The NYMAS Review In late 1917, the Russians, despite the revolution, were still willing to continue the war against Germany. This is an account of Operation Albion, the highly successful seaborne operation launched by the Germans to change their minds. The Baltic Islands were pivotal for the defense of the Finnish Gulf and St. Petersburg, so their capture was essential for any campaign towards the Russian capital. Only after the fall of the islands did Russia begin peace negotiations (freeing nearly half a million German soldiers for the Kaiser's last gamble on the Western Front). This then was a campaign of great significance for the war on both Eastern and Western fronts. A large part of the High Sea Fleet took part in the invasion of the Baltic islands, including the most modern dreadnought battleships. The Russians mounted a resolute defense despite being heavily outgunned and over a ten-day period there were many naval clashes around the islands as well as the campaign ashore, all of which are described in detail with the use of both Russian and German firsthand accounts. This book shatters the myth that the Imperial German Navy spent the last two years of the war cowering in port. “Should be a blueprint for other military history books... The maps are some of the best I have seen in military books... The author tells the story of the campaign from the smallest mine sweeper to the various battleships involved.”—A Wargamers Needful Things