Books

War in the Mediterranean 1940-1943
Gray Ghosts and Rebel Raiders
Blowing Our Bridges: A Memoir from Dunkirk to Korea Via Normandy
Forward the Guards!: The Brigade of Guards in the Crimean War 1855 - 1866
Strike from the Sea: The Royal Navy & United States Navy at War in the Middle East
Transport in Ancient Egypt
Worcestershire Under Arms: An English County During the Civil Wars
Getting Old in Ancient Egypt
Chinook Crash
The Garden in Ancient Egypt
After the Pyramids: The Valley of the Kings and Beyond
Images of War: D-Day
Battles of the Scottish Lowlands: Battlefield Scotland
D-Day: By Those Who Were There
'O Horrable Murder': Trial, Execution and Burial of King Charles I
Cavalry: The History of Mounted Warfare
The March of the Twenty-six
The Battle for North Africa
The International Militaria Collector's Guide
The "Daily Telegraph" Book of the D-Day Landings
The Battle East of Elsenborn: 1st US Army at the Battle of the Bulge - December 1944
Cavalier Generals: King Charles I and His Commanders in the English Civil War 1642 - 46
The History of the British U Class Submarine
Naseby: The Decisive Campaign
Edgehill: The Battle Reinterpreted

The Naval War in the Mediterranean 1940-1943

Average customer rating:

Valuable Survey of the Med in WW2 from Italian Perspective
Find a Better Editor
An excellent and superbly documented account. Well done!
The Naval War in the Mediterranean 1940-1943
Very Comprehensive

The Naval War in the Mediterranean 1940-1943
Jack Greene , and Alessandro Massignani
Manufacturer: Greenhill Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Clash of The Carriers: The True Story of the Marianas Turkey Shoot of World War II

ASIN: 1861761902

Book Description

Now available in paperback, this superbly written account is the first English-language book utilizing the latest research in various languages to provide a comprehensive record of World War II fighting on, under, and over the Mediterranean. Far more than an operational history, it explains why the various warship classes were built and employed, the role of the Italian Air Force at sea, the successes of German planes and U-boats, and much more. Detailed maps provide a clear visual aid to understanding events, while many never-before-published photographs paint a vivid picture of the reality of war at sea. Lauded for their thorough research and persuasive style, the authors have made a valuable contribution to the record, and their book will attract everyone with an interest in the naval aspect of World War II.

Customer Reviews:

Valuable Survey of the Med in WW2 from Italian Perspective.......2006-09-06

This book is valuable for any number of reasons. First, it's a quite well written and accessible survey of the struggle for control of the Mediterranean during WW2. Second, it offers a convincing portrait of events specifically from the Italian perspective by going into considerable detail about not just relative weapon quality but also training, command structure, diplomatic relationships, industrial capacity and logistics.

While the book does focus on "The Naval War" it also offers a compelling picture of what the struggle looked like to Italy (aside from Russia and Greece.) It is of exceptional value to naval miniatures players and wargamers because Greene, having been a noted creator of simulations like "Iron Bottom Sound," "Norway 1940," "Royal Navy" and "Destroyer Captain," provides lots of helpful information (including convoy diagrams and maps) for tactical and operation scenario design.

All in all however this work is just a great narrative. I couldn't wait to get back and read more. One note about the research. I've been reading about the Second World War for 30+ years, with a particular interest in naval aspects, and I learned a great deal from this book. I'll leave it to those with a PHD on the topic to carp about insufficient primary research -- I don't know -- but since I don't read Italian myself this book was invaluable to my understanding of the theatre and Italy's challenges in general. You will find yourself reassessing a lot of what you thought you "knew" if you read this book. Personally when a book does that for me, I don't worry about misplaced commas!

Find a Better Editor.......2001-10-19

If I had a dime for every grammatical error in this book, I'd be a rich man. The editing was horrible, and made it difficult to read.

The information presented was, on the whole, good. It was nice that the authors made available material from numerous Italian sources. However, the work relies greatly on secondary sources, and aside from attempting to present a balanced perspective, offers little new to the study of the War in the Mediterranean.

I had the impression from the dust jacket and other reviews that the book made far more use of primary sources. I was disappointed that this was not the case.

An excellent and superbly documented account. Well done!.......2000-09-09

This book was thoroughly and well researched on the subject of the naval war in the Mediterranean Sea. A wealth of footnoted referrence materials and books have been provided for further reading. The authors set the stage for the conflict in the Mediterranean theater by briefly describing the circumstances of Italy, Great Britain, and France during the 1930's, the Spanish Civil war and roles that all the major European powers played in that war, and the arms race that took place by these countries up to the beginning of conflict. Every battle is thoroughly covered ... with numerous detailed maps of how the fleets were laid out, when and how they engaged in conflict, and the outcome of those battles. The authors gave an almost hour by hour break down of each battle, and provided detailed information on the breakdown of each fleet, including the exact number of ships, numbers and sizes of guns, numbers of aircraft involved on both sides, and why the engagements ended the way they did. The book was very well balanced, providing a point of view from the Italian side, as well as the English and French (when ever France was involved). If you want to read about classic naval warfare in World War II, the Mediterranean Sea was where it happened the most; where major fleets collided and gunned it out, where submarines, mines, torpedo boats, convoys, aircraft and aircraft carriers all played a major role in combat. I couldn't think of a better book to bring this to you than this book. A must read!!

The Naval War in the Mediterranean 1940-1943.......2000-08-08

Standard short battle history. No new insight or information. could have been copied from Capt Roskill's wotk of the 1950s. If you read this you must read Sadkovich's work for balance and insight into the Italian war effort and why what the UK mediterranean fleet did was not always very inportant to the out come of the campaign.

Very Comprehensive.......2000-05-12

If you have been looking for the definitive book of naval operations in the Mediterranean during World War II, you've found it. All of the major naval actions are here - British convoys to Matla, German and Italian convoys to North Africa, torpedo boat actions, sorties of the big Italian battleships, conflicts between the Italian Navy and Air Force, the sinking of the Britsh battleship Barham and aircraft carriers Eagle and Ark Royal, submarines, mines, Italian frogmen, and a chapter which looks at the proposed airborne invasion of Malta.

The book is written in an easy to read narrative style and explains many of the actions (or lack of action) on the part of the navies involved. Discussions of why the Italians usually avoided combat even when they outnumbered the enemy and why wasn't Malta ever invaded to secure the German-Italian convoy route to North Africa? This book offers insight to these and other questions as well as providing gripping descriptions of naval actions which have, until now, been mostly overlooked. This is a book which can be referred to time and again.

Average customer rating:

A most thorough work.
Ireland's book does not add anything ...

The War in the Mediterranean 1940-1943
Bernard Ireland
Manufacturer: Arms & Armour
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1854090704

Book Description

An acknowledged expert on World War II naval matters and the author of twenty-five books, Bernard Ireland examines the thousand-day battle between Allied and Axis forces for domination of the North African shores. His book offers graphic accounts of the stirring action as each side, realizing the consequences of defeat, struggled to control the Mediterranean and maintain their seaborne supply chain. Ireland brings fresh clarity to the complexities and factors at play during this critical period of the war. 224 pages. 16 illustrations. Hardcover. 6 x 9 inches.

Customer Reviews:

A most thorough work........2007-05-14

For almost 3 years during WW2, the battle for North Africa was fought between the British 8th Army and Germany's Afrika Korps. Taking in the much wider picture, defeat for either side would have been disastrous.

Whilst battle after battle raged on land, success or failure for both sides depended entirely on re-supply by very different sea routes. With Axis forces dominating almost the entire northern shores of the Mediterranean, the British, were forced to route almost everything via South Africa up to the Red Sea and through the Suez Canal before their stores could be unloaded. The Germans and Italians, however, used single or small groups of vessels to dash across the Mediterranean whenever they could.

Control of the Mediterranean in general was the key to the whole question of success and that is why the centrally placed island of Malta became so vitally important. In the end it was a close run thing with Malta, at one point, being within a few days of surrender. By August 1942, however, Malta was in bad shape. So critical in fact, that one single convoy of 14 cargo ships had no fewer than 4 Aircraft Carriers as part of the protective screen. Of the original 14 ships, only two arrived. Along the way to that heroic little island, One Aircraft Carrier, one Cruiser and one Light Cruiser were lost with another two Cruisers being put out of action.

But arrive they did.

As with all books of this type, research is the key to providing a factually correct account of what took place. Speaking as someone who is wholly reliant on accurate and painstaking research in is own works, it is quite clear to me that this author has left no stone unturned. Bernard Ireland, however, is a distinguished naval historian and I expected no less.

This book will certainly explain a great deal to those who previously knew nothing about the subject and will very likely answer a number of questions for those who are already knowledgeable.

NM

Ireland's book does not add anything ..........1998-12-30

Bernard Ireland book "The War in the Mediterranean 1940-1943" follows a well established trend amongst Anglo-Saxon historian who, despite their claims to the contrary, turn history into a Shakespearian opera. Do not be surprised then if, after having read this book, you will find that there never was a Romeo and a Juliet in Verona.

Ireland's book almost completely disregards the most recent historical sources, including some well known British war documents (including ULTRA), which clearly depict a different prospective of the British war efforts in the Mediterranean. Ireland's description of the Regia Marina (Italian Navy) almost resemble war propaganda. His exaltation of the Luftwaffe and the General Rommel completely disregard most of the not-too-recently reevaluated historical facts which, without taking anything away from the remarkable German bravery, questions some of the tactical practices.

Ultimately, Ireland's book does not add anything to the history of the conflict in the Mediterranean, and readers would be much better served referring to the many books published by the United States' Naval Institute.

The Fighting Tenth: The Tenth Submarine Flotilla and Siege of Malta

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The Fighting Tenth: The Tenth Submarine Flotilla and Siege of Malta
John Wingate
Manufacturer: Leo Cooper
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Malta | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

Naval | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Military Science | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0850528917

The march to Tunis: The North African War, 1940-1943: I. Mediterranean Front

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The march to Tunis: The North African War, 1940-1943: I. Mediterranean Front
Alan Moorehead
Manufacturer: Harper & Row
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Historical | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Average customer rating:

Under Cunningham's command, 1940-1943,
George Marquis Stewart Stitt
Manufacturer: G. Allen & Unwin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

Naval War in the Mediterranean : 1940-1943

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Naval War in the Mediterranean : 1940-1943
Jack & Massignani, Alessandro Greene
Manufacturer: Chatham Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000PS5IBI

The March To Tunis The North African War 1940-1943 I.Mediterranean Front II.A Year of Battle III.The End in Africa

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The March To Tunis The North African War 1940-1943 I.Mediterranean Front II.A Year of Battle III.The End in Africa
Alan Moorehead
Manufacturer: Harper & Row
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NPH1OK

The war at sea in the Mediterranean: Pts. I & II (1940-September 1943)

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The war at sea in the Mediterranean: Pts. I & II (1940-September 1943)
Eberhard Weichold
Manufacturer: Navy Dept
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Average customer rating:

A most thorough work.

War in the Mediterranean 1940-1943
Bernard Ireland
Manufacturer: Leo Cooper
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000JZ61PO

Customer Reviews:

A most thorough work........2007-05-14

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