228LG015388.jpg
228LG015388.jpg

NAVAL BATTLE OF CRETE 1941

The Royal Navy at Breaking Point

Autore: Angus Konstam

Codice: 228LG015388

€ 21,00

A fascinating account of an often overlooked naval action of World War II, and one of the bloodiest chapters in the history of the Royal Navy.

In April 1941, following the Axis invasion of Greece, the British Mediterranean Fleet was ordered to evacuate Allied survivors, many of which were taken to Crete. The Luftwaffe established itself in airfields on the Greek mainland, and formed plans to invade Crete by air and sea, under the cover of 500 fighters and bombers of the Luftwaffe's Fliegerkorps VIII. Facing them were a small and scattered garrison on the island, a handful of under-strength RAF squadrons and the hard-pressed warships of the Mediterranean Fleet. What happened next was a costly, but ultimately inspiring, naval battle, in which Royal Navy crews were placed under intense strain.

Using period photographs, stunning battlescene artworks, detailed maps and an authoritative narrative, world-leading maritime historian Angus Konstam tells the fascinating story of how Allied ships failed to repulse the Axis invasion convoys bound for Crete, before successfully evacuating troops from the island, all the while under relentless Luftwaffe attack. Offering a fresh insight into this strategically important battle, this work shows how it marked a turning point in the naval war for the Mediterranean, and also witnessed the first use of new elements in naval warfare: the mass use of aircraft to contest control of the sea, and the use of Ultra intelligence to forestall the Axis invasion of Crete. Despite a heavy butcher's bill of dozens of Royal Navy ships lost and damaged, and hundreds Luftwaffe aircraft destroyed, the Royal Navy Mediterranean Fleet would live to fight another day.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

Origins of the campaign

CHRONOLOGY

OPPOSING COMMANDERS

Allied

Axis

OPPOSING FORCES

Allied

Allied order of battle

Axis

Axis order of battle

OPPOSING PLANS

Allied

Axis

THE CAMPAIGN

The prelude

The fleet deploys

The invasion

The first clashes

The Luftwaffe strikes

Black Thursday

Mountbatten's sortie

Keeping up the pressure

The evacuation

AFTERMATH

THE BATTLEFIELD TODAY

FURTHER READING

INDEX

Lingua

INGLESE

Illustrazioni

Riccamente illustrato a colori e in bianco e nero

Pagine

96

Misure

18 x 25

ISBN
9781472854049