Author: Ian Sumner
Illustrator: Alix Baker

About this book
The outbreak of war found the Royal Navy with world-wide responsibilities but, despite its legendary professionalism, out-of-date strategic doctrines.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.

Contents

• Introduction
• Organisation and command structure in 1939
• Recruitment and training - personnel categories
• Service afloat - organisation of the ship's company
• Uniforms - officers, ratings, shore parties, Naval Commandos, Fleet Air Arm
• Insignia - ratings' badges
• WRNS & QARNNS
• Commonwealth and Allied personnel
• Miscellaneous organisation

Paperback; October 2001; 64 pages; ISBN: 9781841761954