War at Sea 1939-45: Volume I The Defensive (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781474535700)

Captain Roskill has long been recognised as the leading authority on the Royal Navy's part in the Second World War. His Official History (originally published for the HMSO) is unlikely ever to be superseded. His narrative is highly readable, and the analysis is clear.

Roskill describes sea battles, convoy actions and the contribution made by technology in the shape of ASDIC and Radar.

Contents: Maritime War and Maritime Strategy - Maritime War - The British Shore Organisation - The Development of Sea-Air Co-operation - Allied and Enemy War Plans and Dispositions - Opening Moves in Home Waters 3rd September-31st December 1939 - Ocean Warfare 3rd September-31st December 1939 - The Sea Approaches and Coastal Waters 1st January-31st May 1940 - The Home Fleet 1st January-9th April 1940 -The Norwegian Campaign 8th April-15th June 1940 - The Control of the Narrow Seas 10th May-4th June 1940 - The Withdrawal from Europe 5th-25th June 1940 - The Control of Home Waters 30th May-31st December 1940 - Ocean Warfare 1st January-31st December 1940 - Coastal Warfare 1st June 1940-31st March 1941 - The Campaign of the North-West Approaches 1st June 1940-31st March 1941 - Ocean Warfare 1st January-31st May 1941 - The Home Fleet 1st January-31st May 1941 - The African Campaigns 1st January-31st May 1941 - The Battle of the Atlantic 1st April-31st December 1941 - Home Waters and the Arctic 1st June-31st December 1941 - Coastal Warfare 1st April-31st December 1941 - The African Campaigns 1st June-31st December 1941 - Ocean Warfare 1st June-31st December 1941 - Disaster in the Pacific December 1941.