World War 2 by Martin Stephen

World War 2 by Martin Stephen lands on the shelves of my shop.

Ian Allan, 1996, Hardback in dust wrapper.

2nd printing. [First Published: 1988] Jacket illustration: The pursuit of Graf Spee by Ajax and Achilles 1939, from a painting by Norman Wilkinson. Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Diagrams; Maps; Tables;

From the cover: The original title Sea Battles in Close-up referred to a series of books produced by lan Allan in the early 1970s and now out of print. These small casebound volumes have, in many instances, become sought-after collectors items, dealing as they did with many of the major naval engagements of World War 2. A significant amount of new information has become available since the 1970s about these engagements in some cases demanding totally new interpretations of battles, in others a revised view.

In Sea Battles in Close-up, 10 crucial naval engagements of World War 2 are examined in depth by Martin Stephen and Eric Grove, supported by a comprehensive selection of 60 detailed maps and over 150 carefully selected photographs; together they reflect the latest authoritative opinions on the subject. This new compendium volume covers two sea battles not dealt with in the original Sea Battles in Close-up series, in addition to some exciting new ideas on the Battle of the River Plate and the loss of HMS Hood.

In the Sea Battles in Close-up series.

Very Good in Very Good Dust Wrapper.

Black boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. 224 pages. Index. Bibliography. 9½” x 7″.

Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!

Order Of Battle: German Kriegsmarine In World War 2 by Chris McNab

Order Of Battle: German Kriegsmarine In World War 2 by Chris McNab lands on the shelves of my shop.

London: Amber Books, 2009, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Jacket illustration: U-505 (top, inset left); Kriegsmarine epaulettes (top right); a plan view of the battleship Bismarck (main). Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Maps; Tables;

From the cover: Germanys navy, the Kriegsmarine, played a critical role in the Third Reichs attempt to restrict the flow of supplies, men and materiel from the United States to Britain in the early years of the war, and from North America and Britain to the Soviet Union from 1941. Such was the success of the U-boats in particular, by the end of the war more than 3000 Allied ships with a combined gross tonnage of 14. 5 million had been sent to the bottom of the sea.

Broken down by campaign and key actions, Order of Battle: German Kriegsmarine in World War II illustrates the strengths and organizational structures of the Third Reichs navy, building into a detailed compendium of information. Full-colour order of battle diagrams help the reader quickly understand the composition of U-boat flotillas and surface fleets. Examples from key moments in the war include the U-boat wolfpack group West, which harried Allied shipping in the summer of 1941, and the fleet gathered for the invasion of Denmark in April 1940.

With extensive organizational diagrams, tables and full-colour maps, Order of Battle: German Kriegsmarine in World War II is an attractive, easy-to-use guide to the German navy in World War II. The book is an essential reference for any serious enthusiast of naval warfare in the twentieth century.

Good+ in Good+ Dust Wrapper. Heavy ding to the foot of the spine with a nick to the dust wrapper as a result. Leans slightly. Text complete, clean and tight.

Matching Pictorial boards. 192 pages. Index. Bibliography. 9¾” x 7¾”.

Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!