Between Hostile Shores: Mediterranean Convoys 1941-1942 - Couverture souple

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 184102354X ISBN 13 : 9781841023540

Editeur : University of Plymouth Press, 2013

Synopsis

Publié à l'origine comme un résumé de bataille classé, Between Hostile Shores est un record unique écrit par des officiers de marine pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, et peu après 1945. Poinçonnés « restreints » et soumis à la loi sur les secrets officiels, ces textes, cartes, plans et comptes de première main ont été conservés au Britannia Royal Naval College à Dartmouth, dans le sud-ouest de l'Angleterre. Between Hostile Shores expose les risques tactiques épouvantables qui ont été prises, de nécessité stratégique, lors des batailles de convoi méditerranéens de 1941 à 1942. Les navires de surface de la Royal Navy et des marines marchandes alliées ont combattu contre les attaques aériennes écrasantes, les sous-marins, les mines, les torpilles rapides et une puissante flotte de surface pour fournir des fournitures vitales, mais ont subi des pertes déchirantes : en 1942, seulement 30 % des navires marchands qui naviguaient sont arrivés en toute sécurité. Le sacrifice des hommes et des navires a permis de livrer juste assez de fournitures pour assurer la survie de Malte, mais la marge entre succès et échec était très mince. Malgré le coût, les convois méditerranéens représentent une victoire de la puissance maritime alliée sur les forces continentales de leurs ennemis de l'Axe. Between Hostile Shores contient deux résumés de bataille d'histoire de l'état-major naval. Ceux-ci décrivent les principales opérations de convoi méditerranéen et malte, ainsi que des extraits fascinants d'un document officiel inhabituel contenant des descriptions techniques et des plans de dommages de bataille subis par quatre navires de guerre de la Royal Navy escortant des convois méditerranéens. Des extraits de commandes et d'envois donnent des comptes contemporains de la planification et des vues des officiers supérieurs en commandement. L'avant-propos est du vice-amiral Sir Richard Ibbotson, qui écrit que « la Méditerranée en 1941 et 1942 était un théâtre maritime crucial, mais n'a pas attiré beaucoup d'analyses historiques jusqu'à présent. Il mérite plus, en partie à cause de l'importance d'opérations comme Excess, Hallebarde et Piédestal, en partie à cause de batailles comme Syrte, mais surtout parce que les leçons et les implications sont durables, et méritent d'être compréhensives par les générations actuelles et futures de notre nation maritime. Between Hostile Shores apporte donc une contribution importante à notre histoire navale. Mon expérience opérationnelle à une époque différente a été dominée par trois réalités persistantes et apparemment intemporelles : la nécessité de contrôler les lignes de communication maritimes, tout en faisant face à des lignes d'alimentation étendues et en fonctionnant sans supériorité aérienne. Pour ma génération, ces facettes étaient une dure réalité à la fois pour les Malouines et pour les étapes des conflits successifs du Golfe. Je suis intrigué que ce soient les thèmes clés de la Méditerranée en 1941 1942. Ils sonnent à la fois avec les réalités opérationnelles et les priorités d'une marine royale post-guerre froide beaucoup plus que je n'aurais pu imaginer en tant que jeune gardien et officier de guerre principal, lorsque la Royal Navy se concentrait principalement sur la guerre anti-sous-marine en eau profonde dans les eaux froides du Nord. Les événements des deux dernières décennies ont de nouveau tourné notre regard maritime vers la Méditerranée. Comme beaucoup d'autres officiers de marine, le leadership et la concentration sur la formation dispensée par Somerville et Cunningham m'ont inspiré. La Royal Navy est fière à juste titre de son professionnalisme et de son leadership. Les événements abordés ici témoignent de l'importance et de la validité d'une telle concentration. Ces qualités ont donné aux deux navires Admirals la capacité de lutter à travers, contre l'adversité réelle et à long terme, la pression incessante et les pertes fréquentes. Les leçons qui peuvent être tirées de ce livre restent donc tout à fait pertinentes aujourd'hui, et sont rassemblées dans l'introduction avec style et vigueur réels. Je le recommande de tout cœur. »

A propos du livre

Présentation de l'éditeur

Originally published as a classified Battle Summary, Between Hostile Shores is a unique record written by naval officers during World War II, and soon after 1945. Stamped 'restricted' and subject to the Official Secrets Act these texts, maps, plans and first-hand accounts were held at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, South West England. Between Hostile Shores exposes the appalling tactical risks that were taken, of strategic necessity, during the Mediterranean convoy battles of 1941 1942. Surface ships of the Royal Navy and Allied merchant navies fought against overwhelming air attack, submarines, mines, fast torpedo craft and a powerful surface fleet to deliver vital supplies, but incurred harrowing losses: in 1942 only 30 per cent of the merchant ships that sailed arrived safely. The sacrifice of men and ships ensured that just enough supplies were delivered to ensure Malta's survival, but the margin between success and failure was wafer-thin. Despite the cost, Mediterranean convoys represent a victory of Allied sea power over the continental forces of their Axis enemies. Between Hostile Shores contains two Naval Staff History Battle Summaries. These describe the major Mediterranean and Malta convoy operations, alongside fascinating extracts from an unusual official document containing technical descriptions and plans of battle damage suffered by four Royal Navy warships escorting Mediterranean convoys. Extracts from orders and despatches give contemporary accounts of planning and the views of senior officers in command. The foreword is by Vice Admiral Sir Richard Ibbotson, who writes that 'the Mediterranean in 1941 and 1942 was a crucial maritime theatre, but has not attracted a great deal of historical analysis thus far. It deserves more, partly because of the importance of operations like Excess, Halberd and Pedestal, partly because of battles like Sirte, but mostly because the lessons and implications are enduring, and merit understanding by current and future generations of our maritime nation. Between Hostile Shores therefore provides an important contribution to our naval history. My operational experience in a different era was dominated by three persistent and seemingly timeless realities; the need to control sea lines of communication, while coping with extended supply lines and operating without air superiority. For my generation, these facets were a stark reality both for the Falklands, and for stages of the successive Gulf conflicts. I am intrigued that these were the key themes in the Mediterranean in 1941 1942. They chime with both the operational realities and the priorities of a post-Cold War Royal Navy far more than I might have imagined as a young watchkeeper and principal warfare officer, when the Royal Navy's focus was predominantly on deep-water anti-submarine warfare in cold northern waters. Events of the last two decades have again turned our maritime eye to the Mediterranean. Like many other Naval Officers, the leadership and focus on training provided by Somerville and Cunningham have inspired me. The Royal Navy rightly prides itself on professionalism and leadership. The events covered here are testament to the importance and validity of such a focus. These qualities gave the two Admirals ships the ability to fight through, against real, long-term adversity, unrelenting pressure and frequent loss. The lessons that may be drawn from this book therefore remain wholly relevant today, and are brought together in the introduction with real style and vigour. I commend it wholeheartedly.'

Présentation de l'éditeur

Appalling tactical risks were taken, of strategic necessity, during the Mediterranean convoy battles of 1941 1942. Surface ships of the Royal Navy and Allied merchant navies fought against overwhelming air attack, submarines, mines, fast torpedo craft and a powerful surface fleet to deliver vital supplies, but incurred harrowing losses: in 1942 only 30 per cent of the merchant ships that sailed arrived safely. The sacrifice of men and ships ensured that just enough supplies were delivered to ensure Malta s survival, but the margin between success and failure was wafer-thin. Despite the cost, Mediterranean convoys represent a victory of Allied sea power over the continental forces of their Axis enemies. Between Hostile Shores contains two Naval Staff History Battle Summaries. These describe the major Mediterranean and Malta convoy operations, alongside fascinating extracts from an unusual official document containing technical descriptions and plans of battle damage suffered by four Royal Navy warships escorting Mediterranean convoys. Extracts from orders and despatches give contemporary accounts of planning and the views of senior officers in command. The forward is by Vice Admiral Sir Richard Ibbotson, who writes that 'the Mediterranean in 1941 and 1942 was a crucial maritime theatre, but has not attracted a great deal of historical analysis thus far. It deserves more, partly because of the importance of operations like Excess, Halberd and Pedestal, partly because of battles like Sirte, but mostly because the lessons and implications are enduring, and merit understanding by current and future generations of our maritime nation. Between Hostile Shores therefore provides an important contribution to our naval history. My operational experience in a different era was dominated by three persistent and seemingly timeless realities; the need to control sea lines of communication, while coping with extended supply lines and operating without air superiority. For my generation, these facets were a stark reality both for the Falklands, and for stages of the successive Gulf conflicts. I am intrigued that these were the key themes in the Mediterranean in 1941 1942. They chime with both the operational realities and the priorities of a post-Cold War Royal Navy far more than I might have imagined as a young watchkeeper and principal warfare officer, when the Royal Navy s focus was predominantly on deep-water anti-submarine warfare in cold northern waters. Events of the last two decades have again turned our maritime eye to the Mediterranean. Like many other Naval Officers, the leadership and focus on training provided by Somerville and Cunningham have inspired me. The Royal Navy rightly prides itself on professionalism and leadership. The events covered here are testament to the importance and validity of such a focus. These qualities gave the two Admirals ships the ability to fight through, against real, long-term adversity, unrelenting pressure and frequent loss. The lessons that may be drawn from this book therefore remain wholly relevant today, and are brought together in the introduction with real style and vigour. I commend it wholeheartedly.'

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: University of Plymouth Press
• Date d'édition: 2013
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 184102354X
• ISBN 13: 9781841023540
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 360
• Éditeur: Pearce Michael
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: Klondyke B.V.; info@klondyke.nl; ; Vlaardingenstraat 51; Almere; 1324LB; Pays-Bas