Naval History Homepage and Site Search. World War 1 at Sea. A Modern Introduction. Gordon Smith, Naval-History. McClellan, Major, U. It is not about flag-waving and brave deeds, but an authoritative , fairly balanced and accurate account of the British war at sea, given its closeness to the end of war and the limited analysis that was then available.
Archibald Hurd was an accomplished author, writer of the official history of the Merchant Navy, and later knighted. Doveton Sturdee and Sir Reginald H. With certain reservations Cameroons , East Africa and Mesopotamia for example are not covered , I believe this volume serves the purpose. None of the ship loss information in the book, especially the often optimistic U-boat claims, has been checked or corrected.
There is an interesting account of the rise of Britain's naval power in chapter 1, but the reader can go direct to Chapter 2 , with its useful description of the test mobilisation in July Thereafter it is a readable summary of WW1 at sea through contemporary British eyes, with some fascinating details woven into the battle stories. Chapter 11 is an appreciative introduction to the role of the US Navy from The last chapter contains some intersting details about the surrender of the German U-boats and High Seas Fleet.
Yet in doing so, I have come to realise that the Grand Fleet was of supreme importance in the eventual defeat of Germany. The heading images of Admiral Jellicoe portrayed somewhat differently fthan he usually is and his flagship, reflect this importance.
Also links, where appropriate to Naval-History. Net battle summaries. Note: The images are from a number of sites and ebooks, for which my thanks. They are all believed to be in the public domain. To the generous help and criticisms of many participants in the events hereafter recorded, and particularly to Admirals Viscount Jellicoe of Scapa Flow and W. Bacon; and to Lieutenant-Commander A. Turnbull of the United States Navy, the authors desire to express their most grateful acknowledgment.
