Product Description

With the call to action stations of August 1914, the Royal Navy faced its greatest test since the time of Nelson. Geoffrey Bennett's classic history of the Great War at sea combines graphic and stirring accounts of all the principal naval engagements - battles overseas, in home waters and, for the first time, under the sea - with analysis of the strategy and tactics of both sides. He brings these sea battles dramatically to life, and confirms the Allied navies' vital contribution to victory. In his words, "Though the titanic struggle on the Western Front dominated the strategy of the Allies, it was their navies, of which the British was immeasurably the strongest, that in the end brought Germany to her knees". Illustrated with maps, plans and contemporary photographs, this detailed, immaculately-researched account is the authoritative history on an often overlooked but hugely important aspect of the First World War.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #729876 in Books
• Published on: 2001-09-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

About the Author
Captain Geoffrey Bennett RN (1909-1983) served in the Royal Navy from 1923 until 1958, during which time he was for three years Naval Attache in Moscow. He is the author of several distinguished books on the history of naval warfare, including The Battle of Jutland, Coronel and the Falklands and The Battle of the River Plate.

Customer Reviews

A classic history from the Great War
Geoffrey Bennett was a distinguished naval historian who also served for 35 years in the Royal Navy. As I have mentioned before, he brings an understanding of naval history and naval issues to his work which is rarely found elsewhere. This is not the first book from this author which I have reviewed and, once again, I am not disappointed with the content.

When Britain found itself at war with Germany in 1914, the Royal Navy was faced with it's sternest test since the days of Nelson. Just over 100 years had passed since the Battle of Trafalgar and, during that time, wooden warships had given way to the largest steel leviathans with massive deck guns which could now be swung through 180 degrees and where, below decks, the power source was the very latest in steam engine technology. For all these advances, however, the battle plan of the world's two major navies - Britain and Germany, was still basically the same. They would steam in line ahead towards the enemy in the hope of crossing the "T" before the same was done to them.

This classic work recounts all the major naval encounters from World War One with a strategic analysis of each battle.

With a good and relevant selection of historic photographs reproduced in the middle of the book, this product is best described as; Altogether, a good job well done.

NM

The War at Sea
The abiding image of the First World War is of trenches and mud. However, what made it a truly global conflict was the naval action, upon and beneath the waves. Bennett provides a superb analysis of the role of seapower in the war, covering the widespread theatres and the ebb and flow of victory.

Solid review of an under-reported subject
This book is actually dealing with 3 periods. The first is the expeditionary engagements as the Royal Navy (and RAN) slowly reel in German raiders and cruisers deployed around the world. It also deals with the unsuccessful battleship raid that lead to the fiasco of the Dardanelles campaign.

The second part deals with the engagements leading to and finally that classic of the battleship era: Jutland. The author puts forth a strong explanation of what each side actually achieved during this engagement. It also points out that in many ways it was very hard for a different result to be acheived, despite the misplaced indignation of the period.

The third part is a summary of the overall war at sea as well as a belated coverage of the U-Boat campaign. I felt this part was a bit weak, too much of a summary given If authors such as Clay Blair could supply a magnum opus or two on the 2 WWII submarine campaigns, there could have at least been a couple more solid chapters on the subject.

That minor disappointment aside, this represents a determined effort to redress the slightly excessive focus upon British soldiers in French and Belgian trenches.