Royal Navy Force H 1940–42

Formed to project British naval power from Gibraltar, Force H was the Royal Navy's unique strategic task force. This fully illustrated study explains its roles, organisation, and history.

In June 1940, the fall of France and its powerful fleet completely changed the naval balance in both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. To counter this, the Admiralty formed Force H, a unique task force based at Gibraltar, which was assigned some of Britain’s most powerful capital ships. Command was given to James Somerville, one of Britain’s finest admirals, who reported directly to the Admiralty. Force H would be the Royal Navy’s ‘fire brigade’ in the theatre.

In this book, naval historian Angus Konstam presents a detailed study of Force H’s purpose, capabilities, organisation, and how it fought to dominate the seas around the crucial Straits of Gibraltar. Until the Italian surrender in 1943, Force H would be tasked with crucial actions from the destruction of the French fleet at Mers-el-Kebir to hunting the Bismarck in the Atlantic, and from Malta convoy escort to supporting Allied amphibious landings from Madagascar to Sicily.

Packed with spectacular original artwork, maps, and diagrams, it demonstrates how Force H, more than any other British naval force, had the strategic flexibility and firepower to turn the tide of war in not just one, but two vital theatres.