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U-Boat vs Royal Navy Capital Ship
1939–45
Series: Duel
Brief Description
This insightful illustrated study investigates how the Royal Navy lost two battleships and three aircraft carriers to German U-boats during 1939–42. During World War II, over half of Britain’s capital ship losses were due to U-boats, as Germany’s submarines sought to deplete the Royal Navy’s powerful...
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U-Boat vs Royal Navy Capital Ship
$3299
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Fully illustrated, this insightful study investigates how the Royal Navy lost two battleships and three aircraft carriers to German U-boats during 1939–42.
This insightful illustrated study investigates how the Royal Navy lost two battleships and three aircraft carriers to German U-boats during 1939–42.
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Description
This insightful illustrated study investigates how the Royal Navy lost two battleships and three aircraft carriers to German U-boats during 1939–42.
During World War II, over half of Britain’s capital ship losses were due to U-boats, as Germany’s submarines sought to deplete the Royal Navy’s powerful surface fleet. Featuring specially commissioned artwork and mapping alongside archive photographs, this study explains how Germany’s submarines sank five of Britain’s major surface vessels in four years of conflict at sea.
Aircraft carrier HMS Courageous was sunk by U-29 on 17 September 1939 during anti-submarine patrols. On 14 October 1939, U-47 penetrated the Scapa Flow defences and sank battleship HMS Royal Oak. On 14 November 1941, U-81 sank HMS Ark Royal as the aircraft carrier returned to Gibraltar. On 25 November 1941, U-331 sank HMS Barham off Egypt. The final British capital ship to be sunk by German submarines was carrier HMS Eagle, torpedoed by U-73 en route to Malta on 11 August 1942.
In U-Boat vs Royal Navy Capital Ship, Mark Lardas charts the origins, development and combat performance of the U-boats in the Kriegsmarine’s efforts to attack British capital ships, and the Royal Navy’s efforts to counter the submarine threat to its battleships, battlecruisers and aircraft carriers. As well as the five encounters that led to sinkings, he examines the 'near-misses' that saw Royal Navy capital ships get the better of the U-boats.
Series: Duel
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Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781472866066
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 29 January 2026
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Osprey Publishing
Illustration: Colour illustrations throughout, including profiles, technical drawings, battlescene artworks, maps and photographs.
Contributors:
- Illustrated by Edouard A. Groult
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 8.0mm
Width: 182.0mm
Height: 246.0mm
Weight: 260g
Pages: 80
About the Author
Mark Lardas is the author of more than 50 books on aspects of military, naval and maritime history, including many for Osprey. He lives in Texas.
Edouard Groult worked as a concept artist in the videogame industry and also undertakes historical commissions while freelancing for historical publications.
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