Roskill, Captain S. W. History of the Second World War: The War at Sea, volume III: The Offensive, part I. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1960.

413 pages

Preface; chronological summary; maps; photos; tables; index.

Appendices: Board of Admiralty; Coastal Command Establishment and Expansion; German U-boat Strength; German, Italian, and Japanese U-boats Sunk; Mediterranean Naval Strength; Italian Warships in Allied Control; Italian Naval Losses; British Commonwealth Warship Losses in the Mediterranean; Organization of the Imperial Japanese Navy; British, Allied, and Neutral Merchant Ship Losses.

Within the British official "History of the Second World War" series, this is part of the "The War at Sea" set, all by S. W. Roskill. Vol 1: The Defensive. Vol 2: The Period of Balance. Volume 3, The Offensive, is divided into part 1 and part 2 under separate covers.

The ultimate history of Royal Navy operations on every front in the Second World War. Complete and very detailed, also engagingly well-written. The entire set of four is a must-have for those studying the Second World War. This volume covers the naval war from 1 June 1943 through 31 May 1944 and includes the Battle of the Atlantic, Home Waters and the Arctic, coastal warfare, invasion of Sicily, Salerno and Anzio, and the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Thanks to Graham Palmer at World War II Books for providing this copy. Visit his homepage for details on this month's special program, during which he will accept any reasonable offer on his sets of Roskill.