Walter, Brian E. The Longest Campaign

Britain's Maritime Struggle in the Atlantic and Northwest Europe, 1939–1945

A comprehensive and balanced account of the naval battles in the Atlantic. For four centuries, the British Empire relied on its naval power to defend its interests and independence against a multitude of military and economic threats. During this period, the Royal Navy established itself as the ruler of the seas and helped transform England, and later Great Britain, from an inconspicuous island nation on the edge of the European continent into the centre of a global empire. But the outbreak of the Second World War presented the British naval forces with their greatest challenge to date. The survival of the nation was at stake. The Longest Campaign tells the story of this struggle and the indispensable role that British naval power played in achieving the victory that shaped the world we live in today. It is a complete, balanced and detailed account of the activities, results and significance of the British naval forces in the Atlantic and off the north-west coast of Europe during the Second World War. It considers the entire spectrum of naval warfare and examines the contribution of all those involved, including the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force and the British merchant navy, as well as their counterparts in the Commonwealth. It places naval warfare in the context of the overall war effort and shows how the various operations and campaigns were intertwined. Finally, it provides a unique analysis of the effectiveness of the British naval forces and their role in achieving the final Allied victory.