Berliner Zinnfiguren/Books & Media/Books/Naval/Great Britain products

Winfield, Rif: British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714-1792 32,95 €

Sat, 18 Jul 2026 08:20:05 +0200

The new Hanoverian dynasty, which came to power in 1714 with the accession of George I, inherited the world's largest navy. Over the course of the century, this fleet saw action in numerous conflicts against almost every major naval power; it achieved its greatest triumph during the Seven Years' War but suffered defeat in the American War of Independence when confronted by the combined naval forces of France, Spain, the Netherlands, and the rebellious colonies. Given the historical significance of these vessels, surprisingly little easily accessible material regarding their operational history has been available. This gap is now comprehensively filled by the present reference work: it documents the service history of every single shipwhether built, purchased, or capturedthat served in the Royal Navy during the major wars of the 18th century, comprising well over 2,000 vessels in total. Organized by rate, ship type, and class, the book provides technical specifications and construction details alongside a concise summary of each ship's career. This includes information on commissioning, refits, changes of command, and areas of operation (including timeframes), as well as details regarding significant engagements in which the ships participated. The work enables readers to specifically follow up on even fleeting references to individual warships and provides researchers with a solid foundation for further study. As no comparable work exists, this book is of immense importance to naval historians and interested laypeople alikeparticularly those fascinated by the navy of the Age of Sail.

Winfield, Rif: British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793-1817 32,95 €

Sat, 18 Jul 2026 08:20:05 +0200

Upon its initial publication in 2005, this book was hailed as a significant contribution to naval history, and its value as a reference work was demonstrated by how quickly it went out of print. This revised edition incorporates several important corrections while retaining the comprehensive coverage of the original, detailing well over 2,000 vesselswhether purpose-built, captured, purchased, or merely charteredthat saw service during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. In addition to technical specifications, the entries include commissioning dates, refit periods, changes of command, stations of service (and the timing thereof), and details of any engagements in which the ships participated. The book is richly illustrated with contemporary prints and drawings depicting the wide range of duties performed by naval vessels during these conflicts, while specially commissioned profile drawings illustrate the most significant classes. All in all, it is a fitting tribute to a navy that, at the height of its power in 1809, comprised half of the world's warships.

Wise, Jon: Bantry Bay to the Troubles 32,95 €

Sat, 18 Jul 2026 08:20:05 +0200

For centuries, Ireland was Great Britains nearest colonysituated practically on its own doorstep. The countrys incorporation into the United Kingdom in 1801the starting point of this accountmarked the beginning of a long era in which the Royal Navy performed a defensive role, contending with both domestic nationalist aspirations for independence and the constant threat of foreign invasion. Furthermore, Irelands geographical location later made the island a pivotal theater for the Navys anti-submarine operations during the two World Wars. Following Irelands independence in 1922, the Royal Navy supported the fledgling Irish Free State through vital coastal operations aiding the army and police, even though these measures often met with resistance from nationalist circles. This role continued even after the Republic of Ireland was established in 1949 and Northern Ireland remained part of the United Kingdom. The final section of the book focuses on "Operation Grenada," which aimed to interdict the smuggling of illegal weapons into Northern Ireland during the Troubles; the Navys role in this deterrence patrol spanned 36 years. The legacy of what some still regard as colonial subjugation made this task consistently challengingcomplicated by the fact that, as G. K. Chesterton observed, "the English never remember anything, and the Irish never forget anything." Although much has been written about the relationship between Great Britain and Ireland, a comprehensive account of the key role played by the Royal Navy in this significant historical context has hitherto been lacking. This work fills that gap, telling a compelling story filled with political tensions and dramatic naval operations.

Winfield, Rif: British Warships in the Age of Sail 1603-1714 32,95 €

Sat, 18 Jul 2026 08:20:05 +0200

During the 17th century, Great Britain transformed from a minor state on the periphery of Europe into a global economic power whose interests were safeguarded and advanced by the world's largest navy. The character of this navy was shaped by a bloody civil war, three fiercely contested conflicts with the Dutch, and the first of many wars against France. This period saw an evolution ranging from the surviving galleonswhich had once defeated the Spanish Armadaand massive vessels of state such as the *Prince Royal* and *Sovereign of the Seas*, through the lightly built frigates of the Commonwealth era, to warships clearly recognizable as ships of the line. These profound changes in warship design and deployment can be traced in detail for the first time in this comprehensive reference work; it documents the history of every shipwhether built, acquired, or capturedthat served in the navy during this era. Like the companion volumes covering the periods 17141792 and 17931817, the book is organized by "rates," classifications, and ship classes; it provides key technical data and construction details, followed by a concise summary of the service history of each individual ship within its class. Thanks to its unparalleled wealth of information, this work is of immense value to both naval historians and enthusiasts fascinated by the navy of the age of sail.

Southby-Tailyour, Ewen: A Life under Sai 38,95 €

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 07:30:08 +0200

Ewen Southby-Tailyours lifelong connection to small boatswhether civilian or militarybegan with an unusual christening and ended only when he sold his final vessel on his 80th birthday. In the intervening years, he undertook extensive voyages, not in "warm waters," but in colder, rarely visited regions; notable among these were the Falkland Islands, as well as the uncharted fjords of northwest Iceland and northern Norway during winter. His love for the sea was ignited at the age of just four when he accompanied a sailing trip on a trawler. Soon after, he joined the crew of the classic pilot cutter *Olga*; he sailed this vesselwhich remained in the family for over thirty yearsduring every Easter and summer holiday, mastering navigation, seamanship, and vessel handling in the process. At the Nautical College Pangbourne, he passed examinations in celestial navigation, seamanship, and signaling; although he was captain of the sailing team, he opted out of Olympic qualifying trials in favor of offshore voyages and expeditions. He served as navigator in six Fastnet Races, among other events, and acted as skipper in six "Round Britain" races for two-person crews, as well as in a solo circumnavigation of Mallorca and a two-person race around Iceland. During his overseas postings, he seized every opportunity to sail and study local vessel types, such as Arab dhows, Chinese junks, Kenyan outrigger canoes, and square-rigged ships. In the Falkland Islands, he discovered that nautical charts had not been updated since the 19th century; consequently, he spent his spare time surveying coastlines and beacheswork that later served as the basis for planning amphibious operations in 1982. His life as a sailor was, of course, not without dramatic moments: he went overboard twiceonce while sailing solo. Rough weather is part of life at sea; in his case, he found himself in a perilous situation off the coast of Iceland in Force 11 windsa fight for survival to which an entire chapter is dedicated in the seminal work *Heavy Weather Sailing*.

Dodson, Aidan: British Light Cruisers of the First World War 39,95 €

Sun, 21 Jun 2026 08:55:06 +0200

A wholly new kind of cruiser for the Royal Navy, intended to work with the fleet, was developed in 1912. With its first units completed during 1914-15 as the Arethusa class, the concept was developed during the war years through the 'C' and 'D' classes, culminating in the 'E' class, ordered in 1918, and which would be the fastest and most heavily torpedo-armed cruisers ever built for the Navy. Although intended for North Sea service, during the postwar years the survivors would be deployed all over the world, and play a significant role in every theatre of the Second World War. Today, one of their number, HMS Caroline, still survives, the last British ship left to have fought at Jutland. They were indeed valiant ships.
This new book explains their origins and technical development, their many modifications, and service in war and peace. During the First World War they were in the thick of the battles in the North Sea, before Cardiffhad the honour of leading the High Seas Fleet into internment. Service against the Bolsheviks in the Baltic was followed by the routine of the peacetime navy, and then progressive disposals, before growing war clouds halted scrappings and initiated conversions into highly capable anti-aircraft ships.
They were in the thick of the fighting during the first years of the Second World War, while Coventry went on to become the Royal Navy's top-scoring anti-aircraft ship; but they suffered horrific losses, especially in the Mediterranean. Peace brought the curtain down on three decades of service, and all survivors passed to the shipbreakers during 1946-48, except for Caroline.
The author has drawn both on archival and published material, and the book is extensively illustrated with photographs and drawings, covering all the significant changes in the ships' appearances and armament during their long careers. It also provides a unique documentation of the guns and mountings fitted in the ships over their lives.

Dunn, Steve R.: Coal Ship 32,95 €

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 07:05:06 +0200

The formidable British fleet that enabled the Allied victory in the First World War was one powered largely by coal. Over the course of the preceding century, the burgeoning Industrial Revolutionand the Royal Navy that emerged from its new technologieshad become utterly dependent on those precious "black diamonds." When Queen Victoria ascended the throne in 1837, ships were still driven entirely by the wind; by the end of her reign, the Navy was already propelled by coal. What transpired in the intervening years forms the core of this book. It is the story of a maritime revolution that eclipsed all those that had come before. The free and inexhaustible wind was supplanted by expensive coal; ships became faster, their offensive power more devastating, and the Royal Navys command of the seasacross the burgeoning British Empirebecame unchallenged. Steve Dunn explores a wide range of themes and facets to demonstrate how coalthe very heart of this revolutioninfluenced every aspect of the Navy. The impact of steam propulsion on shipbuilding; the evolution of seamanship for iron-hulled vessels; the establishment of coaling stations across the globe; the mining and transport of coal; that deeply detested chorecoaling the ships; and the challenges of working in the hellish heat of the engine roomsthese are just a few of the topics illuminated here, spanning both peacetime and war. By focusing on the human as well as the technological dimensions of the narrative, *Coal Ship!* offers fascinating insights into every corner of the Navy during the long era of *Pax Britannica* and the First World War. At the outbreak of that conflict, Britains coal reserves enabled the Royal Navy to safeguard British maritime trade. The book details how, in times of war, coal transports were transformed into warships, and sheds light on the social impact of the conflict on the coal mining industryconsequences that repeatedly led to labor disputes and, ultimately, to nationalization. It examines the challenges involved in fueling the Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow and describes how coal became a weapon used to enforce the blockade of Germany. At the heart of this narrative lie the "black diamonds"the key element behind the Royal Navy's undisputed supremacy; this book tells that very far-reaching and captivating story.

Jones, Peter: Salt in his Veins 39,95 €

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 07:00:09 +0200

Vice-Admiral Sir Albert "Patsy" Poland (18951967) hailed from a distinguished naval family and looked back on an eventful career spanning two world wars. Poland spent the majority of the First World War aboard the battlecruiser *New Zealand*, participating in the actions in the Heligoland Bight and on the Dogger Bank, as well as the Battle of Jutland. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for commanding a torpedo boat during the raid on Ostend. After the war, Poland served in the Russian Civil War and subsequently commanded gunboats in China and destroyers in the Mediterranean. Poland's service during the Second World War proved even more eventful. The historian Donald Macintyre described him as the most frequently bombed officer in the Royal Navy. During the Norwegian Campaign, he commanded the sloop *Black Swan*, which, despite being subjected to heavy bombing, miraculously survived the ordeal. As one of Admiral Andrew Cunningham's closest confidants, Poland directed naval supply operations for besieged Tobruk and subsequently led the renowned 14th Destroyer Flotilla in the Second Battle of Sirte. At the end of the war, Poland accepted the surrender of Japanese forces at Sabang. By tracing the trajectory of such a career, the book *Salt in His Veins* recountsin vivid detailsome of the Royal Navy's greatest triumphs and most severe tribulations of the 20th century.

Miller, William H.: Picture Encyclopedia of Passenger Ships 1955 32,95 €

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 07:35:07 +0200

The year 1955 marked the zenith of the passenger shipping boom. The Second World War had ended a decade earlier; economic life had returned to normal, global markets had reopened, and demand for commercial and transport shipping was high. The *Picture Encyclopedia of Passenger Ships 1955* is an international directory of the world's passenger vessels and their services during that peak yeara time when one could still travel from Liverpool to Valparaíso, from Genoa to Cape Town, or from Hong Kong to San Francisco. The volume features over 150 ships, supplemented by photographs, itineraries, and essential technical specifications; it covers all the major shipping lines of the 1950s, as well as their routes to every corner of the globe.

Sterne, Gary: Slapton Sands 38,95 €

Sun, 26 Jul 2026 12:31:18 +0200

In April 1944, just before the Normandy landings, a convoy of American landing craft sailed along the south coast of England. In the dead of night, German torpedo boats attacked, and within minutes ships were sunk, hundreds of US soldiers were dead, and the Allies suffered their heaviest losses in the lead-up to the invasion. The tragedy was quickly buried under the secrecy laws of wartime, but rumors persisted for decades. Were all the bodies recovered? Or did some of the missing remain hidden, buried in the fields of Dorset? Author Gary Sterne has spent years uncovering hidden truths about the Normandy campaign. A chance encounter with a veteran put him on the trail of the Slapton Sands mystery. Through meticulous research and the discovery of long-forgotten British, American, and German documents, he has reconstructed the events of that night in unprecedented detail. For the first time, the fate of all those missing is revealedtheir names and what truly happened to them. This work solves an 80-year-old mystery and sheds new light on one of the most tragic and mysterious episodes of the Second World War.

Raebel, Geoffrey W.: Sink the Tirpitz 31,95 €

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 07:30:07 +0200

The war hung in the balance. In the Pacific, the Japanese had suffered their first major defeat at Midway, and the German advance into the heart of Russia had stalled at Stalingrad. But if the Germans managed to break through into the Caucasus and capture its vital oil fields, the Soviets faced a crushing defeat. It was crucial that the convoys from Great Britain battle their way through the Arctic to Arkhangelsk and Murmansk to deliver vital supplies to the Russians. But lurking in the Norwegian fjords was Germany's last major battleship, the Tirpitz. With her eight 38 cm guns, the Tirpitz posed a constant threat to shipping in northern waters, and when it was feared that the battleship would attack Convoy PQ 17, the order was given to disperse the convoy. This was a fateful decision that resulted in the loss of 24 merchant ships. It was therefore of utmost importance that the next convoy PQ 18 reached Russia. Thus, the flotilla of forty merchant ships was escorted by a whole fleet of fifty-one warships. This fleet included an anti-aircraft cruiser, twenty-one destroyers, two anti-aircraft ships, two submarines, and an aircraft carrier. Air cover was provided by RAF Catalina flying boats and RAF Coastal Command Handley Page Hampdens. The Hampden torpedo bombers of No. 144 Squadron RAF and No. 455 Squadron RAAF were transferred from Scotland to the Red Air Force airfield at Vayenga, near Murmansk. This placed the aircraft within range of Tirpitz's hiding place in Altafjord. Upon receiving word that Tirpitz had left the protection of the fjord, the Hampdens took off. Although no contact was made with the battleship, the presence of the twenty-three bombers deterred the Germans from risking their prestigious warship. PQ 18 reached Arkhangelsk safely on September 21, 1942. The story of this unique operation, linked to "The Great Escape," is told here by Geoffrey W. Raebel, son of the surviving chief engineer of 455 Squadron. The book is the result of thirty years of research and relies largely on the personal accounts of the men involved in this historic undertaking. It is supplemented by rarely seen photographs of the Coastal Command, previously unpublished German photographs, and the complete story of the discovery and recovery of one of the bombers involved.

Southby-Tailyour, Ewen: Amphibious Warfare Post WWII 39,95 €

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 07:05:10 +0200

This is a collection of essays and articles the author wrote for various military publications during his 32 years of service. After his retirement, as editor of "Jane's Amphibious and Special Forces," he was able to express his opinions and views much more openly. As a recognized expert on amphibious operations, much of what he has to say remains relevant and groundbreaking today. The author also describes his time as a European Community observer in the former Yugoslavia (from which he resigned after being ordered to falsify his daily reports to Brussels) and his experiences as a company commander during the Dhofar War.

Watters, Stephen J.: Aircraft Carrier Furious 39,95 €

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 07:45:10 +0200

The aircraft carrier HMS Furious was perhaps the most important ship in the development of naval aviation. It was effectively the testing ground for carrier-based aviation, which emerged during the First World War and achieved naval supremacy in the Second World War. During its highly experimental deployment, it underwent several modifications. The story of its design, its missions and its crucial role in the advancement of carrier aviation is told in detail in this book. The Furious was originally designed as a large light cruiser or battlecruiser, one of the Fisher children, with two 18-inch guns, minimal armour and a planned top speed of 32 knots. However, even before its completion, it was converted and given a large hangar and a flight deck in the bow, replacing one of its guns. In this configuration, it performed the first landing of an aircraft on a moving aircraft carrier, carried out by Squadron Leader Dunning. Further modifications led to the addition of a 300-foot landing deck aft, and in this form she launched the first carrier attack on the Zeppelin hangars at Tondern in Denmark in 1915. After further redesign and refitting, she became a flat-deck carrier in 1925, and in this form, with further development in 1938-39, she served until September 1944. The author emphasises that it was not only an extremely important experimental platform for the Fleet Air Arm between the wars, but also served with distinction during the Second World War, first in the Norway campaign and later, for example, in the attack on the Tirpitz in 1944. The following year, it was decommissioned, but its legacy lived on in the large fleet aircraft carriers that emerged after the war. The story of this remarkable ship is told here in a concise and easy-to-read text, aided by an excellent collection of ship plans and photographs, and is sure to become an invaluable reference work for naval enthusiasts, students of early naval aviation and ship model builders alike.

McCullough, Joseph A./Ameen, Hazem (Illustr.): Warriors of Athena: Quests 29,95 €

Sat, 23 May 2026 07:40:09 +0200

A solo/cooperative war game full of heroism and adventure in the realms of Greek mythology. In an age of monsters, humanity is under siege and seeks refuge in isolated city-states, while the forces of destruction ravage the land. However, there is a glimmer of hopethe demigods. These heroes, born of the gods and endowed with some of the power of their divine parents, stand firm against the chaos. As explorers, warriors, and diplomats, they sail across the wine-red sea, seeking adventure, fighting terrible creatures, and protecting the helpless. Warriors of Athena can be played in three ways: solo, where a brave hero leads their crew into the unknown; cooperatively, where heroes join forces in a grand expedition; or with one player taking on the role of the Oracle, designing scenarios and presenting the heroes with challenges they must overcome. This Quests book contains the rules necessary for adventures in the world of Warriors of Athena, including an extensive bestiary of gods, monsters, and other adversaries. It also includes tips for players who want to create their own solo, cooperative, or Oracle adventures, as well as four campaigns with multiple scenarios that allow them to jump right into the action! To get the most out of this book, players will also need the game rules, hero creation rules, and warrior squad building rules from Warriors of Athena: Heroes.

McCullough, Joseph A./Ameen, Hazem (Illustr.): Warriors of Athena: Heroes 29,95 €

Sat, 23 May 2026 07:40:09 +0200

A solo/cooperative war game full of heroism and adventure in the realms of Greek mythology. In an age of monsters, humanity is under siege and seeks refuge in isolated city-states, while the forces of destruction ravage the land. However, there is a glimmer of hopethe demigods. These heroes, born of the gods and endowed with some of the power of their divine parents, stand firm against the chaos. As explorers, warriors, and diplomats, they sail across the wine-red sea, seeking adventure, fighting terrible creatures, and protecting the helpless. Warriors of Athena can be played in three ways: solo, where a brave hero leads their crew into the unknown; cooperatively, where heroes join forces in a grand expedition; or with one player taking on the role of the Oracle, designing scenarios and presenting the heroes with challenges they must overcome. This Heroes book contains all the basic rules needed to play Warriors of Athena. Thanks to the simple D20-based mechanics, the rules are quick to learn, while an extensive selection of character options, from weapons and armor to divine origins, abilities, and treasures to discover, make your heroes your own. Create your demigod, assemble their loyal crew, and set sail across the dangerous Aegean Sea to forge a legend! To get the most out of this book, players will also need the rules for scenarios and opponents from Warriors of Athena: Quests.

Walter, Brian E.: The Longest Campaign 16,95 €

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:35:16 +0200

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.

Cumming, Anthony: Unsung Hero of the Falklands War 31,95 €

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:35:16 +0200

Commodore Michael Clapp's contribution was overlooked in comparison to the other high-ranking commanders in the Falkland Islands, and it is time to rectify this. Although Clapp commanded the Amphibious Task Group and was responsible for Operation Sutton, the successful landing at San Carlos, he was overlooked for promotions and instead snubbed on several occasions, including by not being given a seat at the tables of honour at public events celebrating this impressive victory. Unfortunately, his superiors in the navy showed no interest in learning the lessons of the war's amphibious operations, preferring instead to focus on supporting the army in a possible conflict with the Soviet Union in Europe. Michael Clapp's career illustrates many of the destructive effects of rivalry between the armed forces, and the author asks whether the military has now lost interest in amphibious operations in their purest form. This highly readable and controversial work covers Clapp's remarkable career, which included active service in Korea, the Cyprus crisis and the Indonesia-Malaya confrontation, where he earned a reputation for decisive action. He was an observer and squadron commander in the Fleet Air Arm, took command of several warships and served in staff positions, where he played a decisive role in the introduction of the famous Sea Harrier V/STOL fighter aircraft, before being appointed Commodore Amphibious Warfare.

Hyland, Dustin Dean: Unsinkable Lights 31,95 €

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:35:16 +0200

From the sinking of the Titanic to the heroic rescue at Dunkirk, Charles H. Lightoller's life was anything but ordinary. Unsinkable Lights tells the gripping story of a man who survived four shipwrecks, raging storms, a pandemic, a revolution in South America, being stranded on a desert island, and two world wars. An orphan who was drawn to the sea from the age of 13, Lightoller's early adventures took him around the world, from deserted islands to gold rush expeditions in the Canadian wilderness. Then, in 1912, as the highest-ranking surviving officer of the Titanic, he saved countless lives and narrowly escaped death himself three times in one night. When World War I began, he continued his daring exploits and sank a German submarine. During World War II, he set sail for Dunkirk on his motor yacht, the Sundowner, to rescue members of the British Expeditionary Force. Although the Sundowner was only designed to carry about 20 people, Lightoller's yacht dodged enemy bombs and shells to rescue 127 soldiers from France. Unsinkable Lights is a thrilling story of courage, survival and an unbreakable spirit, with previously unpublished details and the definitive biography of a man who truly earned his place in history.

Norman, Anthony: The Loss of HMS Hood 28,95 €

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 07:35:05 +0200

In 1941, the battlecruiser HMS Hood was the largest and fastest warship in the British Navy, with a length of 860 feet, a width of 105 feet, a displacement of 48,360 tonnes (fully loaded) and a maximum speed of 32 knots. And yet, on 24 May 1941, just eight minutes into the battle with the German battleship Bismarck and its escort, the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, HMS Hood, the epitome of British naval power with armament that included eight 15-inch guns, was sunk. When HMS Hood sank into the icy depths of the Atlantic Ocean on 24 May 1941, it took 1,415 brave men with it there were only three survivors and a mystery that has preoccupied seafarers ever since. How could this have happened? HMS Hood seemed invincible, and the hopes of the British Navy in the war rested on its outstanding reputation. Its tragic end was met with disbelief by the nation, and the shockwaves reverberated around the world. Various theories have been put forward to explain its demise, but none of them have been truly satisfactory. Here, these theories are re-evaluated in light of the discovery of the wreck of HMS Hood in 2001. In addition, a new and fascinating theory is proposed.

Don, Gav: One Submarine's secret War against the Axis 31,95 €

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:35:16 +0200

This is the story of a unique submarine and the people who sailed with it in the Mediterranean in 1941. HMS Triumph arrived in the operational area in January 1941, just as 50,000 Allied soldiers were being sent to Greece to repel a German invasion. Within days of their arrival, this army found itself facing 200,000 Germans rushing towards them. A chaotic retreat ensued. Within sixty days, both Greece and Crete had fallen, while Rommel's Afrika Korps had arrived in Libya. The Triumph played an important role both before and after this, bringing secret agents ashore and rescuing refugees, while attacking Rommel's supply lines and the Italian fleet with guns and torpedoes. Among the many fascinating personalities with whom the history of the Triumph is intertwined are the Greek smuggler Harry Grammatikakis and Lieutenant John Atkinson, who was captured in Crete, escaped to Alexandria and returned to Greece as an important agent of the SOE and MI9. His final return to Greece aboard the Triumph ended with his dramatic recapture, trial and execution by firing squad alongside key members of the Greek resistance. Tragically, the story of the Triumph culminates in its disappearance in January 1942 while on its final mission before a promised rest and overhaul. The discovery of her wreck in 2023 has made it possible to reconstruct her final patrol and tragic loss with the entire crew here in unprecedented detail.