Customer Reviews

Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of All Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy

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An encyclopedia-style book with brief entries on every British warship since the 15th century. Information includes ship type, tonnage/dimensions, armament, shipyard where built, years of service. It would be great to see short histories of each ship's career, but that would obviously require a much larger book.

I was visiting the rather splendid library in the centre of Gibraltar in 1977 when a fellow researcher took me under his wing and introduced me to this book. I was so impressed, I purchased a copy shortly thereafter and I am still using it.

Thousands of Royal Navy ships are listed in strict alphabetical order but with a minimum of detail. Where there have been a number of ships of the same name, the earliest is listed first. Facts against each ship's name include; Type, displacement, length and breadth, number and size of guns, builder, date completed (or date purchased/acquired) and fate. There is no narrative - not even for those ships sunk in famous engagements.

The book does contain errors and points over which purists will argue long into the night. This product is only useful as a quick reference in cases where the reader wishes to establish exactly whether or not "HMS Whatever" actually existed, how many ships called Ark Royal there have ever been, or exactly how big is HMS Belfast - now moored on the River Thames. Beyond that, the book is of precious little value although it really does help the researcher to get started.

Regularly updated for those who wish to have the most complete list of British Naval vessels.

NM