| Armournaut | 11 Dec 2022 1:05 p.m. PST |
I am looking to get into WW2 naval wargaming – probably starting with the Med and the Atlantic.
I'm interested in finding a decent book (or books) which gives a basic breakdown on the historic engagements of this period perhaps with a basic run down of the battles and the ships involved. Can anyone suggest anything suitable…? Thanks |
| JMcCarroll | 11 Dec 2022 1:44 p.m. PST |
Best to pick a battle and then goggle it. |
 Saber6   | 11 Dec 2022 1:49 p.m. PST |
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| Inch High Guy | 11 Dec 2022 3:42 p.m. PST |
For the USN in WWII read "The Two Ocean War" by Samuel Elliot Morrison. Then check out "The First Team" by John Lundsrom, and "Shattered Sword" by Parshall and Tully. "Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors" by James Hornfischer should also be on the list. |
| Duncan Adams | 11 Dec 2022 4:39 p.m. PST |
For a good overview of the naval war in the Med try "Struggle for the Middle Sea"
Vincent P. O'Hara
Naval Institute, 2009
Duncan
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 McKinstry | 11 Dec 2022 5:09 p.m. PST |
If the Med is your primary focus, I also recommend O'Hara. |
| BillyNM | 11 Dec 2022 10:03 p.m. PST |
O'Hara is great for a history of the Med campaign, but for setting up wargames I'd recommend:
Sea Battles in Close Up: World War 2 (vol.s 1 & 2)
by Eric Grove and Martin Stephen.
Both readily available on eBay:
auction
link |
| colkitto | 12 Dec 2022 4:14 a.m. PST |
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| Armournaut | 12 Dec 2022 5:06 a.m. PST |
Many thanks for the suggestions. |
| ddasawe | 12 Dec 2022 4:00 p.m. PST |
History books you can find a lot in those old museums and documentaries.
dynamons world |
| Thresher01 | 12 Dec 2022 7:49 p.m. PST |
Not a lot of engagements in the Atlantic, other than for the U-boat War on the convoys. Hunt for the Bismarck, and Battle of the River Platte are two good ones. Barents Sea had some engagements of major German surface units and DDs vs. Allied vessels and convoys. There is the early war DD battle in Norwegian waters too, which is quite interesting, as well as small clashes in the North Sea and English Channel between various units. |
| Thresher01 | 12 Dec 2022 7:50 p.m. PST |
Wikipedia offers a good overview of naval battles in the Med. with the Italian Navy vs. the British. |
| Armournaut | 15 Dec 2022 5:28 a.m. PST |
Thanks again. I would also like to add that I found this title which looks very good and which may be of some use to other readers of this thread: WAR AT SEA A NAVAL ATLAS 1939-1945 by Marcus Faulkner |
| hindsTMP | 15 Dec 2022 2:53 p.m. PST |
Recommend the 2-volume Sea Battles in Close Up series, available new or used from Amazon: link link |
| Armournaut | 16 Dec 2022 12:05 p.m. PST |
Thanks Hinds – they were recommended by BillyNM earlier in the thread and I have them both on order. |
| Pontius | 01 Jan 2023 4:07 a.m. PST |
An interesting but little-known battle is the Battle of the Bay of Biscay, 28th December 1943. Involving British 6" cruisers HMS Glasgow and HMS Enterprise and on the German side a destroyer flotilla and a torpedo-boat flotilla. This is can also be played in several "what if" scenarios. I think this is covered by O'Hara. |
