After the war several of the class were available for charter by civilian salvage firms and one, Risdon Beazley, became the most successful British salvage company of its day. The remaining vessels stayed in Admiralty service, conducting operations such as the raising of the Dover blockships and other wartime obstructions, as well as helping the salvage effort after Suez. Four of the class were converted to diesel in the 1960’s and became known as the ‘Kin class’, a familiar sight to many around the naval ports of the UK.

After detailing the armada of ships assembled for the Eastern and Centre Task Forces in the North Africa landings, it goes on to concentrate on the vast Eastern Task Force fleet, which, in July 1943, headed towards Sicily from the UK, The Middle East, Tunisia and Malta.

Immediately following the conquest of that Italian island came the September landings on mainland Italy at Salerno and, in January 1944, further north at Anzio: the British shipping participation in both of these is covered in detail.

The book continues with the British ships assigned to the invasion in the South of France in August 1944 before it switches its attention to the war against the Japanese in the Far East. Details are given of the ships and craft involved in the May 1945 operation to capture Rangoon and in the invasion of Malaya, for which a huge invasion fleet was assembled, much of which was still despatched in September of that year, despite the Japanese surrender.

Each operation is briefly described as a prelude to comprehensive entries covering the British controlled (serving and former) merchant ships. Their sailing ports, convoys, beachhead destinations and, of course, damage, loss or other significant events are given, as well as, where available the number of troops or type of supplies and equipment carried.

Full listings are included of the participating Royal Navy vessels, which provided convoy protection, air and bombardment support and the other essential elements of a successful invasion operation. The book is a worthy reminder of the events of other half a century ago and of the massive contribution made by the Royal and Merchant Navies in moving the Allied armies, together with their supplies and equipment, to a new battle zone, expeditiously and with the absolute minimum of loss.

A4, 152 pages, card cover, 157 photographs and other illustrations.

All major warship types are covered, as are the landing craft programmes executed in the shipyards and the effect on the completion of major warships. Orders and construction in both the Royal Dockyards and in commercial yards are covered.

The author has gone back to the original sources to produce an authoritative history. They include Admiralty, Cabinet and Treasury files held at the Public Record Office, the Ships Covers held by the National Maritime Museum and registers held by the Naval Historical Branch.

The work is illustrated with 52 photographs the majority of which have not been published before. There is also a collection of 21 drawings based either on original plans or records indicating how designs conceived but not proceeded with would have appeared.

There are comprehensive appendices which set out details of all the major warships covered by the history including cancelled ships, and the details of the full warship building programmes as presented to the War Cabinet.

This book looks at an old subject in a new way and there is a wealth of new information to enthral the reader.