{"product_id":"naval-battle-of-crete-1941-the-royal-navy-at-breaking-point-by-angus-konstam-new-osprey-campaign-series-388","title":"Naval Battle of Crete 1941 The Royal Navy at Breaking Point  by Angus Konstam   : NEW Osprey Campaign Series #388","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description__body readmore\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description__body readmore\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description__body readmore\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description__body readmore\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description__body readmore\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description__body readmore\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description__body readmore\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description__body readmore\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description__body readmore\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description__body readmore\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description__body readmore\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description__body readmore\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description__body readmore\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description__body readmore\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description__body readmore\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description__body readmore\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDescription\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description__body readmore\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA fascinating account of an often overlooked naval action of World War II, and one of the bloodiest chapters in the history of the Royal Navy.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn April 1941, following the Axis invasion of Greece, the British Mediterranean Fleet was ordered to evacuate Allied survivors, many of which were taken to Crete. The Luftwaffe established itself in airfields on the Greek mainland, and formed plans to invade Crete by air and sea, under the cover of 500 fighters and bombers of the Luftwaffe's Fliegerkorps VIII. Facing them were a small and scattered garrison on the island, a handful of under-strength RAF squadrons and the hard-pressed warships of the Mediterranean Fleet. What happened next was a costly, but ultimately inspiring, naval battle, in which Royal Navy crews were placed under intense strain.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUsing period photographs, stunning battlescene artworks, detailed maps and an authoritative narrative, world-leading maritime historian Angus Konstam tells the fascinating story of how Allied ships failed to repulse the Axis invasion convoys bound for Crete, before successfully evacuating troops from the island, all the while under relentless Luftwaffe attack. Offering a fresh insight into this strategically important battle, this work shows how it marked a turning point in the naval war for the Mediterranean, and also witnessed the first use of new elements in naval warfare: the mass use of aircraft to contest control of the sea, and the use of Ultra intelligence to forestall the Axis invasion of Crete. Despite a heavy butcher's bill of dozens of Royal Navy ships lost and damaged, and hundreds Luftwaffe aircraft destroyed, the Royal Navy Mediterranean Fleet would live to fight another day.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mt-15\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description__body readmore-toc\" data-readmore=\"\" aria-expanded=\"false\" id=\"undefined1\"\u003eINTRODUCTION\u003cbr\u003eOrigins of the campaign\u003cbr\u003eCHRONOLOGY\u003cbr\u003eOPPOSING COMMANDERS\u003cbr\u003eAllied\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003eAxis\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003eOPPOSING FORCES\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003eAllied\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003eAllied order of battle\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003eAxis\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003eAxis order of battle\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003eOPPOSING PLANS\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003eAllied\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003eAxis\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003eTHE CAMPAIGN\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003eThe prelude\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003eThe fleet deploys\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003eThe invasion\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003eThe first clashes\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003eThe Luftwaffe strikes\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003eBlack Thursday\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003eMountbatten's sortie\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003eKeeping up the pressure\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003eThe evacuation\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003eAFTERMATH\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003eTHE BATTLEFIELD TODAY\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003eFURTHER READING\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003eINDEX\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-description__body readmore-toc\" data-readmore=\"\" aria-expanded=\"true\"\u003e\u003ci aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eO.N.S.= OLD NEW STOCK\u003c\/strong\u003e and refers to an item which, for whatever reasons, has not been offered for sale from the date of publication to the date of this listing. It is NEW but old stock and should be in New condition. Any deviation from the new condition will be detailed separately.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Osprey","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":68016926359851,"sku":null,"price":5.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1022\/1289\/5019\/files\/9781472854049.jpg?v=1793969424","url":"https:\/\/militaryhistorybooks.com\/products\/naval-battle-of-crete-1941-the-royal-navy-at-breaking-point-by-angus-konstam-new-osprey-campaign-series-388","provider":"Military History Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}