War at Sea: A Naval Atlas, 1939–1945

Never before in the vast literature of World War II has there been a naval atlas such as this to show graphically the complexities of the war at sea that spread across every ocean during that global conflict. This beautifully produced book by the British naval historian, Marcus Faulkner, provides a unique cartographic presentation of the sea war. It offers more than 150 full-color maps and charts to help readers visualize exactly what happened over the course of the war. All of the great campaigns and major battles are included, but so too, are the smaller operations, amphibious landings, convoys, sieges, skirmishes, and sinkings. No other work has attempted such an ambitious view of the war at sea. Certain to become a definitive reference work of World War II, the book is suitable not only for historians and serious naval enthusiasts, but also for general readers seeking a sweeping visual explanation of what happened in a naval war that extended from the coldest arctic seas to the tropical beaches of the Pacific.

Entire sections of the book are devoted to the Pacific war, the Battle of the Atlantic, and the campaigns in the Mediterranean, and in-depth coverage is also given to smaller, crucial events, such as the Dieppe landings. Maps depict battle dynamics and provide extensive information on the opposing forces, their ships and equipment, and the strategic significance of events. General thematic maps on such topics as ship losses, aerial strengths, and convoy routes, give readers a full understanding of the many contributing factors that shaped the tactics and strategies of the Allied and Axis forces. The well-known naval authority and author Andrew Lambert offers an informative introduction that sets the stage for the breathtaking illustrations that follow.