THE BOOKS OF PETER C. SMITH

Battleship Royal Sovereign home page

H.M.S. ROYAL SOVEREIGN and her Sister Ships (originally BATTLESHIP ROYAL SOVEREIGN).

H/B William Kimber, London, 1988 (ISBN 1 7183 0740 6); H/B due to be published by Pen-and-Sword, Bansley, Autumn 2008

The wartime history of a battleship, along with the story of her four sister ships. Although old and slow, and bitterly criticised by Churchill and others as being "Coffin Ships", the Royal Sovereign class battleships in fact played a valiant and doughty role in World War. The Royal Oak was an early loss, thanks mainly to pre-war Government parsimony, the other four ships played a full part, at Norway, bombarding the German invasion fleet in the Channel; escorting North Atlantic convoys; in the Mediterranean, in the Indian Ocean, the occupation of Madagascar and at Normandy and the South of France invasions.

The name ship of the class herself was handed over to the Soviet Union for several years and her service there is also detailed along with their final demise post-war. Many original eyewitness accounts and photographs enhance the book.

Publisher enquiries welcomed.

Naval History
Destroyer Leader Task Force 57 Pedestal; the convoy that saved Malta Hard Lying-the birth of the destroyer
Action Imminent Hit First, Hit Hard Royal Navy Ships Badges Destroyer Action
Hold the Narrow Sea Arctic Victory Cruisers in Action The Great Ships Pass
Eagle's War Heritage of the Sea Battles of the Malta Striking Forces Fighting Flotilla