“Nelson to Vanguard” is the third volume in D. K. Brown’s bestselling series on warship design and development; it looks at the Royal Navy’s response to the restrictions placed on it by the Washington Naval Treaties in the inter-war years and analyses the fleet that was constructed to fight the Second World War. He focuses on the principal pre-war developments, such as the first purpose-built aircraft carriers and the growing perception of the threat of air attack to warships. All the wartime construction programmes are covered, such as the massive expansion in escort ships to counter the U-boat menace and the development of the amphibious warfare fleet for the D-Day landings in 1944. Full analysis is also provided of the experience of wartime damage, as well as the once top secret pre- and post-war damage trials. Illustrated throughout with a superb collection of contemporary photographs and numerous line drawings, this now classic work is required reading for naval historians and enthusiasts.

Edition: 2000