SUGGESTED STARTING POINT TYPE IN MEN, SHIPS, BATTLES, DATES etc |
| | |  Perhaps quite a rare connection - the name and photograph of a Dockyard worker linked to a World War 1 ship he actually worked on. In this case, destroyer HMS Zubian built from two Tribal-class halves. | | | | Dedications | | |  This site is partly dedicated to my father, Ordnance Artificer George Smith (left, at Gibraltar in 1942, before Malta convoy Operation 'Pedestal'), lost in the sinking of HMS Charybdis off the Brittany coast on 23rd October 1943. Few men survived and just a handful of bodies were washed ashore on Guernsey. When they were buried by the German authorities, thousand's of Channel Islander's attended, and ever since, Guernsey has commemorated the cruiser's loss, usually with a Royal Navy guardship present - an unusual honour given the thousands of British warships and auxiliaries sunk in two World Wars alone.
In 2003, Guernsey Post issued this stamp (©Guernsey Post Limited 2003) bearing a painting of HMS Charybdis as well as Hunt-class escort destroyer HMS Limbourne, torpedoed at the same time (by T-type small destroyers, not E-boats as often described). I am grateful to Guernsey Post for permission to reproduce this rather beautiful stamp. Naval-History.Net is also dedicated to my grandfather, Chief Yeoman of Signals George Smith DSM. He joined the Royal Navy in 1904, and was sunk twice in World War 1 - destroyer HMS Medusa and cruiser HMS Cassandra.  Post-war, he served with the North Russian Expeditionary Force 1919, cruised the Baltic in 1921, served on HMS Curlew on the America & West Indies Station 1922-25 and HMS Durban on the China Station in 1926-28. He joined the Royal Naval Shore Signal Service in 1928 and served as a Chief Officer through World War 2 and on to 1948. He was an early and avid photographer, and perhaps because of his experiences as a Signalman, a natural communicator. A lovely man, I am proud to make all his work available on the Internet. He would have appreciated and understood the value of the Web. | | |
| | | To the many families across the world, American, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, South African and others, who shared their homes with the men and women of the Royal Navy throughout World War 2 
When HMS Rodney was being refitted in Boston in mid-1941, members of the crew were entertained by local families. This includes Bill Patterson, Louie and Reggie Pope (all above) staying with the great grandmother of Deb Cruse - with thanks to Deb, 14 Feb 2012
| | | | Site information | | | Use of material - please acknowledge www.naval-history.net Archives - can be found at British Library/WebArchive and Internet Archive/Wayback Machine Copyright 1998-2013, updated February 2013 see also J B Phillips New Testament & Background by Gordon Smith | | |
| Background & Comments | | | | Naval-History.Net started in 1998 with books written by Gordon Smith: | | |  'an invaluable reference book on the war at sea (in World War 2) .... as well as an informative guide to naval strategy', Lloyds List | | |  'contributed tremendously to my knowledge of the war', Francois Heisbourg, Director, International Institute for Strategic Studies, London | | | 'excellent source for naval history of the First and Second World Wars, campaign summaries and more.' - Imperial War Museum (London) 'arguable the best military history site currently online .....' - BBC family history magazine Who Do You Think You Are
Since its early days, Naval-History.Net has been considerably enlarged and enriched by the researches of Don Kindell from the United States, Lieutenant-Commander Geoff Mason RN (Rtd), and other contributors whose names will be found on the pages they helped make available. Over the last 30 or more years, Don and Geoff have produced an estimated total of 15,000 pages of work, most of which is now online. You can find out more in: Naval History and the Internet - the Story of One Site Note on major Naval-History.Net sources the late Lt Cdr Geoff Mason RN Rtd & Don Kindell | | | | Notices |
| | | Read online - support the Royal Navy
 | | | An excellent read
 | | | 
| | | | Books | | | New books by Seaforth Publishing/Pen & Sword Books | | | 
"BUILDING FOR WAR: The Epic Saga of the Civilian Contractors of Wake Island in World War II" by Bonita Gilbert. The complete story including its brutal end. | | 
"The SAILING FRIGATE: A History in Ship Models. Illustrated from the Collections of the National Maritime Museum" by Robert Gardiner. A beautiful book, an excellent history. | | | | | 
"The ROMAN NAVY: Ships, Men and Warfare 350BC-AD475" by Michael Pitassi. Valuable introduction to one of the first navies. Reveals how little we know about Roman vessels | | 
"KAIGUN (Navy) - Strategy, Tactics, and Technology in the IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY, 1887-1941" by David C Evans & Mark R Peattie. Scholarly, but a pleasure to read, comprehensive, excellent and well-used illustrations | | | | | 
BRITISH BATTLESHIPS OF WORLD WAR ONE: New Revised Edition, by R A Burt. The Dreadnought capital ships up to the Courageous-class - their history, detailed technical background, many fine line drawing and photographs | | 
"MUSSOLINI'S NAVY: A Reference Guide to the Regia Marina, 1930-1945" by Maurizio Brescia. A much needed boost for the often maligned Italian Navy. Also comprehensive, well laid-out, and lavishly, if not beautifully illustrated | | | | | | | | |
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| | | Published by Bertke Publications | | | | The first four of the multi-volume WORLD WAR II SEA WAR by Bertke, Kindell, Smith. Starting with the already voluminous researches of Don Kindell, Don Bertke has compiled and further enlarged the work to present a highly detailed account of the War at Sea, Day-by-Day across all theatres. Click images for enlargements and here for purchase options - book or pdf | | | | | 
Volume 1
The Nazis Strike First,
August 1939 to March 1940 | | 
Volume 2
France Falls, Britain Stands Alone,
April to September 1940 | | | | | 
Volume 3
The Royal Navy is Bloodied in the Mediterranean,
October 1940 to May 1941 | | 
Volume 4
Germany Sends Russia to the Allies,
June to November 1941 |
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| | | | NAVAL and MARINE CORPS CASUALTY LISTS | | | 
| | ROYAL NAVY & DOMINION CASUALTIES, 1914-2008
by Name and Date/Ship, including Royal Marines, over 125,000 names by Don Kindell, US Researcher also World War 2 period - Royal Australian Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Indian Navy, Royal New Zealand Navy, South African Naval Force, Royal Norwegian Navy Royal Navy Casualties - Monthly and Yearly Totals |
| | | | | | WORLD WAR 1, 1914-18 | | | BACKGROUND |  | |
Military and Political Background Road to War, Franco-Prussian War to Sarajevo, 1871-1914 World War 1 Chronology: POLITICAL and MILITARY BACKGROUND to the WAR AT SEA. From the HMSO's "Principal Events, 1914-1918", with plans, images and links to despatches Part 1, August 1914-December 1915 Part 2, January-December 1916 Part 3, January-December 1917 Part 4, January-December 1918
The Official
British Histories
Naval Operations by Sir
Julian S Corbett,
including plans within volume
Volume 1 August to December 1914
(Heligoland, Coronel, Falklands)
Volume 2,
December 1914 to Spring 1915
(Dogger Bank, Suez
Attack, Dardanelles - with maps from front and rear pockets)
Volume
3, Spring 1915 to June 1916 (Gallipoli evacuation, Jutland - maps and
diagrams from separate case shortly available) NEW
The Merchant Navy by Sir
Archibald Hurd
Volume 1, 1914 to Spring 1915
Volume 2, Summer 1915 to early
1917
The Need for
a New Naval History of the First World War, by Rear Admiral James Goldrick RAN (Rtd), Paper No 7, Corbett Centre for Maritime Studies, Kings College London (external site)
EXPANSION and ORGANISATION of the IMPERIAL GERMAN NAVY 1897-1918 - A Note Rise of the Dreadnought Battleship, 1906 to 1914 World War 1 - A MARITIME WAR World War 1 Documentaries & Films, 1914 to 2008 | | | | | MEN who served | 
| | CASUALTY LISTS Royal Navy and Dominion Navies, 1914-1918 by Don Kindell United States Navy, Marine Corps & Coast Guard, 1917-18 French Navy - 25 Sailors commemorated in a New York Cemetery __________ Royal Navy - Warships and Auxiliary Crew Numbers Royal Navy - Badges of Rank for Officers, Men and Boys United States Navy - Badges of Rank for Officers and Enlisted Men Some of the Men who served: Louis Bechennec, Fireman/Stoker, French Navy, including Serbian Evacuation Thomas Crisp VC, DSC, Skipper RNR, HM Q-ship Nelson & the Hales Naval Family Samuel R Hitchin, First Mate, SS Highland Brae, POW on German Kronprinz Wilhelm John R Hunter, Lieutenant RNVR, Canadian Motor Launch skipper, photographic record William T G Jones, Seaman, lost with collier SS Mersario, 1 October 1917 Beresford Richards, Surgeon Sub-Lt, RNVR, HMS Zubian and Dover Patrol, 1918 Harry Russell, later OBE, Executive Chef of the Cunard Line and his service on HMS Caronia, 1914-16 George W Smith (upper left) DSM, Chief Yeoman of Signals, 1888-1977, his service record | | | | | SHIPS |  | | | | | World War 1-era Royal Navy Warships and Auxiliaries - summaries and images. See also OldWeather.org TRIBUTE to BRITISH SHIPBUILDING and REPAIR INDUSTRIES 1914-18
including Royal Naval Dockyards and Research Establishments British Vessels Lost at Sea including Naval, Merchant Ships and Fishing Vessels, from "British Vessels Lost at Sea, 1914-18", HMSO HMS Zubian, destroyer, in 1918 Elco-built Motor Launches for the Royal Navy HMS Cheery, Admiralty drifter British Shipbreaking Industry Compendium of Maritime and Weather Information | | | | | | ROYAL NAVY | 
Victoria Cross fishing
smack HMS Nelson | | | | | | | OTHER NAVIES | 
| | Austro-Hungarian Navy French Navy Royal Hellenic or Greek Navy Imperial Japanese Navy Turkish or Ottoman Navy United States Navy, also Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Casualties Officers and Enlisted Ranks
Medal of Honor 1915-18 US Marine Corps in the World War Chronology of US Marine Corps in the World War | | | | | | EVENTS and .... |  | | CAMPAIGN and BATTLE MAPS of WORLD WAR 1. From mainly contemporary sources - an ongoing project - New North Sea in outline 1914-18
Eastern Front and Baltic Sea 1914-18
Mediterranean, including Turkish Waters & Black Sea, 1914-18 | | | | | | .... NAVAL CAMPAIGNS, BATTLES and ACTIONS - London Gazette Despatches, Casualties, Awards etc. Now adding links to Ship's Logs and chapters from official 5-Volume history | | | | Achilles & Dundee v Leopard Action, March 1917 BELGIAN COAST OPERATIONS, 1914-1918 British East Coast Raid & Minesweeping Operations, December 1914 CAMEROONS CAMPAIGN, 1914 Carmania v Cap Trafalgar Action, September 1914 Coronel, Battle of, November 1914 DARDANELLES & GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGNS, 1915-1916 (in 5 Parts) Dogger Bank, Battle of, January 1915
Dover, 21 April 1917, German Destroyer Attack
Falklands, Battle of the, December 1914 Heligoland Bight, Battle of, August 1914 JUTLAND, BATTLE OF, 31May/1June 1916 (in 4 Parts) Königsberg Action, July 1915 MESOPOTAMIAN CAMPAIGN, 1914-1918 Suez Canal, Defence of the 1915 Sydney v Emden Action, November 1914 ZEEBRUGGE & OSTEND RAIDS, April & May 1918 | | | | | MEDALS |   | | Victoria Cross at Sea, including RN Division 1914-19
Albert Medal at Sea, including Merchant Navy 1915-19
Medal of Honor, US Navy and Marine Corps 1915-18 Pour le Merité, the "Blue Max", Imperial German Navy including naval aviation | | | | | | CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNTS |  | | The Navy Everywhere, by Conrad Gato - the RN in Africa, E. Europe, Middle East The Navy in Mesopotamia, also by Conrad Gato - fact and fiction, and amusing On the Coast of France: United States Naval Forces in French Waters by Joseph Husband, Ensign, USNRF The United States Marine Corps in the World War by Edwin N. McClellan, Major, U. S. Marines | | | | | | | | |
| INTER-WAR, 1918-39 | | | MEN who served | 
| | CASUALTY LISTS of the Royal Navy and Dominion Navies, 1918-1939 by Don Kindell Lt Charles F Paul RN and loss of HM Tug St Genny, 1930 Capt Albert Williamson OBE, DSC, MN, HMS Kia Wo, & the Wanhsien Incident, 1926 Post-World War 1 service of George W Smith DSM: North Russian Expeditionary Force 1919 HMS Vanquisher, Baltic Sea Cruise 1921 HMS Curlew, America & West Indies Station 1922-25 HMS Durban, China Station 1926-28 Royal Naval Shore Signal Service 1929-48 | | | | | SHIPS | 
| | Royal Navy WARSHIP SERVICE Summaries by Lt Cdr G Mason Cox's Navy, Salvaging the German High Seas Fleet by Tony Booth Loss of HM Tug St Genny, January 1930 | | | | | | ROYAL NAVY | | | | Royal Navy Estimates 1919-20 and Summary of Naval Activities since the Armistice | | | | | | | EVENTS | 
| | Versailles Treaty to Polish Blitzkrieg 1919-39 Russian Civil War 1919
Point Honda Disaster of the US Navy 1923 Wanhsien Incident, China 1926 | | | | | | | | |
| WORLD WAR 2, 1939-45 | | | MEN who served | 
| | CASUALTY LISTS of the Royal Navy and Dominion Navies, 1939-1945 by Don Kindell Some of the Men who served:
Horace Carswell DSM, MM, BEM, Chief Steward, and Russian Convoy PQ.17
Sidney Kerslake RNR, Leading Seaman, 1920-99, Norway and Russian Convoys
Edward Palmer BEM, Coxswain, attack on HMS Foyle Bank July 1940
Harold Siddall, Stoker, 1916-97, from Scapa Flow to Crete, and on to a German Stalag
George Smith (left), Ordnance Artificer, 1916-43, HMS Charybdis Henry Sutton, Petty Officer, HMS Blackpool, and his Letter from Normandy, June 1944
Frank Taylor, Able Seaman, HMS Scarab, Mediterranean service 1943-44 (external site)
Roderick Timms, Lt Cdr, RD*, RNR and Coastal Forces, 1941-45 (external site)
Maurice Whiteing, Leading Air Mechanic, HMS Indomitable, Far East, 1944-1945 Basil Woolf, MID, Petty Officer, the Battle for Walcheren, 1st November 1944 | | | | | SHIPS | 
| | Major BRITISH WARSHIP LOSSES with commanding officers, loss locations and casualties - Capital ships, aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers & escort destroyers, submarines, including X-craft
British Naval Losses by Name, Date, Theatre, Type of ship, from "British Vessels Lost at Sea, 1939-45", HMSO HMS Indomitable in the Far East 1944-45, a photographic record HMS Charybdis: All in a Day's Work - Her Career by 'Rocky' Royle Her Loss and Commemoration, by the Charybdis Association Account of Her Loss from Captured German Archives Capture of British Yard Minesweeper BYMS-72, 1943 Aegean Campaign, by Cdr Bruhn USN HM Harbour Defence Motor Launch No.1001, RN and later career Thames Lighters at War, off the British & US Normandy beaches | | | | | ROYAL NAVY |  | | Royal Navy at Beginning and End of World War 2 Royal Navy, Royal Marine, Single-Ship Battle Honours 1939-45, with links to Campaigns Naval Life and Customs by Lt-Cdr John Irving RN, a gem of a book
Ranks, Trades, Pay & Allowances, Badges of Rank 1942 Naval-related Code Names - Alphabetically - Chronologically Royal Navy Minelaying Operations Warrant Officers in the Royal Navy - a history
Officer/Rating Relationships in the Royal Navy 1941-1972 Pennant Numbers - with Addendum on the Pacific 1944-45, all by Lt Cdr G Mason Naval Parties of the Royal Navy, World War 2 by Lt Cdr Ben Warlow | | | | | DOMINION and ALLLIED NAVIES
under Royal Navy control | | Royal Australian Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Indian Navy, Royal New Zealand Navy, South African Naval Force - ship histories, convoy movements, casualties 1939-47 plus links South African Naval Nomenclature for Navy & Ships by Vice Adm Alan Grose RN (Rtd) Royal Norwegian Navy - ship histories, convoy movements, casualties 1940-45 plus links | | | | | EVENTS | 
| | | | | | | CONVOYS | 
| | CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of ROYAL and DOMINION NAVY VESSELS by Don Kindell THE SUPPLY OF MALTA 1940-1942, including the Malta Convoys ROUTE TO THE EAST - the WS (Winston’s Special) Convoys, both by the late Arnold Hague RUSSIAN CONVOYS including Russian Front Summary Maps Allied Convoy Codes, courtesy HyperWar Foundation ConvoyWeb - convoy lists and more (external site) | | | | | MEDALS |  
| | Victoria Cross at Sea, 1940-45 George Cross & Albert Medal at Sea, 1939-45 Medal of Honor at Sea, 1941-45 Imperial Japanese Navy and Order of the Golden Kite - A Note | | | | | | TECHNICAL |  | | Allied Anti-Submarine Weapons - A Note High Frequency Radio Direction Finding - HF/DF or Huff Duff New Zealand's Contribution to Radar Development Hydrographic Survey Work in the RN up to the 1980's, all by Lt Cdr G Mason The Early Days of Wireless at Sea by Louis C. Kleber | | | | | MAPS, etc | 
| | Campaign and Battle Maps, World War 2 Posters of the Royal Navy in World War 2 Service Magazines of the World's Forces Victory Celebrations in London, June 1946 | | | | |
| POST-WAR, 1945-present | | | MEN who served | 
| | CASUALTY LISTS of the Royal Navy 1945-present by Don Kindell David Hamilton, Commander [F}, RN, his seagoing and flying career, 1939-1968 James Summerlee, Lieutenant Commander, MID, RN (Rtd), FAA, Korea and Suez SAR | | | | | SHIPS & ESTABLISHMENTS | 
| | Royal Navy WARSHIP SERVICE Summaries Loch-class Frigates in the Dutch East Indies 1945-1946 Salvage Operations by RN Frigates 1950-1964 Modernisation of Town and Colony-class Light Cruisers, all by Lt Cdr G Mason Naval Parties of the Royal Navy, Postwar by Lt Cdr Ben Warlow Navy-Mad in the Nineteen Fifties by Gordon Smith | | | | | EVENTS | 
| | Royal Navy Chronology - 1946-1950 - 1951-1960 - 1961-1970 by Lt Cdr G Mason
Passing Through Ascension - Photographic record of Ascension Island during the War
Campaign and Battle Maps, Falklands War Missiles in the Malouines/Falklands - the Art of Daniel Bechennec | | | | | | | | | | | | Excellent coverage of Post-War period (external site)  | | | | |
| | SHIPS and SEAS | |
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