Description When Britain declared war on Germany in September 1939, the Royal Navy was deficient in minelayers needed to try to hold Enemy Forces at bay and out of its home waters.
One hundred and forty-five photographs, maps, and diagrams; appendices; and an index to full-names, places and subjects add value to this work..
Enemy Waters puts readers in the heart of the action.
The Canadian 31st Minesweeping Flotilla was at Normandy, and joined in later operations.
Navy Mine Forces supported the invasion of French North Africa in late 1942, subsequent landings in Italy, and the invasions of Normandy and southern France.
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Joining in the fight were units of exiled navies, including the Dutch minelayer Willem van der Zaan, Free French submarine Rubis, and the Norwegian 52nd Motor Launch Flotilla.
Royal Air Force Bomber and Coastal Command planes took up mining, as did old Swordfish biplanes of the Fleet Air Arm.
As U-boats continued to sink shipping in the North Sea and around the British Isles, the Italian Fleet and German and Italian Air Forces controlled the central Mediterranean.
When Italy entered the war on the Axis side in June 1940, the situation became dire.
Later, six fast minelaying cruisers joined the force.
Turning first to the Merchant Navy, it requisitioned a liner and two ferries for this use, and a dozen destroyers and submarines were also converted to carry mines.
Description When Britain declared war on Germany in September 1939, the Royal Navy was deficient in minelayers needed to try to hold Enemy Forces at bay and out of its home waters
