British Destroyer vs German Destroyer
The opening months of World War II saw Britain’s Royal Navy facing a resurgent German navy, the Kriegsmarine.
Following the German invasion of Denmark and Norway in early April 1940, British and German destroyers would clash in a series of battles for control of the Norwegian coast. The operational environment was especially challenging, with destroyer crews having to contend with variable weather, narrow coastal tracts and possibility of fog and ship breakdowns.
In two engagements at Narvik, the Royal Navy entered the harbour and attacked the loitering German destroyers who had dropped off mountain troops to support the German invasion. The raids were devastating, halving at a stroke the number at Hitler’s disposal.
Employing specially commissioned artwork and drawing upon a range of sources, this absorbing study traces the evolving technology and tactics employed by the British and German destroyer forces, and assesses the impact of the Narvik clashes on both sides’ subsequent development and deployment of destroyers in a range of roles across the world’s oceans.
David Greentree is an author and lecturer in Further Education. He has served with the Royal Air Force in a variety of locations, including Afghanistan and Oman.
David Campbell is a media producer and content specialist for many years. He is particularly interested in the genesis of the ‘military revolution’. He lives in Hampshire, UK.
Paul Wright is a Member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists, specializing in steel and steam warships from the late 19th century to the present day.
Born in Malaya in 1949, Alan Gilliland spent 18 years as the graphics editor of the Daily Telegraph, winning 19 awards in that time. He is now a writer and illustrator.