In-depth study of the British ships that fought WW2. An authoritaive, insider's view by a senior warship designer. Large format, illustrated paperback edition of a successful hardback. In this authoritative design history of British warships from the Washington naval treaty to the end of the Second World War, David K Brown brings the knowledge and experience of a long career as a Naval Constructor. Restricted by the inter-war naval treaties, the Royal Navy employed much ingenuity and innovation to overcome the lack of resources, and this is one of the main themes of the book. All the wartime construction programmes ar also covered, including the massive increase in convoy escorts required to fight the crucial convoy battles, and the development of an amphibious fleet of entirely original ship types. Full analysis is also provided of the lessons gleaned from wartime losses, as well as the once secret post-war damage trials. Long out of print and in great demand, this paperback edition retains the layout and all the illustrations of the hardback. DAVID K BROWN, a retired senior naval architect of the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors, is aleading expert on the history of British warships. This volume is one of a series of five highly regarded studies covering warship design since 1815,, the latest of which was published in 2003 as Rebuilding the Royal Navy.