Royal Fleet Auxiliary: a Century of Service
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Royal Fleet Auxiliary: a Century of Service by Tom Adams
First full history of a vital but silent service. Most comprehensive fleet list of RFA ships ever published. A tie-in with numerous RFA Centenary celebrations in 2005 In the modern British fleet some of the largest, most important - and most potent - vessels are not technically warships, nor are they commanded by Royal Navy officers. This does not prevent them going 'in harm's way' (indeed, many have been awarded Battle Honours), and their pseudo-civilian status allows them to carry out duties forbidden for diplomatic reasons to recognised warships. Formally classed as merchant ships, these vessels are run like the Navy's own shipping company, by a unique organisation, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, which celebrates its centenary in 2005. From humble origins in 1905 with ships that carried coal, and later oil fuel, for the fleet, through hazardous service in two world wars, the RFA has become an absolutely central element in modern naval warfare. This book combines the largely unsung history of this service in peace and war - including a detailed chronology of its activities - with the most comprehensive fleet list ever compiled. Written by the RFA's official historians, it is illustrated in depth from the archives, and completed by extensive appendices covering topics like losses, medals and honours, flags, colour schemes, badges and pennant numbers.
The book is a collaboration between TOM ADAMS, a professional journalist who is a specialist on the RFA and its ships, and JAMES R SMITH, a serving First Officer in the RFA who has served on most classes of ships in the Fleet. Both have written extensively on nautical subjects.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781861762597 |
| ISBN 10 | 1861762593 |
| Title | Royal Fleet Auxiliary: a Century of Service |
| Author | Tom Adams |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Greenhill Books |
| Year published | 2005-02-02 |
| Number of pages | 192 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |