A paperback edition of this first-rate telling of the naval war in the Mediterranean up until Italy's Armistice in September 1943. This is the first English-language book on the subject to fully utilise all the recent research in the various languages of the combatants and to give full accounts of all the fighting on, under and over the sea. It is far more than an operational history, however. The authors explain why all the various warship classes were built and how they were employed; the role of the Italian Air Force at sea is analysed; and the successes of the German planes and U-boats in the Mediterranean are described. The new material on the Axis side of the struggle, with particular emphasis on the Italian contribution, is of particular interest to readers. Specially commissioned maps give a clear understanding of events, while the photographs, many not seen before, paint a vivid picture of the reality of war at sea. This is a very valuable addition to the shelves of anyone with an interest in the naval dimension of the Second World War.