North Sea Battleground - The War and Sea, 1914-18

This book, a reprint of a 2011 edition, provides a chronological account of the major engagements that occurred between the Royal Navy and the German High Seas Fleet during World War One. With some notable exceptions, such as the Battle of the Falklands and the associated Battle of Coronel off Chile, and some incidents in Africa, the majority of naval warfare during the bloody years of the First World War were mostly confined to the closely confined and relatively shallow waters of the North Sea. Over the years the battles of Jutland and Dogger Bank have been minutely examined from every conceivable perspective. This book, a reprint of a 2011 edition, provides a chronological account of he major engagements that occurred between the Royal Navy and the German High Seas Fleet during World War One. Additionally, the book covers important operations undertaken by both sides including the extensive use of minelaying, the Zeppelin airship offensive and bomber offensive against the UK. The author has researched the subject thoroughly and does provide comprehensive operational background information to add further depth to an already well-known subject. Some of the more notable engagements covered in this book include the Battle of Heligoland Bight, the well-known bombardment of the British towns of Scarborough, Whitby and Hartlepool and the less known attack against Yarmouth. Further sections cover the use of North Sea Mine Barriers, the Zeebrugge and Ostend raids and the Mutiny of the High Seas Fleet in 1918, when the war with the British Empire had drained Germany of resources and a will to fight. The First World War in the North Sea also saw some of the very first operational use of submarines to attack surface shipping and this subject is covered quite well in this book.