Military Model Scene

Title: Royal Navy Force H 1940-42
Author: Angus Konstam
Publisher: Osprey
ISBN: 978-1-4728-7094-0

Britain's Strike Force at Gibraltar, number 14 in the Fleet series from Osprey. An 80-page soft-cover book by author Angus Konstam and with excellent artwork from Paul Wright.
Force H was an independent naval squadron, created in 1940, to be based in Gibraltar at the Western end of the Mediterranean, while the Admiral in command of the Royal Navy Mediterranean Fleet had been forced to move to Alexandria at the Eastern end of the Mediterranean. Force H was placed under the command of Admiral James Cunningham and he reported direct to the Admiralty in London. A powerful task force, it was tasked with preventing German surface units entering into the Mediterranean and equally prevent Italian surface units getting out into the Atlantic. The book examines how the Force was organised, and the ships which formed it over the period it operated. It was to assist in the Atlantic, which it did in the hunt for the Bismarck, while in the Mediterranean it bombarded the French fleet at Mers-el-Kebir, the Italians at Genoa and of course the protection of the vital convoys to supply Malta, ferrying aircraft to the island, known as Club Runs. The book explains the command structure, the various ships which made up Force H over the period it existed, the technology they employed and more. Naturally there is a section on the various combat operations before Admiral Summerville moved on to a new role, and Force H was disbanded as the need for it was removed. The whole story is of course well illustrated with archive photos, maps and first class artwork.
Many famous ships served as part of Force H, with the aircraft carrier Ark Royal perhaps the most famous, before it was finally sunk after torpedoes fired from U-81 at the Battleship Malaya missed their intended target, but instead hit Ark Royal. Admiral Summerville proved to be a very able commander, a case of the right man in the right place at the right time. I found this an interesting read, and another fine naval title from author Angus Konstam.
Thanks to Osprey for the review copy.

Robin