The War for England's Shores: S-Boats and the Fight Against British Coastal Convoys

The War for England's Shores examines the Kriegsmarine's S-Boat offensive along the English Channel and the North Sea from 1940 to 1945 and British and Allied responses to neutralize the threat. The book highlights issues around the maritime identity of states and navies that see themselves in oceanic terms, at the expense of engagement with and operations in coastal waters. It analyzes how the British slowly countered the threat by embracing new technologies and developing a system of sea control that forced the German S-Boat arm from the offensive to the defensive in the months leading up to the invasion of France. The book offers an unparalleled exploration of a key moment in the development of coastal warfare and will appeal to historians, enthusiasts, defense analysts, and naval personnel.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 03 October 2023
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

War for England's Shores delves into the Kriegsmarine's S-Boat offensive along the English Channel and the North Sea from 1940 to 1945, alongside British and, subsequently, Allied responses to neutralize that threat. These swift and heavily armed vessels, equipped with torpedoes and mines, posed a significant danger to the convoys that were compelled to navigate perilously close to the British coast on a daily basis. Despite the profound significance of this campaign and the genuine threat it posed to the entire British war economy, it has hitherto been strangely overlooked by historians. Indeed, the book sheds light on issues surrounding the maritime identity of states and navies that view themselves in oceanic terms, at the expense of engagement with and operations in coastal waters.

Utilizing a diverse range of archival materials from Britain, Germany, and the United States, The War for England's Shores explores why the Germans failed to capitalize on this opportunity to disrupt British trade. G. H. Bennett examines how the British gradually countered the threat by embracing new technologies and developing a comprehensive system of sea control that gradually forced the German S-Boat arm from the offensive against Britain's coastal convoys and onto the defensive in the months preceding the invasion of France. The author also contextualizes the S-Boat campaign along these convoy routes within the current interest in littoral warfare, ensuring that the work retains a vital and contemporary appeal while offering significant and unexpected insights.

The book presents an unparalleled exploration of a pivotal period in the development of coastal warfare, appealing to historians, enthusiasts, defense analysts, and naval personnel alike.

Weight: 620g
Dimension: 165 x 242 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399077910