Battle in the Baltic is recommended as a very readable and up-to-date narrative that puts the Royal Navy’s operations in the Baltic after the First World War into context and pays homage to the men who served and died there.

The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord - Vol. 32, No. 3 (Fall 2022)

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Forum Navale

"The Royal Navy was critical to the success of Latvia and Lithuania in keeping their independence. This book explains how."

Seapower Magazine, June 2022

"Add in abysmal weather conditions, post-war penny-pinching, war-time minefields, and hot-and-cold political maneuverings and you have one interesting account of an obscure, or at least obscure to me, mini-war."

Historical Miniatures Gaming Society, May 2022

"This work is a valuable addition to the historiography of WW1 with comprehensive appendices, notes and index it definitely one for the library of anyone with an interest in the aftermath of the Great War."

Martin Willoughby, Wessex Branch WFA

Battle in the Baltic is a welcomed addition to scholarship on the Royal Navy during World War I, and Dunn’s book uncovers some lesser-known history about the Royal Navy. This reviewer recommends this book to anyone interested in naval warfare during World War I and the Royal Navy. However, what sets Dunn apart is that this book is written to appeal to academics and those with just a general interest in maritime warfare. Plus, bringing a lesser-known naval history to light, Dunn masterfully pays homage to those that lost their lives.

Nautical Research Journal

This is an accessible book, and the reader gains a better understanding of the political turmoil in the Baltic and the indecision at home. The book raises some interesting questions and is recommended.

Warship Annual 2021 Edition

'The author has produced an enthralling and inspirational account of how a small RN force was deployed so successfully by its commander and his officers and men to the greatest credit of the Royal Navy... Most Highly Recommended’

Fire Project (@Firetrench) 19 August 2020

‘…besides those with pure history interest, the book about the Baltic Campaign in 1918-20 is a good appetiser for those being deployed to the eastern Baltic Sea’

The Naval Review

This is a interesting account of this little known campaign (even by the standards of the British intervention in Russia!), and gives a good idea of just how complex the situation was this area in the aftermath of the First World War and the Russian Revolution.

History of War

'Overall, Dunn mixes politics and combat action well in an interesting narrative .....Dunn’s accounts of the fighting, and there was lots of it, are well written…. this is a valuable addition to the history of the Royal Navy and the United Kingdom’s role in the post-WWI world'

Robert Neil Smith, Naval Wargaming

This was an excellent book, very clear, precise and very well written by the author Steve Dunn who has written several naval books. What made this book good was that it was very readable for a beginner or for someone who had good knowledge of the subject. I found it astounding that this was a little written about subject and I do think it needs delving into more. I found this book a very good read and easy to get into, I would be happy to give it a 4 star rating.

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UK Historian

Overall, Dunn’s text is well-presented and most readers will not get “lost” in the tangled web that highlights the story of this intervention. While most people in the West have forgotten about this particular Royal Navy action, it is fitting that both of these Baltic countries have not. Thanks to Dunn, we have now also been reminded of this endeavour.

The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord, (Vol. XXIX, No. 4, Fall 2019)

This is a well-written and very readable account of an important but little-known campaign that still has relevance today. It is interesting to reflect on just how many lessons about the application of force in limited war situations have been learnt and then forgotten. The author reminds us that intervention can lack value if the aim is not well defined or if forces are withdrawn before the aim has been achieved. Apart from its obvious interest to readers with an interest in naval history, this is a book that any naval professional or, dare I say, politician involved in foreign affairs should add to their reading list. I recommend it highly.

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Australian Naval Institute

This is a military campaign involving the British Navy that occurred after the end of the First World War, and it's a campaign I had no prior knowledge of. Pen and Sword regular author tells the tale of the RN's involvement in stopping the annexation of Estonia and Latvia by the Soviet Union.

Books Monthly

'Apart from its obvious interest to readers with an interest in naval history, this is a book that any naval professional or, dare I say, politician involved in foreign affairs should add to their reading list. I recommend it highly'.

The Australian Naval Institute

‘Battle in the Baltic is a fine tribute to those Briton’s who served in the Baltic between 1918 and 1920, especially the 128 servicemen who made the ultimate sacrifice’

Warships International Fleet Review, April 2020

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Your Independent, Bury and Bolton

A very well written and interesting account of the exploits and hardships of the Royal Navy in the Baltics. The political background is a welcoming addition that provides extra depth to the narrative showing why specific decisions were made.
Unfortunately author's total disregard and neglect of Russian/USSR sources (at least) leads to multiple factual mistakes that were easily avoidable. For example - L55 submarine was raised by the USSR but never carried a name "The Atheist" nor was lost again with 50 men on board as the author claims, moreover during her time in the Read Fleet she was called L55, as all USSR u-boats had letters and numbers in their names (K, L, D, Sh, M). The battleship Petropavlovsk was never sunk by a CMB during the Kronshtadt raid, she didn't even receive a single hit. Petropavlovsk will later be renamed as Marat and will continue service well into the WW2, when she would receive a nearly fatal Stuka bomb, only to experience the detonation of forward magazines and continue service as a floating battery. Bolshevik cruisers that mentioned on page 59 were already rearmed by that point and instead of 6 inch guns carried multiple 130mm guns. All this information is easily accessible and it is very strange that Mr. Dunn didn't bother himself with this and as a result the shadow has been cast over the otherwise quite solid account of the war in the Baltics.

Arsenijs Korabelskis

This is a very readable narrative of the events surrounding the extended workings after the Armistice in November 1918 that placed the Royal Navy in a constantly changing situation with respect to the Bolsheviks, the Germans and the inhabitants of the Baltic States whilst the Great Powers at Versailles chose to avoid and evade. Despite this the Baltic States eventually prevailed by expelling the Germans and the Bolsheviks to enjoy a short period of independence until the next German/Russian conflict. The involvement of the Navy in the campaign demonstrated the limited actions available and the limited outcomes in the absence of a determined strategy and this book combines the tactical and strategic context very well.

Michael McCarthy. Battlefield Guide

Michael McCarthy