"This is a useful, modest book as a handy reference in the shelves of those who do not have access to either large reference libraries, or are less than comfortable with search media on home computers."

The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord (Vol. 33, Nos 3 and 4).

"Accompanied and enhanced by a well-chosen series of contemporary photographs, the battle descriptions and historical contexts contained in these two volumes (Naval Battles of the Second World War: Pacific and Far East) provide an respectable introduction to the tactical naval fighting that took place during the Second World War."

Nautical Research Journal Volume 68 (2023)

“It's a quick read and a quick reference for scenarios. Enjoyed it.”

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Historical Miniatures Gaming Society

Leo Marriott is a name that is synonymous with expertly researched and crafted books on maritime subjects having produced in excess of 100 titles over the years on a whole range of subjects and warships. This book, part of a two book series published by Pen and Sword Books is another fine example to add to his body of work.

This book, the first of the two, focuses on the Royal Navy’s confrontations with the German Kriegsmarine in the Battle of the Atlantic and later in the Mediterranean theatre of operations. The second title focussing on the Pacific and Far East. Both books are extremely highly illustrated with some quite rare and extremely interesting photographs, maps and diagrams.

Warship World Magazine

As featured on Naval Review

Naval Review

As featured in

Ships Monthly

"...a launching point for learning about the war at sea during World War II."

The Naval Historical Foundation, July 2022

If you have obtained copies of your ancestor’s Royal Navy service record for WW2, it will provide you with a list of ships served upon. But that should be only the beginning of your research. You will want to know whether these ships took part in any of the naval battles of the war while your ancestor was on board, and this is where Leo Marriott’s book will help you. Every chapter describes a named naval battle and opens with a box detailing the identities of the Allied ships involved as well as the date and location. The book also contains maps of engagements, and over one hundred wartime photos mainly of ships at sea, in action and in distress. The chapters are necessarily brief given the large task which the author has set for himself, but each one begins with a background to the engagement to set the scene. As a whole, the book is a helpful summary of wartime naval actions. This book is the first of two volumes focusing on the battles in the Atlantic and north west Europe, and on the Mediterranean. The second volume, due for publication in June, will cover the Pacific and Far East.

Family Tree Magazine, June 2022

I enjoyed all the facts and details along with many good photographs and I especially enjoyed the appendix at the back of the book listing all the warships involved I would recommend this book but if you already have a sound knowledge of naval battles it might not be for you.

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The History Fella

As featured in

The Armourer

Leo Marriot is a prolific author with many titles published on military, naval and aviation history. This volume details the Royal Navy’s confrontation with the German Kriegsmarine, the navy of Nazi Germany 1939-1945 across some select engagements. The author takes the reader to the heart of the Battle of the Atlantic, the frozen seas navigated by the Arctic convoys and the disaster of convoy PQ 17. There is a detailed look at Operation Pedestal, the convoy that many say saved Malta. Other engagements include the Battle of the River Plate, Operation Torch, Matapan and many other actions against the Italian Navy in the Mediterranean. The author has done a great job (in the opinion of this reviewer at least!) and gives the reader a concise narrative description of the engagements but still provides vivid detail. The text is supported by excellent photographs and clear mapping. A good glossary of terms (very useful for the uninitiated) and an large appendix gives brief details of all the warships (less submarines) in the battle narratives. Overall this work clearly shows the scale of the sea battles and its effect on the conduct of the war and is highly recommended for those with an interest in WW2 naval history.

Martin Willoughby, The Wessex Branch of the Western Front Association

Marriott also includes a helpful appendix listing the ships involved in all these operations, though his bibliography could have been significantly beefed up. But quibbles aside, I enjoyed my evening reading about World War II naval battles, and I look forward to reading Marriott’s volume on the Pacific theatre.

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