by James Goldrick
Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 2018. Pp. xvi, 336.
Illus., maps, notes, biblio., index. $39.95. ISBN: 9781682473276
The Forgotten Sea War in Northern Waters
Noting that Jutland so dominates the history of naval operations in northern waters during the Great War that much of the action at sea after the battle is largely forgotten, retired Australian rear admiral Goldrick, follows up his Before Jutland with this work on the course of the war at sea in northern waters after the great battleship fight in mid-1916.
Goldrick opens with a short discussion of the navies involved -- British, German, and the much neglected Russians – and their unique “cultures”. He follows this with a comprehensive narrative that reveals how remarkably busy the fleets were in the two years after Jutland. Save for the capital ships, which only occasionally appear, there were ships on blockade duty or running the blockade, others making “routine” patrols that often ended in clashes between light forces, submarine and anti-submarine operations, and mine operations, which also often resulted in clashes. And then there were the occasional raids, most famously at Zeebrugge and Ostend, and even some amphibious operations, notably by the Germans in the Baltic Islands, but also some allied plans that went nowhere.
Goldrick writes well, which will help readers less familiar with naval operations understand events as they unfold. After Jutland throws fresh light on war at sea in this period, and particularly on the role of the German and Russian fleets in the events that helped bring about the end of the war.
After Jutland is an important read for anyone interested in the naval side of the war.
Note: After Jutland is also available in several e-editions.
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