With the outbreak of World War II, Britain's Royal Navy and her fleet of battleships would be at the forefront of her defence. Yet ten of the twelve battleships were already over twenty years old, having served in World War I, and required extensive modifications to allow them to perform a vital service throughout the six long years of conflict. This title offers a comprehensive review of the seven battleships of the Nelson and King George V classes from their initial commissioning to their peacetime modifications and wartime service. Moreover, with specially commissioned artwork and a dramatic re-telling of key battles, such as the duel between the Bismark and HMS Rodney, this book will highlight what it was like on board for the sailors who risked their lives on the high seas.

· Introduction . The changing role of battleships between 1918 & 1945. Also details the limitations imposed by the Washington Treaty · Design & development: The development of these battleships Operational history: Follows the service history of each of the ten battleships covered in each volume, including a brief description of the actions they participated in · Armament: The main armament of the ships, demonstrates their effectiveness, and discusses the way in which the guns were operated · Battleships in action: A detailed and dramatic account of HMS Rodney during its engagement with Bismark (1941) · Bibliography

Angus Konstam is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and has written widely on naval history, with well over a hundred books in print. He is a former Royal Navy officer, maritime archaeologist and museum curator, who has worked in the Royal Armouries, Tower of London, and Mel Fisher Maritime Museum. Now a full-time author and historian, he lives in Orkney.