The 6th of June, 1944, witnessed the D-Day landings by the Assault Forces of the Allied Nations over some 40 miles of the beaches of Normandy. From the narrow foothold secured on that day sprang the pregnant series of events which culminated eleven months later in those forces meeting the Russians in the heart of Germany, and the abject surrender of the Third Reich and all for which it stood. Operation "Neptune," the name given to the assault phase of Operation "Overlord," the general plan for the liberation of north-west Europe was indeed appropriate ? because without in any way detracting from the magnificent work of the sister services, the Navy was necessarily bound to play the major part in the opening stages of convoy and transport. It was, however, unique in two respects. These were: firstly, the proximity to the scene of operations of the United Kingdom with all its resources as a main base, which facilitated the maximum application of the Allied Sea and Air superiority and secondly, the gigantic scale on which the operation was conceived and launched.

• Neptune D-Day Landings is one of a series of previously restricted and classified documents in a new, accessible format.

• Specially commissioned commentary by expert military historians.

• Published in collaboration with Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.

Britannia Naval Histories of World War II ? an important source in understanding the critical naval actions of the period.