World War II Database

Warship 2013, the latest issue of a series focused on naval studies, was as enjoyable as its predecessors. Of the ten well-researched papers in the 2013 issue, several of them might be of interest to WW2DB visitors. In "Rebuilding the Australian Cruiser Squadron 1930-1939", Peter Cannon provided a study of not only the history of HMAS Sydney, HMAS Perth, and HMAS Hobart, but he also analyzed the decisions for the transfers from both a financial as well as a British Empire points of view; in retrospect, this article was likely my favorite piece. The subject of study for Hans Lengerer's "The Fourth Fleet Incident and the Fubuki Class" focused more so on the pre-war period, but those interested in the Japanese Navy might find this article interesting as it provided some technical insight on the designs of these soon-to-be WW2 combatants. Somewhat opposite of Lengerer's paper was Richard Worth's "The Soviet Aircraft Carrier: the Interwar Projects", which also began in the 1930s, but his subjects of study would ultimately miss WW2. Last but not least, I found Enrico Cernuschi's "Toulon: The Self-Destruction and Salvage of the French Fleet" to be an excellent analysis of the French efforts to deny the Axis the use of the powerful French warships, especially considering the article's short length. As with previous issues, I found Warship 2013 to be a treasure trove of in-depth information, and would not hesitate in recommending it to serious naval enthusiasts.

Index of articles of Warship 2013:

• Rebuilding the Australian Cruiser Squadron 1930-1939
• The Fourth Fleet Incident and the Fubuki Class
• The 'Semi-Dreadnoughts' of the Danton Class
• The Battle Cruisers Lion and Tiger at Dogger Bank: The View of the Ships' Medical Officers
• Modern European Offshore Patrol Vessels
• The Unlucky Destroyer Espingole
• The Soviet Aircraft Carrier: the Interwar Projects
• Securing 'The Ripest Plum': Britain and the South American Naval Export Market 1945-1975
• Toulon: The Self-Destruction and Salvage of the French Fleet
• Russia's Coles 'Monitors': Smerch, Rusalka and Charodeika