Convoy: The Defence of Sea Trade 1890-1980

Perfect for readers of naval history, strategy and how convoys saved the allies in both World War One and Two.

Convoy is at the heart of naval history. The Navy had indeed been first formed specifically for convoy protection: the nation’s prosperity and security depending upon the safe passage of ships carrying troops and merchandise, in convoy, ever since the Middle Ages.

So why was the subject of trade defence so frequently and keenly debated? How did the best navy in the world come to abandon its oldest and best practice when it needed it the most?

Naval historian John Winton examines the controversy — whether in time of war vessels can be better protected in convoys or sailing individually in protected sea-lanes — and traces the arguments leading to the adoption of the convoy system in the First World War and, despite its resounding success, grudging adoption in the Second.