AUSTRALIAN WARSHIPS and Auxiliaries of the 1940s
compiled by Jonathan Nally
The 1940s, a pivotal era marked by the cataclysmic World War II, witnessed the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in its most active phase of the 20th century. At the onset of the conflict, the RAN's fleet was modest, with less than 20 large surface combatants and a variety of smaller support craft. However, the exigencies of the War propelled a remarkable transformation, with the fleet swelling to approximately 150 large vessels, along with a multitude of support and ancillary craft, by its conclusion.
The War's demands necessitated a substantial expansion of the Navy's combatant fleet, leading to an extensive shipbuilding and acquisition program. This endeavour birthed vessels like the Bathurst-class Australian minesweepers, constructed in local shipyards, and others, such as the N and Q class destroyers, loaned from the Royal Navy. Notably, some of these 1940s-era ships defied their wartime origins, continuing to serve in the RAN for many years, even decades, after the War's end, a testament to their resilience and enduring value.
This comprehensive volume meticulously chronicles all the major combatant and ancillary ships of the Royal Australian Navy that were in service during that transformative decade, providing a detailed and thorough account of this significant period in naval history.
Compiled by Jonathan Nally

Hardcover Version
CODE BTAWW