David Wragg

Sadly this is a book that could, with a bit more research and running down a few footnotes have been a much better production. Mr. Wragg does point out that the German inter-war economy could not have supported the re-armament of the German Navy out-lined in the Plan Z. But there's not a reference to the economic structure of the Nazi state buttressed by reference to actual, quotable data.
the bibliography hasn't any references to works specifically targeting the French or Italian Navies of show more the period, though each force has a chapter devoted to it in the text. For the German point of view we find his sources were Admirals Raeder and Doenitz's autobiographies and the translated Fuehrer conference accounts...and only the Janes history of WWII at sea . there are very detailed descriptions of the PQ17 disaster and the sinkng of the Scharnhorst by Duke of York. Perhaps these were included to bulk up the mass of the book?
There is also a spotty chronology of the German Naval side of WWII, and a number of "What if's... either based on the fact that an aircraft carrier would have aided the German side, and the considerable alternate history sections where the Germans manage to pass the Straits of Gibraltar with either the French Navy intact and/or the Italian Navy doing the same. The chapter on Seizing the French Fleet (For the Axis) is riddled with examples of poor research...Not spending a few sentences on the differences between the sizes of Metric as opposed to Imperial gun calibres, assigning the wrong gun calibres to the Washington treaty gun size limitations, and miscounting the numbers of French Cruisers and their weaponry.
All things considered, don't buy this book, it doesn't even have deck plans or drawings of the Z plan ships! show less

A fantasy western with allies of convenience and murderous royals.

Despite all the “action” I find myself bored and didn’t like any of the characters besides the White Bar.

It contains a plot device I hate - withholding information.

NF