Dark Seas: The Battle of Cape Matapan

The most decisive engagement between surface ships in the Mediterranean during World War II was undoubtedly the Battle of Cape Matapan (27 29 March, 1941). The Battle Summary, written post war, draws on reports of action on both sides. Reproduced in full in Dark Seas, this is a detailed and thoughtful insight into one of the last fleet engagements in naval history. The vivid and compelling text includes sighting reports, messages between Italian and German Naval staffs and lists of ships, alongside the original maps and diagrams. Dark Seas contains a previously unpublished unique first-hand account of the battle by HRH Prince Philip, who served in the action and an introduction setting the scene and explaining the significance of the historical document and of the battle itself. Dark Seas 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 Britannia Naval Histories of World War II an important source in understanding the critical naval actions of the period.