Victory at Sea: Royal Navy fleet

The Royal Navy of Great Britain was the world’s greatest navy at the outbreak of the Second World War. However; Britain went to war with mainly First World War-vintage vessels. Since the Royal Navy already possessed many powerful units; construction of the most modern designs was limited. This meant that at the outbreak of World War Two Britain had far more battleships than most other nations; but they had smaller guns than those built to the most modern ships.

Though the main battle force was kept concentrated in home waters; task forces were assigned to many distant areas; but the Royal Navy could not be strong everywhere. Although badly stretched; the Royal Navy lived up to its traditional ‘can do!’ ethos; fighting hard in all theatres.

In addition to the battleship forces; the Royal Navy maintained a handful of fast battlecruisers – some of them quite old – and aircraft carriers. These were backed up by a strong cruiser force and light forces including destroyers; motor torpedo boats (MTBs) and motor gunboats (MGBs).

As the war went on; aircraft carriers became increasingly important and air defences were steadily improved on all ships. Yet the big guns of the battleships and cruisers played a vital role in many theatres of war. British capital ships saw action in the Arctic and the Atlantic against German commerce raiders; in the Mediterranean against Italian forces; and ventured into the Pacific in an ill-fated attempt to stem the Japanese advance. Though the great fleet actions planned for and desired by the architects of the Royal Navy did not materialise during World War Two; the Royal Navy adapted well to the war it was destined to fight and emerged with great honour.

Contents:

Eagle-class Carrier – HMS Eagle 1940
King George V-class Battleship – HMS Duke of York 1943
Leander-class cruiser – HMS Neptune 1941
Edinburgh-class cruiser – HMS Belfast 1942
Dido-class cruiser – HMS Dido 1940
Tribal-class Destroyer x3
Torpedo-Bomber Aircraft – Fairey Swordfish x4 flights
Ship Cards and Damage Sliders
Assembly Instructions
Ships are in Resin and Warlord Resin