Scapa Flow
The defences of Britain’s great fleet anchorage 1914–45
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About this book
A strategically important natural harbor in the Orkney Islands, Scapa Flow served as Britain’s main fleet anchorage during World Wars I and II. In 1914 and again in 1939, the British began building a comprehensive defensive network by fortifying the entrances to Scapa Flow, and then extended these defenses to cover most of Orkney. By 1940, it had become an island fortress, the largest integrated defensive network of its kind in Europe, manned by as many as 50,000 Commonwealth troops. Backed by newly commissioned artwork, naval historian Angus Konstam tells the story of this mighty naval fortress, many pieces of which can still be seen on the island today.
Contents
- Introduction
- Chronology
- The development of Scapa Flow’s defences
- Principles of defence: ‘Plan Q’ and ‘Plan R’
- A tour of the fortress
- Life in the Orkney Garrison
- Scapa Flow at war
- The aftermath of World War II
- The defences of Scapa Flow today
- Museums and other attractions
- Further reading
- Appendix
- Index
Paperback; July 2009; 64 pages; ISBN: 9781846033667