CONTENTS

THE SWEDISH ARMOURED COASTAL DEFENCE SHIPS
Daniel G Harris surveys the origins, development and
intended role of Swedish Coastal Defense ships.

THE MYSTERY OF THE LAST VOYAGE OF JAPANESE
      SUBMARINE I-52
While researching at the PRO, David Miller unexpectedly
discovered that a Japanese submarine, carrying gold bars,
had been sunk in mid-Atlantic in 1944.  He was the first to
know about its cargo.  He describes the episode and what has
happened since his discovery.

ENTENTE CORDIÀLE, 1865
What a surprising change! The two most powerful navies in
the world in 1865, instead of battling it out on the high seas,
invite each other out to tea!  Colin Jones describes the state
visits from vivid contemporary sources.

PRELUDE TO DISASTER: E-BOAT OPERATIONS
      IN THE WESTERN CHANNEL 1942-1944
In April 1944 tragedy struck American preparations for D-
Day when over 600 servicemen were killed during a German
E-Boat attack.  It could have compromised the whole Allied
war plans.  Dr Ian Skinner traces the history of British
shortcomings and inadequate staff work which may have
contributed to this disaster.

EMILE BERTIN; FAST MINELAYING CRUISER
Emile Bertin was the prototype of a new generation of
French interwar cruisers and one of the fastest warships of
her day.  John Jordan examines the significance of this
unique vessel.

THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR. TECHNICAL LESSONS
      AS PERCEIVED BY THE ROYAL NAVY
Although the Royal Navy thought  that no lessons could be
learned they had observers on the Japanese fleet and
studied the war very carefully.  David Brown describes
the consequences.

THE ROYAL NAVY’S 1944 CRUISER
George L Moore describes the secret wartime debates
between admirals, naval architects, engineers, strategists,
and even Winston Churchill, which went on and on.

PEIYANG AND NANYANG CRUISERS OF THE 1880s
Richard N J Wright studies the building up of two significant
fleets in the Far East and describes their unusual histories.

THE LOSS OF HMS QUEEN MARY AT JUTLAND
M W Williams draws on the moving accounts of four
survivors of this great battlecruiser which sank after 21/2
hours of horrendous battle and with agonizing death-throes
taking 1266 officers and men with her.

GERMAN TYPE 35,40, AND 43 MINESWEEPERS AT WAR
The minor warships of the Kriegsmarine fought a weary and
largely unrecognized campaign against Allied mining in
1939-1945.  Pierre Hervieux documents their achievements.