Escort: The Battle of the Atlantic. Illustrated

D. A. Rayner

• Publisher: Asimis Books
• Year: 2026
• Topic: History
• eBook ISBN:
  9786178880248
• Subtopic: British History
• Index: History

Escort: The Battle of the Atlantic by D. A. Rayner is an immersive and vividly detailed account of one of the most critical and protracted campaigns of the Second World War. Focusing on the maritime struggle that raged from 1939 to 1945, this book brings to life the strategic importance, brutal realities, and human drama of the Battle of the Atlantic — the lifeline upon which the survival of Britain and the success of the Allied war effort depended. Rayner chronicles the relentless conflict between Allied convoys and Axis U-boats, aircraft, and surface raiders, showing how merchant ships and their naval escorts fought to keep vital supplies flowing across thousands of miles of unforgiving ocean. Through first-hand accounts, official records, and vivid narrative, he captures the tension of long nights at sea, the deafening terror of torpedo attacks, and the courage of ordinary seamen facing extraordinary danger. Beyond individual battles, Escort examines the evolution of tactics and technology that ultimately turned the tide — from sonar and radar advancements to improved convoy strategies and the crucial role of escort carriers and destroyer escorts. Rayner also highlights the cooperation among Allied nations, and the sacrifices of sailors from Britain, Canada, the United States, and beyond. Clear, authoritative, and compellingly written, Escort: The Battle of the Atlantic is essential reading for anyone seeking a deep and engaging understanding of this pivotal theatre of World War II. It is both a tribute to those who served and a masterful synthesis of strategy, history, and human endurance.

Table of contents

• Preface
• Chapter I. Preparation
• Chapter II. So This Is It
• Chapter III. Loch Tulla And Senior Officer 14th AntiSubmarine Group
• Chapter IV. Verbena In The Western Ocean
• Chapter V. Verbena Goes East
• Chapter VI. Shikari And The Rosegarden
• Chapter VII. Warwick
• Chapter VIII. Highlander
• Chapter IX. Pevensey Castle And Senior Officer 30th Escort Group
• Chapter X. Senior Officer Of Escorts (Chairborne)
• Epilogue