Cruisers, minelayers and armed merchant cruisers of the Royal Navy and Commonwealth are depicted in detail, along with discussion on changes of armament and electronics that affected the outward appearance of each ship. During WWII, navies developed low visibility camouflage, applied to both the vertical and horizontal surfaces of their ships, in order to reduce visibility by blending in with the sea, or confuse the identity of a ship by applying obtrusive patters. All the paint schemes that adorned the vessels are celebrated in this volume by maritime artist Mal Wright. Beginning with the older cruisers, he covers all the classes, taking in heavy cruisers and pre-war and wartime cruisers. A large section also covers minelayers and armed merchant vessels (AMCs). Where possible both sides of the ship are depicted and many schemes would be difficult for any reader to unearth other than with the most intensive research. Historians, collectors, model makers, war gamers will appreciate the more than 800 full colour illustrations, arranged by ship type rather than camouflage scheme, in this concentrated one-volume reference. With extended captions and some beautiful original paintings by the author in full page reproductions. A Naval Institute Press publication, 20.3 x 26cm, 192pp, colour.
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