User:Simon Harley/sandbox

[[File:The Royal Navy during the First World War Q18122.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Battleships of the Grand Fleet at sea during the First World War.]]

[[File:The Royal Navy during the First World War Q18122.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Battleships of the Grand Fleet at sea during the First World War.]]

If my count is accurate then this is Angus Konstam's 107th book for [[Osprey Publishing]], which is an incredible achievement, no matter what follows this sentence. The tome under review is part of the ''Fleet'' series and covers the British [[Royal Navy]]'s [[Grand Fleet]] during the [[First World War]]. On 1 November 1918 it comprised 30 dreadnought battleships, eight battle cruisers, two large light cruisers, four cruisers, six seaplane and aircraft carriers, 34 light cruisers, 12 flotilla leaders, and 129 destroyers, and a host of other vessels. In addition four dreadnought battleships of the [[United States Navy]] formed an integral part of the fleet.

If my count is accurate then this is [[Angus Konstam]]'s 107th book for [[Osprey Publishing]], which is an incredible achievement, no matter what follows this sentence. The tome under review is part of the ''Fleet'' series and covers the British [[Royal Navy]]'s [[Grand Fleet]] during the [[First World War]]. On 1 November 1918 it comprised 30 dreadnought battleships, eight battle cruisers, two large light cruisers, four cruisers, six seaplane and aircraft carriers, 34 light cruisers, 12 flotilla leaders, and 129 destroyers, and a host of other vessels. In addition four dreadnought battleships of the [[United States Navy]] formed an integral part of the fleet.

In a work such as this one would assume that the organisation of the Grand Fleet would be described clearly and accurately. This is not the case, however. To give one example, that of the Commander-in-Chief's staff: in his flagship alone he had a Captain of the Fleet, a Chief of the Staff and a Flag Captain. What did these officers do? We are never told. The duties of the Flag Commander (also erroneously rendered as "Commander of the Fleet"), War Staff Officer, and Secretary are never explained. The Flag Lieutenant is not mentioned. Some squadrons had chiefs of the staff to their flag officers commanding, but we never read about these.

In a work such as this one would assume that the organisation of the Grand Fleet would be described clearly and accurately. This is not the case, however. To give one example, that of the Commander-in-Chief's staff: in his flagship alone he had a Captain of the Fleet, a Chief of the Staff and a Flag Captain. What did these officers do? We are never told. The duties of the Flag Commander (also erroneously rendered as "Commander of the Fleet"), War Staff Officer, and Secretary are never explained. The Flag Lieutenant is not mentioned. Some squadrons had chiefs of the staff to their flag officers commanding, but we never read about these.