The U.S. merchant marine played a critical, though often overlooked, role in World War II. This reference work provides a brief narrative of each of the recorded attacks on American-flagged merchant ships, as well as an accounting of the men and the ships, which were a part of this worldwide conflict. In addition to the wealth of data on the ships, their crews and cargoes, it depicts the exciting and often violent story of the hundreds of enemy attacks on convoys and lone merchant vessels. Evident within the narrative is the gallantry and sacrifice of naval gun crews and the merchant crewmen.

Robert M. Browning, Jr., has written numerous books and articles and served as chief historian for the Coast Guard for more than twenty years.

Robert M. Browning, Jr.
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 419
Bibliographic Info: 124 photos, appendix, glossary, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2011
pISBN: 978-0-7864-4600-1
eISBN: 978-0-7864-8497-3
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      ix

Introduction to the Revised Edition      1

List of Abbreviations      6

WAR CASUALTIES, 1940–1946      9

Appendix: Poorly Documented U.S. Flagged Merchant Vessel Losses      391

Glossary      394

Bibliography      397

Index      401

Reviews of the second edition: “quite informative…highly recommended”—ARBA; “a valuable resource for studying American merchant ship losses during the war…a very useful tool”—The Northern Mariner/Le Marin du Word. Reviews of the first edition: “This is an extremely well-researched book…impressive…well written and based on solid research…a must for students of US merchant marine and naval operations during World War II”—The Northern Mariner/Le Marin du Word; “a tour de force compilation of records”—Nautical Research Journal; “important reference volume…invaluable”—The American Neptune; “a useful handbook”—The Nymas Newsletter; “details…are very thorough”—Steamboat Bill; “major reference works…researchers will certainly want a copy…even casual readers will find the material fascinating…highly recommended”—Naval Wargaming Review.