About the book: 2004 / Publisher's abstract: After the defeat of France in June 1940, the British fleet was forced to confront the Italian and German Navy without the support of the allies. The Mediterranean theater of operations suddenly acquired strategic importance. Military operations of English sailors against the Italians in 1940–1941. in the Mediterranean Sea, the victories of Admiral Cunningham, the combat path of the aircraft carrier Ark Royal, the fight of destroyers with German submarines - this is the subject of a collection of works by English military historians.