This well illustrated book chronicles the Royal Navy’s small coastal and fast attack craft from World War I through World War II and beyond. Norman Friedman details the invention and evolution of motor torpedo boats, their daring operations in home waters, the Channel, North Sea, and Mediterranean, and their crucial role in the Normandy invasion. Combining technical analysis of craft, engines, weapons, and innovations with operational history, the book shows how British and US collaboration pushed technology to its limits. Drawing on official records, memoirs, and previously unused sources, it provides an authoritative, immersive account of Coastal Forces’ battles, strategies, and lasting lessons—essential reading for enthusiasts of naval warfare, fast attack craft, and amphibious operations.
