Other editions of book Friend or Foe: Friendly Fire at Sea 1939-1945

During the Second World War, there were over 100 instances of naval engagements between ships, submarines and aircraft of the same side. In the past there has often been a reluctance by the authorities to admit to these losses but with operational records now available, it is possible for historians to explain how a good number of ships and submarines were attacked, damaged or sunk by the forces of their own side.

The killing of soldiers and sailors by men fighting on the same side is an accidental hazard as old as warfare itself, but for obvious reasons those responsible for such incidents invariably take every possible precaution to see that they are kept quiet about. It has therefore been uncommon in the past to come across too many references to what is now somewhat ironically known as 'friendly fire' in works of military history. But since wars are now fought before a worldwide audience, such secrecy is no longer possible and the subject became a matter of heated debate at the time of the Gulf War.Helped by the growing pressure on governments to release hitherto classified documents, Paul Kemp has uncovered over a hundred incidents of engagements between ships, submarines and aircraft on the same side in the Second World War. This is the first time that all the information contained herein has been gathered together in a single volume, the author having drawn upon naval archives now available in Britain, France, Italy, the United States, Russia and Japan.