LEADER 04218nam 2200637Ia 450 001 9910824095603321 005 20231206205411.0 010 $a1-283-22616-2 010 $a9786613226167 010 $a0-7748-5680-7 024 7 $a10.59962/9780774856805 035 $a(CKB)2430000000000374 035 $a(OCoLC)236350596 035 $a(CaPaEBR)ebrary10220728 035 $a(SSID)ssj0000376882 035 $a(PQKBManifestationID)11305282 035 $a(PQKBTitleCode)TC0000376882 035 $a(PQKBWorkID)10337469 035 $a(PQKB)11295147 035 $a(CaBNvSL)thg00602882 035 $a(Au-PeEL)EBL3412515 035 $a(CaPaEBR)ebr10227147 035 $a(CaONFJC)MIL322616 035 $a(OCoLC)923446191 035 $a(VaAlCD)20.500.12592/pgs91f 035 $a(schport)gibson_crkn/2009-12-01/3/406891 035 $a(MiAaPQ)EBC3412515 035 $a(DE-B1597)662049 035 $a(DE-B1597)9780774856805 035 $a(MiAaPQ)EBC3255891 035 $a(EXLCZ)992430000000000374 100 $a19880830d1988 uy 0 101 0 $aeng 135 $aurcn||||||||| 181 $ctxt 182 $cc 183 $acr 200 12$aA leaf upon the sea$b[electronic resource] $ea small ship in the Mediterranean, 1941-1943 /$fGordon W. Stead 210 $aVancouver $cUniversity of British Columbia Press$d1988 215 $a1 online resource (216 p.) 300 $aIncludes index. 311 $a0-7748-0299-5 320 $aBibliography: p. [181]. 327 $tFront Matter -- $tContents -- $tPlates and Maps -- $tPreface -- $tFocus -- $tSea Change -- $tOcean Passage -- $tThe Portal -- $tCover Story -- $tFalse Colours -- $tThe Fortress -- $tThe Eye of the Storm -- $tThe Bottom of the Barrel -- $tFast Company -- $tSlack Water -- $tForth from the Citadel -- $tDark Descent -- $tPattern of Islands -- $tFull Flood -- $tClimax and Fulfilment -- $tSojourn Ashore -- $tSingular Journey -- $tRecessional -- $tAppendix -- $tSelect Bibliography -- $tIndex 330 $aThe Mediterranean Sea in World War II was the scene of prolonged and violent naval warfare between the British and the Axis powers, Italy and Germany. The stories of the major squadrons and their admirals have been told, as their actions led directly to the outcomes. Here is the tale of the smallest surface ships, their officers and men who, at the very tip of British sea power in that disputed sea, played vital roles in making possible the successes of the more famous forces. It is told by one of them -- a Canadian on loan to the Royal Navy who took a leading part from the lowest ebb in British fortunes through the struggle against almost overwhelming odds to the climax of the first landings on the continent of Europe. The select 3rd Flotilla of Motor Launches was the first to go abroad from the British Isles and the only one sent into the eye of the storm as the larger ships were driven out. Stead recalls passages in disguise through hostile waters, stand-up fights with aircraft, the siege and blitz of Malta, major convoy battles, minesweeping in the forefront of the action, and the landings that drove Mussolini's Italy out of the war. He not only records specific contributions to the Allied cause unique for vessels of this type but also gives a front-row view of the battle for the central Mediterranean. Stead also tells of the "sea change" wrought in him under fire. Fresh from civilian life, and after sketchy basic training, he was thrust into command to learn the essentials of his new profession on the job under the urgent pressure of events. Ultimately Senior Officer of "the famed Malta flotilla," he notes his feelings as each successive increase in the menaces of war produced an inner adaptation that enabled him and his colleagues to rise calmly to the challenge of the next adventure. 606 $aWorld War, 1939-1945$xNaval operations, British 615 0$aWorld War, 1939-1945$xNaval operations, British. 676 $a359/.0092/4 700 $aStead$b Gordon W$01659223 801 0$bMiAaPQ 801 1$bMiAaPQ 801 2$bMiAaPQ 906 $aBOOK 912 $a9910824095603321 996 $aA leaf upon the sea$94013778 997 $aUNINA