This book breaks new ground as the first full account of the role of amphibious warfare in British strategy between VE Day and the Anglo-French assault on Suez in 1956. Ian Speller analyses the development of postwar strategic planning and the manner in which this influenced the nature of Britain's armed forces in the 1940s and 1950s. By detailing the development of equipment, doctrine and the role of the Royal Marines he sheds new light on the military response to a succession of overseas crises.

IAN SPELLER is Lecturer in Defence Studies at the Joint Services Command and Staff College. His research interests are amphibious warfare, maritime strategy and British foreign and defence policy.