This carefully researched account of a lesser-known but vital aspect of the American war for independence chronicles exciting ship-to-ship battles, Benedict Arnold's efforts to build a fleet in Lake Champlain, the harassment of British ships by privateers, David Bushnell's "sub-marine" vessel and floating mines, uniforms, and much more. More than 150 black-and-white illustrations.

"[Dressed to kill] seeks to show naval uniforms from a new perspective because it is important that the development of uniform be viewed alongside contemporary civilian fashions. The essays at the beginning not only examine the progression of regulations but also, more significantly, place the uniforms in their economic, social and historical contexts. They are followed by a catalogue of selected uniforms from the rich collections of the National Maritime Museum, which serve to reinforce the themes drawn out in the essays. The last section of line drawings of selected patterns provides an insight into the construction of the garments."--Title page verso.

Royal Navy Uniforms 1930-1945 uses over 400 illustrations - both period images and new colour photographs of original items - to show the clothing of both Officers and Ratings in World War II and during the years leading up to it, when Naval uniforms underwent significant modernization. The illustrations are supported by detailed text describing the development and use of Naval clothing of the time. Its contents include Officers' clothing and effects; Class 1 and III Ratings' clothing and effects; seamens' clothing and effects; battledress and tropical clothing; miscellaneous clothing, personal effects and substantive and non-substantive insignia. This is the first book to offer a detailed study of Royal Navy clothing in the 1930s and World War II and will be a vital resource for collectors, historians and enthusiasts. All of the major uniform types are superbly illustrated with 470 colour and black & white studio images and period photographs.