The importance of marine salvage during armed conflict has been vastly underestimated since becoming a vital Naval arm during the First World War. Between 1915 & 1918 the Admiralty Salvage Section saved nearly 400 merchant vessels desperately needed to bring food & war materials into Britain. During the Second World War some two million tons of shipping was successfully recovered. From D-Day onwards Admiralty salvage men cleared many stricken craft from the Normandy beaches alone often under heavy shellfire. Then as the Germans retreated back across Europe salvage teams undertook vital port clearance duties. During the Suez Crisis Falklands Conflict & even the Gulf War the same story can be told. & their peacetime operations have also been important. Drawing on a wealth of official documents Admiralty Salvage is the first book to explore in depth the courage personal sacrifice & invaluable contribution these forgotten heroes have made during both peace & war.