British warship losses beyond battle

David Hepper's British Warship Losses in the Modern Era works as a reference book and as a corrective to combat-centred naval history. Its entries include submarines and destroyers alongside drifters, tugs, fuel lighters, and other craft whose service exposed them to risk. The prewar entries show that accident, training, and ordinary operations could cost a navy ships and lives during peacetime. Drifters and other auxiliaries were essential to supporting the fleet even though they rarely dominate popular accounts. The loss register makes this less visible part of naval service easier to see.