These twenty-six narratives were designed to provide commissioned naval officers with interim summaries of actions prior to the availability of official histories. As such, these narratives are more polished historical accounts than were recorded in the original battle experiences reports. Drawn from action reports, operation orders, war diaries, and personal interviews, the documents contain charts and photographs. Although most of the reports describe action in the Pacific theater, the North African landings, the Sicilian campaign, and the Salerno landings are also the subjects of separate narratives.