Naval forces and warfare Books
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Aircraft of the Royal Navy
Book SynopsisThis is a comprehensive study of every aircraft type ordered for the Royal Navy since 1908. It includes fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, rigid and non-rigid airships, unmanned aircraft and pilotless target aircraft together with many designs that were ordered but not built so that the importance placed on them by the Naval Staff or their potential technological impact on carrier design and operations can be explained. Every type even unsuccessful single prototypes is described; the majority are illustrated by photographs, many of which come from the author's own collection, and the fifty most significant aircraft have detailed drawings. The Australian and Canadian Fleet Air Arms operated RN aircraft types for many years after their formation and these are included together with other types they have operated subsequently to give a more complete overview. The book describes over 400 different types of aircraft built by over 100 different manufacturers to offer the most detailed coverag
£40.00
The University of North Carolina Press War on the Waters
Book SynopsisAlthough previously undervalued for their strategic impact because they represented only a small percentage of total forces, the Union and Confederate navies were crucial to the outcome of the US Civil War. In War on the Waters, James M. McPherson has crafted an enlightening, at times harrowing, and ultimately thrilling account of the war's naval campaigns and their military leaders.
£999.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Gunboats of World War I
Book SynopsisFrom the Mediterranean to the Black Sea, from the Balkans to Mesopotamia, gunboats played an influential part in the story of World War I. This detailed technical guide to the gunboats of all the major navies of the war means that, for the first time, the story can be told. Naval action in World War I conjures up images of enormous dreadnoughts slugging it out in vast oceans. Yet the truth is that more sailors were killed serving on gunboats and monitors operating far from the naval epicentre of the war than were ever killed at Jutland. Gunboat engagements during this war were bloody and hard fought, if small in scale. Austrian gunboats on the Danube fired the first shots of the war, whilst German, British and Belgian gunboats fought one of the strangest, most intriguing naval campaigns in history in far-flung Lake Tanganyika.Table of ContentsIntroduction /Chronology /Design & Development /Operational History /Armament /Operation /Gunboats in Action /Bibliography
£999.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Ottoman Navy Warships 191418
Book SynopsisAt the start of the 20th century the Ottoman Navy was a shadow of its former might, a reflection of the empire as a whole - the Sick Man of Europe. Years of defeat, nepotism, and neglect had left the Ottoman Navy with a mix of obsolete vessels, whilst the list of prospective enemies was ever-growing. An increasing Russian naval presence in the Black Sea and the alarming emergence of Italy and Greece as regional Naval powers proved beyond all doubt that intensive modernization was essential, indeed, the fate of the Empire as a naval power depended on it. So the Ottoman Navy looked to the ultimate naval weapon of the age, the dreadnought, two of which were ordered from the British. But politics intervened, and a succession of events culminated in the Ottoman Navy fielding a modern German battlecruiser and state-of-the-art light cruiser instead - with dramatic consequences. In this meticulous study, Ryan Noppen presents a fresh appraisal of the technical aspects and operations of the warsTable of ContentsIntroduction/ Ottoman Warships/ Operations/ Conclusion
£999.99
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Trafalgar Chronicle
Book SynopsisAn esteemed yearbook on the highly popular Nelsonic era. Contains the finest writing and the latest research and is profusely illustrated throughout
£24.18
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Battle in the Baltic: The Royal Navy and the
Book SynopsisThough, for most participants, the First World War ended on 11 November 1918, the Royal Navy found itself, despite four years of slaughter and war weariness, fighting a fierce and brutal battle in the Baltic Sea against Bolshevik Russia in an attempt to protect the fragile independence of the newly liberated states of Estonia and Latvia. This new book by Steve R Dunn describes the events of those two years when RN ships and men, under the command of Rear Admiral Alexander-Sinclair, found themselves in a maelstrom of chaos and conflicting loyalties, and facing multiple opponents - the communist forces of the Red Army and Navy, led by Leon Trotsky; the gangs of freebooting German soldiers, the Freikorps, intent on keeping the Baltic states under German domination; and the White Russian forces, bent on retaking Petrograd and rebuilding the Russian Empire. During this hard-fought campaign there were successes on both sides. For example, the Royal Navy captured two destroyers that were given to the Estonians; but the submarine L-55 was sunk by Russian warships, lost with all hands. Seeking revenge in a daring sequence of attacks and using small coastal motor boats, the RN sank the cruiser Oleg and badly damaged two Russian battleships. Today few people are aware of this exhausting campaign and the sacrifices made by Royal Navy sailors (three VCs were won), but the pages of this book retell their exciting but forgotten stories and, using much first-hand testimony, bring back to life the critical naval operations that prevented the retaking of the new Baltic countries that Churchill saw as an essential shield against the encroachment of the Bolsheviks into Europe. An uneasy peace prevailed until 1939.
£25.00
Pen & Sword Books Ltd British Cruiser Warfare: The Lessons of the Early
Book SynopsisCruisers were the Navy's maids-of-all-work, employed in a greater variety of roles than any other warship type. Smaller, faster and far more numerous than battleships, they could be risked in situations where capital ships were too vulnerable, while still providing heavy gunfire support for smaller ships or anti-aircraft cover for the fleet. As such, they were in the frontline of the naval war from the outset - and from its first days, the fighting provided unexpected challenges and some very unpleasant surprises, not least the efficacy of air power. Cruisers learned to deal with these new realities in the Norway campaign and later in the Mediterranean, partly through the introduction of new technology - notably radar - but also by codifying the hard-won experience of those involved. This highly original book analyses the first years of the war when the sharpest lessons were learned, initially describing every action and its results, and then summarising in individual chapters the conclusions that could be drawn for the many aspects of a cruiser's duties. These include the main roles like surface gunnery, shore bombardment, anti-aircraft tactics and fighter direction, but also encompass technology like radar, asdic and shipborne aircraft, and even tackle more human issues such as shipboard organisation, damage control, the impact of weather and the morale factor. It also attempts to evaluate the importance of electronic warfare, intelligence and code-breaking, and concludes with a comparison between the performance of British cruisers and their Italian and German opponents. Thought-provoking and sometimes controversial, this is a book that should be read by everyone interested in the Second World War at sea.
£45.13
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Sovereign of the Seas, 1637: A Reconstruction of
Book SynopsisSovereign of the Seas was the most spectacular, extravagant and controversial warship of the early seventeenth century. The ultimate royal prestige project, whose armament was increased by the King's decree to the unheard-of figure of 100 guns, the ship finally cost the equivalent of ten more conventional warships. A significant proportion of this total was spent on her gilded decoration, which gave the ship a unique combination of firepower and visual impact in battle that led her Dutch opponents to dub her the Golden Devil'. The vessel was the poster-child of the notorious Ship Money' tax, raised without parliamentary approval and so unpopular it was a major factor leading to the Civil War in which Charles I lost his sovereignty and his head. In that sense, she was a ship that cost a kingdom. It is unsurprising that such a high-profile ship should be well-documented, but there are no contemporary plans and much of the visual evidence is contradictory. In this book, John McKay sets out to analyse the data and reconstruct the design and appearance of the ship in a degree of detail never previously attempted. The results are presented as a folio of superbly draughted plans, isometric drawings and coloured renderings, covering every aspect of the design from the hull form to the minutiae of sails and rigging. Each section is accompanied by an explanatory text, setting out the rationale for his conclusions, so the book will be of value to historians of the period as well as providing superb reference for any modeller tackling of one of the most popular of all sailing ship subjects.
£999.99
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Russian Baltic Fleet in the Time of War and
Book SynopsisThe translation of these memoirs brings an important and authoritative historical source to those interested in Russian or naval history who are unable to access them in the original Russian. Their author, Rear Admiral S N Timiryov, was well placed to make observations on the character of many of the significant commanding officers and also many of the operations of the Baltic Fleet from the beginning of the war in 1914 up to exit from it in 1918\. He trained with many of the key figures and shared battle experience with them in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 and the siege of Port Arthur; and he spent a year in Japan as a prisoner of war with a number of them. In his subsequent career in the Navy he had roles which brought him into contact with new recruits as well as with many serving officers, and as the Executive Officer on the imperial yacht _Shtandart_ for some years, he came into contact with senior members of the navy establishment and of the government, including the imperial household. His memoirs also exhibit an unusual degree of self-awareness. Written in Shanghai in 1922, these memoirs remained unknown to scholars for several decades. Since their publication in New York in 1961, in the absence of access to authoritative archives, many historians in the West used them as a source for the study of the role of the Navy in the Russian revolution, particularly as it unfolded in the north. They have also been used as a source in numerous studies of the naval war in the Baltic, and following the fall of the Soviet Union they were re-published in Russia and are regarded there as an authoritative source on the history both of the revolution and of the Russian Navy in the First World War. This first English-language edition, complemented by extensive notes and commentary on issues which may not be familiar to many, will fascinate scholars and naval historians alike.
£25.00
Naval Institute Press The War for England's Shores
Book Synopsis
£36.83
Naval Institute Press U-Boat Ace: The Story of Wolfgang Luth
Book SynopsisAn exceptional figure in the history of the German Navy, Wolfgang Luth was one of only seven men in the Wehrmacht to win Germany's highest combat decoration, the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds. At one time or another he operated in almost every theatre of the undersea war, from Norway to the Indian Ocean, and became the second most successful German U-boat ace in World War II, sinking more than 220,000 tons of merchant shipping. A master in the art of military leadership, Luth was the youngest man to be appointed to the rank of captain and the youngest to become commandant of the German Naval Academy. Nevertheless, his accomplishments were overshadowed by those of other great aces, such as Prien, Kretschmer, and Topp. The publication of this book in hardcover in 1990 marked the first comprehensive study of Luth's life. Jordan Vause corrects the long neglect by providing an entertaining and authoritative biography that places the ace in the context of the war at sea.
£18.66
University of South Carolina Press Court-martial at Parris Island: The Ribbon Creek
Book SynopsisOn the night of April 8, 1956, marine drill instructor, Matthew McKeon led Platoon 71 on a forced march through the backwaters of Parris Island in an effort to restore flagging discipline. Unexpectedly strong currents in Ribbon Creek and an ensuing panic led to the drowning of six recruits. The tragedy of Ribbon Creek and the court-martial of Staff Sergeant McKeon became the subject of sensational national media coverage and put the future of the U.S. Marine Corps in jeopardy. In this definitive account of the Ribbon Creek, incident former marine and experienced trial lawyer and judge John C. Stevens III examines the events of that night, the men of Platoon 71, and the fate of Sergeant McKeon. Drawing on personal interviews with key participants and his own extensive courtroom experience, Stevens balances the human side of this story with insights into the court proceedings and the tactics of the prosecution and defense attorney Emile Zola Berman. The resulting narrative is a richly developed account of a horrific episode in American military history and of the complex characters at the heart of this cautionary tale.
£17.06
Texas A & M University Press Tales of a Cold War Submariner
Book SynopsisThough Dan Summitt retired from the U.S Navy years ago, he still regrets not receiving clearance to fill a submarine missile tube with thirty-five thousand pounds of wet grits and launch it at a very pesky Russian spy ship. In Tales of a Cold War Submariner, Summitt tells the story of his military career, proving that navy life at the height of the Cold War as commander of two nuclear submarines kept him on his toes. He relates his work with Adm. Hyman Rickover, recounts the efforts to stay undetected while patrolling for Soviet submarines, and shares the everyday dangers faced by a submarine crew. Summitt graduated from the Naval Academy in 1947, entered Submarine School, and rose to become deputy chief of staff for the commander of the Submarine Force Atlantic Fleet and chief of staff for the Submarine Flotilla 8. He served as commander of the USS Seadragon on its secret mission to the North Pole, where he rendezvoused with the USS Skate to conduct experiments under the ice. Summitt later took command of the USS Alexander Hamilton, one of forty-one Polaris-class nuclear submarines, which carried sixteen thirty-five-foot-tall missiles. Summitt takes the reader on a tour of this vessel, describing daily life and the routine and not-so-routine missions in close quarters with no outside contact for days or even months. Through it all, the fear of mechanical malfunctions, detection, or imminent attack always lingered. Summitt's anecdotes and descriptions capture this tense era in history.
£19.96
Naval Institute Press A Coast Guardmans History of the U.S. Coast Guard
Book SynopsisFocuses on relatively unknown Coast Guardsmen who exemplify the military branch''s core values, from seamen and admirals on active duty to reservists, auxiliarists and civilian members of Team Coast Guard. By the author of Commodore Ellsworth P. Betholf: First Commandant of the Coast Guard.
£25.64
Naval Institute Press The Fast Carriers: The Forging of an Air Navy
Book SynopsisThis classic study is considered essential reading for its analysis of fast aircraft carrier development in WWII. It provides a fascinating record not only of the U.S. Navy's metamorphosis from a battleship-oriented to a carrier-centered fleet, but also of the heated debates that took place over the changing naval strategy. With an insider's grasp of the famous individuals involved, award-winning naval historian Clark G. Reynolds takes readers from the war rooms of Washington to the flight decks of the Pacific. He vividly describes the battles over the concept of fast carriers between the air admirals and battleship admirals and offers little-known details gleaned from personal interviews and private diaries.
£26.06
Naval Institute Press One Hundred Years of U.S. Navy Air Power
Book SynopsisPublished to coincide with the 100th anniversary of U.S. Navy aviation, a thorough history covers U.S. Navy aviation from before the first aircraft carrier joined the fleet through the modern jet era and the introduction of the F-18 Hornet, in a book that includes a foreword by President George H. W. Bush.
£31.49
Naval Institute Press Character in Action: The U.S. Coast Guard on
Book SynopsisHow does the U.S. Coast Guard create, instill, and maintain leadership throughout a 40,000 member force spread across the United States? A former Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard and a best-selling author combine their knowledge of the subject to offer a formula for success. Donald T. Phillips, who has written eight books on leadership, asserts that the Coast Guard is a superlative example of an organization with effective leadership, loaded with leaders at all levels. From a guardsman scraping barnacles off buoys in the Gulf of Mexico to the captain of a cutter in the Gulf of Alaska to the Commandant in Washington, they know exactly what leadership is, how it works, an d why it is important. This case study in leadership uses the Coast Guard as an example for other organizations who want to imbue leadership to every single one of its members. An effective leadership beacon, the book is replete with tangible examples, vivid anecdotes, and explicit guidelines on how to instill leadership throughout an entire organization. Stories abound on Coast Guard efficiency, innovation, and heroism and many are used to illustrate the service's effectiveness and to engage the reader. From the military and government communities to the business world, a variety of organizations can benefit from this outstanding leadership guide.
£23.16
Naval Institute Press Before the Ironclad Warship Design and
Book Synopsis
£58.36
Naval Institute Press The Battleships of the Iowa Class: A Design and
Book SynopsisThe four battleships of the Iowa class, the crowning achievement of U.S. battleship construction, had exceptionally long careers and each in their way left a distinctive mark not only on the U.S. Navy but on naval history at large. Built as the ultimate American battleship and designed to engage the major units of the Japanese and German fleets, the vessels were commissioned in the closing stages of World War II, the beginning of half a century of service during which individual units saw action in the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Lebanese Civil War and finally the Persian Gulf War. As such, these ships are symbolic of the primacy of U.S. seapower during the Cold War, and the preservation of all four members of this mighty class as museums is testament not only to their enduring fascination for successive generations of Americans, but also to the immense technical, financial, military, and political resources wielded by the United States during the second half of the twentieth century.
£89.25
Naval Institute Press Handbook for Marine NCOs 5th Ed.
Book Synopsis
£24.29
Texas A & M University Press USS Monitor: A Historic Ship Completes Its Final
Book SynopsisLavish illustrations (photographs, site drawings, and artifact sketches) complement this informative and highly readable account. Naval warfare buffs, amateurs and professionals involved in maritime archaeology, and Civil War aficionados will be intrigued and informed by USS Monitor: A Historic Ship Completes Its Final Voyage.
£19.96
Pagekicker Corporation Analysis of Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (Uuv)
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£16.99
Casemate Publishers Bismarck: The Final Days of Germany’s Greatest
Book Synopsis“...essential background and new historical insights make otherwise inexplicable elements of the Bismarck story much clearer, without diminishing the drama of the epic sea chase and its vivid, human details.” – World War II MagazineThe sinking of the German battleship Bismarck – a masterpiece of engineering, well-armoured with a main artillery of eight 15-inch guns – was one of the most dramatic events of World War II. She left the port of Gotenhafen for her first operation on the night of 18 May 1941, yet was almost immediately discovered by Norwegian resistance and Allied air reconnaissance. British battle cruiser Hood was quickly dispatched from Scapa Flow to intercept the Bismarck, together with new battleship Prince of Wales. They were ordered to find the ship quickly because, on their way from the USA, several large convoys were heading for Britain.On 24 May, Bismarck was found off the coast of Greenland, but the ensuing battle was disastrous for the British. The Hood was totally destroyed within minutes (only 3 crewmen surviving), and Prince of Wales was badly damaged. The chase resumed until the German behemoth was finally caught, this time by four British capital ships supported by torpedo-bombers from the carrier Ark Royal. The icy North Atlantic roiled from the crash of shellfire and bursting explosions until finally the Bismarck collapsed, sending nearly 2,000 German sailors to a watery grave.Zetterling and Tamelander’s work rests on stories from survivors and the latest historical discoveries. The book starts with a thorough account of maritime developments from 1871 up to the era of the giant battleship, and ends with a vivid account, hour by hour, of the dramatic and fateful hunt for the mighty Bismarck, Nazi-Germany’s last hope to pose a powerful surface threat to Allied convoys.Trade Review…a thorough treatment, including material from interviews with survivors of their sinkings and the impact they had on the naval war in the Atlantic. * SEAPOWER *A fresh look at the life and death of the most famous German warship of World War II. * NYMAS *outstanding book about naval warfare…real time, you are there style that conveys all of the anxiety of actual combat at sea. * WWII HISTORY MAGAZINE *essential background and new historical insights make otherwise inexplicable elements of the Bismarck story much clearer, without diminishing the drama of the epic sea chase and its vivid, human details. * WORLD WAR II MAGAZINE *…unable to put it down…I highly recommend this book for anyone that likes the study of naval battles or just wants to read about an action-packed sea battle. * IPMS *... a very interesting and useful history …once you start… you will be very hard pressed to stop until the smoke has cleared and the ship is sunk. * INTERNET MODELER *Beautifully written, exhaustively researched and a mine of thought provoking insight...this is not just the best military history book I’ve read for a many a year but the best book full-stop. Essential. Buy it. * ModelArmour November *…a thorough treatment, including material from interviews with survivors of their sinkings and the impact they had on the naval war in the Atlantic. * Seapower *A fresh look at the life and death of the most famous German warship of World War II…a very good read… * STRATEGY PAGE *
£999.99
Fonthill Media LLc Naval Air Station Oceana
Book Synopsis
£999.99
Naval Institute Press A Tale of Two Navies: Geopolitics, Technology,
Book SynopsisA Tale of Two Navies is an analysis of the unique relationship between the United States Navy and the Royal Navy from 1960 to present. This loosely chronological study examines the histories, strategies, operations, technology,and intelligence activities of both navies. The special intelligence relationship is highlighted by unique knowledge and insights into the workings of U.S. and British intelligence.Bringing his extensive experience in both navies to bear, Anthony Wells provides a revealing look at the importance of naval thinking — how it impacts not only every level of naval activity, but also national defence as a whole. A Tale of Two Navies probes selective key themes and offers a discourse between the author and readers. Throughout, Wells challenges his reader to consider how the U.S. and the U.K. can best collaborate to advance their common strategic interests. This insightful look at the “special relationship” is especially relevant given emerging and increasing threats from China, Russia, and radical Islamist terror organisations.Trade ReviewWells' work is an excellent acquisition for those who want to expand their thinking on modern maritime affairs." —The Northern Mariner“The book is well suited for U.S. Navy and Royal Navy officers who wish to understand the relationship between the two Navies. I highly recommend this book as an excellent reference." —The Hook"In A Tale of Two Navies, we have a refreshing new look at the special relationship of Britain and America written by an Englishman, Anthony Wells..." —The Washington Times“The author, who served in intelligence roles for both navies, is especially qualified to analyze the special relationship that endures between the two navies as well as the two nations." —Seapower Magazine“This book should be read and discussed by anyone with an interest in maritime strategy." —Naval War College Review“Bringing his extensive experience in both navies to bear, Wells provides a revealing look at the importance of naval thinking and how it impacts not only every level of naval activity, but also national defense." —SeaTechnology Magazine“The author's ability to weave together historical events and his own experiences and research, make this book a delightful read." —The Submarine Review“A Tale of Two Navies has a place on the shelves of all who study and strive to understand the importance of effective maritime partnerships and strategy." —TheStrategyBridge.com and RealClearDefense.com“The first chapter, which is worth the price of the book, compares the American and British political systems within which each navy exists, emphasizing the impact of organizational structures and bureaucratic changes over the course of the late twentieth century. A Tale of Two Navies provides an insider's account of the concerns, especially in undersea warfare, and challenges faced by the American and British navies during the latter half of the Cold War. The book is recommended for general readers interested in an insider's perspective on the Cold War at sea." —H-WAR"A Tale of Two Navies provides an interesting and readable account of a lengthy naval partnership that continues to play a vital role in ensuring global maritime security." —Warship“Anthony Wells has called upon his vast and incredibly impressive experiences to shine a light on a this "unique relationship within a special relationship." The shared history of both the American and British people and their navies, in concert with shared visions for how the world ought to function is indeed special. But, beyond simply being special, this relationship is critical in underwriting global security. A Tale of Two Navies has a place on the shelves of all who study and strive to understand the importance of effective maritime partnerships and strategy." —TheStrategyBridge.com and RealClearDefense.com“Tony Wells served in both the U.K. Ministry of Defence and the U.S. Department of Defense, making him the ideal author to investigate the close ties between the Royal and American navies. By combining his extensive personal experience and considerable research, Wells defines and follows our navies' 'special relationship' through the course of the Cold War to current day. Wells' ability to weave together historical events with his own experiences makes A Tale of Two Navies a must read." —Rear Adm. John D. Butler, USN (Ret.), Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire "Few know how intertwined the American and British navies are, how they became that way, and what that means for all of us. On these subjects, Anthony Wells is the perfect instructor. Drawing on a lifetime of work at the center of both institutions, he illuminates a modern relationship fundamental to our freedom." —Richard Danzig, 71st Secretary of the U.S. Navy "Few people are as uniquely well-equipped as Anthony Wells to write an account of the close and special relationship, forged in the crucible of conflict and the Cold War, between the two most capable and effective navies in the world. His penetrating and informed analysis offers us all hope for the continuance of an alliance which makes the world a safer place." —Vice Admiral Sir Jeremy Blackham, Knight Commander of the Bath, editor, The Naval Review“This is a labour of love. Having served in both the Royal Navy and the U.S. Navy, particularly on the intelligence side, Tony Wells demonstrates affection for them both, and a keen grasp of their cultures and structures. He brings unique perspective to his analysis of the challenges they have faced together since 1960, with some fascinating insights into such incidents as Israel's sinking of USS Liberty in 1967 and the 1982 Falklands War." —Sir Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies, King's College London
£35.10
Naval Institute Press U.S. Navy Attack Aircraft 1920-2020
Book SynopsisU.S. Navy Attack Aircraft, 1920-2020 is uniquely told from the point of view of the Navy, as understood through its previously-classified documents. Spanning a century from the earliest airplanes conceived to operate from U.S. carriers in 1920, to the current F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Both the requirements and the available technology kept changing. In many cases the Navy drove the technology. Norman Friedman is the first to take the requirements and the available technology into account to explain the choices the Navy made. The airplanes the Navy bought were always designers' attempts to meet specific demands set by the kind of warfare the Navy expected. The reader sees Navy successes and failures in guessing at the future. This is a unique way to understand the panoply of airplanes the Navy has relied on through the years, and why some succeeded but others failed. Trade Review“A fantastic companion for any aviation enthusiast interested in the history of USN strike aircraft from the inter-war to modern times.” —Christoph Bergs, Military Aviation History YouTube channel
£93.00
Naval Institute Press To Crown the Waves: The Great Navies of the First
Book SynopsisThe only comparative analysis available of the great navies of World War I, this work studies the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, the German Kaiserliche Marine, the U.S. Navy, the French Marine Nationale, the Italian Regia Marina, the Austro-Hungarian Kaiserliche und Königliche Kriegsmarine, and the Imperial Russian Navy to demonstrate why the war was won not in the trenches, but upon the waves. It explains why these seven fleets fought the way they did and why the war at sea did not develop as the admiralties and politicians of 1914 expected.After discussing each navy's goals and circumstances and how their individual characteristics impacted the way they fought, the authors deliver a side-by-side analysis of the conflict's fleets, with each chapter covering a single navy. Parallel chapter structures assure consistent coverage of each fleet--history, training, organization, doctrine, matériel, and operations--and allow readers to easily compare information among the various navies. Such a study has special relevance today as twentieth-century navies struggle to adapt to twenty-first-century technologies.
£27.96
Naval Institute Press Petty Officer's Guide
Book SynopsisThe Petty Officer's Guide is written and edited by petty officers for petty officers. It is designed to ensure Navy Petty Officers are ready to fight and win wars at sea, under the sea, in the air, on land, and in outer space and cyberspace by exposing junior Petty Officers to innovative and modern leadership methodologies. Serving as the premiere leadership guide to junior Navy Petty Officers, it enhances development processes and tools such as the Navy Leader Development Framework, Education for Sea Power, Sailor 360, and Enlisted Leader Development courses. Furthermore, it reinforces modern lines of effort identified in the Chief of Naval Operations' Design for Maritime Superiority and promotes the development of innovative leaders and strategic thinkers. This guide provides unique insights into the values, beliefs, attitudes, and skills that enable the success of naval leaders, how Petty Officers can use power bases, influence tactics, and managerial skills to achieve objectives, and how to influence their peers in support of organizational objectives to achieve the mission accomplishment.
£28.45
Texas Tech Press,U.S. Capturing Skunk Alpha: A Barrio Sailor's Journey
Book SynopsisOn the evening of July 11, 1967, a Navy surveillance aircraft spotted a suspicious trawler in international waters heading toward the Quang Ngai coast of South Vietnam. While the ship tried to appear innocuous on its deck, Saigon quickly identified it as an enemy gunrunner, codenamed Skunk Alpha. A four-seaborne intercept task force was established and formed a barrier inside South Vietnam’s twelve-mile territorial boundary. As the enemy ship ignored all orders to surrender and neared the Sa Ky River at the tip of the Batangan Peninsula, Swift Boat PCF-79 was ordered to take the trawler under fire. What followed was ship-to-ship combat action not seen since World War II. Capturing Skunk Alpha relates that breathtaking military encounter to readers for the first time. But Capturing Skunk Alpha is also the tale of one sailor’s journey to the deck of PCF-79. Two years earlier, Raúl Herrera was growing up on the west side of San Antonio, Texas, when he answered the call to duty and joined the US Navy. Raúl was assigned to PCF Crew Training and joined a ragtag six-man Swift Boat crew with a mission to prevent the infiltration of resupply ships from North Vietnam. The brave sailors who steered into harm’s way in war-torn Vietnam would keep more than ninety tons of ammunition and supplies from the Viet Cong and NVA forces. The Viet Cong would post a bounty on PCF-79; Premier Nguyễn Cao Kỳ and Chief of State Nguyễn Văn Thiệu would congratulate and decorate them for their heroism. Capturing Skunk Alpha provides an eyewitness account of a pivotal moment in Navy operations while also chronicling one sailor’s unlikely journey from barrio adolescence to perilous combat action on the high seas. Trade ReviewThis is a true story of what Swift Boats and their gallant crews accomplished during that underappreciated war in South Vietnam. Capturing Skunk Alpha will secure our honorable place in US military history." —Captain Edward J. Bergin (USNR, Ret.)"Capturing Skunk Alpha is quite significant in that it tells of the courage, enthusiasm, and professionalism of those fortunate enough to be known as SWIFT Boat sailors, and the very important role they played in successful operations by the Navy’s Brown Water forces during the Vietnam War." —William L. Schachte Jr. (Rear Admiral, JAGC, USN Ret.)
£22.46
Huia Publishers Close to the Wind: A Story of Escape and Survival
Book SynopsisIn May 1940, a group of Auckland yachtsmen who were members of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve left for the war. Leonard Hill, a young Maori sailor, and his friends arrived in Singapore under siege. Playing to their strengths as small boat sailors, they manned fast motor launches, raiding and rescuing Allies from behind enemy lines. On the night of 13 February 1942, the eve of the fall of Singapore, they took two Fairmiles, ML310 and ML311, to evacuate members of the Allied High Command and survivors of sinking vessels. Hunted down by the Japanese, most of the almost one hundred men perished. Some became POWs, and of those who attempted to escape, only three succeeded: Leonard Hill, Herbert 'Johnny' Bull and Andrew Brough. This is the story of how they evaded the Japanese and survived.Table of ContentsA Place Desired by Many 1, Somewhere Else 13, Heat 35, Blows against Empire 77, Rising Storm 107, We Will Give You Swords 125, Bangka 155, Marooned 175, Hope 195, Desperate Voyage 209, Java 233, Tjilatjap 257, Verspijk 273, Return to Eden 287, Epilogue 297, Afterword 305, Appendix 1: Crew and Passengers - ML310 309, Appendix 2: Photographs, Acknowledgements 319, Index 325
£24.26
Boydell & Brewer Ltd A Social History of British Naval Officers,
Book SynopsisWho were the men who officered the Royal Navy in Nelson's day? This book explores the world of British naval officers at the height of the Royal Navy's power in the age of sail. It describes the full spectrum of officers, from commissioned officers to the unheralded but essential members of every ship's company, the warrant officers. The book focusses on naval officers' social status and its implications for their careers. The demands of life at sea conflicted with the expectations of genteel behaviour and backgroundin eighteenth-century Britain, and the ways officers grappled with this challenge forms a key theme. Drawing on a large database of more than a thousand officers, the book argues that, contrary to the prevailing view, officers were mostly from the middling sort, not the landed elite. It shows how the navy attracted hordes of hopeful commissioned officers, how unemployment was common for the majority even in wartime, and how only a select group managed to gain promotion to post-captain. The book corrects our understanding of the men who lived and served in the wardrooms of the Royal Navy and refocusses our attention away from those who won fame and fortune and onto ordinary naval officers. EVAN WILSON is Associate Director of International Security Studies and Lecturer in History at Yale University.Trade ReviewA valuable contribution to existing scholarship which deserves its place on the shelves of academics and amateurs. * THE NELSON DESPATCH *[Wilson] has presented a strong case for adjusting our idea of the background, the career path, prospects and social standing ofwarrant and commissioned officers between 1775 and 1815. This book will appeal to people studying the Royal Navy of the long eighteenth century, the development of naval officers, and the ideas of 'nobility' and 'gentleman'. * NORTHERN MARINER/LE MARIN DU NORD *Highly recommended, both as an excellent guide to the late eighteenth century naval officer corps, and as a model for conducting naval history in combination with social and cultural perspectives. * INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MARITIME HISTORY *A valuable contribution to maritime scholarship. -- JULIAN STOCKWINTable of ContentsIntroduction The Education of Young Gentlemen Commissioned Officers' Careers Warrant Officers' Careers The Wardroom as a Social Space Patronage and Promotion Prospects Pay and Prize Money Domestic and International Comparisons Naval Officers' Social Status Conclusion Appendix Bibliography
£80.75
Greenhill Books Naval War in the Mediterranean, 1940–1943
Book SynopsisThis superbly researched book gives a complete account of the war in the Mediterranean on, above and beneath the sea up until Italy's armistice in September 1943. Written with full access to Italian sources, it not only provides a detailed and fascinating narrative of the entire naval war, but also sets the individual actions fully in their strategic context for both the Axis and the Allies. Topics include: The complex and distrustful relationship between the Italians and their German allies which culminated in open conflict after the Italian armistice in 1943 The battle for Malta, and that island's vital strategic role threatening Axis supply lines to North Africa The exploits of the Italian human torpedoes of the X MAS flotilla, which threatened to change the balance of power in the Mediterranean This book is essential reading for all those interested in one of the major naval theatres of the Second World War.
£22.86
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Frigates, Sloops & Brigs
Book SynopsisAdmiral Nelson's most frequent cry was for more frigates. Though not ships of the line these fast and powerful warships were the 'eyes of the fleet'. They enabled admirals to find where the enemy lay and his likely intentions, as well as patrolling vital trade routes and providing information from far-flung colonies. Together with their smaller cousins, the sloops and brigs of the Royal Navy, they performed a vital function.rnrnGenerally commanded by ambitious young men, these were the ships that could capture enemy prizes and earn their officers and men enough prize-money to set them up for life. The fictional characters Horatio Hornblower and Jack Aubrey hardly surpassed some of the extraordinary deeds of derring-do and tragedy described in these pages. rnOriginally published in two volumes, this book is a bargain for all who want the factual low-down on the Brylcreem Boys of Nelson's navy.
£16.19
Global Books China’s Naval Operations in the South China Sea:
Book SynopsisThis book provides a history of the South China Sea conflict and lays out the stakes for each of the bordering states and China’s interaction with them – namely, Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Indonesia; it also examines the U.S. government’s role in the region. China’s Naval Operations in the South China Sea is highly topical; it examines the evolving perception of the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) of the South China Sea (SCS), and Beijing’s accompanying maritime strategy to claim the islands and waters, particularly in the context of the strategies of the neighbouring stake-holding nations. In addition to long-standing territorial disputes over the islands and waters of the SCS, China and the other littoral states — Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Indonesia — have growing and often mutually exclusive interests in the offshore energy reserves and fishing grounds. Many other countries outside of the region worry about the protection of sea lines of communication for military and commercial traffic, oil tankers in particular. These differences have been expressed in the increasing frequency and intensity of maritime incidents, involving both naval and civilian vessels, sometimes working in coordination against naval or civilian targets. Each chapter on the littoral states closely examines that state’s territorial claims to the islands and waters of the SCS, its primary economic and military interests in these areas, its views on the sovereignty disputes over the entire SCS, its strategy to achieve its objectives, and its views on the U.S. involvement in any and all of these issues.Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgements List of Maps and Graph List of Acronyms Introduction: Evaluating China’s Maritime Strategy in the South China Sea 1. The Early History of the South China Sea Disputes 2. China’s Maritime Territorial Disputes with Vietnam 3. China’s Spratly-KIG Maritime Dispute with the Philippines 4. China’s Continental Shelf Dispute with Malaysia 5. China’s Energy Resources Dispute with Brunei 6. China’s Natuna Island Fishing Dispute with Indonesia 7. China’s Sovereignty Disputes with Taiwan 8. The United States as the South China Sea Maritime Arbiter Conclusions: China’s Contemporary and Future Maritime Strategy in the SCS Appendix A: Timeline SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: Document 1: Sino-French Tonkin Treaty, 26 June 1887 Document 2: Cairo Declaration, 1 December 1943 Document 3: Potsdam Proclamation, 26 July 1945 Document 4: Treaty of Peace with Japan, 8 September 1951 Document 5: Treaty of Peace between the Republic of China and Japan, 28 April 1952 Document 6: U.S.-ROC Mutual Defense Treaty, 2 December 1954 (ratified 1955) Document 7: Formosa Resolution, 1955 Document 8: Declaration on China’s Territorial Sea, 4 September 1958 Document 9: Prime Minister Pham Van Dong’s Letter, 14 September 1958 Document 10: Shanghai Communiqué, 28 February 1972 Document 11: Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the People’s Republic of China and the United States of America, 16 December 1978 Document 12: Taiwan Relations Act, 10 April 1979 Document 13: Joint Communiqué on the Question of Arms Sales to Taiwan, 17 August 1982 24 Document 14: Law on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone, 25 February 1992 Document 15: 1992 ASEAN Declaration on the South China Sea, 22 July 1992 Document 16: United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, PART V, Exclusive Economic Zone, in force since 14 November 1994 Document 17: A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress regarding missile tests and military exercises by the People’s Republic of China, 21 March 1996 Document 18: Law on the Exclusive Economic Zone and the Continental Shelf of the PRC, 26 June 1998 Document 19: 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, 4 November 2002 27 Document 20: Anti-Secession Law adopted by NPC, 14 March 2005 Document 21: Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, 29 June 2010 Document 22: In the Matter of the South China Sea Arbitration, 12 July 2016 Selected Bibliography Index
£91.20
Casemate Publishers Bismarck: The Final Days of Germany’s Greatest
Book SynopsisThe sinking of the German battleship Bismarck—a masterpiece of engineering, well-armored with a main artillery of eight 15-inch guns—was one of the most dramatic events of World War II. She left the port of Gotenhafen for her first operation on the night of 18 May 1941, yet was almost immediately discovered by Norwegian resistance and Allied air reconnaissance. British battlecruiser Hood was quickly dispatched from Scapa Flow to intercept the Bismarck, together with new battleship Prince of Wales. They were ordered to find the ship quickly because, on their way from the USA, several large convoys were heading for Britain.On 24 May, Bismarck was found off the coast of Greenland, but the ensuing battle was disastrous for the British. The Hood was totally destroyed within minutes (only 3 crewmen surviving), and Prince of Wales was badly damaged. The chase resumed until the German behemoth was finally caught, this time by four British capital ships supported by torpedo-bombers from the carrier Ark Royal. The icy North Atlantic roiled from the crash of shellfire and bursting explosions until finally the Bismarck collapsed, sending nearly 2,000 German sailors to a watery grave.Zetterling and Tamelander’s work rests on stories from survivors and the latest historical discoveries. The book starts with a thorough account of maritime developments from 1871 up to the era of the giant battleship, and ends with a vivid account, hour by hour, of the dramatic and fateful hunt for the mighty Bismarck, Nazi-Germany’s last hope to pose a powerful surface threat to Allied convoys.Trade Review…unable to put it down…I highly recommend this book for anyone that likes the study of naval battles or just wants to read about an action-packed sea battle. * IPMS *... a very interesting and useful history …once you start… you will be very hard pressed to stop until the smoke has cleared and the ship is sunk. * INTERNET MODELER *outstanding book about naval warfare…real time, you are there style that conveys all of the anxiety of actual combat at sea. * WWII HISTORY MAGAZINE *essential background and new historical insights make otherwise inexplicable elements of the Bismarck story much clearer, without diminishing the drama of the epic sea chase and its vivid, human details. * WORLD WAR II MAGAZINE *A fresh look at the life and death of the most famous German warship of World War II. * NYMAS *Beautifully written, exhaustively researched and a mine of thought provoking insight...this is not just the best military history book I’ve read for a many a year but the best book full-stop. Essential. Buy it. * ModelArmour November *…a thorough treatment, including material from interviews with survivors of their sinkings and the impact they had on the naval war in the Atlantic. * SEAPOWER *A fresh look at the life and death of the most famous German warship of World War II…a very good read… * STRATEGY PAGE *…a thorough treatment, including material from interviews with survivors of their sinkings and the impact they had on the naval war in the Atlantic. * Seapower *
£999.99
