Aircraft Carriers is the definitive history of world aircraft carrier development and operations. Norman Polmar’s revised and updated; two-volume classic describes the political and technological factors that influenced aircraft carrier design and construction; meticulously records their operations; and explains their impact on modern warfare. Volume I provides a comprehensive analysis of carrier developments and warfare in the first half of the twentieth century; and examines the advances that allowed the carrier to replace the battleship as the dominant naval weapons system. Polmar gives particular emphasis to carrier operations from World War I; through the Japanese strikes against China in the 1930s; to World War II in the Atlantic; Mediterranean; Arctic; and Pacific theaters. It begins with French inventor Clément Ader’s remarkably prescient 1909 description of an aircraft carrier. The book then explains how Britain led the world in the development of aircraft-carrying ships; soon to be followed by the United States and Japan. While ship-based aircraft operations in World War I had limited impact; they foreshadowed the aircraft carriers built in the 1920s and 1930s. The volume also describes the aircraft operating from those ships as well as the commanders who pioneered carrier aviation.Aircraft Carriers has benefited from the technical collaboration of senior carrier experts Captain Eric M. Brown and General Minoru Genda as well as noted historians Robert M. Langdon and Peter B. Mersky. Aircraft Carriers is heavily illustrated with more than 400 photographs―some never before published―and maps.Volume II; which is forthcoming from Potomac Books in the winter 2006-2007 (ISBN 978-1-57488-665-8); will cover the period 1946 to the present.
#297507 in Books Burd Street Pr 2001-09-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.40 x .98 x 6.40l; 1.25 #File Name: 1572492163260 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. THE HUNT FOR THE ALBEMARLE: ANATOMY OF A GUNBOAT WARBy Robert A. LynnTHE HUNT FOR THE ALBEMARLE: ANATOMY OF A GUNBOAT WARJOHN W. HINDSBURD STREET PRESS; 2001HARDCOVER; $29.95; 250 PAGES; ILLUSTRATIONS; NOTES; BIBLIOGRAPHY; INDEX; MAPS; PHOTOGRAPHS; DIAGRAMSAt the start of 1864; thanks to the great effort; labor; and the stubborness of the Confederacy's Secretary of the Navy Stephen R. Mallory and his staff; the tools for the new strategy he had masterminded in mid-1862 were at last ready. It may well be said that during most of 1864; the small Confederate States Navy reached its peak; both as an effective force and in its successes. While Mallory's strategy of effective blockade running and ironclad construction was moving ahead successfully; it was the threat of Union amphibious attacks that weighed heavily upon his mind.In early January; 1864; none other then General Robert E. Lee had proposed in a letter to Mallory a combined sea-land operation in which the main burden would fall upon ironclads. It was the area around the sounds of North Carolina that would see the last great Confederate naval victory.To prevent the Union forces from advancing into central North Carolina from its bases located at New Bern; Plymouth; and Washington; Brigadier General Robert F. Hoke assumed command of the Confederate forces near Plymouth. He immediately appealled to the CSS Albemarle's commander; Commander James W. Cooke and Assistant Naval Constructor William A. Graves to have the CSS Albemarle assist in his attack on Plymouth. Cooke wasted no time and on 17 April 1864 departed the shipyard and proceded to meet the Union fleet commanded by Lt. Commander Charles W. Flusser which was situated near Plymouth.In THE HUNT FOR THE ALBEMARLE: ANATOMY OF A GUNBOAT WAR; author John W. Hinds vividly describes the lives of both Commander James W. Cooke; commander of the CSS Albemarle and Commander C.W. Flusser; commander of the Union fleet and how they came to this point when both men would battle each other. Prior to the outbreak of The War Between The States; both men knew each other; Cooke rising to become the most senior lieutenant in the U.S. Navy before resigning and enlisting in the Confederate Navy and Lt. Commander Charles W. Flusser rising to command the Union fleet defending Plymouth on that fateful day of 19 April 1864. It was during this naval engagement that Flusser's flagship; the USS Miami; engaged the CSS Albemarle and be killed when one of the Miami's shells bounced off the CSS Albemarle armor and exploded on the deck of the Miami; killing Flusser.The Union fleet retreated down river and Plymouth surrendered on 20 April 1864. The CSS Albemarle would still remain a threat until it was finally taken out of commission by a special boomed tipped with a torpedo and fitted onto a steam launch. This launch and its detail of sailors was commanded by Lt. William B. Cushing.This book does an extraordinary job of explaining in detail the Union's early amphibious operations in eastern North Carolina and how they were shaped by both indecision and poor logistics. From there; the author skillfully shows how the CSS Albemarle was in the forefront of the Confederacy strategy to win back Plymouth; Washington; and New Bern; North Carolina. Highly recommended reading as well as first rate scholarship.Lt. Colonel Robert A. Lynn; Florida GuardOrlando; Florida2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Rich and Wonderful Book!By Tom HarrisonThis is a unique and fascinating book about the most successful Confederate ironclad of the Civil War. The book is rich with detail; much of which has never been seen before. Being a resident of Plymouth; NC where the events took place; my reader's copy of this book is filled with highlighted text that reveals facts that had not been brought to light; including never before published letters between Commander Cooke and his wife!Mr. Hinds provides a new perspective by focusing on the personalities of the opposing naval commanders as well as the events that forever changed people's lives. Have you ever read a non-fiction book and wondered what happened to the characters later in life? Well Mr. Hinds does a great job of telling the "rest of the story"; not only the major players; but also many of the minor characters.This is a timely written book since a replica of the CSS Albemarle was recently launched in Plymouth and there is renewed interest in the subject. I highly recommend the book!1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A GREAT READBy GSA great "story" based on obviously a thoroughly researched topic. I knew little about the subject at first; which is why it got my attention. My wife was also a little incredulous at first; but then we realised it was all factually based. I will be looking out for this author's next book.I also wonder if this book will turn up as a swashbuckling movie down the road. I plan on sending copies as presents to friends who love history based books. It makes one want to go to the Carolinas to check out the scene - perhaps we have our next vacation destination determined.
