A distinguished team of historians presents authoritative accounts of nineteen of the most important battles fought by American naval forces in this paperback volume of essays; compiled and introduced by the well-known naval historian Jack Sweetman. Written to both educate and entertain; each of the essays provides a scene-setting overview of the strategic situation at the time of the battle; a description of the action itself; and an examination of its significance. Biographical profiles of American commanders illustrate the critical influence of leadership in combat. Sweetman opens the book with an interpretive survey of American naval history from the American Revolution through the Gulf War and an analysis of the evolving strategic and doctrinal contexts in which the Navy’s operations have occurred. Many of the essayists; including James C. Bradford; John B. Hattendorf; Edward L. Beach; E. B. Potter; Barrett Tillman; Paul Stillwell; H.P. Willmott; and Thomas J. Cutler; are authors of other respected Naval Institute Press publications. A generous selection of maps and charts; detailed orders of battle; portraits; and combat art complement the authoritative text to create a work sure to prove of enduring value.
#1222272 in Books Humanity Books 2006-10-30 2006-10-30Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.34 x 1.01 x 5.37l; 1.26 #File Name: 1591023742405 pages
Review
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. A Disturbing Book; in Many WaysBy D. ChapmanWithout taking a definite position on Mahan or geopolitics;the book presents British naval power as a textbook exampleof how an island nation became first a regional naval powerand then rose to global pre-eminence. The parts about howthe first wave of global trade interacted with the IndustrialRevolution are especially interesting.It then goes on to describe how a mixture of politics; socialproblems; and economic neglect weakened the British Navy; ata time when newly industrialized countries like Germany;Japan; and America were becoming stronger.The end of the story is well known; as two Pyrrhic Victoriesagainst Germany shattered the British Empire in the 20th century.---As an American; I find the description of how Britain in the late1800s neglected its education system and engaged in trade policieswhich destroyed the physical economy to be much too close to home.This book can be read as a cautionary tale of what could happen tothe United States is we are not careful.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. ReviewBy martin a urbasGood review of British naval sea power both it's rise and fall. Easy to understand does not read like a textbook4 of 10 people found the following review helpful. MISLEADING; BIASED; YET INFORMATIVE.By SilverMalthusianThe title of this book; in my opinion; is misleading. I was expecting Specifications of British Naval Vessels; Research Development in Vessel Engineering; Naval Strategy; Naval Tactics; Seamen's skill sets equipment vis-a-vis their main opponents during periods of peace war etc during the rise fall of British Naval Mastery. Instead this book was about British Geopolitics Macro-economics the British Navy's role within that framework. As interesting as this topic is; I was disappointed because I wanted to read a different book. However; this book does a decent job in addressing what this book is really about; albeit it being biased towards Britain being some kind of Holy Nation. The Author doesn't even mention once the term "Opium War(s)" or "Concentration Camps" which the British invented during the Boer War. The Author comes across as if Britain was doing the whole World some kind of favour by expanding consolidating her interests. Very little was mentioned that Britain was emulating Portugal's Holland's lead; they were the real pioneers of Colonialism International Finance. Give me a break!I will now succinctly describe Britain's geopolitical strategy during their rise zenith: Assuming Britain was one of the top three nations in Western Europe; if the number one nation was in conflict with the number two nation; Britain would support the number two nation. If the number two nation was in conflict with the number three nation; Britain would support the number three nation. If the number one nation was in conflict with the number three nation; Britain would support the number three nation. If two out of the top three nations formed an alliance there was a conflict between them some other nation(s); Britain would support the weaker nations. While this was going on or not; Britain would expand consolidate her overseas Empire whilst always either developing the strongest Navy on the planet or maintaining the strongest Navy on the planet. Throw in some skewed diplomacy; an obsession with Naval Blockades voila; you have an enormous Empire while the rest of Western Europe was too busy asleep at the wheel to realise what was going on; even though they themselves were losing colonies all around the World to Britain. If you are wondering; how did they afford all this; the answer is that they had a very small Army; constructing vessels was not as expensive as in modern times; they invented Central Banking in 1694; the public accepted fiat currency once it was introduced no nation came even close to them in the magnitude of international trade once they got to the zenith. Pretty simple if you ask me you probably do not need to read the book anymore.On the positive side; this book is well written; broken up in chapters that are logical i.e. the different periods during the rise; zenith fall of the British Empire. Some interesting tables in regards to nation comparisons; vessels; macro-economic data etc during different periods. The improving then decline in Britain's macro-economy is also well described; discussing inflation; national debt; trade deficits/surpluses comparisons with other nations. For the Naval Strategists out there; the Author does sprinkle Mahan Mackinder throughout this book; however I found it superficial it left me wanting more. The Author also gets into the pivotal agreements over a short period of time which secured American hegemony; the passing of the baton; if you wish. Thank you Mr Kennedy for your contribution in this field; even though the title of your book was misleading you are biased.
