"One of the finest naval stories to come out of World War II." The Springfield News-Leader
“Compelling true to life narrative of war at sea... This is a deck-plate view of submariners at the height of war in the Pacific during WWII. As a Navy Sailor, I found myself drawn into the book simply because of it's no frills language and realistic portrayal of heroes that don't know they are heroes, in action. I recommend this for anyone looking for an inside view of Navy life in general and submarine Sailors in particular. Bravo Zulu Chief Sterling for a great story!" Joseph Kane / Florida
"Wake of the Wahoo' tells the story of men who go down to the sea 'in ships that have their load-lines over their hatches.' From the uninhibited point of view of an enlisted man Chief Yeoman Forest J. Sterling, who made five war patrols in the Wahoo, with keen observation and vivid coloring has written the story of a fabulous ship, of her skipper––who like Gunga Din, 'didn't seem to know the use o' fear'––and of life in a World War II submarine." Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood, Jr., USN (Ret.) author of Sink 'Em All.
"It is one of the most interesting accounts of the history of a ship I have read. It sure brought back memories." Richard P. Mueller / USS Eversole (DE-404).
"I've read so many accounts of the Leyte Gulf battle and most of them deal with only Taffy 3 CVE's. It was refreshing to read an account of that part of your book from a different view point. Thank you for writing your book it is a nice addition to my collection of CVE books." Jim Dresser
"As a member of Composite Squadron VC-93 your book [Escort Carrier WWII] provided me a fascinating snap-shot of my life and tour on the 'Mighty Petrof Bay.' Your book provides a very accurate account of VC-93 missions and accomplishments. I commend you on the undertaking to compile the history of the Petrof Bay and its a fitting memorial to your Father and all of the men who served aboard her." Donald E. Clancy / VC-93 / Attorney At Law.
"I read your book from cover to cover and found it well-written, technically correct, and a missing page of history from our submarine war in the Pacific. It will augment any military history library. I found it fascinating, will prize it highly and will read it many times in the years I have left to me." Captain Marvin Blair USN (Ret.)
"This is an interesting account of a dedicated young American's life and experiences in submarines during the second half of World War II, and his readjustment and adoption to create a successful life after the war. The accurate and gripping battle sequences take the reader through the hell above and both the safety and danger of the deep water below." Admiral Walter L. Small, USN (Ret.) Former Commander Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet
"A suspenseful tale of terror, courage, heroism... I couldn't put it down." Tom Brokaw
"Mr. Maas proves once again there is little he cannot achieve with the written word." New York Times Review
"Each time I pick up Maas, I feel that I have been given a backstage pass to an American moment." Los Angeles Times Book Review
"Peter Maas offers insights only the best reporters can unearth." Boston Globe
"Doctor Hill has done a great job relating the tale of a group of true American hero's. He brings the right amount of submarine history and the history of many of the members of this fantastic story. Without this book the story would have been lost." James A, Cook "Jim Cook", Agawam, Massachusetts.
"I've read tons of submarine story's and prefer the true ones over the fiction so this one already had a plus. The men of the S-5 should have counted their blessing everyday to have gotten out with their lives. Imagine trying to drill through the hull of a sub with a hand drill? not to mention all the other trouble they were faced with, WOW. Very good story that'll keep your attention from front to back, and great photos to go along with it." M. Gentry "subslug," Fort Worth, Texas.
"Mr. Johnson has probably spent more time then anyone on the planet analyzing a wider range of data than has ever been available to one person regarding the death of the Scorpion. His summary of these facts, the history of the various analyses, and most of all the human factors leading up to the disaster are informative and instructive to the general public and interesting to ex-submariners such as me. But as the new "ultimate expert" Johnson never tips his hat toward one scenario or another. We may never know the for sure what happened, but I'd like to know what Johnson feels in his gut." R.P. "Bob" Musselman, Hartford, CT.
"Sent ahead of the air assault on Pearl Harbor, a Japanese mini sub was destroyed, nearly destroying Japan's deadly surprise. If we had only known even a bit of what John Craddock tells us noe, our own history could have been so very different." Sherry Sontag, co-author of "Blind Man's Bluff."
"I came across this book shortly after I saw Pearl Harbor for the first time. It was fascinating to be able to visualize the location and think about how things might have been different. Particularly, just after the visit, the book helped me to realize the true magnitude of the tragedy of that day. . . I recommend it to anyone with an interest in WWII, or just history itself and the way seemingly random events can have such impact on how it is formed." Blythe F. Toussaint
"This book was very informative. It was accurate. I knew of the incident, but not the particulars, and this book went into detail. My overall opinion is this book would have been cheap at 10 times the price. It should be required reading in history classes." Floyd L. Pierce
"A plausible interpretation of events, with the interesting backdrop of Cold War history. Could someday be the basis for a good submarine fiction movie production." C. Koller
"A marvelous tale, filled with moments of horrified expectancy, of impossible deeds and endurances, of achievements that smack of magic." The New York Times
"For sheer vividness this battle with the treacherous waters has no equal in recent fiction or nonfiction." William McFee in the New York Herald Tribune
"A fantastic reprint of one of the all time classics of the sea. The introduction by Captain Ned Beach is a wonderful tribute to Admiral Edward Ellsberg. It's a must for any naval history buff!"
"'The Rescue' is a must read. The author presents a very detailed look at many aspects of life in the Philippines during the Japanese occupation. From sugar cane farmers, allied prisoners, the resistance, Americans hiding in the jungle, life aboard a U.S. submarine just to name a few & ties it all together at the end of the book. It reads like a novel but is all fact. The research is incredible. I have read dozens & dozens of WW2 books, this ranks near the top! Don't miss this one! Albert J,. Dempster / World War II Submarine Veteran.
American Cruisers of World War II
"This book contained what I was looking for. My Dad served on the USS Phoenix CL-46. I found books that never gave Dads ship any credit for her war record, although this book doesn't list all the details, it sure did give Phoenix (and all other cruisers) credit well deserved. Excellent book!" Robert W. Thieman
"It is unusually difficult to find good books on this subject. It has a brief history of each ship, and some excellent photos. I highly recommend it." James G. Beasley
"If you
find it somewhere, grab it! This is a great book. It covers 74 U.S. Cruisers
that saw action in WW2, that earned at least one battle star. It covers
Heavy Cruisers, Light Cruisers, and the Alaska-class Battle-cruisers. It also
briefly covers the Princeton-class Light Carriers that were built on
Cleveland-class cruiser hulls. The book covers the ship by class, with a
short introduction. A summary of each ship's WW2 history then follows.
There's at least one photo of every cruiser."
"The Death of the
U.S.S. Thresher is one worthy "new" book
about submarines. It was [originally] written in 1964. This new edition has
been updated by its author, Norman Polmar, to incorporate information that
has been declassified since the book was first published."
San Diego Tribune
"Intense, Captivating an Emotional
masterpiece!
I could not put this book down. You can't help but feel like it's happening
now. Once you read it you won't forget it. A great tribute to the 129 men
lost at sea. It will fill you with pride and patriotism. THANK YOU NORMAN
POLMAR!
Brian Francis Davidson
"Rollicking" is
probably the term Hollywood would use, and probably such a movie from the
latter part of this book would be a hit. There is little question of the
drama of Archerfish wartime patrols and her singular distinction in
stalking and sinking the world's largest enemy ship on it's maiden voyage.
Like many other accounts of submarine warfare, "GALLANT LADY" vividly
describes the stuffy quarters, grimy tension, and grim excitement of WWII
submarine life. Where the book becomes unusual is in the story of
Archerfish's third commission as auxiliary to a modernized fleet in
which she has become an anachronism. Not intimidated by her diminishing
status, she forges her own direction for the next ten years, embracing with
gusto a series of routine jobs and a unique assignment that no other ship
can be spared for. In the process her maverick (and envied) crew lives an
experience of exploration, adventure, and hi-jinks worthy of the sea sagas
of earlier centuries. No other commissioned ship of the Navy has enjoyed
such a voyage, and no others are likely to. This is a fascinating tale of
camaraderie and initiative in service to our country that belongs in every
seafarer's locker. Frank S. Virden, Captain, USN
(Ret.)
"Gallant Lady traces the history of a remarkable "boat" from its
WWII pinnacle with the sinking of Japanese super-carrier Shinano to
the final Cold War mission.
This latter segment of the story is told from the 'rag hat' perspective and
gives insights that are informative, entertaining and funny as hell."
M.D. Giambattista
“Congratulations on your success as one of Americas premiere novelists in submarine literature. There is much within your style that separates you from other authors, I do enjoy reading your material… Thanks for your work!" Jeff La Croix / Torpedoman / USS Snook (SSN-592).
"You made it a lively account of her [Snook's] life and it is a well-told story. I had a hard time putting it down each evening. Thank you again for giving us another wonderful book." Larry R. Cote'
"He [Martin Sheridan] has written a most interesting account, true to life, and has very quickly absorbed the 'esprit de corps' and the fine tradition of the submarine just as he has accurately divined the quiet, intent, purposeful spirit that dwells within her people. The submarine was a deadly engine of war to her crew; every day on patrol the war at their doorstep—and the game wasn't being played for marbles. Such is the spirit Sheridan paints with words into his picture of submarine men. His work is thorough and so well done as to interest even veteran submarine sailors. We wonder how he found out so much so quickly. That secret, no doubt, lies in his powers of observation and in his ready understanding of men. I wish 'Overdue Presumed Lost' great success and I hope its author will often take up his pen to give the American public glimpses into the lives of the splendid men and ships which I have had the honor to command. Submarines will find a berth for him any time." Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood, USN (Ret.) Author of Sink 'Em All.
"I thoroughly enjoyed your 'Masterful' history of the WWII submarine Grayback. It was brilliantly researched and highly readable." Nick Christodoulou / USS Scabbardfish / World War II Submarine Veteran.
"I just finished reading your book, Submarine Grayback. Thank you for writing it. I have read many accounts of the submarine war in the Pacific but yours brought into clear view the amazing story that each submarine must have had. In the case of Grayback, it was a tragic story, but also simply remarkable. I found, incidentally, by doing a web search on Grayback which took me to Amazon.com. I was looking for something new about the boat, and I hit pay dirt!" Bob Littlejohn
"You did an outstanding job, I couldn't have done any better myself. My deepest appreciation for this book, or the story would never have been told... Job well done!" Merlin 'Bourgy' Bourguignon / USS Grayback (SS-208) survivor.
"Cruisers for Breakfast is a book about two fleet submarines in World War II... The saga of the USS Darter, lead ship in it's class, and USS Dace, is an epic tale of the sea and the courage of sailors in war. Cruisers for Breakfast details how the Darter and Dace were working as a 'Wolfpack' seeking-and-destroy team in search of enemy shipping. Researched and written during a five-year period by Tacoma (WA.) author John G. Mansfield, Jr., the 302-page book is based on personal interviews with nearly every surviving wartime crewmember from the two submarines. The resulting story is historically accurate, humanly compelling and loaded with suspense and action-filled excitement. Historians and combat readers alike will find a treasure trove of new and factual materials in this excellent volume." Bob Rosenburgh - Veterans Magazine
"I am just one of many who experienced life on a submarine during World War II. "Silent Running" is a story sincerely told—and I commend Vice Admiral Calvert for sharing this dramatic personal account of that difficult and exciting time." President George Bush
"Hardened old sub vet that I am, I still felt the need for two weeks R&R after reliving Jim's only too realistic war patrolling adventures." Rear Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Jr., USN (Ret.).
"I knew Jim Calvert throughout the war, and in this book he has told the submarine story in a way that catches the flavor and tang of the real thing. This is the way it really was." Rear Admiral Frederick B. Warder, USN, (Ret.).
"As a veteran of five submarine war patrols, including the Hellcats venture into the Sea of Japan, I found "Wolf Pack" to be very well done and as accurate as can be hoped for, considering the passage of time. The author did an excellent job of putting the whole story of the development and prosecution of wolf pack tactics into context. Combat submarines typically spent two months at sea followed by one month for refit, R&R and training. While at sea we maintained radio silence and, while surfaced, copied radio traffic on the sub frequencies, resulting in a fragmented picture of what was happening. Steven Smith has done a fine job of recreating a picture of what was taking place, helping me to finally understand things that I was part of. His rendition of the Hellcats Sea of Japan venture was excellent. It could have been improved only by writing it twenty years earlier when most of the participants were still alive to add their views and stories to the record. My plaudits to Smith for an excellent piece of work." John F. Hinchey
"This book gives 2 or 3 page brief accounts of the launching, service history, and demise of every U.S. submarine lost in WW2, including the old S-boats left over from the 'between wars' years that saw action in the early days of WW2. The author has done a thorough job of corroborating theories of how certain submarines "died" by comparing official US Navy documents with IJN reports. While the writing doesn't compare with the "you are there" styles of "Thunder Below", "Clear The Bridge!", and "Wahoo" by other authors, this book does do a good job of reporting the too-brief combat careers of U.S. submarines. Pictures accompany the text for each submarine and are in black and white. The chapters are short and easy to read, and you won't need to possess any particular knowledge of how submarines operate to understand how the boats were destroyed. Submarine fans will want a copy. Naval historians will want a copy. Anyone who's played a submarine game and enjoyed it will want a copy. But if you're looking for action, you might try "Run Silent, Run Deep" or any of the numerous sub commander memoirs that have been published (including the ones mentioned in this review). Troy Whigham
"Jim Christley has written a short (48 pg) but masterful history of the
submarines of WWII. Not intended as a comprehensive operational history, but
rather a thumbnail sketch of the development and anatomy of these warships.
After a chapter on the design and development leading up to the Gato-class,
the equipment section starts off with a review of weapons. Sections on
torpedoes and gun outfitting offer succinct summaries of the offensive and
defensive systems of the era. I found the section on guns to be particularly
informative, stepping through the different deck gun models and the range &
weight of the projectiles fired by each. The various periscope, sonar, and
radar installations are covered next. Again, these are brief but
well-written descriptions of each installation and the improvements made
over the war. The next section introduces the Balao-class boat as an
illustrative example of the fleet submarine. This leads off with a
description of paint schemes or measures, and covers Ms 9, 10, and the two
variants of Ms 32. Next, the individual compartments and their functions in
the boat are explored, followed by a discussion of submarine tactics. This
includes informative diagrams of the approach and attack phase. The book
ends with a brief operational history summary of submarines during World War
II. In the limited space, Christley manages to condense as good deal of the
high points of the submarine campaign against Japan.
The book is illustrated with both black & white photos and color plates.
Christley spent time selecting the photos at the Submarine Force Museum &
Library in Groton, CT. The results are pictures that are largely unfamiliar
and fresh, which complement the text. Christley wisely has included a photo
of a key piece of submarine equipment-the coffee urn. The center section of
the book has color plates by Tony Bryan. These include a nice scale
comparison of an S-class boat, the large V-boat Argonaut, and a P
class (Perch) boat. Another plate illustrates different paint
measures, and a two-page plate that has a cut-through diagram of a Balao-class
boat. Other color plates cover examples of Gato & Balao
conning tower fairwater modifications and variants. There are also beautiful
color illustrations of Tang attacking on the surface and Sterlet
at periscope depth. Overall, this slim volume packs an amazing amount of
submarine information. Anyone contemplating building a fleet submarine model
will not only learn more about the "hardware" from this book, but also will
develop an appreciation of the fleet boat in naval history. This little book
is a real gem, and you will want it in your collection, right alongside
Alden's book on fleet submarines (The Fleet Submarine in the US Navy- John
D. Alden). Thomas J. Dougherty
"Mike Ostlund's "Find 'Em, Chase 'Em, Sink 'Em: The Mysterious Loss of the WWII Submarine USS Gudgeon" could also have been reviewed in our 'true adventure' section, but earns a spot here for being the first to recount the loss of the sub in a treacherous patrol area during the war. The author's uncle was aboard that ship, providing the impetus for a research project which involved patrol reports in both U.S. and Japanese naval archives, interviews with veterans of the ship before its last journey, and interviews with relatives." Diane C. Donovan
"This book reads like a novel, full of adventure and stories of individual young men who served on, and in some cases were lost on, this WWII submarine, yet it has all the military details that an avid submariner could possibly want. A hefty book, so it's worth the cost of hardback, and leaves haunting images and memories of what war-time service was like for men who were basically still children on a war-duty submarine. Unlike some submarine books, this one is interesting to not just the military literature audience, but to anyone who might pick it up. Perhaps it is the author's personal link to his "Uncle Bill", who was lost aboard the sub during it's last mission, but it is a story that pulls at every human emotion it is possible to feel—pride, grief, wonder, awe, terror, and joy, plus there are some tremendously funny reminiscences from men who served aboard the sub but were lucky enough to transfer off before the sub disappeared on it's last patrol. The author was also able to develop a well-researched and extremely viable theory of what actually happened on that last patrol and where the heroic sub and its crew may lie on the ocean floor, including the actual Japanese plane that sunk it. Great Read! Highly recommend!" SubBear
"The midget subs launched into the attack at Pearl Harbor is an interesting small part of the whole Pearl Harbor story. The story of the 'Ward' firing on the sub is well know. We know that the 'Ward' then reported the incident and that it was ignored, beginning a long sequence of What If's. This book tells the story of the midget subs at Pearl. It also goes into the story of midget subs in general from the Italian frogmen, the British designs, and more. Other incidents in the war that touch on the subject are covered as well, such as Yamamoto and his meeting with the P-38's. Two points particularly stand out. His analysis of the Japanese view of the war. The abject denial that seems to be underway in Japan as if they were going along one day and then the atomic bombs began to fall. Second is his story of the sub the 'Ward' fired on. He didn't finish the story until the Epilogue at the end of the book, so I'm not going to say what happened. After all, if I had to wait and wait and wait until reading to the end of the book you should too. All I can say is that it's a good thing that the book was so interesting as to make it worth the wait." John Matlock
"I know for a fact that Julia Craddock was the inspiration of this book. This book provides you with factual information and it keeps you on the edge of your seat. I would most definitely recommend this book because it is AMAZING!!" Ingrid Garvey
"I came across this book shortly after I saw Pearl Harbor for the first time. It was fascinating to be able to visualize the location and think about how things might have been different. Particularly, just after the visit, the book helped me to realize the true magnitude of the tragedy of that day. . . I recommend it to anyone with an interest in WWII, or just history itself and the way seemingly random events can have such impact on how it is formed." Blythe F. Toussaint
"Sent ahead of the air assault on Pearl Harbor, a Japanese mini sub was destroyed, nearly destroying Japan's deadly surprise. If we had only known even a bit of what John Craddock tells us noe, our own history could have been so very different." Sherry Sontag, co-author of "Blind Man's Bluff."
"Dave Bouslog's fine book [Maru Killer] recognizes the Seahorse for the great boat she was, and renders honor to her greatest skipper, Slade Cutter." Captain Edward L. Beach, USN (Ret.) / Author of Run Silent, Run Deep.
"The book Maru Killer is a wonderful, historic work and is also a great book for even the novice, who does not understand the technical aspects of a submarine. The submarine, the USS Seahorse and its primary captain, Slade D. Cutter are synonymous with the US WWII submarine victory. Dave Bouslog has done a fantastic job of telling their story. This book is also an excellent reference book too. It had a special place in my US submarine library!" Dave Jones
"Dave Bouslog has produced a thrilling account of the war patrols of the USS Seahorse, without a doubt, one of the fightin'est American submarines of World War II." Captain Ralph Styles, USN (Ret.)
"This book is written by one of the few enlisted submarine authors from World War II. Ron ‘Warshot' Smith has 'been there and done that.' This is Ron Smith's World War II story. ...the story of Ron's life and of his shipmates in Seal, as well as their equally hazardous liberty parties ashore.... This book vividly describes what a 300-plus depth charge attack is like from the After Torpedo Room of a fleet boat in World War II. He was connected with all of the compartments through the sound-powered telephone system. ...reported to the Captain in the Control Room. When the last depth charge was dropped on Seal the count was 367. When the day was done Seal was in a shambles. The Captain ordered "Battle Surface" rather than take more punishment from the Japanese destroyers. He told the crew they would die fighting on the surface rather then die in the next attack by the destroyers. Ron's Battle Surface assignment was to man a 20mm gun on the after deck of the submarine—a suicide assignment against enemy destroyers. You must read Torpedoman to see how Seal (and Ron) survived." Captain Zeb Alford, USN (Ret.)
"James DeRose has done an excellent job surprisingly so, in view of his lack of true World War II submarine experience. He obviously contacted everyone he could find who served on one of the three boats he concentrated on, and he read, as well, everything he could find that was written about them... DeRose shines by his interpretation of events as the Japanese must have seen them... His reconstruction of how Wahoo came to her end may well be pretty close to correct... He does the same with Tang." Captain Edward L. Beach, USN (Ret.). Author of "Submarine!" and "Run Silent, Run Deep."
"I knew all of the book s main characters quite well... I am also completely familiar with submarine operations in the Pacific. With that background I couldn't fail to thoroughly enjoy DeRose's book. It is well written and has the right feel." Rear Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Jr., USN (Ret.)
"An interesting and authoritative book by a former German naval officer." Booklist
"Does not glorify the Germans but rather gives vivid descriptions of the battles fought." Library Journal
"A useful look at the human dimensions of the conflict." Timothy P. Mulligan, author of "Lone Wolf The Life and Death of U-Boat Ace Werner Henke."
"A thoroughly researched book... Sasgen has cut to the quick, and his narrative, though detailed, is not overbearing." Associated Press
"This book provides a wonderful portrayal of life onboard a WW II fleet submarine. The essential facts about a submarine's systems, equipment and operational environment are carried forth on top of the human experience of a submarine sailor. The author provides abundant technical detail without ever losing site of the human aspects of war. Through the use of abundant first person information from the veterans themselves this book comes alive and makes you feel as if you are part of the crew. For me this is WW II history at its best. While this book is a specific history of a single submarine it also provides a representative picture of life aboard a WW II submarine. Such unit and ship's histories are so much more readable than the battle monographs or big picture campaign histories that the publishers seem to prefer." Thomas E. Crew, Long Beach, MS.
"A very interesting piece of Great Lakes history. This is the story of how a small shipyard in Manitowoc Wisconsin came to produce 28 submarines from 1942-1945. It was written by an admiral who commanded two Manitowoc submarines. After a brief history of shipbuilding in Manitowoc the author describes how submarines which had a minimum draft of 12 feet could be transported through a channel 9 feet deep by carrying the submarines in a floating dry dock. There are details of construction, sea (lake) trials and the hazards of taking the dry-docked boat down narrow stretches of the Mississippi. There are a number of photos including the cover which shows the sideways launching of a sub. Included is a table of ships sunk in combat which totaled about 500,000 tons. The company has evolved into making cranes, refrigeration equipment as well as shipbuilding and dry dock operations. I was fascinated by this story. It will appeal to those with an interest in Great Lakes shipbuilding, industrial history, and the US Navy." Peter H. Cooke
"If Hollywood is looking for a new action-adventure subject, they need look no further than the war patrols of the USS Tang. Join Richard O'Kane aboard the Tang as he weaves a tale of suspense and action better than any work of fiction. Under his command, the Tang ranked fourth in the number of tons of Japanese shipping sunk. We get a rare "periscope liberty" look over the author's shoulder as he tracks his prey across the vast Pacific. Whether rescuing a record number of downed fliers or launching torpedoes from the very center of a confused and sinking Japanese convoy, his no-nonsense style and matter-of-fact delivery leave no doubt that this man was—in every respect—a true submarine commander. This book provides one of the truly great depictions of the kind of heroes who served in World War II, especially those in the "Silent Service." Rick Bernskoetter
Imperial Japanese Navy Aircraft Carriers 1921—45
"I feel I need to defend this book. It does not deserve the low review
ratings it has received. My interest is mainly in the Battle of Midway,
particularly the aircraft involved. In order to have a meaningful
understanding of the battle, I needed a better mental picture of the ships.
But I didn't need a full, in depth treatment. The Osprey book is just right.
It gives me a basic history of the fleet carriers, a good physical
description, with lots of photos and some very nice paintings, and a few
fundamental specifications. It isn't a lot of material, it's just enough. It
seemed obvious to me that I was not buying a exhaustive description of these
ships. What can you expect in 48 pages? I must say that I did in fact learn
quite a bit from this book. I found one clue to the USN's stunning victory at Midway, here. It seems
that the IJN's safety practices and training were typically very poor. The
USN was able to sink the IJN carriers with relatively few hits largely
because of the IJN carriers' tendency to blow themselves up with aviation
fuel vapor! The USN, on the other hand, had elaborate safety procedures that
were adhered to strictly. The IJN carriers were not designed with as much
attention to survivability as the USN carriers. That would explain why the
Yorktown took the better part of 3 days and repeated attacks to sink, while
the IJN ships went down quite fast. Mark Stille is very clear and easy to
read. Tony Bryan is a superb technical artist. If you need a fully developed
history and analysis of these ships, look elsewhere. If you want a concise,
clear idea of what these vessels were like and how they operated, then this
book is excellent." Fredric Pierce
"American Battleships" (2001) is a
well-researched and informative 110-page paperback. This text, destined to
become a classic for naval research, offers at least one black and white
photo and a list of vital statistics for every US battleship from the late
19th century prototypes (USS Maine and
USS Texas), to BB-71 USS Louisiana (cancelled in 1943). Actually,
author Max Newhart explains, BB-64 USS Wisconsin is the final US
battlewagon launched (seven additional ships where commissioned but later
canceled due to Cold War expenses and constraints). Newhart begins the book
with an informative chapter about the battleship's construction history. He
explains that these floating cities grew in size with the commission of each
new battleship class (crew compliments grew from 380 in 1889 to 1943's
2700!). He speaks to the US Navy's battleship presence in every ocean and
every major port. He describes each World War II Reserve Fleet's composition
(naming each battleship in those groups). Of particular interest are the
latest battleships' post-war service across the globe (BB-62 USS New
Jersey served in the 1983 Beirut Crisis, BB-63 USS Missouri and
BB-64 USS Wisconsin saw action in 1991's Desert Storm). The best
portion of this book is each battleship's statistical explanation. Newhart
lists each ship's facts and figures (launch date, displacement tons, crew
compliment, gun calibers, construction costs, etc.) from naval records. This
data is fascinating. The main guns on these war ships went from 4-10' 35
calibers in 1889 to the 1980s 8-MK 143 Tomahawks and ABL's 40 MK! (These
powerful ships make one re-appreciate "shock and awe".) Is it any wonder
that history's mightiest navy has sailed under the Stars and Stripes?
The original photos show these big ships in harbor, at war, and after
battle. They alone are worth the cost of this book. Newhart's writing style
is easy and instructive. He will teach you about American battleships. This
is a remarkable book and recommended to everyone."
"This impressive and sizeable volume devotes as much text to the USN's first purpose built carrier as Norman Friedman devotes to the entire class in his excellent design history, "U.S. Aircraft Carriers." By his own admission, Mr. Cressman has written what is, in large measure, an operational history of Ranger, her crew and her air department at some expense to a definition of the genesis and design of the ship. Otherwise, there must be little in the career of this extraordinarily active vessel which escapes the author's account. In addition, the book is supplemented with over 250 pictures which depict every stage of Ranger's career with equal emphasis upon man, machine and event. The reader is provided with a virtual who's who and what's what of early USN aviation and the development of the US naval air arm in the 1930's. Cheerfully welcomed by planners, officers and pilots alike, Ranger was instrumental in defining and developing doctrine which provided a basis and broad outline for the operational employment of aircraft carriers and aircraft in the coming war. The reader will find a virtual travelogue of naval aviation and experimentation which is lively by comparison with drier recitations found in more conventional histories. Especially emphasized are the operations of the various airgroups and individual aircraft which flew from Ranger's deck. Ranger's wartime employment is not overlooked by any means. She was quite profitably employed in the Atlantic where she found herself opposed by Vichy and German forces alike. It is a great testimony to her crew and her air groups that so much was accomplished in North Africa and Norway against an often resourceful and enterprising foe. While scarcely on the scale of Pacific operations, Ranger nevertheless acquitted herself well and Cressman's narrative is both exciting and informative. Especially interesting are the numerous photographs found in this section showing air-to-air and air-to-surface action. Cressman's efforts in supplying his book with well-rounded and fresh photography is a particularly encouraging development challenging future historians to similar efforts at providing the reader with something more than the same stale stable of photography. As noted above, this is no design history but Mr. Cressman does reveal the very serious shortcomings of Ranger and why she was never transferred to combat in the Pacific. While many wonder why, and others speculate that she would have fared well against the Japanese, Cressman's account spares little concerning Ranger's weaknesses. In short, the hostile environment of the Pacific in 1942 would have presented a distinct and serious threat to Ranger. Among other points, Ranger was hampered by elevator characteristics, a weak flight deck, vulnerable gasoline storage, a lack of stability, poor sea handling qualities and weak construction. As Admiral Gerald Bogan pointed out in reference to planned modifications, Ranger would probably be lost to a single torpedo hit and would likely have broken in two following a torpedo hit amidships. This was, as Cressman writes, "...a fact of life..." for Ranger and known throughout the Navy. In this regard, it is amazing how superior the following USS Wasp was on virtually the same tonnage. By 1944 Ranger was relegated to duty as a training carrier but again she acquitted herself well. Eventually she would record over 92,000 landings, an impressive amount and testimony to the needs of the fleet she served so well. But with the arrival of massive wartime construction and post war cutbacks it was inevitable that the old warrior would head for the breakers. And there her career ended. Yet Robert Cressman has ably brought Ranger and her achievements back to life. As with all of Mr. Cressman's works this book is highly recommended for those who enjoy an authoritative and entertaining read. By all means purchase this book, you will not regret it."
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