Navy Seals: A History (part III) Review

Navy Seals: A History (part III)
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This is the second volume of Kevin Dockery's collection of oral history of the Navy SEALs. His first volume, 'Navy SEALs: A History Of The Early Years' was released about a year ago. I believe a third and final volume about the Navy SEALs and their operations during the Persian Gulf conflict will be released next year.
In part two of this fascinating history of the Navy SEALs Kevin Dockery again presents a collection of oral accounts by former UDT and SEAL team members. Famous, former, frogmen like Richard Marcinko (Commander, USN (Ret.)) and Governor Jesse Ventura are just some of the SEALs that recount their operations during the South East Asian conflict.
My favorite feature about this second volume are the numerous rare black and white photographs depicting the UDT and SEAL team members in action.
If you have enjoyed Chief James Watson's 'Point Man' and all the other Richard Marcinko books, then you will definitely want to read 'Navy SEALs: A History Part II: The Vietnam Years.

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Navy Seals: A History of the Early Years Review

Navy Seals: A History of the Early Years
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Navy SEALs is an oral history book in the tradition of The Greatest Generation. 34 fascinating personal histories are contained, and are put into context by carefully researched essays to link together the action tales. The histories are well chosen to highlight key points in the history of U.S. underwater operations by individuals prior to 1975. Each history is impressively illustrated by extensive photographs that make you feel like you are on the scene.
The Navy SEALs, the direct action component of the Navy's special warfare community, were not established until 1962. The bulk of this book looks at the predecessor organizations in World War II and Korea which developed the expertise that ultimately led to the establishment of the SEALs. The book also briefly describes the launching of the SEALs and the role of the SEALs in Vietnam.
The original concept of individual in-the-water warfare dated back to World War II. In the 20th century, U.S. forces had had no amphibious landings prior to that time. Suddenly, a capability was needed to clear underwater obstructions to support such landings. Seebees were initially recruited as volunteers for their demoliton skills, and taught how to swim so that mines and other obstructions could be blown away. Later, Navy Scouts and Army Rangers developed skills to do reconnaissance on landing sites before the battles occurred. Poor surveillance and planning at Tarawa meant that more Marines drowned than were killed by the Japanese when the transports could not get over the reefs.
Underwater Demolition Teams were critical in landings to make room for the troop and tank transports. Although the valuable role of these brave men soon became known to the Navy, there were not enough of them. Hitler's Fortress Europe came with lots of obstructions that needed to be eliminated for any landings to succeed. For the critical landings on D-Day in Normandy, UDTs were supplemented by other personnel. Despite this increase, they were only able to complete their assignments in clearing 5 of 16 50-yard areas on Omaha beach (after taking a horrific 50 percent rate of casualties). Without the courage and skill of these heroes, D-Day might not have succeeded.
The book is equally interesting as an example of how to create an elite, high-performance unit within a large organization. People in government organizations and large businesses will be fascinated by the ways that individual initiative can be encouraged. I especially enjoyed the many stories about how those who couldn't stand the hum-drum life on board ship and ship's discipline joined the SEAL predecessors. The book also recounts how key equipment and methods were developed.
The current SEAL concept is vastly removed from its predecessors. The predecessors were usually expected to stay below the high water line, where the Marines were to take over. Today, SEALs (standing for SEa, Air, and Land) are expected to be able to parachute, fight guerrilla battles on land, and conduct extensive underwater operations. The same dedication to excellence and to country is maintained as a common heritage.
I would also have enjoyed this book if it had been edited differently to isolate the different aspects of what these men experienced. For example, all of the references to training could have been put together with material about these experiences. All of the references to reconnaissance could have been put together. That would have made the book more of a history, and less of an oral history, but it would probably have made for smoother reading. Perhaps Mr. Dockery will rework the material into that more familiar form at some point in the future, as well.
Clearly, you will be glad to read the stories in this book. It will make you proud of some of our fellow Americans in new ways. After you finish enjoying this book, I suggest that you find someone who served in the SEALs or one of its predecessors. Ask them about their experiences in how they decided to join, what training was like, and how they served. If they have not shared their stories with others, you should encourage them to get in contact with Mr. Dockery.
Clear the way for progress!


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Weapons of the Navy Seals Review

Weapons of the Navy Seals
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This book missed it release date many times. I had hoped it would be up to the standards of the authors previous book Weapons of the Navy Seals Volume 1 from a few years ago (there never was the promissed V2). However this book falls short of the mark. The information is dated and there are very few illustrations. The information presented on pre 1990 is pretty good, however the lack of photos and supporting data is a great detraction. I really hope the author does follow up with better supported title. Until then I reccomend Pushies book on Weapons of the Navy Seals.

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For the first time, one painstakingly researched volume unveils the weapons and ammunition that have served the SEALs in combat operations around the globe. Much more than a mere catalog of arms, this book traces each weapon from the development stage to its current form. Also included are exclusive accounts from the men who were among the first to see these weapons used in armed conflict. Written with the cooperation of the UDT/SEAL Museum Association in Florida, and packed with detailed information and photos--some never before in print--this book offers fresh insight into the technology that for decades has sustained the Navy SEALs as an unstoppable military force.

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Splashdown: NASA and the Navy Review

Splashdown: NASA and the Navy
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First, let me state that I was very disappointed to see a reader render such a terrible review for a terrific book. While I admit that the book is not what I would consider as an academic or scholarly researched reference, it is an impressive work by a individual who played a key role in communicating this history to the world during the Apollo era. I can't fathom giving a 1-star rating to such an excellent work.
Don Blair was aboard the recovery ships and witnessed first-hand the recovery process. He had numerous interactions with key personnel responsible for the recoveries and broadcast 5 splashdowns. His book is really a personal memoir of his experiences, with wonderful personal photos, documents that include ship menus, and numerous other interesting artifacts. There are numerous rare personal photos including Neil Armstrong inside the MQF playing a ukulele following their historic mission. In addition, it is the first time a photo has ever been published of the prime UDT recovery team of Apollo 11 (UDT-11 and UDT-12). He also showcases numerous personnel often overlooked in the more commercial books on the Apollo Program. I would almost liken his book to browsing through a personal scrap book of photos, news clippings, and other memorabilia.
Don's book fills a historical gap too often passed over in a variety of books chronicling the Mercury-Gemini-Apollo missions. I think it is an excellent book and consider it required reading for those conducting a serious study of the history of manned spaceflight. I believe that most historians will agree that Don's book has a permanent place on the Apollo bookshelf.


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This is the first-ever publication detailing the Navy's role in manned spacecraft recovery from 1961 to 1975, from Alan Shepherd's initial suborbital mission to the Apollo-Soyuz flight, which inaugurated the first space collaboration between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.Splashdown: NASA, the Navy, & Space Flight Recovery takes the reader through a detailed explanation of how recovery forces on land, sea, and in the air were deployed across the globe to be trained for any and all emergencies. This book gives concise histories of all prime recovery ships as well as back-up ships in manned and unmanned missions, with every ship's history followed by a retelling of the space missions themselves. The Navy's ships, men, and aircraft stepped in time and time again to play their vital role in the space program and returned to their regular assignments and deployments with little or no fanfare. Now their side of the story is told.--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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One Hundred Years of Sea Power: The U. S. Navy, 1890-1990 Review

One Hundred Years of Sea Power: The U. S. Navy, 1890-1990
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This book is a history of the U.S. Navy between 1890, when Alfred Thayer Mahan published "The Influence of Seapower Upon History," and 1990, when the Cold War ended. "The central thesis of this book, that the Navy, as any other agent of the government, is the instrument of national policy, its junior partner in every regard, and to dissociate itself from the broad national proposition is to disassociate itself from the source of its purpose and its strength" (p. 415).
The problem, as Baer explains, is that the political leadership--particularly in the first half of these hundred years--often failed to provide any guidance. The admirals of the USN muddled on as best they could, deducing policy from public statements of their civilian masters. War Plan Orange, a document that was constantly revised during the first half of the twentieth century, was the plan for going to war with Japan. Although it is easy to misinterpret the War Plan as a master blueprint for World War II, it was a USN document and developed without consulting the U.S. Army. It was not part of any national security strategy. That it ended up influencing the outcome of the Pacific Theater is a testament mainly to the analytical impact the document and related war games and other exercise had on the service.
Baer's account is broad. Most of his focus is on years of peace and the strategic application of sea power: roughly one-third focuses on events prior to World War II, another third to that conflict, and a final third to the Cold War years. He understands the nuance of strategy, foreign policy, and technological advances. The battleship dominated interwar planning not because of some linger sentimental attachment on the part of senior officers, but because it was the best and most accurate way of delivering firepower across big stretches of water. The aircraft carriers were still weapons systems in development at this time and the U.S. Navy turned to them in desperation only after December 7, 1941. In fact, the Imperial Japanese Navy was the stronger service during most of the 1930s and U.S. naval officers warned--with good reason--for that decade and as late as 1941 that they could very well lose to the Japanese. The USN got stronger only as the American economy grew recovered from the Great Depression, which gave the service the additional ships and men that it needed to fulfill its mission. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his Secretary of State were more concerned with political issues, than these operational matters, and were basically writing checks that the United States could not cash, at least for a year or two.
When war came Roosevelt was trying to do as much as was possible, but the Japanese were in a position to win the war had they had a better understanding of the indirect ramifications of seapower. Their mistakes, as much as American actions, were responsible for the outcome of the war. Baer gives proportional focus to naval operations in the Atlantic and is even more critical of German efforts, but does not forgive U.S. admirals for making mistakes about convoy protection that gave the enemy some easy victories.
Despite this massive victory, the USN lost its way during the Cold War years. Admirals thought the need for a strong navy was self-evident and were unable to coordinate the Navy's missions to national security strategy. The service was out of step with each succeeding administration. The number of ships shrank dramatically in the late 1960s and 1970s and the USN made a modest comeback at best during the Reagan years before the Cold War ended.
Baer's analysis and writing are impressive. This book is a serious one that many, many people interested in naval history and national security strategy should read, but the author's skills as a writer make it an enjoyable experience as well.


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The Jolly Rogers: The Story of Tom Blackburn and Navy Fighting Squadron VF-17 Review

The Jolly Rogers: The Story of Tom Blackburn and Navy Fighting Squadron VF-17
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As an avid student of WWII combat aviation, I don't think a book has ever thrilled me as much as THE JOLLY ROGERS. Tom Blackburn's writing style is easy and effective, especially in conveying the emotions and excitement of close engagement with enemy fighters. The books traces Blackburn's inauspicious debut in Operation TORCH to his glory days as CO of Fighting 17, with stories that are often as moving and tragic as they are exhilarating. Two sections of the book feature numerous photographs of the men and machines of the squadron, as well as detailed maps of the Solomons combat arena. I think I've read this book 3 times in its entirety and I still frequently read select passages just as refresher. I couldn't recommend it more highly. Tom Blackburn remains, even after his passing a few years ago, a true American hero; often frightened, sometimes arrogant, far from perfect, but always devoted to duty and able to stare death in the face and come away better for it.

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In & Out of Harm's Way: A Navy Nurse Corps History Review

In and Out of Harm's Way: A Navy Nurse Corps History
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If one is looking for excellent role models and hero's of the last century this is the book for you. I picked it up and had trouble putting it down. Some wonderful accounts of truly dedicated professional nurses who devoted their lives in service to their country. Read and enjoy, a well written book.

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The USS Essex: and the Birth of the American Navy Review

The USS Essex: and the Birth of the American Navy
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"USS Essex" is a fine piece of naval literature that does a strong job of depicting the very beginnings of the United States Navy while also telling the history of this remarkable ship. The USS Essex was the pride and joy of Salem, Massachusetts. Built in 1799 on the finances of hundreds of `subscriptions' (similar to war bonds) by the local citizenry, the Essex came into existence during a time when the nation as a whole was wary of establishing a government run Naval force. The arguments against its establishment were that a standing Navy was symbol of the oppression and tyranny of aggressor nations like France and Britain. In addition, the expense of maintaining such a force would be stressful on the finances of a fledgling nation that was still trying desperately to pay down its Revolutionary War debts. The points in favor of the establishment of a Navy were that American merchant vessels needed protection from aggressive nations, pirates, and the Barbary States of North Africa while conducting trade while also provided a nautical defense of the U.S.' ample Atlantic coastline. At the time of Essex' construction, state run Naval militias were the accepted form of seafaring force. The Quasi-War with revolutionary France and the ongoing struggles with the Barbary States (to say nothing of the War of 1812) began to show to the U.S. government the wisdom of having a naval force.
Authors Frances Robotti and James Vescovi have exhaustively searched the history of the Essex, its notable captains and crewmembers, while crafting a thesis that powerfully depicts the U.S. Navy's origin and growth from infancy. The first half of "USS Essex" is a bit more of a general Naval history, rather than a record specific to the Essex. The authors', themselves, concede that the Essex never had the notable confrontations of its more famous brethren like the Bon Homme Richard, USS Constellation, or USS Constitution, or even an infamous demise like the USS Philadelphia. The Essex was present for portions of the conflict with the Barbary States and had an occasional run-in with a British warship. It is necessary to take this broader approach before focusing directly on the Essex in order to frame the Essex' role in the evolution of the United States from disrespected rebellious nation to feared world power.
The Essex was home to such famed captains as Edward Preble, William Bainbridge, and the bold and brash David Porter. Prior to the end of its service to the United States, it was also home to midshipman, David Glasgow Farragut, a man who would later go on to become the U.S. Navy's first Admiral and distinguish himself during the Civil War. The authors show how the Essex played an important role in the subduing of the Barbary States. They also demonstrate, with great detail, the Essex' crucial role in wresting sole domination of a Pacific waterways from the British, while under the command of David Porter.
"USS Essex" is a tremendous read due to the fact that, not only does it expertly tell the history of this great ship, it also creates vivid imagery of what Naval battles were like back in that time period. Knowing what it means to `strike the colors', learning the pros and cons of cannons vs. carronades for weaponry, and understanding the unspoken rules of battle and seafaring make this book an invaluable resource for any Navy or history buff. It is also an enlightening read for anyone who is not as well-versed in our country's great Naval traditions.

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Civil War Ironclads: The U.S. Navy and Industrial Mobilization (Johns Hopkins Studies in the History of Technology) Review

Civil War Ironclads: The U.S. Navy and Industrial Mobilization (Johns Hopkins Studies in the History of Technology)
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I have mixed views on this book and first discuss the good. The information that is provided in the book is generally new and not covered in other sources. It deals primarily with the construction of the Monitor, Passaic class ironclads, Canonicus (called Tippecanoe class in the book) class ironclads, and Casco class ironclads. Provided is information on the how the designs were created, contracts allocated, project management, cost overuns, design changes, postponements, and resulting lawsuits. Also provided is the information on the interactions and activities of the main people involved in the process such as Ericsson, Welles, Stilmer, Fox, etc. and the contractors that built the ships. The book does not cover operational details of the ships.
Now the bad. Much of the book discusses the many postponements and cost overuns that resulted due to the design changes to the Canonicus and Casco class monitors. However, the actual problems and fixes are barely mentioned. A bit more technical information should have been provided because it would assisted the reader in understanding the reasons for the changes and the time required to make them. A more major problem is that the book provides just brief mention of the design and constuction of all the other non-monitor types, which constituted about half of the ironclads in the U.S. Navy. Missing is all but the briefest mention of the New Ironsides, Keokuk, Galena, Roanoke, two-gun monitors, and the various assortment of non-monitor river ironclads.
The book is titled "Civil War Ironclads." A much smaller subtitle that is on the cover but not bookend is "The U.S. Navy and Industrial Mobiliation." As discussed above, the focus of the book is more narrow than this. The title should have been: "Civil War Monitors"


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Civil War Ironclads supplies the first comprehensive study of one of the most ambitious programs in the history of naval shipbuilding. In constructing its new fleet of ironclads, William H. Roberts explains, the U.S. Navy faced the enormous engineering challenges of a largely experimental technology. In addition, it had to manage a ship acquisition program of unprecedented size and complexity. To meet these challenges, the Navy established a "project office" that was virtually independent of the existing administrative system. The office spearheaded efforts to broaden the naval industrial base and develop a marine fleet of ironclads by granting shipbuilding contracts to inland firms. Under the intense pressure of a wartime economy, it learned to support its high-technology vessels while incorporating the lessons of combat.But neither the broadened industrial base nor the advanced management system survived the return of peace. Cost overruns, delays, and technical blunders discredited the embryonic project office, while capital starvation and never-ending design changes crippled or ruined almost every major builder of ironclads. When Navy contracts evaporated, so did the shipyards. Contrary to widespread belief, Roberts concludes, the ironclad program set Navy shipbuilding back a generation.

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Hunters & Shooters: An Oral History of the U.S. Navy SEALS in Vietnam Review

Hunters and Shooters: An Oral History of the U.S. Navy SEALS in Vietnam
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The great thing about this oral history is that you get a personal feel for the characters as they talk about their experiences. The wide range of experiences are reflected in the wide range of personalities that the history is drawn from. The accounts are honest and sincere. Each account begins with a brief editorial introduction and summary of a different aspect of the SEALs unit formation and operational history in Viet Nam. This helps the reader to understand the subject as a broad total of experiences rather than just a bundle of yarns slapped together. The editor did a great job of putting the accounts in an informative sequence which gave this reviewer a greater background understanding of the following accounts as I progressed through the book.
I bought my copy during a visit to the SEAL/ UDT Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida and I strongly recommend other interested military buffs to buy this book and check out the museum. Well worth it.

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Traditions of the Navy Review

Traditions of the Navy
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I highly reccommend this as a reference book. It has a reading style explaining several traditions, myths, or terms per page. Terms like "Batten the Hatch", "No Quarter", and "Shangheid" are explained in their origin and modern use. It also has a section in the back where modern scholars have conducted research to determine any mistakes made and clear them up. Wonderful old llustrations with each definition. I could not put it down and read it straight through. I gave this as a gift to a friend that is a Navy Chief, and he loves it.

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Air Warriors: The Inside Story of the Making of a Navy Pilot Review

Air Warriors: The Inside Story of the Making of a Navy Pilot
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Talk about your Walter Mittys. Waller has a heck of a deal going here. He has written books about commandoes, submariners and now navy pilots. As a writer for first Newsweek and now Time, it's no wonder he got to fly with the boys and girls in the back seat of F-18s and dive in nuclear subs. OK, so maybe I'm just a teensy-weensy bit jealous. Waller, who wrote The Commandos after observing the training of special forces soldiers, reports on his intimate experience with the training program for navy pilots in this latest book. He was granted permission to participate in the pilots' grueling training regime in order to produce this absorbing behind-the-scenes account of the physical, academic and psychological tests endured by pilot wannabees. It's almost as good as being there as Waller takes us through the grueling "Helo-Dunk" test where students are dumped in a pool in a helicopter body. Because helicopters are top-heavy, they flip immediately when forced to ditch in the ocean, and the navy discovered that if pilots were prepared for the fear and darkness they had a much better survival rate - of course, almost anything was better than the close to zero survivor rate they had had before. Students wear blindfolds and lose points if they try to shove anyone out of the way in their haste to make the exits.
Grading of all their tests is excruciating.Everything is graded on a curve that is generated against their fellow students to compute the average. "Students were graded not on how well they did, but rather on how well they did compared to other students. The numerical scores a student made on each test were totaled up, divided by 1,000, then plotted on a bell curve against the scores of the past 300 students who took the test. Competition between recruits is thus intense and just one bad day can ruin a recruit's chances. The difference between the trainee who was number one in one of the classes and the trainee who was number fifty in class rank was a mere two points."
Air combat is vastly different than it was just thirty years ago. Today everything is done at vast distances, and the rule is that if a pilot hasn't eliminated the enemy plane within sixty seconds, he should run away because his odds of survival fall drastically. The systems on an F-18 require the sensitivity of a piano player, and landing on an aircraft carrier at night - read the chapter "Practice Bleeding" for a very realistic account of the fear and skill involved - commands minute movements of the hands and eyes to constantly detect changes in altitude, angle of attack, and speed. For the first landing on a carrier, there is no instructor in the back seat. It's "too nerve-wracking. The instructor would be too tempted to grab the controls and pilot the aircraft himself." It is just too dangerous. The students have to concentrate so hard on what they are doing that many forget their names and plane numbers.
Despite the dangers, the navy has drastically reduced the number of accidents by emphasizing safety. Hot-rod pilots get thrown out immediately for stupid stunts. Nevertheless, the most extreme strains can come from stress on family relationships when the pilots are gone at sea for long periods. Two of the students Waller followed were married to each other. Both became F-18 pilots, but navy regulations prevented them from being assigned to the same squadron, so they would be lucky to see each other for more than six months every twenty-four. Waller also discusses the changes in the navy after Tailhook. The older sailors hate what they consider the PC mentality while the younger ones seem to have adjusted well, but it has made dating in bars really difficult because of the ban on officer-enlisted personnel fraternization. Unless in uniform, many officers won't go near an on-base, mixed enlisted/officer club for fear of asking out an enlisted woman and risky severe censure.
This is a really stunning book. Absolutely fascinating.

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North Atlantic Run: The Royal Canadian Navy and the Battle for the Convoys Review

North Atlantic Run: The Royal Canadian Navy and the Battle for the Convoys
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"North Atlantic Run" is a reissue of Marc Milner's seminal 1985 study of the Royal Canadian Navy and the battle to protect Allied convoyes in the North Atlantic during the Second World War. Author Milner addresses the continuing evolution of thought about the Canadian role in a new preface dated 2006.
The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) nearly disappeared in the economies forced by the Great Depression of the 1930's. The arrival of World War II in 1939 found the RCN badly understrength in men, ships, and facilities against any of a variety of conceivable missions. The early onset of German submarine warfare against North Atlantic shipping to Great Britain focused the attention of the British Royal Navy (RN),and by extension the RCN, on convoy duty.
As Milner documents in painful detail, the rapid expansion of the RCN repeatedly outran its experienced manpower, shore facilities, and ability to train and properly equip newly commissioned escort vessels. The small size of the RCN at the outbreak of war made some shortages unavoidable. However, the situation also stemmed from the RN's demands for assistance and the RCN's commendable willingness to meet those demands, at the cost of its own operational efficiency. An extreme example early in the war has vessels manned by skeleton RCN crews for transfer to the RN being pressed into immediate service as active combants upon arrival in Britain.
The sailors of the RCN did not lack for courage. The RCN executed the bulk of convoy duty in the dark days of 1942, when the German submarines were most effective in the North Atlantic. The continuing and overwhelming demand for seagoing escort seriously interfered with escort ship and group work-up and with the modernization of relatively primitive escort vessels. The RCN Naval Staff did not manage to get on top of the problem before 1943. Consequently, convoys took a beating despite the RCN's best efforts.
Convoy losses lead to criticism, probably unfairly, and the withdrawal of the RCN escorts in early 1943 to a less demanding theater of operations. The understandable frustration of RCN personnel over their lack of training and equipment coincided with the decisive defeat of the German Navy in the Battle of the North Atlantic and with fingerpointing within and without the RCN. The Chief of the Canadian Naval Staff was replaced, and the RCN restructured. The mature RCN that finished the war did so in fine fashion, despite a lingering bitterness over the Convoy Battles.
"North Atlantic Run" is a superb history of the RCN in the convoy battles, and of its relationships with the RN and the United States Navy. Milner's narrative covers the experience of the convoys, the shore facilities in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, and the frustration of the RCN Staff over its treatment as a junior partner by its allies. Milner has included a selection of photographs of key personnel and examples of ship types, along with maps and diagrams illustrating the theater of war in the North Atlantic.
This book is very highly recommended to students of the Second World War, especially of the Battle of the North Atlantic.

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The Rebel Raiders: The Astonishing History of the Confederacy's Secret Navy Review

The Rebel Raiders: The Astonishing History of the Confederacy's Secret Navy
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James Tertius (is that Ter-tee-us, or Ter-shus?) de Kay is one of the most fun writers of military history alive. He's only hurt by the fact that he writes things on obscure and unusual topics, or treats them from an unusual angle. One of his books (Chronicles of the Frigate Macedonian) is essentially a biography of a ship, and another (Monitor) is that combined with a portrait of the man who designed her. One book mainly recounts a battle (The Battle of Stonington) in which no one was killed. The Rebel Raiders recounts the Confederacy's efforts to build commerce raiders in Britain, and the American authorities' attempts, largely unsuccessful, to stop them.
The first portion of the narrative is devoted to the construction of the ships in Britain, and James Bulloch's efforts in this regard. The second portion recounts Raphael Semmes' cruise in command of the Alabama, culminating in the famous battle off Cherbourg. A third part, shorter than the other two, recounts the efforts of the American government after the war to recoup the losses suffered by the American merchant marine because of the Alabama's cruise. Many ships that weren't sunk were sold to the British, who wouldn't, of course, pay full price or sell them back after the war.
De Kay is especially good at personalities, and this story abounds with them. Bulloch and Semmes are portrayed as interesting characters, and Charles Francis Adams, the American minister in London (a 19th Century ambassador) is active throughout the story. It's fascinating.
I do have a few criticisms. There's no index, and the one map given is inadequate. There was an attempt to recount all of the vessels purchased in Britain during the war, but the Stonewall, which made it out of port, and wound up in Cuba only to find out the war was over, isn't mentioned. Perhaps he's left that out for another book.
Given all of that, this is a wonderful book, and I recommend it strongly.

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Shipwrecks of the Revolutionary & Napoleonic Eras Review

Shipwrecks of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Eras
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On retirement from a former career, Terence Grocott decided to do something about a lifelong ambition and began researching those ships lost during those Napoleonic and Revolutionary times. What followed was 7 years of painstaking work during which he read every single copy of The Times, the Sherbourne and Yeovil Mercury and the Plymouth and Dock Telegraph published between 1793-1815. He also read all the Annual Registers for those same years. This, in itself, was no mean feat and the result is well worth the enormous effort. I congratulate him for a job well done.
"Shipwrecks of the Revolutionary & Napoleonic Eras" is a hardback book measuring 9½in x 6½in and contains 441 pages of vital information (including a ten-page index with which I had no problems!) - all from a new perspective. The appetite is immediately whetted on page 1 where the author reveals the huge scale of British ship losses at this time in our history. Beginning with a chilling quote from a contemporary British historian of 1812 - who stated; "perhaps not less than five thousand natives of these islands yearly perish at sea", Grocott goes on to show the true scale of ships lost during the years under examination. Whilst, then concentrating on just 1,500 of these (both naval and mercantile), the author demonstrates how they were but a small proportion of overall losses.
The figures speak for themselves; During the years 1793-1799 alone, 2,385 British ships were lost at sea with a further 652 driven ashore and only 70 re-floated. At this same time an incredible 4,344 were captured by the enemy with only 705 being recaptured. Thus 3,639 ships were lost to the enemy and 2,967 met a watery grave of some form or other.
Having set the overall scene - right at the beginning!, the book then concentrates on 1,500 incidents - involving both naval and merchant vessels. These are listed in chronological form with each account based on contemporary reports. The book gives details of the shipwreck, location and the number of people lost or saved. In addition to major disasters, day-to-day accidents to small harbour boats are also included. This is a book which also provides a very realistic insight into the life of the ordinary seaman of the day and of the perils he faced.
Altogether, this is a work that belongs on any serious researcher's bookshelf. Who knows what snippet of information will get you reaching for this excellent product.
NM


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Authoritatively covers more than 1,500 natural shipping disasters from 1793 to 1815, involving both naval and merchant vessels. Provides fascinating insight into everyday conditions at sea.

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The Old Steam Navy: Frigates, Sloops, and Gunboats, 1815-1885 Review

The Old Steam Navy: Frigates, Sloops, and Gunboats, 1815-1885
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If there is an heir to Chapelle's "History of the American Sailing Navy," it is this book. The format is somewhat similar, but with the inclusion of photos in addition to plans. This book picks up where Chapelle left off, with the early steam ships of the US Navy. These are the ships of fame of the Civil War, on which little good information is avaliable. The steam frigates are covered in detail, as well as the sea going sloops and gunboats. The section on the USS Michigan does not do her justice, nor is there a lot information on the engines of the period, but this book is an important missing link in US warship design history from the USS Constellation to the steel hulled ships of the Great White Fleet. Well worth the purchase price to a person interested in period naval archecture, as is VOL II, The Ironclads, and his book on Revenue Cutters.

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To Shining Sea: A History of the United States Navy, 1775-1991 Review

To Shining Sea: A History of the United States Navy, 1775-1991
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I orginally read the first edition of this book when it came out in 1992. It was at the time a evelation for me, and the source of my now great love for Naval History. I owe Stephen Howarth a debt of thanks.
I recently picked up a copy of this edition. It has been extended from 1991 (where the previous edition ended) and now includes "The Gulf War" and a few other events up to 1998. There may have been a few other changes that I am not aware of.
I've read quite a few one book histories of the US Navy, ranging from books published in the 1920's (and actually used at Anapolis) to books that have been published in the past few years. Howarth's "To Shining Sea stands among the best of them, simply for its informative and enteratining style.
Howarth treats his subject not only with the eye of a scholar, but also with the eye of a storyteller, while at the same time, making interesting and intelligent observations about his subject. What results is a book that is entertaining and informative at the same time. His own enthusiasm for his subject is infectious as one reads it.
Most interesting about this book is that Howarth examines the US Navy, not from an American's eyes, but those of an Briton. Interspiced throughout the book are accounts of what the sentaments in England were towards the United States and it's tiny Navy. The addition is illuminating and welcome.
If you have a passing interest in the US Navy and it's history, or simply want to get your feet wet in the subject, "To Shining Sea" is well worth the read.

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