Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This was the fourth and originally intended to be the final book in a series which, as the title suggests, lists all the worlds fighting ships built during the years in question. A later edition has extended this work to 1995. Nevertheless, as the title suggests, this tome lists all the worlds fighting ships built during the years in question. Beginning in the post-WW2 years at a time when the principle navies of the world were assessing and assimilating the many lessons learned and the new technological developed over the preceding time of conflict. From now on, the Aircraft Carrier would reign supreme and none more so than the mightiest of all which are found in the US Navy.
Conway Maritime Press are well known for their factual books on ships - especially warships, in which they provide the finest technical documentation. This is a large hard-backed book packed full of detailed and factual information. After a brief foreword and an explanation of abbreviations used, those countries of the world which possess a navy - however small, are then listed in strict alphabetical order. Each country then commences with an introduction to the naval situation surrounding that country. Ships are then displayed by "class" commencing with the largest capital ships and progressing all the way down to the smallest fast attack craft (or whatever) with the oldest vessels appearing first. In almost every case, for each class there is one or more of those profile line drawings which have become Conway's trademark. These are followed by all the usual technical details such as; Displacement, dimensions, machinery, armour, armament and complement followed by the names of each ship within that class - it's builder, date laid down, date completed and fate. They are accompanied by a very "readable" text from which we learn of the political intrigue of the day, variations between vessels, refits, new equipment, whatever defects or other problems that may have beset either the class or a specific ship and a short résumé of the fate of each vessel.
The book is well illustrated with an excellent selection of historic black and white original photographs throughout with at least one picture on almost every page.
In summary, this is an excellent technical work of reference and one which will continue to stand the test of time. Put another way, this is one of those books you will wish you had bought - after it becomes out of print.
NM
Click Here to see more reviews about: Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1947-1982 Part II: The Warsaw Pact and Non-Aligned Nations
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