THE TWO-OCEAN WAR : A SHORT HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR Review

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(More customer reviews)I read this book in preparation for a sea power class I was going to take in graduate school. The author has a well planned format for his work which keeps continuity by alternating Atlantic and Pacific theaters in accordance with the timeline of events. Morison covers the major battles in depth and mentions the minor skirmishes which are relevant to the big picture. By reading Two Ocean War, readers are able to better understand the course of events for naval forces during the war which are often overlook in favor of the `more popular' land battles.

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The United States Navy in the Pacific, 1897-1909 Review

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(More customer reviews)Braosted's 2 volumes paint a vivid picture of important things that our Navy and government were involved with in the Pacific area during the first third of the last century. It is true that many of these events were mere footnotes in history; but what fascinating footnotes they are. For instance, the strange account of how the US along with a dozen or so other nations operated and maintained segments of the Trans-Siberian Railroad during much of World War I. Want to know about the huge stockpile of military equipment we and the allies stashed in warehouses at Vladivostock, how the Russians left the war before using any of then, and about the 50,000 well armed, well trained and highly motivated Czechoslavakian troops sent from the Eastern Front to go fight in the West when someone would transport them. They cooled their heels virtually within a stones throw of that stockpile. To me it is one of the most tantalizing historical "what if's" when contemplating what might have happened if they had captured those stores and then decided to do something about the problems in Russia.
The books reveal a lot of history that is very hard to find elsewhere. Our "gunboat diplomacy." our mounting difficulties with Japan, How the Panama Canal changed the whole military situation in the Pacific.
These are important books that may at first glance appear as dry as dust, but I assure you that they are interesting and exciting reading.

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

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(More customer reviews)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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Theodore Roosevelt's Naval Diplomacy: The U.S. Navy and the Birth of the American Century Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a very good book with a very misleading title. It does considerably more than present a history of how President Theodore Roosevelt (1900-1908) used the U.S. Navy to further diplomatic ends. Hendrix does provide a really compelling account of how Roosevelt developed an effective way to combine what today is called `force projection' with diplomatic operations to further U.S. policy and national security. Perhaps, as Hendrix suggests, Roosevelt did lay the foundation for the 20th Century to be the `American Century'. Yet the transformation of the U.S. Navy from a very mediocre force into a world class navy is interesting story in its own right and a significant part of this book.
Theodore Roosevelt appears to have been very good at recognizing brilliance in others. He became friends with and adapted wholesale Alfred Thayer Mahan's theoretical constructs for creating a strong navy as an indispensable adjunct to international trade. But he also looked to advice from such practical naval officers as William Sims who was an outstanding naval gunner of the period. Roosevelt and his naval advisors were at the forefront bringing the latest technology (such as wireless radio) to naval development. Roosevelt adopted the concept of the all big gun battleship as the back bone of the fleet, but also understood the importance of the marine torpedo and promoted the torpedo boat and latter the submarine. In doing this Roosevelt and his advisors created the foundation for the dominance that the U.S. Navy enjoys today.
Finally, although Hendrix does not really emphasize this, Roosevelt clearly recognized the value of the U.S. Marine Corps as central to the concept of force projection. It was during his administration that the Marines firmly established their reputation as the protectors of American interests in abroad.


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Theodore Roosevelt's Naval Diplomacy examines President Roosevelt's use of U.S. naval seapower to advance his diplomatic efforts to facilitate the emergence of the United States as a great power at the dawn of the twentieth century. Based on extensive research, the author introduces a wealth of new material to document the development of Roosevelt's philosophy with regard to naval power and his implementation of this strategy. The book relates Roosevelt's use of the Navy and Marine Corps to advance American interests during the historically controversial Venezuelan Crisis (1902 03), Panama's independence movement (1903), the Morocco-Perciaris Incident (1904), and the choice of a navy yard as the site for the negotiations that ended the Russo-Japanese War. The voyage of the Great White Fleet and Roosevelt's initiatives to technologically transform the American Navy are also covered. In the end, the book details how Roosevelt's actions combined to thrust the United States forward onto the world s stage as a major player and cemented his place in American history as a great president despite the fact that he did not serve during a time of war or major domestic disturbance.This history provides new information that finally puts to rest the controversy of whether Roosevelt did or did not issue an ultimatum to the German and British governments in December 1902, bringing the United States to the brink of war with two of the world s great powers. It also reveals a secret war plan developed during Panama s independence movement that envisioned the U.S. Marine Corps invading Colombia to defend the sovereignty of the new Panamanian republic. Theodore Roosevelt s Naval Diplomacy brings new understanding to how the U.S. Navy was used to usher in the American century.

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