By David Fitz-Enz, Taylor Trade Publishing, New York, (2012). Reviewed by Thomas Sheppard While the literature on the War of 1812 is extensive – and growing rapidly amid bicentennial celebrations – David Fitz-Enz laments that few have the time or inclination to wade through most of the books published on the conflict, leading to widespread
By Tim MacGrath, Westholme Publishing, Yardley, PA, (2010). Reviewed by Mark Lardas John Barry and John Paul Jones are the twin pillars underpinning the foundations of the United States Navy. Their naval careers created a heritage used by the Navy to the present. Jones’s life and exploits have inspired hundreds of books. Sadly, Barry’s appeal
On Thursday 25 October, NHF Historian Dr. David Winkler addressed the U.S. and Russian Navy delegations during concluding ceremonies of the 40th Annual Incidents at Sea Agreement Review that was held at the Naval Observatory. Dr. Winkler’s 1998 dissertation at American University covered the history of the Incidents at Sea Agreement that was negotiated between
By Mark Stille, illustrated by Paul Wright, Osprey Publishing, UK, (2011) Reviewed by Alberto R Savoretti, MD Mark Stille’s latest installment is a delightfully refreshing work far and above what its easy reading Osprey/Vanguard primer format suggests: you can’t judge a book by its cover! This work brings new or largely undiscovered material to the
This week, the legendary aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) completes her final journey. Her return to her Norfolk, VA homeport this weekend will mark the end of 51 years of active service with the United States Navy, and 25 overseas deployments. Enterprise, the world’s first nuclear powered aircraft carrier, was commissioned in 1961. She
By Steven J. Zaloga, Osprey Publishing, Oxford, UK, (2011) Reviewed by Rear Admiral Ed Keats, U.S. Navy (Retired) In 1944, the Japanese high command realized they had been defeated in the war against the United States. Their efforts then concentrated on procuring the best post-war terms they could gain. They believed the optimum way was
Friday and Saturday 17 – 18 May 2013 Department of War Studies, King’s College London In the history of warfare few campaigns have been as long, as complex or covered as large an area as the Battle of the Atlantic did in the Second World War. The contest for allied maritime communications began on the
By John Protasio, Casemate Publishing, Havertown, PA (2011),239 pp. Reviewed by Charles H. Bogart The author has crafted a well-written book that covers the sinking of the British flagged passenger liner Lusitania on 7 May 1914, by the German submarine U-20. The book is divided into three sections that consider 1) the events leading up
By James P. Delgado, Osprey Publishing, Oxford, (UK), (2011) Reviewed by Jan Churchill Dr. James P. Delgado, author of Silent Killers, is extremely well qualified to present the history of man’s desire to go beneath the sea, starting with the first attempts to breach treacherous waters to the present time of nuclear submarines. Delgado is
Story by the Naval History and Heritage Command. In honor of the Navy’s 237th birthday, the Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) opened a new Navy Art exhibit October 12 at the National Museum of the United States Navy, Building 76, Washington Navy Yard. The inaugural exhibit, “Best of Navy Art,” presents notable oil and
Last week, in the first stage of a partnership with the Naval Historical Foundation, Steve Lanning of Bluewater Publishing of Gloucester, Virginia (www.cruisebooksource.com) visited the Washington Navy Yard to make a generous donation to the Navy Department Library. Ninety-five cruise books published by Bluewater were donated to the Library to supplement their extensive collection of
Call for Papers The North American Society for Oceanic History 2013 Annual Conference Alpena, Michigan 15-18 May 2013 NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries will host the 2013 Annual Conference of the North American Society for Oceanic History. It will take place 15-18 May 2013 at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, in Alpena, Michigan
By Gary McKay, Birlinn Limited, Edinburgh, (2009) Reviewed by John Grady James Iredell Waddell is long overdue for a full-blown biography; and Gary McKay comes close to providing it. In the last five years, the commerce raider he commanded, CSS Shenandoah, and its around-the-world attacks on Union shipping -particularly the North Pacific whaling fleet —
By Thomas Wildenberg and Norman Polmar. Naval Institute Press, (2010). Reviewed by Captain James B. Bryant, U.S. Navy (Retired) This is not a coffee table book. I thought I knew a lot about torpedoes, but this book proved me wrong. I was a Weapons Officer for two years and had experience in several generations of
On 13 October 2012, the U.S. Navy celebrated its 237th birthday around the world. The Washington, DC birthday celebration dinner, with 750 guests, featured the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Jonathan Greenert, and the Honorable Paul R. Ignatius, 59th Secretary of the Navy as keynote speakers. A commemorative 2012 Navy Birthday Coin was a “birthday
