October marks 50 years since the tense standoff between the United States and Soviet Union that came to be known as the Cuban Missile Crisis. In the summer of 1962, the Soviets began moving nuclear missiles and nuclear-capable bombers to bases in Cuba, within easy striking distance of targets within the continental United States. Following
Naval Historical Foundation Director and author Andy Jampoler is developing a panel for the 2013 McMullen Naval History Symposium at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, 19-20 September 2013. The panel is tentatively titled “US Navy Exploration and Adventure at Sea in the 19th Century.” Possible topics include: the United States Exploring Expedition to
By Paul Williams, Fantascope Pty. Ltd., Australia (2012) Reviewed by Diana L. Ahmad, Ph.D. Missouri University of Science and Technology In the 2012 edition of The Shenandoah Affair, author Paul Williams provides lay historians with an expanded edition of his 1992 historical novel about the adventures of CSS Shenandoah in Australia. There are basically two
By Angus Konstam, Osprey Publishing, Oxford, UK, (2012). Reviewed by Charles H. Bogart British Heavy Cruisers 1939-1945 is one of a series of books Osprey has published during the last 5-years covering various classes of warships. This book follows Osprey’s standard format of text, photos, and colored artist plates. The book is divided into four
By Stewart M. Harris, iUniverse, Inc., New York, NY. (2009) Reviewed by Nathan D. Wells The role that the United States Navy played in the Vietnam Conflict is well known; but there are still gaps. While the importance of Naval Aviation, Special Warfare and Riverine Forces have been well-covered by both works of scholarly and
By John D. Broadwater, foreword by James P. Delgado. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, TX (2012). Reviewed by Kenneth J. Blume, Ph.D. Although she had a career of less than one year, USS Monitor is arguably America’s most famous warship. Furthermore, locating and recovering Monitor form one of the great stories of maritime archaeology
By David C. Evans and Mark R. Peattie, Naval Institute Press, Annapolis (1997). Reviewed by Nathan B. Albright David C. Evans served in the U.S. Navy as an ensign and a lieutenant (junior grade), and previously edited The Japanese Navy in World War II: In the Words of Former Japanese Naval Officers. Mark R. Peattie
By Robert C. Stern, Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, MD: (2012) Reviewed by Richard P. Hallion, Ph.D. The vast scope, momentous operations, and drama inherent in the Pacific War—think Midway, Guadalcanal, the return to the Philippines, and Okinawa, for just a few examples—have always dominated the narrative of the U.S. Navy’s contribution to the Allied victory
By John Hattendorf, Naval War College Press, 2011 Reviewed by Corbin Williamson Talking about Naval History is a collection of twenty essays and articles written by John Hattendorf, the Ernest King Professor of Maritime History at the Naval War College. Written between 2001 and 2009, these pieces complement the previous published collection of Hattendorf’s work,
This fall, a new exhibition will open at the New York City based New-York Historical Society. The exhibition will be called WWII & NYC and is scheduled to open 5 October 2012. The exhibition will chronicle the most widespread and consequential conflict in history through the lens of New York City. Featuring more than 300
By Mark Lardas, Osprey Publishing, (2011). 80 pages. Reviewed by J.J. Ahern In the last decade the number of titles published which focus on the early years of the U.S. Navy – and more particular the Barbary Wars of the early 1800s – has seen a mild increase. Granted the number has yet to even
National Popular Culture & American Culture Associations 2013 Conference pcaaca.org/conference/national.php March 27-30, 2013 Washington, DC Sessions are scheduled in 1½ hour slots, with four papers or speakers each. You may propose individual papers, special panels, or sessions organized around a theme. Possible sea-related topics include, but are not limited to: Film, art, music, and television
Angus Konstam, Osprey Publishing, (2011), 63 pages. Reviewed by Rear Admiral William J. Holland, Jr., USN, (Ret.) Angus Konstam’s description of Nelson’s advancement easily identifies why he was protected by his seniors and promoted by the Admiralty. He fought and won! Nevertheless this biography is too short to fully describe Nelson’s very complex personality. The
There is perhaps no place in America as closely identified with naval history as Pearl Harbor. The “day that will live in infamy” on 7 December 1941 has not been forgotten by the people of the United States, and great care has been taken to preserve U.S. Navy history and heritage on and around the
May 10-11 2013 Wolfson College, University of Oxford This conference examines the generation of expertise in naval contexts and trace how such developments helped shape the modern world. Expertise will be considered not only as knowledge but also as methods and practices central to the evolution of modern nation-states and empires. In the search for
