tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47164818036860380862024-02-20T22:09:12.069-08:00Reviews for RCN News Magazine and SeaWaves MagazineHere are the latest reviews of books and other items we have received. Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger239125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716481803686038086.post-10014659520335259052017-06-25T20:11:00.001-07:002017-06-25T20:11:35.116-07:00US Naval Institute on Command<div class="main-items-left" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #595959; float: left; font-stretch: inherit; height: 30px; line-height: 21.06px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 670px;">
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9781612518008<br />
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Number of Pages: 192<br />
<br />
Date Available: January 2015
In the U.S. Navy, “Wheel Books” were once found in the uniform pockets of every junior and many senior petty officers. Each small notebook was unique to the Sailor carrying it, but all had in common a collection of data and wisdom that the individual deemed useful in the effective execution of his or her duties. Often used as a substitute for experience among neophytes and as a portable library of reference information for more experienced personnel, those weathered pages contained everything from the time of the next tide, to leadership hints from a respected chief petty officer, to the color coding of the phone-and-distance line used in underway replenishments.
In that same tradition, the new Naval Institute Wheel Books will provide supplemental information, pragmatic advice, and cogent analysis on topics important to all naval professionals. Drawn from the U.S. Naval Institute’s vast archives, the series will combine articles from the Institute’s flagship publication Proceedings, selections from the oral history collection and from Naval Institute Press books to create unique guides on a wide array of fundamental professional subjects.
Command is the pinnacle of leadership in a military organization. Navy regulations define both the authority and the responsibility of command as “absolute.” This Naval Institute Wheel Book provides practical guidance and advice that actual and would-be commanders can use to carry out that absolute authority. Included in this carefully selected collection is the experience of those who have commanded as well as the expectations of those who are commanded. Aspirants as well as practitioners will do well to exploit this selected survey of what Fleet Adm. Chester Nimitz described as the “one purpose” for entering the Navy.
Thomas J. Cutler has been serving the U.S. Navy in various capacities for nearly fifty years. The author of many articles and books, including several editions of The Bluejacket’s Manual and A Sailor’s History of the U.S. Navy, he is currently the director of professional publishing at the Naval Institute Press and Fleet Professor of Strategy and Policy with the Naval War College. He has received the William P. Clements Award for Excellence in Education as military teacher of the year at the U.S. Naval Academy, the Alfred Thayer Mahan Award for Naval Literature, the U.S. Maritime Literature Award, and the Naval Institute Press Author of the Year Award.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716481803686038086.post-84085602207769306972017-06-25T20:10:00.002-07:002017-06-25T20:10:48.846-07:00James Madison Hood Lincoln’s Consul to the Court of Siam<br />
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<br />
James Madison Hood<br />
Lincoln’s Consul to the Court of Siam<br />
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George C. Kingston<br />
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Print ISBN: 978-0-7864-7194-2<br />
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-4766-0126-7<br />
14 photos, maps, notes, bibliography, index<br />
244pp. softcover (6 x 9) 2013<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Captain James Madison Hood was the real U.S. Consul in the novel Anna and the King of Siam, but before his arrival in Bangkok, he was also a merchant ship captain, builder of clipper ships, legislator in both Massachusetts and Illinois, industrialist, and land speculator. He was present at the birth of the Republican Party. As U.S. Consul, he presided over the trial of Dr. Dan Beach Bradley for libel of the French Consul, Gabriel Aubaret, a case which influenced the course of Southeast Asian history and got Anna Leonowens in trouble with King Mongkut. Captain Hood lived large and was not above a little extralegal maneuvering to support his lifestyle. His life is a tour through the politics, economics and deal making of the mid–19th century.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716481803686038086.post-86858519808102134452017-06-25T20:10:00.000-07:002017-06-25T20:10:22.785-07:00Two Roads to War<br />
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<br />
Binding:Hardback<br />
Published:June 15, 2012<br />
<br />
Noted aviation historian Robin Higham has written this comparative study of the evolution of the French and British air arms from 1918 to 1940 to determine why the Armée de l’Air was defeated in June 1940 but the Royal Air Force was able to win the battle over Britain in September. After analyzing the structure, men, and matériel of the air arms, and the government and economic infrastructure of both countries, he concludes that the French force was dominated by the Armée de Terre, had no suitably powerful aero engines, and suffered from the chaos of French politics. In contrast, the independent RAF evolved into a sophisticated, scientifically based force, supported by consistent government practices. Higham’s thorough examination,<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716481803686038086.post-14508994008703132162015-03-04T16:58:00.000-08:002015-03-04T17:05:18.272-08:00Crucified Again<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Crucified Again</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by Raymond Ibrahim</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hardcover • 2013 • $27.95 ISBN: 978-1-62157-025-7 </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two thousand years after St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was stoned to death for his faith, Christians are once again being systematically persecuted on a large scale and with lethal cruelty. Their antagonists? Adherents of radical Islam.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The violent persecution of Christians by Muslims is now a global human rights crisis, but it has received little attention in the mainstream press. Americans were shocked in 2012 to learn that a Christian pastor was sentenced to death in Iran for his faith; but few had heard about the thirty other documented cases of severe persecution of Christians in Muslim countries that were happening at the same time. Churches burned to the ground, crucifixes and Bibles confiscated and destroyed, and Christians tortured, raped or killed for their faith are chillingly regular events in Muslim countries, sometimes even encouraged or enabled by the governments themselves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This book should be compulsory reading for anyone concerned about terrorism and horrific human rights abuses. Political correctness and terrified media sources try to deny these barbaric and shocking acts are by "extremists" with </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">British Prime Minister David Cameron, in a speech to the Munich security conference in 2011, said, "</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have got to get to the root of the problem, and we need to be absolutely clear on where the origins of where these terrorist attacks lie. That is the existence of an ideology, Islamist extremism. We should be equally clear what we mean by this term, and we must distinguish it from Islam. Islam is a religion observed peacefully and devoutly by over a billion people. Islamist extremism is a political ideology supported by a minority. At the furthest end are those who back terrorism to promote their ultimate goal: an entire Islamist realm, governed by an interpretation of Sharia. Move along the spectrum, and you find people who may reject violence, but who accept various parts of the extremist worldview, including real hostility towards Western democracy and liberal values.</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">" *</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">High time for western media and politicians to stop cowering in fear and admit that this persecution exists. The attacks in Australia, Denmark, France and Canada certainly reveal this is just not a US problem, but a world problem.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kudos for Mr Ibrahim for the courage to bring this difficult topic to the world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">* Atlantic Magazine </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716481803686038086.post-78499259708244395912015-01-23T16:28:00.000-08:002015-01-23T16:28:36.863-08:00The Canadair Argus<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 30px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
The Canadair Argus</h3>
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<b><br /></b><b>Title:</b> The Canadair Argus: The Untold Story of Canada’s Cold War Maritime Hunter<br />
<b>Authors:</b> Major Cary Barker and Major Bert Campbell<br />
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The Canadair Argus plied the skies of Canada’s East and West Coast during the Cold War and, outside of a few preserved airframes, is almost forgotten. Even in books about the RCAF, it gets, at best, mentioned for a few pages in chapters on Maritime Command. This 190-page hardcover book changes all that. It does what it says on the cover, it tells the story of the Argus from development to retirement. Everything is here; weapon’s trials, stories of patrols, crew and maintenance tails, etc. I was fascinated by the Bullpup missile trials, and the references to the use of the Argus during Cuban Missile crisis. The book is well illustrated with colour and black-and-white photos and nicely down aircraft paintings. A must for an RCAF fan of Maritime operations.</div>
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Reviewed by Jim Bates</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716481803686038086.post-68602809444068850472015-01-09T09:57:00.001-08:002015-01-09T09:57:21.004-08:00British Warships & Auxiliaries 2015/16<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="BRITISH WARSHIPS & AUXILIARIES 2015/16 Our Own Titles" src="http://www.navybooks.com/asps/resources/big/3228-1.jpg" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By Steve Bush</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The fully revised and updated well respected guide to the ships,aircraft and weapons of the fleet. Over 80 colour photos. Complete with pennant numbers and silhouettes. Now expanded to include Royal Marine Craft and Border Agency vessels.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This book, published annually, is the best reference tool available on the Royal Navy and is edited by LCDR Steve Bush RN (Ret'd). The latest issue, as usual, contains glossy high resolution images of ships and aircraft and should be on the bookshelf of naval personnel as well as those with an interest in the Royal Navy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Order <a href="http://www.navybooks.com/ShowDetails.asp?id=3228">your copy</a> today.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716481803686038086.post-85537464317029528872014-11-15T15:15:00.000-08:002014-11-15T15:29:27.603-08:00Oakville's Flower The History of HMCS Oakville<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="Cover for Oakville's Flower" src="http://www.dundurn.com/sites/default/files/covers/page/9781459728417.jpg" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Oakville's Flower The History of HMCS Oakville</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By Sean E. Livingston</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">October 2014 Dundurn Toronto 144 pp 9781459728417 8.25 in x 10.875 in</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This look at corvette HMCS Oakville and the later Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Oakville, named for one of the towns in Ontario that were once considered the economic engine driving Canada. Author Sean E Livingston is a serving Sea Cadet officer in Oakville and this is believed to </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">be his first book. The author has done a credible job with the text and makes a fine addition to Oakville and Royal Canadian Navy history. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The major disappointment from the book was the printing. While color images were included, the reader is left with the feeling it was run off on the office photocopier and sent off to have a perfect binding cover added.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Would make a good Christmas gift for Sea Cadets in the Ontario region.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716481803686038086.post-26522808491678641162014-09-08T16:53:00.004-07:002014-09-08T16:53:47.324-07:00Edge of Valor<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Naval Institute Press 9781612515199 Hardcover & eBook 344 Pages 344 Pages Fiction July 2014</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While we don't normally review works of fiction, this book looked interesting so did peruse it. The book is set in the summer of 1945 on a US Navy destroyer in the Pacific which suffered a Kamikaze hit with the CO, XO and Squadron Commander in recurring roles. The CO, after getting his ship back to port, is transferred to special duty.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The CO, Todd Ingram, becomes intimately involved in early Cold War intrigues, a time overshadowed at the time by the rush to demobilize. Being the fifth in a series of novels, the characters are fairly well developed by this point.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Taking over a series at book five in a series is usually either a sign the author is popular and commands fees the publisher cannot meet or the previous books have not been good sellers. Indeed this was the case with the late Tom Clancy, whose first novel, Hunt for Red October, was shepherded through the production process by editor Fred Rainbow of Naval Institute Press. The book was a great success which had the deleterious effect of pricing the author on to a larger publishing house. However in the case of this book, we'll leave judgement on this to the reader.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The only complaint I had with the book was the page layout. Reading fiction is supposed to an enjoyable experience and the text was too bunched together with a small font, which would make the book an uncomfortable read for older readers.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716481803686038086.post-71792324989625547812014-09-08T15:26:00.002-07:002014-09-08T17:10:38.703-07:00Nauticapedia List of British Columbia’s Floating Heritage (Volume One 1892–1959)<br />
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<em>Nauticapedia</em> List of British Columbia’s Floating Heritage (Volume One 1892–1959)</h3>
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John M. MacFarlane Nauticapedia 978-0-9936954-0-7 240 Pages<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This work, the first work in a compendium of seagoing vessels over the years in British Columbia waters. Written by former Maritime Museum of BC head and Nauticapedia founder John MacFarlane, this book is an essential addition to the bookshelf of nautical history buffs. The only quibble we might have is a lack of illustrations in the manuscript, which would have made a nice addition.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716481803686038086.post-76923211743908930892014-09-03T15:54:00.000-07:002014-09-08T15:40:23.598-07:00Fire on the Water<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Naval Institute Press 9781612517957 Hardcover & eBook 288 Pages September 2014</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This timely book is a look at potential war plans for China in the Indo-Pacific region. With the rise in Chinese naval power and the continual decline of the US Navy's fleet, just what could happen must be examined.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Author Haddick cites as example if the Forward Strategy of Cold War era CNO Thomas Hayward and adopted by then Secretary of the Navy John F Lehman. However the timeline of how this came about is in error; Hayward's plan was first articulated to the public by US Naval Intelligence Analyst and former USNI author and Editorial Board member AD (Dave) Baker III in the Pages of Proceedings. Having read Baker's article and in subsequent meetings, Lehman appointed Baker his special assistant to implement the strategy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The text brings up the major shortfall in US carrier aviation yet again, the lack of range of the aircraft. This has been a problem since going to the all Hornet force which has been exacerbated by the retirement of dedicated refueling aircraft. This state of affairs will not be any different when the F-35C is introduced to fleet service with carriers still having to operate close enough to hostile shores that would put them in range of Chinese ballistic missiles.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The author advocates for new missiles to replace now outdated Tomahawk and Harpoon variants with longer range supersonic missiles which minimize risk to aircraft carrier battle groups.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well done Mr Haddick for bringing forward this matter that requires serious study.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716481803686038086.post-82575021025679599952014-06-11T13:36:00.003-07:002014-06-11T13:36:40.030-07:00Unflinching Zeal<img src="http://cdn03.usni.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/product_item/9781612511115_0.jpg" /><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">9781612511115 Hardcover & Ebook Naval Institute Press 368 Pages </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This consequential work by a pioneer aviation historian fills a significant gap in the story of the defeat of France in 1940. Higham also more fully explains the Battle of Britain and its influence on the Luftwaffe’s invasion of the USSR. The author provides a comparative analysis of the French, German, and British air forces and then dissects their campaigns, losses, and replacement abilities. His research led to an important finding: the three air forces actually shot down only 19 percent of the number of aircraft claimed, and in the RAF’s case, 44 percent of those shot down were readily repairable, contrasting with only 8 percent for the Germans and zero for the French. Higham concludes that awareness of consumption, wastage, and sustainability were intimately connected to survival, and his book emphasizes the necessity of realistic assessments.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Having a late relative who was the only RCAF pilot assinged to RAF 601 "Millionaires" Squadron (so named as from its prewar home for some of the wealthiest members of the Royal (Auxiliary) Air Force, I was engaged in the narrative.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Most French aircraft of the prewar era were of poor design and were unsurprisingly massacred by the Luftwaffe in 1940. From Versailles to Dunkirk, France blamed the army for the loss of five million deaths in the First World War. This feedling lead to pitiful attention to the military which was unprepared for war in 1939.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The UK funded the Royal Air Force slowly and unevenly through the 1920s and 30s and spent much to their air resources in India and other outposts of the British Empire. Poor decisions on acquisitions produced disastrous aircraft such as the Fairey Battle, which like the French designs, was massacred in 1940 by the Germans. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kudos to Mr Higham for producing this fine work.</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716481803686038086.post-1223192912502922372014-06-05T16:21:00.002-07:002014-06-05T16:24:54.706-07:00Through a Canadian Periscope Second Edition<div angle="0" class="wysiwyg_viewer_skins_WRichTextNewSkintxtNew" comp="wysiwyg.viewer.components.WRichText" dataquery="#c5uh" height="195" id="WRchTxt1f-17ga" scale="1" skin="wysiwyg.viewer.skins.WRichTextNewSkin" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; left: 440px; margin: 0px; min-height: 195px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 460px; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: visible; width: 450px; word-wrap: break-word;" styleid="txtNew" width="450" x="440" y="450">
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<a href="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/bd629f_e59bced67ac1367a3a373f7f2dbe8ecf.jpg_srz_p_301_466_75_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srz" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="Canadian submarines; cover of Through a Canadian Periscope, 2nd ed. by Julie H. Ferguson" border="0" src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/bd629f_e59bced67ac1367a3a373f7f2dbe8ecf.jpg_srz_p_301_466_75_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srz" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, ms pゴシック, ms pgothic, 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 28px; line-height: 39.20000076293945px;">Through a Canadian Periscope: The Story of the Canadian Submarine Service</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: arial, ms pゴシック, ms pgothic, 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 28px; line-height: 39.20000076293945px;"></span><span style="line-height: 39.20000076293945px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>by Julie H. Ferguson</i></span></span><span style="line-height: 39.20000076293945px;"> <i>Dundurn 2014 ISBN 9781459710559 </i></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 39.20000076293945px;">Julie Ferguson, a well known figure in the west coast writing community, has done an excellent job updating her first edition of this book to coincide with the 2014 Canadian Submarine Centennial.</span><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 39.20000076293945px;">The well written text brings to life what deplorable conditions onboard most submarines, until recent years, with little or know sanitation, privacy or personal hygiene possible. The first Canadian submarines were bought by the British Columbia Government in 1914 to reassure local citizenry that they were safe in spite of no credible defences from marauding German cruisers. The reader can really appreciate the hardships of serving on these early vessels, originally ordered in Seattle by the Chilean Navy.</span><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 39.20000076293945px;">Two submarines were obtained from the UK after the First World War which were soon retired from service with Ottawa unwilling to spend on defence. Much of the book details the experiences of Canadian officers serving in the Royal Navy submarine arm, the only time Canadian submariners experienced combat.</span><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 39.20000076293945px;">In the Second World War, Canada lacked any submarines and soon learned they were desperately needed for antisubmarine warfare (ASW) training and eventually convinced the Royal Navy to base training submarines in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Bermuda. Postwar, the Royal Canadian Navy financed the basing of the Royal Navy Sixth Submarine Squadron in Halifax for ASW training. This arrangement was never quite satisfactory and Canada eventually began to pursue their own boats.</span><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 39.20000076293945px;">These early efforts, much like acquisition projects of today, were victims of either bureaucratic bungling or a naval leadership afraid to speak up. Two former radar picket submarines from the US Navy were earmarked for sale to Canada from their reserve fleet, USS Burrfish and Tigrone. The former was successfully purchased and assigned for ASW training at Esquimalt in 1961 and the latter, intended for Halifax, fell through by ineptitude in Ottawa by naval leadership. (Ironically, USS Tigrone visited Halifax after participating in a 1970 ASW exercise.)</span><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 39.20000076293945px;">By 1970, three obsolete Oberon Class submarines were built in the UK and another was obtained to replace Grilse on the West Coast. The boat obtained, USS Argonaut, had just finished a four year assignment in the Mediterranean was actually in worse shape than Grilse.</span><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 39.20000076293945px;">And therein lies the problem with Canada even having submarines. Naval leadership still plans and trains to refight the Battle of the Atlantic from the First and Second World War. Submarines are intended for ASW training and are never employed in an operational role. Submarine officers had great difficulty passing the multinational commanding officer course, known as Perisher, as they only been operating in support of training surface ships.</span><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 39.20000076293945px;">When the four Upholder Class submarines were obtained from the UK in 1998 after a number of years dithering over it, the first thing Canada did was removed two thirds of their weapon capability, meaning they can no longer fire missiles or lay mines. Back to ASW training.</span><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 39.20000076293945px;">A few small errors noted in the text:</span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Russian submarines built in the First World War in BC were constructed in Burnaby and Vancouver and were disassembled for ease of shipment. The latter batch were completed after the Russian Revolution and were sold to the US Navy, which commissioned them in Bremerton.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 1939, Canada did not declare war until September 10th.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 1944, Newfoundland was a British Crown Colony and not part of Canada. In fact, service personnel from Canada based in Newfoundland were awarded overseas benefits by Veteran's Affairs.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When boarding a naval ship, you enter at the brow, not the bow.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">HMCS Rainbow listed as SS7S instead of SS 75.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 39.20000076293945px;">Mrs Ferguson is truly the unofficial Canadian submarine historian and is congratulated on this effort. Book is most definitely recommended.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716481803686038086.post-43898552837676942242014-03-26T19:31:00.004-07:002014-03-26T19:39:41.062-07:00Book Review White Ensign Flying - Corvette HMCS Trentonian<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3iy1chrZS8Jq08IkssoFDTQtpXfpWGdR9SbjT_lpyo0ckQqSLxSKqGgiLkQFznTC8pOp8GhGqP2KS4iYNigV4Y3QT2QpJzPbQxyjnGWPROLKx4gdKyBKQLlsC9xaKFhWPS2TjqwePUmr/s1600/White+Ensign+Flying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3iy1chrZS8Jq08IkssoFDTQtpXfpWGdR9SbjT_lpyo0ckQqSLxSKqGgiLkQFznTC8pOp8GhGqP2KS4iYNigV4Y3QT2QpJzPbQxyjnGWPROLKx4gdKyBKQLlsC9xaKFhWPS2TjqwePUmr/s1600/White+Ensign+Flying.jpg" height="400" width="304" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>White Ensign Flying - Corvette HMCS Trentonian</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By Roger Litwiller</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Paperback March 2014 192pp 9781459710399 8.25 in x 10.875 in</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">eBook – ePUB February 2014 192pp 9781459710412</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The book sets out to tell the story of <i>HMCS Trentonian</i>, (named for Trenton, Ontario and a member of the second to last batch of Canadian Flower Class corvettes) from building in Kingston to ultimate loss in UK waters in 1945.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Numerous photos were obtained by the author and would have given a much better look to the book if they'd been displayed in a higher resolution. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Having read the author's previous book, Warships of the Bay of Quinte, I was hoping to see an improvement in this book. Alas, it was not to be. A lack of good proofreading is displayed with some very sloppy mistakes such as non-existent date of February 29, 1943 and <i>HMCS Drumheller</i> listed as a corvette and frigate on the same page.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like the author's previous work, there appears to be a lack of knowledge on types of ship. In this latest book <i>HMCS Winnipeg</i> is erroneously identified as a Bangor Class minesweeper. In addition, a lack of distinction between Royal Canadian Reserve (RCNR) and Royal Canadian Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) displayed with statement that Trentonian's first commanding officer, Lt Harrison RCNR, was a member of the RCNVR.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A good looking book that could've been much better. If Mr Litwiller wishes to continue writing, and we certainly encourage any and all to research Canadian naval history, a sharper effort next time would be appreciated.</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716481803686038086.post-43393078262054185212014-01-08T16:39:00.000-08:002014-01-08T16:39:25.151-08:00British Warships & Auxiliaries 2014/15<br />
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;">British Warships & Auxiliaries 2014/15<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;">The Complete Guide to the Ships & Aircraft of the Fleet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;">By Steve Bush<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;">Maritime Books </span><a href="http://www.navybooks.com/"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial;">navybooks.com</span></a><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;"> 120 Pages Softcover 2014<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">One of our yearly treats is the release of the latest edition of British Warships and Auxiliaries and this year’s version by Steve Bush lives up to the standards. Profusely illustrated with almost all color photographs, a description of all current and planned warships, submarines, aircraft and auxiliaries are listed with their particulars. In addition, the book covers British Army and Border Force vessels. This books is a must for naval bookshelves.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716481803686038086.post-92230927960815369042013-12-30T11:10:00.000-08:002013-12-30T11:10:42.695-08:00Lost Black Sheep: The Search for WWII Ace Chris Magee<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Review by Jim Bates<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEV9LIu5aEu_UZWx0QCCoJua2CVNq4b941RNx46TS9sYGb4lwtlTdBDb0l06ligGu6ITB9WIWvT_BGm5i7dh0M4bB11EVFX_dmFv5FpWKX9kyjfZkIk4rCM2SOU5oYoCs2DZ7VVGclNBz9/s1600/untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEV9LIu5aEu_UZWx0QCCoJua2CVNq4b941RNx46TS9sYGb4lwtlTdBDb0l06ligGu6ITB9WIWvT_BGm5i7dh0M4bB11EVFX_dmFv5FpWKX9kyjfZkIk4rCM2SOU5oYoCs2DZ7VVGclNBz9/s400/untitled.png" width="261" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When most people think about
VMF-214, aka "The Black Sheep," they remember either Pappy Boyington
or the fictional characters from the 1970s TV show. Few know that a member of
VMF-214 was not only an ace, but his life was probably more interesting
than the fiction they remember with nostalgia. His name was Chris Magee.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Robert T. Reed's book, <i>Lost Black
Sheep: The Search of WWII Ace Chris Magee</i>, is written in two parts;
the first, a biography of Mr. Magee, the second, a search for Mr. Reed's roots,
and the two turn out to have significant crossover. Chris Magee grew
up in Chicago and, as a young man, tried to get to Europe to become a fighter
pilot in World War II. He failed at first, but did end up training
in Canada with the RCAF. After graduating with his wings from the RCAF he
joined the United States Marine Corps and became the second highest scoring ace
with the Black Sheep. Mr. Magee was not the typical fighter pilot as
portrayed on screen. He was a deeply intellectual man, who was a voracious
reader and a great writer. Several of his letters are included in the
book and they are well written, observant, and quite amusing at times.
Post-war, Mr. Magee continued flying as a mercenary with Israel, later became a
bank robber and then spent some time as a guest of the Federal
Government. After paying his debt to society, he dropped off the face
of the earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The second section of the book is more
personal for Mr. Reed. He discovered that the man he grew up calling
"Dad" was not his biological father; it was actually Mr. Magee.
Robert tracked down Mr. Magee and set out to establish a relationship.
What does an ace, robber, and mercenary do in old age? Apparently, settle down
to a life in a small apartment outside of Chicago to continue his intellectual
quests, spending most of his time with his nose in a book. The story continues
as Mr. Reed becomes acquainted with his father and reintroduces Chris to both
his fellow Black Sheep and Mr. Magee's remaining estranged family members.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Lost Black Sheep</i> is quite interesting and enjoyable. After finishing it, I
longed for more insight into what made Mr. Magee tick. Clearly he was far
from the stereotypical fighter pilot and certainly no two dimensional
underscripted TV character.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716481803686038086.post-32337259757925820402013-10-26T10:42:00.000-07:002013-10-26T10:55:15.212-07:00 Juan de Fuca's Strait: Voyages in the Waterway of Forgotten Dreams<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51u7PE98ieL._SY300_.jpg" /><br />
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By Barry Gough 9781550176179 Harbour Publishing Paperback and maps 288 pp August 2013<br />
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I was looking forward to reading this book, having read some of Dr Gough's earlier works. The text starts well recounting the lives and feats of the seafarers, merchants, naval officers and explorers who searched for the fabled passage from Pacific to Atlantic which of course never existed. About halfway through the whole gist of the book seems to shift to a political correctness theme and thus causes the book to fall apart. This caused me to give up reading the remainder. When a writer wants to include 21st Century terms such as "First Nations", "Salish Sea" and "Haida Gwaii" brings the rest of the manuscript into question. What other parts of this book has history been assuaged to change events to make people appear either bad or good for political correctness? This book belongs in the trash bin. Very disappointing.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Juan-Fucas-Strait-Waterway-Forgotten/dp/155017617X/?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=155017617X&linkCode=xm2&tag=seawmaga-20" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon Button" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-604" height="28" src="http://www.navyhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/buy1._V192207739_1.gif" width="176" /></a></span>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716481803686038086.post-20086525783511552192013-10-23T16:22:00.000-07:002013-10-23T16:22:27.838-07:00 Naval Institute Guide to the Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, 19th Ed<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img src="http://cdn04.usni.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/product_item/9781591146872.jpg" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Naval Institute Guide to the Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, 19th Ed</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Naval Insitute Press Annapolis March 2013 9781591146872 Hardcover 688 pages</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Very happy to see the publishing of the 19th Edition of this Naval Institute staple and that the considerable talents of Richard Burgess has been added to the production. As usual the book is profusely illustrated and with many excellent lists and tables in a large format. The one think I could do without are the numerous listing of retired classes of ship, which seems to fly in the face of the intent of original editor James C Fahey. Apart from this, the book is highly recommended and should be added to the bookshelf of military and civilian personnel with an interest in the US Navy, US Coast Guard, NOAA and Military Sealift Command.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Asian-Maritime-Strategies-Navigating-Troubled/dp/1591146879?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1591146879&linkCode=xm2&tag=seawmaga-20" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon Button" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-604" height="28" src="http://www.navyhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/buy1._V192207739_1.gif" width="176" /></a></span>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716481803686038086.post-85431902364865384662013-10-23T16:06:00.000-07:002013-11-02T14:53:19.140-07:00 The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, 16th Ed<img src="http://cdn03.usni.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/product_item/9781591149545.jpg" /><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, 16th Ed</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Naval Institute Press Annapolis August 2013 9781591149545 Hardcover 1,008 pages </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Called “the nation’s premier naval reference book,” The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World is internationally acknowledged as the best one-volume reference to the world’s naval and paranaval forces. Updated regularly since 1976, it has come to be relied on for all-inclusive, accurate, and up-to-date data on the ships, navies, coast guards, and naval aviation arms of more than 170 countries and territories. Large fleets and small maritime forces get equally thorough treatment. Comprehensive indexes make the book easy to use and allow for quick comparisons between ships and fleets.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This new 16th edition, presents information on all the major and minor maritime developments that could impact the world scene in the years to come. Heavily illustrated with 4,450 black & white photos and 179 multi-view line drawings, Combat Fleets provides the user with the most detailed views available for identification and comparison purposes. Additional aids for the user include a section on how to use the book, lists of terms and abbreviations,an informative ship-name index, and more. An expanded chapter on the Chinese navy provides major updates on the status of their new aircraft carrier and the latest Chinese submarines, surface ships and naval missiles. Dozens of detailed line drawings depict exactly where weapons and sensors are located on the world’s combatants such as the Iranian Ghadir-class submarines, the French Forbin-class destroyers, and the U.S. Navy’s Littoral Combat Ships.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The ship data section for each country provides full coverage of all ships, from the largest aircraft carriers to the smallest training and auxiliary craft. The vessels of the world’s coast guards and customs services are given thorough treatment as well. But the book is much more than a ship encyclopedia. It includes information on the personnel strengths of each country’s naval forces, major base locations, and details on maritime radar, sonar, naval aircraft, and weapon systems currently in service.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the Canadian section, I was disappointed in the section not being up to date. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Asian-Maritime-Strategies-Navigating-Troubled/dp/1591149541?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1591149541&linkCode=xm2&tag=seawmaga-20" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon Button" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-604" height="28" src="http://www.navyhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/buy1._V192207739_1.gif" width="176" /></a></span>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716481803686038086.post-2052525591255324332013-10-23T15:24:00.003-07:002013-10-23T15:24:47.282-07:00Asian Maritime Strategies<img src="http://cdn04.usni.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/product_item/9781591141624.jpg" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By Bernard D Cole 9781591141624 Naval Institute Press Hardcover & eBook 320 Pages October 2013</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An analysis of the current state of maritime defense in Asian waters. With the financial capacity of the US to maintain a permanent presence in the region in doubt, the strengths and weaknesses of the nations in the region is what should be examined in detail. The smaller nations are also covered as well as the larger ones such as China, India and Japan. The one disappointment of this books was the lack of illustrations and tables to put things in perspective. This book is a timely addition to current geopolitical thought processes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Asian-Maritime-Strategies-Navigating-Troubled/dp/1591141621?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1591141621&linkCode=xm2&tag=seawmaga-20" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon Button" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-604" height="28" src="http://www.navyhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/buy1._V192207739_1.gif" width="176" /></a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716481803686038086.post-32562762922536568932013-10-22T16:33:00.002-07:002013-10-22T16:33:23.168-07:00The Liberty Incident Revealed<img height="400" src="http://cdn10.usni.org/sites/default/files/9781612513409.jpg" width="268" /><br />
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By A Jay Cristol 9781612513409 Naval Institute Press Hardcover & eBook 416 Pages September 2013<br />
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This book is an update of the author's 2002 treatise on the Israeli attack on USS Liberty in 1967. Former naval aviator and current judge and law professor Cristol successfully sued the National Security Administration (NSA), under freedom in information laws, for their files on the attack. He has added six chapters to this new version, in what will surely become the definitive account on this unfortunate incident and firmly believes the historical record is accurate. Hopefully this will be the case and bring closure to all persons with a personal connection to the tragedy.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Liberty-Incident-Revealed-Definitive-Account/dp/1612513409?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1612513409&linkCode=xm2&tag=seawmaga-20" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon Button" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-604" height="28" src="http://www.navyhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/buy1._V192207739_1.gif" width="176" /></a></span>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716481803686038086.post-75685541616249972902013-10-22T16:22:00.001-07:002013-10-22T16:22:14.063-07:0021st Century Mahan<img src="http://cdn03.usni.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/product_item/9781612512433_0.jpg" /><br />
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By Benjamin Armstrong 9781612512433 Paperback & eBook 192 Pages August 2013<br />
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The hypothesis behind this work is that the writings of Alfred Thayer Mahan have been extensively written about but not too widely read. This book is a compilation of five essays written by Mahan and is recommended for young naval officers to get a good grasp on the timeless aspects of service life and strategy.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/21st-Century-Mahan-Military-Conclusions/dp/1612512437?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1612512437&linkCode=xm2&tag=seawmaga-20" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon Button" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-604" height="28" src="http://www.navyhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/buy1._V192207739_1.gif" width="176" /></a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716481803686038086.post-31209738584192112582013-10-22T16:00:00.001-07:002013-10-22T16:47:05.047-07:00Congo The Miserable Expeditions and Dreadful Death of Lt Emory Taunt USN<img src="http://cdn05.usni.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/product_item/9781612510798.jpg" /><br />
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By Andrew CA Jampoler 9781612510798 Hardcover & eBook 288 Pages June 2013<br />
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Having read Heart of Darkness in college, I had a feel for the subject matter before reading. Author Jampoler was in a party of six that traveled the Congo retracing the travels of Lt Emory Taunt USN. The late 1800s were the pinnacle of the colonial movement by European and US governments. Belgium colonized the Congo and Taunt was there for some of the travails of independence and colonization and the resultant social upheavals. The books is adequately written but the problem is the sanctimony of the author condemning Belgian atrocities that the US was equally, if not more so, guilty of during the subjugation of the Philippines.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Congo-Miserable-Expeditions-Dreadful-Death/dp/1612510795?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1612510795&linkCode=xm2&tag=seawmaga-20" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon Button" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-604" height="28" src="http://www.navyhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/buy1._V192207739_1.gif" width="176" /></a></span>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716481803686038086.post-52470733298473721412013-08-15T14:27:00.000-07:002013-08-15T14:30:20.729-07:00British Phantoms: FG.1 and FGR.2 (F-4 K/M) in Royal Navy and RAF Service, 1966-78 (The Ultimate F-4 Phantom II Collection, Volume 4) <img border="1" height="525" src="http://www.hyperscale.com/images/UKF4-Pt1_0001.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background-color: white; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; padding: 8px;" width="371" /><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">By Patrick Martin 978-3-935687-84-3 2012 Double Ugly Hardback; 160 pages , B&W and Color Illustrations plus Color Plates</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Reviewed by Jim Bates</span><br />
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<span style="color: #232323;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the early kits that remains in my memory is the Matchbox British Phantom. As a young boy, nothing seemed cooler, and I've had a slight obsession with the Spey-engined Phantom ever since. With such wonderful memories, what a great treat it was to open Patrick Martin's new book. The 160-page hardcover has everything one needs on the topic. Chapters include design and development, operational use, colors and markings, and squadron data. Every page is well illustrated with many photos, most in color, with some black and white shots interspersed. Also included among the text are color side-view drawings of some of the interesting markings that the Spey Phantoms have carried as well as an appendix illustrating the FG.1 and FGR.2 camouflage schemes with four view drawings. Carrier operations with the Fleet Air Arm, and land based reconnaissance, strike, and finally air defense use by the RAF of the F-4 are covered, including a short segment on the Phantoms that participated in the 1969 Daily Mail Atlantic race. While the book is more a general history of the type and not a detail oriented modelers book, detail of interest to modelers can be observed in many of the photos. About the only flaw I can see is that I need to wait for the second book that will cover the service after 1979. Highly recommended to both the F-4 modeler and the Phantom fan.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/3935687842?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=3935687842&linkCode=xm2&tag=seawmaga-20" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon Button" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-604" height="28" src="http://www.navyhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/buy1._V192207739_1.gif" width="176" /></a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716481803686038086.post-66911872411883267992013-07-24T17:02:00.001-07:002013-07-24T17:02:06.741-07:00Britain's Future Navy<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51PD3EQoK5L._SY300_.jpg" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By Nick Childs Pen and Sword Books <span style="background-color: white;">Hardback </span><span style="background-color: white;">192 pages </span><span style="background-color: white;">ISBN: </span><span style="background-color: white;">9781848842915 </span><span style="background-color: white;">Published: 14 March 2012</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Author Nick Childs has put together a thorough examination of of current Royal Navy (RN) equipment after the 2010 massacre of the fleet with the infamous SDSR cuts. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Childs presents many useful ideas and suggestions for the RN of the future. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not examined is the glut of senior officers, a problem afflicting most navies in the industrialized world as they are loathe to give of their positions despite having much smaller forces to command. In the UK, the cost of these officers includes the education of their children in private schools at taxpayer expense.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This book should be required reading for politicians bent of further military cuts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1848842910?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1848842910&linkCode=xm2&tag=seawmaga-20" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon Button" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-604" height="28" src="http://www.navyhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/buy1._V192207739_1.gif" width="176" /></a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716481803686038086.post-56062645427187915952013-05-28T17:04:00.001-07:002013-05-28T17:04:49.942-07:00A Plain Sailorman in China: The Life of and Times of Cdr. I.V. Gillis, USN, 1875-1948<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51lxDtTxXzL._SY300_.jpg" /><br />
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By Bruce Swanson et al Naval Institute Press 9781612511054 Hardcover 272 Pages July 2012<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The late Bruce Swanson learned about Gillis while doing research and was so excited he undertook to write a biography. While handwriting the text, Swanson unfortunately passed away and left the work in the hands of friends who brought the work to completion. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gillis was the first US Naval Attache in China, a sign of increased US diplomatic presence in China after the Boxer Rebellion and other events of the first decades of the 20th century.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The book details, in an easy to read fashion, life in the US Navy and China in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Marrying a Chinese woman, Gillis eventually most of the rest of his life in China, a period that included Japanese internment during the Second World War, until his death in 1948.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Congratulations of the writing team on this fine tribute to both Commander Gillis and the late Bruce Swanson.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1612511058?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1612511058&linkCode=xm2&tag=seawmaga-20" target="_blank"><img alt="Amazon Button" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-604" height="28" src="http://www.navyhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/buy1._V192207739_1.gif" width="176" /></a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0