Naval operations of WW2 (Full Version)

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GreyFox -> Naval operations of WW2 (7/14/2007 3:11:45 AM)

Hi all, first post here, hopefully not the last.

Anybody know of any good books about this aspect of WW2? When I walk into a shop there's a glut of books on the land and aerial wars, but the naval war seems to be sadly neglected, at least in the shops, even though it was arguably the most important part, at least in terms of the Western Allies.



mlees -> RE: Naval operations of WW2 (7/14/2007 3:27:20 AM)

There are lots. Do you want a general overview, or something more narrow (like the Battle of Midway)?

Browse Amazon.com... you narrow the field by using the links on the left hand side: Books>Nonfiction>History>Military>World war 2>Naval.

Cheers!



GreyFox -> RE: Naval operations of WW2 (7/14/2007 4:01:54 AM)

Thanks a lot, but I'm looking more for books others recommend. I generally like to open a book and read a few pages before I buy since there's too much crap trying to pass themselves off as 'truthful accounts' out there and I can't do that on Amazon I think.

A general overview of the naval war, similar to Robert Massie's WW1 book "Castles of Steel" would be nice, and so too would be books about the various campaigns and battles.



sprior -> RE: Naval operations of WW2 (7/14/2007 5:31:24 AM)

From The RN's point of view one of the best books is "Engage the Enemy More Closely" by Barnett. http://www.amazon.com/Engage-Enemy-More-Closely-Second/dp/0393029182/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-1151245-9528824?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184379945&sr=8-1

For the U-Boay war look at Blair's 2 part Hitler's U Boat War. Here's part 1: http://www.amazon.com/Hitlers-U-Boat-War-Hunters-1939-1942/dp/0679640320/ref=sr_1_2/002-1151245-9528824?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184380055&sr=1-2

I'm no expert on the IJN or USN but those 3 tomes will keep you reading for a few weeks.



GreyFox -> RE: Naval operations of WW2 (7/14/2007 4:50:26 PM)

Cool, thanks.



MikeBrough -> RE: Naval operations of WW2 (7/14/2007 6:00:09 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: sprior

From The RN's point of view one of the best books is "Engage the Enemy More Closely" by Barnett. http://www.amazon.com/Engage-Enemy-More-Closely-Second/dp/0393029182/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-1151245-9528824?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184379945&sr=8-1

For the U-Boay war look at Blair's 2 part Hitler's U Boat War. Here's part 1: http://www.amazon.com/Hitlers-U-Boat-War-Hunters-1939-1942/dp/0679640320/ref=sr_1_2/002-1151245-9528824?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184380055&sr=1-2

I'm no expert on the IJN or USN but those 3 tomes will keep you reading for a few weeks.


I second both recommendations. Both can be a little dry if you're looking to immerse yourself in the action but you won't find better coverage of their respective subjects.

I'd add a good overview of the war in the Pacific, John Costello's Pacific War at Pacific War



GreyFox -> RE: Naval operations of WW2 (7/14/2007 10:31:32 PM)

Hmm, a lot of the reviewers there don't like the inaccuracies in The Pacific War, so I might give it a miss. Thanks anyways for the recommendation.

I don't have a problem with dryness - I've read Max Hastings and Antony Beevor so I appreciate a well told story that backs everything up with provable facts and good research. Must be the science student in me.

The biggest problem I find with finding books about WW2 is that there is too much sensationalist stuff such as the recent book about the bombing of Dresden in which the author gives a bodycount of 100,000 but then withdrew it in a letter to the Times, as well as the Stephen Ambrose stuff (what was it... "more interested in erecting pillars to the American fighting man than giving the truth" or something). Entertaining sure, but little more than wishful thinking at best and propaganda at worst.



MikeBrough -> RE: Naval operations of WW2 (7/14/2007 11:20:06 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: GreyFox

Hmm, a lot of the reviewers there don't like the inaccuracies in The Pacific War, so I might give it a miss. Thanks anyways for the recommendation.


Much better ratings at www.amazon.co.uk. You Merikans are sooooo picky. Never let the facts get in the way of a good history.



GreyFox -> RE: Naval operations of WW2 (7/15/2007 12:32:59 AM)

Actually I'm Irish but that's besides the point.



m10bob -> RE: Naval operations of WW2 (7/15/2007 6:09:37 AM)

I like Samuel Elliot Morrison's books.(Two Ocean War specifically)

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Brigz -> RE: Naval operations of WW2 (7/15/2007 7:08:57 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: GreyFox

Actually I'm Irish but that's besides the point.

Gee. I wonder if MikeBrough feels a bit foolish throwing around those "Merikanisms" like that.[;)]



Charles2222 -> RE: Naval operations of WW2 (7/15/2007 9:28:21 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: GreyFox

Hmm, a lot of the reviewers there don't like the inaccuracies in The Pacific War, so I might give it a miss. Thanks anyways for the recommendation.

I don't have a problem with dryness - I've read Max Hastings and Antony Beevor so I appreciate a well told story that backs everything up with provable facts and good research. Must be the science student in me.

The biggest problem I find with finding books about WW2 is that there is too much sensationalist stuff such as the recent book about the bombing of Dresden in which the author gives a bodycount of 100,000 but then withdrew it in a letter to the Times, as well as the Stephen Ambrose stuff (what was it... "more interested in erecting pillars to the American fighting man than giving the truth" or something). Entertaining sure, but little more than wishful thinking at best and propaganda at worst.



I apprecaite your attitude towards things historic, as I share them. There's nothing that irritates me more than some clown who thinks they are doing something patriotic by insisting that their country did everything, and continues to do everything, the best. It's fine to hope for that, but to pass it off as history is something else again. To fail to have much of any understanding of history, is to approach it with nationalism.



MikeBrough -> RE: Naval operations of WW2 (7/15/2007 12:43:15 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Dave Briggs


quote:

ORIGINAL: GreyFox

Actually I'm Irish but that's besides the point.

Gee. I wonder if MikeBrough feels a bit foolish throwing around those "Merikanisms" like that.[;)]


Aksherly, I was commenting on the Amazon.com comment. Didn't have the foggiest where the OP came from - his profile was incomplete at the time. I think. OK, OK. I admit it. I've joined the Chicken-club - I was rat-arsed when I posted.



Neilster -> RE: Naval operations of WW2 (7/15/2007 6:31:25 PM)

A rat-arsed Arab? Wouldn't be the first time. [:D]

Cheers, Neilster'



mikemike -> RE: Naval operations of WW2 (7/15/2007 6:48:26 PM)

For a complete overview:

Rohwer/Hümmelchen Chronology of the War at Sea 1939-1945

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chronology-War-Sea-1939-1945-History/dp/1861762577/ref=sr_1_5/026-0063860-7186020?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184514087&sr=1-5

A day-by-day listing of what happened at sea during WW2 - very concise but includes every theatre, including Baltic and Black Sea, both of which are usually neglected by British/US authors.



MikeBrough -> RE: Naval operations of WW2 (7/15/2007 11:09:18 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Neilster

A rat-arsed Arab? Wouldn't be the first time. [:D]

Cheers, Neilster'



Explanation of why Dundee United football fans (soccer to the unenlightened) are called 'Arabs'.

Dundee Utd Arabs



mlees -> RE: Naval operations of WW2 (7/16/2007 4:28:02 PM)

Shattered Sword by Jonathan Parshall and Anthony Tully was a good read.

Silent Victory: The U.S. submarine war against Japan by Clay Blair Jr.




Brigz -> RE: Naval operations of WW2 (7/17/2007 4:32:00 AM)

"Destroyer Captain" by Hara. Forget his first name. Excellent book from the Japanese perspective.



AU Tiger_MatrixForum -> RE: Naval operations of WW2 (7/17/2007 6:41:49 AM)

A book by a Nimitz's intelligence chief, not much on operations, but the behind the scenes look at operations that is very informative.



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