British Destroyers (5 reviews)
Norman Friedman, Plans by A D Baker III
Found in: World War Two Books
Naval: Iron & Steel,
All Seaforth Books
Hardback 320 pages
ISBN: 9781848320499
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From Earliest Days to the Second World War
Norman Friedman, Plans by A D Baker III
Found in: World War Two Books
Naval: Iron & Steel,
All Seaforth Books
Hardback 320 pages
ISBN: 9781848320499
Published: 30 October 2009
£45.00
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add to Wishlist
link to pagesend page
In the late nineteenth century the advent of the modern torpedo woke the Royal Navy to a potent threat to its domination, not seriously challenged since Trafalgar. For the first time a relatively cheap weapon had the potential to sink the largest, and costliest exponents of sea power. Not surprisingly, Britain’s traditional rivals invested heavily in the new technology that promised to overthrow the naval status quo.
The Royal Navy was also quick to adopt the new weapon, but the British concentrated on developing counters to the essentially offensive tactics associated with torpedo-carrying small craft. From these efforts came ‘torpedo catchers’, torpedo-gunboats and eventually the torpedo-boat destroyer, a type so successful that it eclipsed and the usurped the torpedo-boat itself. With its title shortened to ‘destroyer’, the type evolved rapidly and was soon in service in many navies, but in none was the evolution as rapid or as radical as in the Royal Navy
This book is the first detailed study of their early days, combining technical history with an appreciation of the changing role of destroyers and the tactics of their deployment. Like all of Friedman’s books, it reveals the rationale and not just the process of important technological developments.
The Royal Navy was also quick to adopt the new weapon, but the British concentrated on developing counters to the essentially offensive tactics associated with torpedo-carrying small craft. From these efforts came ‘torpedo catchers’, torpedo-gunboats and eventually the torpedo-boat destroyer, a type so successful that it eclipsed and the usurped the torpedo-boat itself. With its title shortened to ‘destroyer’, the type evolved rapidly and was soon in service in many navies, but in none was the evolution as rapid or as radical as in the Royal Navy
This book is the first detailed study of their early days, combining technical history with an appreciation of the changing role of destroyers and the tactics of their deployment. Like all of Friedman’s books, it reveals the rationale and not just the process of important technological developments.
A large book offering a comprehensive study, with many line diagrams by A.D. Baker III and interesting photographs. These complement accounts of all the destroyer classes, from the very first torpedo boats through to the... [read full review]
Warships International Fleet Review - Dec 2011
Just like all of Norman Friedman's books this excellent volume, which is the end-product of meticulous research into primary sources, combines technical history with an understanding of the evolving role(s) of destroyers as well as... [read full review]Marine News - August 2011
A D Baker deserves considerable credit for his contribution to the very high quality of this book. His drawings are simply brilliant. A treasure of a book' All the usual scholarly thoroughness of Friedman... [read full review]Baird maritime - December 2011
An unrivalled balance of authoritative description, in-depth analysis, technical data and detailed illustration to make it the undoubted definitive history on British destroy design. It more than equals its publishers claim to be essential... [read full review]Warship 2011
Norman Friedman is very well known in the world of naval history. He has written many books on a variety of naval subjects. Your reviewer suspects, though, that destroyers are his favourites.A D... [read full review]
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