Battle Line: The United States Navy, 1919-1939
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| Battle Line: The United States Navy, 1919-1939 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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This heavily illustrated book examines the twenty-year period that saw the U.S. fleet shrink under the pressure of arms limitation treaties and government economy and then grow again to a world-class force. The authors trace the Navy's evolution from a fleet centered around slow battleships to one that deployed most of the warship types that proved so essential in World War II, including aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, battleships, and submarines. Both the older battleships and these newer ships are captured in stunning period photographs that have never before been published. An authoritative yet lively text explains how and why the newer ships and aircraft came to be.
Thomas Hone and Trent Hone describe how a Navy desperately short of funds and men nevertheless pioneered carrier aviation, shipboard electronics, code-breaking, and (with the Marines) amphibious warfare-elements that made America's later victory in the Pacific possible. Based on years of study of official Navy department records, their book presents a comprehensive view of the foundations of a navy that would become the world's largest and most formidable. At the same time, the heart of the book draws on memoirs, novels, and oral histories to reveal the work and the skills of sailors and officers that contributed to successes in World War II. From their service on such battleships as West Virginia to their efforts ashore to develop and procure the most effective aircraft, electronics, and ships, from their adventures on Yangtze River gunboats to carrier landings on the converted battle cruisers Saratoga and Lexington, the men are profiled along with their ships. This combination of popular history with archival history will appeal to a general audience of naval enthusiasts. |
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| Reader Reviews Below Sorted by Newest First | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 03-07-08 | 3 | 2\2 |
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I bought this book on the basis of the two positive reviews and must say that I was disappointed.
The authors clearly had access to a large body of research and background information. It is doubly frustrating then that they seemed to be determined to withhold so much of it. We get tantalising excerpts but the opportunity to provide a "comprehensive view" (as per the editorial review) is missed. For example, the authors frequently refer to the Fleet Problems, the large scale exercises carried out by the US Navy in the 1920s and 1930s. It would have been very helpful, not to say obvious, to include a list of these Problems, with dates, locations and commanders. But such a list will not be found in this book and the reader has to rely on the brief snippets the authors provide. The best part of the book is the photographs, many of which will be unfamiliar as they are not from the wartime period. This book as far as it goes is a "good read". But it could have been so much better. (Review Data Last Updated: 2008-11-03 08:31:50 EST)
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| 11-04-06 | 5 | 11\11 |
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Thomas and Trent Hone, the father and son authors of Battle Line: The United States Navy 1919-1939 tackled a very crucial period in USN history and did it very concisely and well. The between wars period is often overlooked or misunderstood. Literally there was a revolution taking place within the Navy that was driven by technology (the aircraft, carrier & submarine) as well as new missions (amphibious assualt). As with any change forced upon an institution, there is always reluctance and nay-sayers. The innovators that brought about reliable submarines, carrier task forces and aviation development in this pre-war period are the un-sung heroes that deserve recognition and our gratitude. Battle Line examines these trends and the people that took the lead in developing these capabilities that still serve us today in our modern Navy. I would recommend this book to all who are interested in 20th century history as well the arm chair military history buffs. My hat is off to these authors - BZ!
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-03-07 02:51:57 EST)
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| 06-22-06 | 5 | 6\6 |
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Note that this book covers the years between the end of World War I and beginning the buildup to World War II. Just to use aircraft as an example, the Navy ended WW I with fabric covered biplanes. And in 1938 the Navy issued a requirement to Vought for the F4U Corsair. In ships the changes were no less dramatic. The Plunger class submarines of World War I (Would you want to go to see in a boat with that name?) gave way to the Gato class which was first laid down in 1940.
Another phase during these years was the result of the Naval treaties that specified the number and tonnage of ships that could be built. This incidentally caused two battlecruisers under construction to be finished as the aircraft carriers Lexington and Saratoga which were not limited by the treaty. This is a fascinating book about a time when budgets were minimal, technology was rapidly changing, and although they didn't know it, the Navy was getting ready for World War II. (Review Data Last Updated: 2006-11-03 19:27:20 EST)
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