world war ii at sea: a global history

Welcome back. In particular, Symonds spends a decent amount of the book on logistics, ship construction, and amphibious warfare tactics. This is a great book. He carries his erudition lightly. Image courtesy of the U.S. National Archives, no. This book is really fascinating. That said, this is a good book that makes it clear that command of the seas was one of the leading reasons the Allies won and the Axis lost. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. I have read a lot about World War II, including not only accounts of the war and its battles, but biographies of those caught up in the conflict, like Churchill, MacArthur, Roosevelt and others. $34.95. Though he is very clear that Churchill stuck his hand in way too much and too deeply, sometimes bypassing the proper channels to send messages and orders to operational commanders. It offers a global perspective of the major engagements. These may seem like nitpicks, but there are tons of examples like this. He explains what was going on in the Mediterranean, and how much of a near-run thing it was, especially Operation Pedestal which got the tanker Ohio to Malta, kept barely afloat by two British destroyers. Unable to add item to List. A truely exceptional book in its scope and depth. The entire naval history of World War II is recounted in one volume. Yep, that’s what it is. As the war progresses, his focus moves from the Med and Atlantic to the Pacific, where most of the naval action took place. Or I am just too lazy to really concentrate on understanding it. There are hundreds of first hand testimonies from seamen to generals/admirals to world leaders, ranging from sentences to full pages. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. I did not know there was a short period when there were no operational American carriers in the Pacific Ocean. It is also interesting to read that Battleships, considered to be the most powerful fighting units, turned out to be virtually useless owing the the dominance of bombers. Symonds has written a naval history that covers, and correlates, all venues, campaigns and battles - at sea. I’m not usually one to read military histories, having gotten burned out on the history of warfare after a slough of AP history classes in high school. 80-G-35135. "Buddies: Soldiers and Animals in World War II" Lisa B. Auel wrote this Prologue article. He discusses British, German, American, Japanese, French and Italian naval assets, tactics and employments interrelated with their relative strengths and weaknesses. There is little of the air (except naval air) and land war, except to set the stage for the aspect of the naval war at hand. But it includes most of the major battles, some maps, and many minor skirmishes so as to set the context for how these battles affected the war. Although I have read a number of books about individual battles, the masterful integration of time, geography and the scope of the battles in this book provides a truly remarkable summary of the sweep of naval engagements during the war. Most naval histories of World War II isolate themselves to particular battles, campaigns or venues. To get right to the heart of the matter, I looked forward to reading Professor Symonds' book with a great deal of anticipation, but instead came away disappointed. This book is fantastic. When discussion of World War II arises, one’s thoughts might naturally drift to the great land battles of history’s bloodiest conflict—the brutal sieges at Stalingrad and Moscow, the roiling Battle of the Bulge, the slugfest to conquer the Nazi capital of Berlin. Symonds has written a naval history that covers, and correlates, all venues, campaigns … I received this book through a FirstReads giveaway on GoodReads. You know a book is a problem when you start being conscious of how often you’re tapping that “where am I” button or glancing at your progress statistics in whatever app you use. Most naval histories of World War II isolate themselves to particular battles, campaigns or venues. World War II, also called Second World War, conflict that involved virtually every part of the world during the years 1939–45. And in my opinion, ought to be required reading at the Navy War College. Symonds was chair of the department of naval history at the US Naval Academy, where he is currently distinguished professor of maritime history. He uses maps and images, along with detailed descriptions of events, to provide a good mental picture of the battles. WOW! Oxford University Press. A really good read! Yep, that’s what it is. Again, errors happen, but routine errors of sh. The knowledge of the author, combined with his beautiful writing style, makes this book unputdowable. The Japanese pretty much outfought the Americans in just about every battle---their night optics and the Long Lance torpedoes were a deadly combination. I try to keep looking for ways to interact with my kids in new ways. ✅. A fulsome recounting of the war at sea and very readable. World War II at Sea is divided into five consecutive parts. Craig Symonds has written a tremendous one-volume account of the global war at sea in World War II. A comprehensive and well-written account of the naval actions during WWII. Scapa Flow, after all, sounds like it ought to be a congestion relief medicine, not the location of one of the early naval encounters of World War II. MacArthur was a larger-than-life figure in the Pacific War who attracted both admirers and critics. It deals with Tarawa well. But I have never read an account of all of the sea battles and how they fit into the big picture of the war in general. It is beautifully written and presented with lots of good photos. Refresh and try again. Tensions had been brewing throughout Europe—especially in the troubled Balkan region of southeast Europe—for years before World War I actually broke out.A number of alliances involving European powers, the Ottoman Empire, Russia and other parties had existed for years, but political instability in the Balkans (particularly Bosnia, Serbia and Herzegovina) threatened to destroy these agreem… Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 12, 2020. Symonds does not delve into detailed accounts of specific battles and campaigns, presenting an overview of the progress of the war, strategies and tactics, as affected by, and as they affect, the naval efforts, on all sides. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. But where is a summary and analysis of the suffering of the victims - combatants, merchant mariners and their passengers, civilians of combatant and non-combatant nations on land - rather than just numerical lists of deaths? Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2018. Not surprisingly, Symonds contends it wasn’t the bomb, nor code-breaking, nor radar that won the war: each of those explanations has been advanced in diverse books. King and George C. Marshall. This, along with numerous other mistakes, detracts from what could be an essential volume for anyone seeking a good overall view of WW2 naval operations. 80-G-46817. This disappointment doesn't stem from poor writing, but from rather sloppy research. The author expertly tells about the mechanics of warfare on the sea and explains about the nature of the war. To create our... To see what your friends thought of this book, Very factual but really. Any ambitious history book has mistakes; but consistent errors in naval-specific issues is a bad look for a naval historian. This book takes an enormous subject and renders it consumable for even the dimmer-witted. For most of its history, the People’s Republic of China limited public discussion of the war against Japan. The first covers ‘The European War’ from September 1939 to 1941, before the second moves on to the expansion of the war into a global conflict following the German attack on Russia and the Japanese strike on Pearl Harbor (‘The War Widens’). Reading it together would give us more things to talk about. As a retired US Army artillery LTC, Naval War College graduate, 50 year complex war gamer, and amateur war history buff I think “World War II at Sea” is the best narrative about how naval warfare impacted the entire war effort of both the Allies and the Axis. This is a wonderful book. An hour later, just past 1:00 a.m., with the crew of the battleship still no wiser about his presence, he returned to fire three more torpedoes.”, “the battlecruiser HMS Hood, which at 860 feet was the pride of the fleet. Pacific Crucible: War at Sea in the Pacific, 1941–1942 (Pacific War Trilogy, 1), Twilight of the Gods: War in the Western Pacific, 1944-1945 (Pacific War Trilogy, 3), The Battle of Midway (Pivotal Moments in American History), The Conquering Tide: War in the Pacific Islands, 1942–1944 (Pacific War Trilogy, 2), World War II: The Definitive Visual History from Blitzkrieg to the Atom Bomb, The War for the Seas: A Maritime History of World War II, Neptune: Allied Invasion of Europe and the The D-Day Landings, Tower of Skulls: A History of the Asia-Pacific War, Volume I: July 1937-May 1942, The Fleet at Flood Tide: America at Total War in the Pacific, 1944-1945. A global naval history of World War II, correlating events and developments across the globe over the course of the war while focussing the narrative on the war at sea, in all its many permutations. Very little on the technologies except as to how each came into the war and impacted the outcome. SC 187355. Who would have thought that Landing Boats/Ships would be the most important craft in the Second World War. I'd buy this to get a great overview and if I wanted more detail get other books to cover specific actions. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all the great powers—forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis.In a state of total war, directly involving more than 100 million personnel from more than 30 countries, the major … Rather, it was U.S. technological prowess in shipbuilding. It led to the fall of four great imperial dynasties and, in its destabilization of European society, laid the groundwork for World War II. The historical events are mostly told in chronological order, which makes it easy to follow. For example, he shows, in the Battle of the Atlantic, that while closing the air gap, adding Jeep carriers to each convoy, and battling million of fanatical Russians helped, by 1943, America simply was producing more tonnage than U-boats could sink. Craig Symonds, a lifelong Navy man, might be considered somewhat partial his own Service, but that partiality doesn't dim the brilliance of his survey of the crucial role played by Allied naval forces in World War II. Solid one-volume history that balances strategic analysis and the individual narrative nicely. The American carrier USS Wasp in her death throes after being hit by three torpedoes fired from the Japanese submarine I-19 on September 15, 1942. Anyone interested in military history, World War II, strategy and the importance of sea power will find World War II at Sea an enjoyable and highly informative read. The review of a GR friend (thanks Matt) caught my eye a couple of months ago and I ordered it. But SD had to return to the States to repair damage, and so became known, while Washington stayed to fight and did not get the headlines.) On the surface it seems like a very dense read, but this book is engaging and before you know it, you'll be 50 pages in and eager for more. British and American LSTs unload vehicles and cargo on Omaha Beach in June 1944. Records of Military Agencies Relating to African Americans from the Post-World War I Period to the Korean War, Reference Information Paper; Casualty Lists and Missing The wars in the Baltic and Mediterranean Sea are a bit sparse and the Black Sea is mentioned not at all. A weakened global economy and the Great Depression, and Hitler and Mussolini's rise to power, were chief among them. For example, in describing American carrier movements preceding the Pearl Harbor raid, he has USS Enterprise delivering aircraft to Midway (actually it was Wake Island) and USS Hornet doing the same at Wake (Hornet was still undergoing sea trials off. The catalyst was Germany's invasion of Poland. Two German destroyers are moored next to the pier in Narvik Harbor in April 1940 prior to the attack by Warburton-Lee’s destroyers. Use the Amazon App to scan ISBNs and compare prices. But Symonds really does provide a full-bodied, detailed, expansive portrait of the war at sea---beginning with the London Naval Conference of 1930, which set the limits for warship construction among all the world’s navies. Chalk full of fascinating, frequently horrific details. Main navies Before & after the war. There are minor errors that will make a World War II naval nerd shriek, such a. World War II at Sea : A Naval View of the Global Conflict by Jeremy Harwood, Jun 15, 2015, Zenith Press edition, hardcover The principal belligerents were the Axis powers — Germany, Italy, and Japan —and the Allies— France, Great Britain, the United … For a comprehensive overview, see: Selected Finding Aids Related to NARA's World War II Holdings. This well written book covers the naval war of World War II between the years 1939 and 1945. It feels a bit like it was rushed into print. These may seem like nitpicks, but there are tons of examples like this. Tackling the major fronts one … This disappointment doesn't stem from poor writing, but from rather sloppy research. There are detailed reviews of submarine warfare and merchant shipping. This book tells that story but it also addresses the Herculean ordeal of transporting critically needed supplies across thousands of miles of ocean to keep Britain, the Soviets, the Australians and New Zealanders, and China in the war. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Thoroughly good!! While her eight 15-inch guns were the largest then afloat, her Achilles’ heel was her relatively thin armor, which made her more vulnerable than any battleship.”, https://global.oup.com/academic/product/world-war-ii-at-sea-9780190243678?prevSortField=1&facet_narrowbypubdate_facet=Last%203%20months&start=40&prevNumResPerPage=20&lang=en&cc=us, Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope. April 13th 2018 Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2021, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. A thorough review of military naval activity from all the major players of World War Two from the beginning of the conflict to the end. I received a copy of this book compliments of Goodreads Giveaway for a review. Even WW II experts may learn new things from this book, and all can benefit from the author's judgments and insights. There are some paragraphs and photos on the personalities and how those personalities effected the outcome. This book represents a phenomenal undertaking and accomplishes it with remarkable success. This was just excellent. A thorough review of military naval activity from all the major players of World War Two from the beginning of the conflict to the end. The barrage balloons were to prevent enemy aircraft from strafing the beach. The stories themselves serve as a stark reminder of the madness of war and the incalculable damage that foolish, misguided, and simply evil leaders are capable of inflicting on the human race. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! I was born a year after the Hiroshima bomb was dropped. SD was driven out of the fight; Washington sank Kirishima. Again, errors happen, but routine errors of ship related facts, classes, specs, etc. Whether he's right about this or not doesn't affect the reader's enjoyment of this powerful and highly readable history of the naval war. If you're a seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you grow your business. A Great One-Volume Discussion Of The War At Sea, Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2018. It’s that they took the losses and kept on coming. WWII is not an a subject for which I have much enthusiasm. The story is presented chronologically, which is very helpful for me because I did not have a clear sense of when the Graf Spee, Bismarck, Norway operations, sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse, took place. He uses maps and images. With war history I tend to gravitate towards personal stories or accounts of individual episodes, because military strategy and maneuvering tends to go over my simple little head. World War II was truly a global war, touching every continent and country in some way. This book is superb in giving insight into why sea battles were fought, why they were lost or won, strategically as well as tactically, and how the sea battles fit into the context of what else was happening in the war at the same time these battles were being fought, which also is telling as to why many were fought in the first place. That gave the air defense in Malta six weeks of fuel---desperately needed. A massive synthesis of the emerging interpretations of naval warfare in World War II, more a narrative than an analysis, but not without insights. Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. The figure behind him is his aide Col. Lloyd Lehrabas. Rather, it was U.S. technological prowess in shipbuilding. This is not a detailed narrative of every naval battle. This book is superb in giving insight into why sea battles were fought, why they were lost or. (I did pace myself, though, the incomprehensible destruction and loss of life get a little overwhelming in too large of doses....so much I had never heard of before, and apparently the public never heard about at the time.) Hell is Empty and All the Devils Are Here, Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2018. Craig Symonds, a lifelong Navy man, might be considered somewhat partial his own Service, but that partiality doesn't dim the brilliance of his survey of the crucial role played by Allied naval forces in World War II. For example, in describing American carrier movements preceding the Pearl Harbor raid, he has USS Enterprise delivering aircraft to Midway (actually it was Wake Island) and USS Hornet doing the same at Wake (Hornet was still undergoing sea trials off the East Coast and wouldn't reach the Pacific for another four months) while making no mention of USS Lexington. We’d love your help. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 4, 2020. Learn more about the program. (I did pace myself, though, the incomprehensible destruction and loss of life get a little overwhe. Symonds has written a naval history that covers, and correlates, all venues, campaigns and battles - at sea. Highly recommended. The historical events are mostly told in chronological order, which makes it easy to follow. Once I engaged, I did not want to put it down. I remember the parades of the early 1950s, but never really understood the scope of world war II. Please try again. Highest recommendation. I found the analysis of the importance of submarines, esp German U boats interesting, as well as the analysis of the "turning point" that finally delivered the ultimate Allied victory. This book takes an enormous subject and renders it consumable for even the dimmer-witted. The Japanese supercarrier Shinano was in commission for so short a time that few photographs of her exist. This is a wonderful book. He uses contemporaneous quotes and lively prose, bringing historical events to life. World War II Records. Craig L. Symonds delivers a broad yet detailed take on all aspects of naval warfare during WWII, on all sides. It was frequently, dare I say it, a page-turner. Totalling over 15 battleships and battlecruisers, 7 aircraft carriers, 66 cruisers, 164 destroyers and 66 submarines. To Marshall’s left is Admiral Dudley Pound. WWII is not an a subject for which I have much enthusiasm. The numbers are staggering: more often than not hundreds of lives lost (if not more) with the loss of a single vessel. In other words, a section about the North Atlantic will be followed by a section on the Pacific if there were events that occurred simultaneously or one right after the other. This was an industrial conflict between the Great Powers of the Machine Age. Oxford University Press; Illustrated edition (May 2, 2018). So told as the war unfolded, which means taking into account what is happening in other parts of the world. Image courtesy of the Naval History and Heritage Command. With war history I tend to gravitate towards personal stories or accounts of individual episodes, because military strategy and maneuvering tends to go over my simple little head. I have read a lot about World War II, including not only accounts of the war and its battles, but biographies of those caught up in the conflict, like Churchill, MacArthur, Roosevelt and others. In the beginning of World War II the Royal Navy was the strongest navy in the world, with the largest number of warships built and with naval bases across the globe. African Americans. World War II (WWII or WW2), also known as the Second World War, was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. But I have never read an account of all of the sea battles and how they fit into the big picture of the war in general. 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