2008-10-06 Destruction and triumph - naval conflicts down the ages

This book provides encyclopaedic and colourful detail on almost every aspect of naval warfare and much else besides.
I read of naval battles in remote parts and many ages ago that I have never heard of. My ignorance of those in Korean and Japanese waters and even on the Great Lakes of North America might be excused but less so the Battle of Beachy Head in 1690 when the English fleet was soundly trounced by the French. For over 300 battles there are summaries of the action and a table of essentials about the combatants: date, location, commanders, men, ships and result. Not only set-piece battles are covered but also naval sieges such as that of Constantinople and the attrition of Arctic convoy PQ17.
But this is no dry recitation of distant events. Around 65 significant battles merit much longer illustrated text and of those two dozen have detailed 3D diagrams. Eye witness accounts about the events from participants are highlighted. Many commanders have illustrated biographies.
The Introduction features accurate colourful drawings of exemplars of fighting ships down the ages from early galleys to today's nuclear submarines. There follow four long chapters each dealing with broad historic segments: sail and oar, generally in coastal waters; the great age of sail combined with cannon and the first blue water fleets; the transition to steam and steel; and finally air power and submarines. Each chapter covers the battles that occur in the period but also describe technical, economic, social and human aspects of life in navies.
Churchill said of naval tradition it was `rum, sodomy and the lash'. Drunkenness and punishment are certainly covered although the other is scarcely mentioned. Full colour photographic features provide intriguing detail of seven preserved or replica ships including HMS Victory, Spanish galleon Galeria Real, Imperial Japanese Navy Mikasa, battleship USS Texas and aircraft carrier USS Lexington.
Many technical matters are explained in straightforward language and clear diagrams. There are colourful 2-page spreads of artists' interpretations of many of the big battles and the artwork throughout the book is of the highest quality.
The author is described as `a history writer' rather than an historian. Thus there is no significant historical analysis or insight. Instead there is a comprehensive gathering of data, well-ordered and well-written. Did you know, for example, that HMS Victory mounted 105 cannon, not many fewer than the total French Army's artillery of 139 pieces at the huge battle of Austerlitz?
This is a magnificent book that will bring pleasure to anyone interested in the navy.