Fighting Techniques of Naval Warfare: Strategy, Weapons, Commanders, and Ships: 1190 BC - Present

by Iain Dickie, Rob S. Rice, Phyllis G. Jestice

Fighting Techniques of Naval Warfare analyzes the tactics, techniques, and weaponry of naval warfare from the ancient period to the modern day. Beginning with Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses III’s victory over the piractical Sea Peoples in 1190 BC, and coming up-to-date with the use of aircraft carriers and the latest computerized weapons technology, the book covers every significant development in naval warfare over the last 3000 years.

The first chapter covers some of the major naval engagements of the ancient era, including the Greeks’ emphatic victory over the Persians at Salamis (480 BC) and Octavian’s decisive defeat of Mark Anthony at Actium (31 BC). The use of galleys as the premier fighting ship for more than 2000 years is explored in detail. The second chapter investigates the development of new types of fighting vessels, such as the northern European cog, at battles such as Sluys (1340 AD), which also offering expert analysis of the introduction of cannon at Hansando (1592) and the spectacular use of fireships against the Spanish Armada at Gravelines (1588). The third chapter examines the age of sail, from the early seventeenth century to the late eighteenth century, through famous encounters at the Downs (1639), Medway (1667), and Quiberon Bay (1759). The chapter rounds off with the Russo-Swedish battled of Svensksund (1790), demonstrating one of the last uses of galleys in European naval warfare. The fourth chapter surveys the transformation from the employment of the last great fighting sailing ships at battles such as Copenhagen (1801) and Trafalgar (1805) to the advent of steam-powered ironclads at Mobile Bay (1864). The final chapter covers the development and use of armored battleships at Tsushima (1905) and Jutland (1916), and the revolutionary introduction of aircraft carriers at Cape Matapan (1941) and Midway (1942).

Using specially-commissioned color maps and black-and-white artworks, Fighting Techniques of Naval Warfare is an essential companion for anyone interested in naval warfare.

Genres: History, War, Nonfiction, Reference, Naval History, Military Fiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published June 9, 2009

Reviews

[Clay Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I have read yet about naval warfare.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is notable for its breadth and the way it is able to draw continuities between periods of naval warfare that varied greatly in their technological forms. From triremes that attempted to ram each other to ships of the line with their innumerable cannon to armored battleships and aircraft carriers, the book gives an informative sweep of the developments and counter-developments in naval technology and the changing strategies and tactics they necessitated. The book also adequately conveys the interrelations of naval and land forces and the changing fortunes of the world's various naval forces.

However, my chief complaint against this book is its disorganization. Whether this results from the five different authors or the vast swaths of history it covers (or both), the result is often confusing. With few transitions, a technological or strategic detail will be discussed, and then suddenly the narrative is on to a description of an historical battle; then it moves on to a bit of personal history about a commander, before the reader finds him/herself back in the historical battle whose description s/he thought was finished. Perhaps the book tries to accomplish too much and is insufficiently edited, but in the end it offers intriguing tidbits but a frustrating flow.

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for the intimate details on warfighting at sea, the ships, equipment and people that fought, you need to look elsewhere. This book doesn't examine ship construction in any detail, it doesn't provide engineering diagrams on the ships or equipment. It doesn't discuss naval strategy beyond what specific leaders did in specific battles.

So what does it do? Fighting Techniques of Naval Warfare provides the most accessible overview I have ever read of 3000 years of battle at sea. The book is arranged chronologically, beginning with classical galleys and ending with the present day. If you want to know how Roman war at sea differed from the Greeks, how the Spanish had the biggest baddest ships in the 16th century but still failed to win wars and faded as a great power, how England ruled the waves from the late 18th to the early 20th century, all of this and more you will find here.

This is a fast-paced book that covers a lot of territory. It is cursory of course, but it will make beginning armchair admirals that tackle its pages much better at their hobby. Highly recommended.

[Hazel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think that this book tried to cover to broad a time period, but perhaps it was just that they were too focused on the history surrounding Naval Warfare.

If you're interested in the Technology surrounding naval warfare this is not the book for you. They tell you almost nothing about sails, when they show cannon devices they do not describe what they were used for. They completely fail to mark when ships went from coal to...gasoline maybe? They also fail to tell you when they stop using cannon and move to more modern types of guns.

I felt there was a lot lacking in this book, compared to others in the series, though there are definitely interesting tidbits.

[Deli Isle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Abysmal editing, in one diagram they mixed up starboard and port, and on another they mixed up millimeter and inches when referring to a ship's gun (Claiming that the gun on a ship was 4.1 millimeter instead of 4.1 inches!), the baffling part being that when someone did unit conversions into inches, they didn't even notice how ridiculous this statement is and correct it. There are typos all over this book, and the analysis presented is shallow and not at all useful.

May be useful for a younger reader or someone not very interested in history just wanting to get a very broad and vague gist.