- Hardcover: 304 pages
- Publisher: Sidgwick & Jackson; 2Rev Ed edition (1 April 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0283073543
- ISBN-13: 978-0283073540
- Product Dimensions: 23.2 x 15.8 x 4.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
121,540 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #44 in Books > History > World History > World War II 1939-1945 > Naval Warfare > Britain
- #87 in Books > History > Maritime History > Battleships
Imperial War Museum Book of the War at Sea 1914-18
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Product Description
Sunday Times Culture
'Terrific book...the voices of those who served bring both an immediacy and an excitement not usual in history books.'
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Review
"'Soon our shots were exploding all over the cruiser. So short became the range that we could see our projectiles exploding on the target. Ben Smyth, our trainer, stopped the gun following the target, saying "It's bloody murder, Bill," shouting at the gunlayer who was firing' - Boy Seaman Hayward on the capsizing of the Blucher, Battle of Dogger Bank"
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a very detailed account of the actions of the British Royal Navy during World War I, based on the written records of the participants, held by the Imperial War Museum, together with analysis by the author Julian Thompson.
The battle scenes are described graphically and give the reader the sense of actually being there. Technical and design weaknesses of the ships are explained, and operational and strategic mistakes exposed.
Altogether, this is an absorbing book that provided a big read at a very reasonable price.
The battle scenes are described graphically and give the reader the sense of actually being there. Technical and design weaknesses of the ships are explained, and operational and strategic mistakes exposed.
Altogether, this is an absorbing book that provided a big read at a very reasonable price.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
An Excellent Book Having Rare Photos
24 Jun 2000
Format:Hardcover
Julian Thompson's "The War at Sea" is an excellent study for all World War-II collectors as well as researchers. In the book, there are selected memories which were taken from major and minor naval actions during the Second World War. The book has a valuable photo-archive of Royal Navy, including some opponents' photos. Although the information level was shadowed by book's visual effects (also have some color paintings), you can find good statistics. Ten chapters of book were formed in the chronological way, having struggle of Royal Navy, not only in the Atlantic and Mediterranean but also in the Pacific and Indian Ocean. Unfortunately, there are only five basic maps showing main naval bases and a detailed diagram. In sum, excellent and different.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Daily Life Aboard Ship in Fisher's Royal Navy
14 Nov 2007
Format:Paperback
During the four years of WWI while battles raged across the European continent, the Royal Navy quietly transformed itself from a largely amateurish, unskilled, and unimaginatively led force into a highly professional, increasingly technical, and totally dominant juggernaut. Very quickly political appointees ran aground in the wartime environment and were replaced by confident, daring commanders. These changes became immediately apparent to the officers and men serving aboard RN ships, whose fascinating letters we read throughout the book.
The book starts by describing the life of prospective officers attending naval cadet school and later their (typical) traumas serving as midshipmen - basically one hazing after another until they became sub-lieutenants. However difficult midshipmen had it generally paled in comparison to the subservient, demeaning, and physically demanding life many common sailors led. The captain unquestionably remained God aboard ship with dire consequences for those who fell foul of him. Fisher's navy was extraordinarily class-conscious and overly centralized (with commanders often awaiting orders from distant superiors in the midst of desperate battle).
Julian Thompson, the author, summarizes all the Royal Navy's main actions in the book - Heligoland, Coronel, the Falklands, Gallipoli, Jutland, Zeebrugge/Ostend - using both narration and eyewitness sources. But beyond these well-known actions, Thompson takes us aboard tin cans shipping hurricane-strength seas during U-boat patrols, flying recon & bombing runs over the North Sea & Germany, and audaciously torpedoing enemy warships in their home waters. These accounts are absolutely fascinating - especially the zeppelin hunting expeditions over the North Sea and the trials (and failures) of early naval aviation. Ever heard of launching a plane off of a lighter (barge) pulled by a destroyer? They did it!
For landlubbers, the book also has a naval glossary, a list of naval rankings & ratings, and a few general area maps. Also included are some rarely seen photos and an extensive bibliography with notes. Having read lots about WWI, I was happily surprised that I found much fresh material in this book. It was a pleasure to read, too. I highly recommend it!
The book starts by describing the life of prospective officers attending naval cadet school and later their (typical) traumas serving as midshipmen - basically one hazing after another until they became sub-lieutenants. However difficult midshipmen had it generally paled in comparison to the subservient, demeaning, and physically demanding life many common sailors led. The captain unquestionably remained God aboard ship with dire consequences for those who fell foul of him. Fisher's navy was extraordinarily class-conscious and overly centralized (with commanders often awaiting orders from distant superiors in the midst of desperate battle).
Julian Thompson, the author, summarizes all the Royal Navy's main actions in the book - Heligoland, Coronel, the Falklands, Gallipoli, Jutland, Zeebrugge/Ostend - using both narration and eyewitness sources. But beyond these well-known actions, Thompson takes us aboard tin cans shipping hurricane-strength seas during U-boat patrols, flying recon & bombing runs over the North Sea & Germany, and audaciously torpedoing enemy warships in their home waters. These accounts are absolutely fascinating - especially the zeppelin hunting expeditions over the North Sea and the trials (and failures) of early naval aviation. Ever heard of launching a plane off of a lighter (barge) pulled by a destroyer? They did it!
For landlubbers, the book also has a naval glossary, a list of naval rankings & ratings, and a few general area maps. Also included are some rarely seen photos and an extensive bibliography with notes. Having read lots about WWI, I was happily surprised that I found much fresh material in this book. It was a pleasure to read, too. I highly recommend it!
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