Naval Firepower

Battleship Guns and Gunnery in the Dreadnought Era

Nonfiction, History, Military, Naval
Cover of the book Naval Firepower by Norman Friedman, Pen and Sword
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Norman Friedman ISBN: 9781844681761
Publisher: Pen and Sword Publication: August 20, 2013
Imprint: Seaforth Publishing Language: English
Author: Norman Friedman
ISBN: 9781844681761
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Publication: August 20, 2013
Imprint: Seaforth Publishing
Language: English

For more than half a century the big gun was the arbiter of naval power, but it was useless if it could not hit the target fast and hard enough to prevent the enemy doing the same. Because the naval gun platform was itself in motion, finding a 'firing solution' was a significant problem made all the more difficult when gun sizes increased and fighting ranges lengthened and seemingly minor issues like wind velocity had to be factored in. To speed up the process and eliminate human error, navies sought a reliable mechanical calculation.

This heavily illustrated book outlines for the first time in layman's terms the complex subject of fire-control, as it dominated battleship and cruiser design from before World War I to the end of the dreadnought era. Covering the directors, range-finders, and electro-mechanical computers invented to solve the problems, America's leading naval analyst explains not only how the technology shaped (and was shaped by) the tactics involved, but analyses their effectiveness in battle. His examination of the controversy surrounding Jutland and the relative merits of competing fire-control systems draws conclusions that will surprise many readers.

He also reassesses many other major gun actions, such as the battles between the Royal Navy and the Bismarck and the US Navy actions in the Solomons and at Surigao Strait. All major navies are covered, and the story concludes at the end of World War II with the impact of radar.

This is a book that everyone with a more than passing interest in twentieth-century warships will want to read, and nobody professionally involved with naval history can afford to miss.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

For more than half a century the big gun was the arbiter of naval power, but it was useless if it could not hit the target fast and hard enough to prevent the enemy doing the same. Because the naval gun platform was itself in motion, finding a 'firing solution' was a significant problem made all the more difficult when gun sizes increased and fighting ranges lengthened and seemingly minor issues like wind velocity had to be factored in. To speed up the process and eliminate human error, navies sought a reliable mechanical calculation.

This heavily illustrated book outlines for the first time in layman's terms the complex subject of fire-control, as it dominated battleship and cruiser design from before World War I to the end of the dreadnought era. Covering the directors, range-finders, and electro-mechanical computers invented to solve the problems, America's leading naval analyst explains not only how the technology shaped (and was shaped by) the tactics involved, but analyses their effectiveness in battle. His examination of the controversy surrounding Jutland and the relative merits of competing fire-control systems draws conclusions that will surprise many readers.

He also reassesses many other major gun actions, such as the battles between the Royal Navy and the Bismarck and the US Navy actions in the Solomons and at Surigao Strait. All major navies are covered, and the story concludes at the end of World War II with the impact of radar.

This is a book that everyone with a more than passing interest in twentieth-century warships will want to read, and nobody professionally involved with naval history can afford to miss.

More books from Pen and Sword

Cover of the book Waterloo: The French Perspective by Norman Friedman
Cover of the book British Expeditionary Force by Norman Friedman
Cover of the book Antigonus the One-Eyed by Norman Friedman
Cover of the book Discovering Classical Music: Rachmaninoff by Norman Friedman
Cover of the book Beyond Endurance by Norman Friedman
Cover of the book King George V Class Battleships by Norman Friedman
Cover of the book The Kaiser's First POWs by Norman Friedman
Cover of the book Constantine the Great General by Norman Friedman
Cover of the book Flying into the Flames of Hell by Norman Friedman
Cover of the book Bravery Awards for Aerial Combat by Norman Friedman
Cover of the book Vichy Air Force at War by Norman Friedman
Cover of the book Their Finest Hour by Norman Friedman
Cover of the book British Battleships of World War One by Norman Friedman
Cover of the book The Armed Rovers by Norman Friedman
Cover of the book Armageddon's Walls by Norman Friedman
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy