Tag: Naval Warfare

Categories
Book Reviews Military History

Between the Land and the Sea

Published by Chatham Publishing in association with the National Maritime Museum this hard back book of 250 plus pages takes a highly selective trip through the Royal Naval presence in land war.

13 chapters – 3 about the Napoleonic era, 4 from mid 19th Century then 3 concerning the period 1896 – 1919 . Finally two from World War Two and one from 1999.

My interest was caught by two chapters. One about the 1840 Syrian campaign and then one about the 1855 action at Sweaborg in the Baltic. The Chapter on Walcheren 1944 then popped up.

£2 paid so worth a look.

A well produced well illustrated hardback complete with relevant maps
One theme is the technology used in land actions by the Royal Navy – image National Maritime Museum

Each chapter covers a specific event so this is not a history as such.

Also there is a limited bibliography – but clear use of archive documents instead.

And the episodes provide some political context as well. Not least why the Navy did not have this or that when set a task. Also you get some perspective in government “interference”.

In a way this book has served two purposes.

  • providing insight on land oriented coastal naval actions.
  • giving ideas about potential for “counterfactual” events – something that interests me for my mid 19th century wargaming.

The book has a decent selection of images most of which are new to me.

But none quite like this one from my copy of a Times Illustrated commemoration of the coronation of King Edward VII in August 1902.

Categories
Book Reviews Military History

On the High Street 23b

I picked up some interesting secondhand books at https://shop.keoghsbooks.com/

Keoghs opened their new shop in Skipton in 2022. It’s nicely laid out with a welcoming approach.

They have high quality selected stock.

My picks were three books, one on early steam warships another on early steam railways and the third about a head to head between Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.

My interests in nineteenth century show no signs of fading. And naval developments in this century framed the twentieth century. A period of technology transforming just about everything to do with Naval Warfare.
Early steam railways has also been stoked! by my recent interest in post Napoleonic Europe. I have read this story quite a few times yet not this particular book or author.
This one just caught my eye, this period is always interesting……
Categories
Military History

Ironclad Ahoy

Published by Cassell in 2000, War at Sea in the Ironclad Age is one of those hardback books full of colour plates.

That might imply that it is a lightweight – “coffee table” book. For a landlubber like me it was an excellent introduction into a period of history I have had little interest in before.

Roughly covering 1850 to 1900 it charts the development of the Ironclad – the transition from wooden sailing ships to the 20th century “Dreadnaught”.

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My initial interest was through this years main project – The Wars of Italian Unification eventually concluded in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian war. Before that the Austrians and Italians had already fought one significant naval action in the Adriatic, the battle of Lissa in 1866. It was notable for poor management and control rather than any technology on show.

The book covers several key actions over the 50 year period using clear and helpful diagrams

At the battle of Lissa the Italians had the only “turret” ship present, in the brand new British built “Affondatore” that also had an enormous front ram hull design.

The Italian “Affondatore” (roughly meaning the “sinker”) when presented with an opportunity to ram the Austrian “Kaiser” failed to do so. The Austrian Flagship “Ferdinand Max” rammed the “Re d’Italia” sinking her immediately (technically the Italian flagship, although the Admiral had already decamped to the “Affondatore”).

The period saw technology rapidly change – submarines, torpedoes and heavy guns in revolving turrets all made their appearance. The American Civil War showed off the sleek “Monitors” of inshore/river warfare.

Lots to consider and what I found helpful was that the book is full of useful information tightly presented – even if often repeated in different ways. This helped and the use of coloured maps with 3D ships showing phases of key actions also helped in my understanding.

The Author Richard Hill – a retired Rear Admiral – addressed a new period for himself as well, thanking John Keegan the series editor for the opportunity. Just maybe the freshness of the words, to me, reflect his new enthusiasm for this period in history.

I obtained the book from Dave Lanchester, who suggested it, when I was seeking a book about mid 19th century european naval warfare.

Dave has no website but is easily contacted – details below.

https://sherburn-in-elmet.cylex-uk.co.uk/company/david-lanchester%27s-military-books-23001504.html

Thanks Dave.