The Naval Institute Guide to the Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet (16th ed) by Norman Polmar

by Norman Polmar

For decades this comprehensive and authoritative guide has served the needs of naval officers, military analysts, congressional staffs, journalists, defense contractors, and others with an interest in the current capabilities of the U.S. Navy. The author, internationally respected naval analyst Norman Polmar, shares expertise gained from years of service as a consultant to members of Congress, secretaries of the navy, and senior naval officers. With this updated edition he reinforces a reputation of reliable excellence by accurately cataloging and updating the assets of the U.S. Navy as they exist today and by assessing the various trends that portend the navy of tomorrow. Among the many changes incorporated into this new edition are updates on the joint strike fighter (JSF), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), the advanced swimmer delivery system (ASDS), the electric-drive DD21, and proposed conversions of Trident strategic missile submarines to land-attack missile and SEAL delivery capabilities. Also included is what may be termed a eulogy for the arsenal ship concept, with an acknowledgement that it could be resurrected if the political environment changes. From the details of the latest reorganization of the defense and navy departments to an enlightening discussion of the streetfighter concept, this is "must have" information for all who watch, serve, assess, or just care about the American navy.

Bulging with data, photographs, line-drawings, and useful appendixes, this invaluable guide carries on a long-standing tradition as the most comprehensive resource of its kind, meeting the high expectations and exacting standards of those who rely on it to stay informed and to make important decisions.

Genres: Military Fiction, Reference

Hardcover

First published December 15, 1992

About the author

Norman Polmar is an author specializing in the naval, aviation, and intelligence areas.
He has led major projects for the United States Department of Defense and the United States Navy, and foreign governments. His professional expertise has served three Secretaries of the U.S. Navy and two Chiefs of Naval Operations. He is credited with 50 published books, including nine previous editions of Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet and four editions of Guide to the Soviet Navy. Polmar writes a column for Proceedings and was editor of the United States and several other sections of the annual publications of Janes Fighting Ships.
In 2019, the Naval Historical Foundation awarded Polmar the Commodore Dudley W. Knox Naval History Lifetime Achievement Award.

Reviews

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you need to find the weapons fore-to-aft on an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate for your squad leader, this is the book for you.