Great Naval Blunders: History's Worst Sea Battle Decisions from Ancient Times to the Present Day

by Geoffrey Regan

Who was responsible for the design of the Admiral Popov, the circular Russian battleship that wouldn't steer straight? Why did Lord Anson set out to circumnavigate the world with a crew of Chelsea pensioners? And how did the British cruiser HMS Trinidad manage to torpedo itself in the Arctic? The answers to these questions and details of numerous other entertaining and unbelievable historical events are revealed in this absorbing survey of naval incompetence from Roman times to the Falklands War. Bestselling author Geoffrey Regan certainly sets out to prove that there is truth in the old adage "Worse things happen at sea". Crammed with intriguing and often bizarre anecdotes and over fifty illuminating illustrations, "Naval Blunders" takes a serious, but often entertaining look at the misjudgements and oversights of captains, fleet commanders, strategic planners and ship designers over the ages. Peppered with quotes from those who did their utmost (albeit unwittingly) to hinder naval progress, this entertaining and instructive book will appeal to the naval enthusiast and general reader alike.

Genres: Military History, Nonfiction, History, Military Fiction

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 2, 2012

About the author

Geoffrey Regan is an English military historian, former senior school teacher and broadcaster.

Reviews

[David Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an entertaining little book which recounts a variety of historic naval blunders, from the merely amusing to the frequently tragic and ridiculous.

No one event is treated in great detail, a few pages at most, more often a few paragraphs.

A good light read if you enjoy maritime history.

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's an entertaining read, easy to follow thanks to each blunder being broken up into two or three pages each say from the more famous or complicated ones.

Would've been nice if there were some sources were cited and listed on the back, found a lot of the words and entire sentences being smushed together in many parts of the book, but most likely a printing error as I haven't seen any other of the reviewers point them out.
(Mine being publushed in 2016 by SevenOaks and printed by Carlton Publishing Group)

[Kasper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really entertaining and easy to read. Split up in about 20 short stories is just genius storystelling. It kept my attention for way longer than a ‘regularly’ organised book would. These sometimes tragic moments in naval (and world) history are conveyed with witty commentary, without being disrespectful to many (unnecessary) lives lost. This is the second time i’ve read this and enjoyed it even more than the first time. Absolute 10/10.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can be a little brief at times, over focusing on the 'what' and skippying the 'why' or 'causing this' elements. This could possibly be due to an assumption of a comprehensive naval military history knowledge.

[Jim Greene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really loved this history

[Mark Donald · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very informative read. Learnt about many naval battles I haven't heard of and all of the blunders

[Aleksandar Todorovski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy and a fast read.

[Stuart · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of interesting battles and insights into the inner workings and minds of the various commanders and they’re flawed or brazen sometimes cowardly actions. However such is the nature of the book that some of the stories aren’t as interesting and you’re left wanting the ones that are to be done in more detail. Worth a read but some stories are more interesting than others.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

At times hilarious, at times tragic. Always indicative of the sheer staggering idiocy of senior officers.