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War at Sea: A Naval History of World War II
A naval history of the Second World War covers each of the sea battles as recorded in ship logs, intelligence documents, official reports, and servicemen interviews. 20,000 first printing. BOMC & History Alt. Tour.
592 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1995
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173 people want to read
About the author
Nathan Miller
70 books14 followersNathan Miller received his bachelor's and master's degrees in history from the University of Maryland before becoming a reporter for the Baltimore Sun. He spent more than 15 years as a journalist, including a three-year tour as the paper's chief Latin American correspondent, based in Rio de Janeiro, before becoming an investigator and speechwriter for Sen. John L. McClellan on the permanent subcommittee on investigations and later the Senate Appropriations Committee. Miller left the congressional staff in 1977 to be a full-time freelance writer.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 29, 2018
This book is a well-paced and easy-to-follow narrative of the major naval battles and operations of World War II. Miller does a great job of showing the ubiquity of naval support in many of the most well-known operations of World War II (e.g., the D-Day invasion), as well as tracing the fascinating way in which World War II forever shifted the nature of naval warfare. In fact, the Allies were victors partly because of their willingness to adapt to the new realities of naval warfare presented by the advent of the submarine and the aircraft carrier. Though there are heroes aplenty (as in all stories of war), Miller's history really is focused on descriptions of the specific naval engagements and their significance for the war's final outcomes. That's not to say that Miller doesn't relate personal stories of individual sailors (he does), but that it's always quite clear that those stories are secondary to his objective.
Miller, though he weaves together the narratives of the Atlantic and Pacific theaters, does a good job of demonstrating the unique challenges faced in each arena. This is also a story that proves once again how uncertain the Allied victory really was, especially in the early years (1941-1943). In Admiral Dönitz, the commander of the Nazi submarine force, had been given the force he initially requested, it is quite likely that world history would be very different. Other than Hitler himself, most of the German military leaders were brilliant tacticians and consistently overmatched and outmaneuvered their Allied counterparts. It was interesting to me that the Japanese appear NOT to have been so wily, with the important exception of the Pearl Harbor attack. The challenge of the Pacific theater was the Japanese sense of honor that did not allow surrender (epitomized in the kamikaze). Their determination to fight to the last man against technically overwhelming odds made me realize again how fraught America's decision to utilize the nuclear bomb was. If I were honest, I would have thought twice about invading Japan as well after the bloodbaths of Iwo Jima and Okinawa ("total casualties for those operations exceeded those suffered during the previous three years of the Pacific war," pp. 528-29) and probably would have elected to utilize the bomb.
Reading as a hobbyist, I would highly recommend Miller's history. It is very engaging and understandable. There are a variety of helpful maps and a chart of comparable naval ranks/titles for the German, British, and American naval services. The only other chart I could have wished for was a chart of naval vessel types arrayed in order of size and/or function (I still don't know the difference between a "pocket battleship" and "battleship," and I can't recall that Miller ever explained it). With a military operation the size of World War II, it is very, very difficult to find the one-volume, high-level overviews that cover all the important elements; Miller has handily accomplished this challenging feat and contributed much to my own understanding of the nature of World War II.
Miller, though he weaves together the narratives of the Atlantic and Pacific theaters, does a good job of demonstrating the unique challenges faced in each arena. This is also a story that proves once again how uncertain the Allied victory really was, especially in the early years (1941-1943). In Admiral Dönitz, the commander of the Nazi submarine force, had been given the force he initially requested, it is quite likely that world history would be very different. Other than Hitler himself, most of the German military leaders were brilliant tacticians and consistently overmatched and outmaneuvered their Allied counterparts. It was interesting to me that the Japanese appear NOT to have been so wily, with the important exception of the Pearl Harbor attack. The challenge of the Pacific theater was the Japanese sense of honor that did not allow surrender (epitomized in the kamikaze). Their determination to fight to the last man against technically overwhelming odds made me realize again how fraught America's decision to utilize the nuclear bomb was. If I were honest, I would have thought twice about invading Japan as well after the bloodbaths of Iwo Jima and Okinawa ("total casualties for those operations exceeded those suffered during the previous three years of the Pacific war," pp. 528-29) and probably would have elected to utilize the bomb.
Reading as a hobbyist, I would highly recommend Miller's history. It is very engaging and understandable. There are a variety of helpful maps and a chart of comparable naval ranks/titles for the German, British, and American naval services. The only other chart I could have wished for was a chart of naval vessel types arrayed in order of size and/or function (I still don't know the difference between a "pocket battleship" and "battleship," and I can't recall that Miller ever explained it). With a military operation the size of World War II, it is very, very difficult to find the one-volume, high-level overviews that cover all the important elements; Miller has handily accomplished this challenging feat and contributed much to my own understanding of the nature of World War II.
October 30, 2019
Seriously studying just about any area of the Second World War whether for professional reasons or personal pleasure can be a daunting task given the vast amount of never ending material written about it since the first shots were fired in the 1930s. It's a safe bet to say it could probably fill a large warehouse to the rafters and then some.
So it is with the War's naval aspects.
So where does one start? Nathan Miller takes care of that nicely with his "War At Sea: A Naval History of World War II". Starting with the sinking of the Donaldson Liner Athenia by U-30 on September 3rd, 1939, Miller tells in a clear and engaging way the long, bloody struggles in both theaters leading to the drama's final ending in Tokyo Bay almost six years to the day later. The reader isn't overwhelmed with detail nor does Miller forget the human element, telling of what both officers and men experienced while under fire and in their off hours.
It's not without its flaws however. Talking about the early stages of the September 1944 invasion of Peleliu, he states the 1st Marine Division encountered only "light resistance" on landing and that the island was secured a week later. I'm sure Marine veterans such as Robert Leckie and Eugene Sledge would debate him on that point as casualty figures for D Day alone were about 200 killed and 900 wounded. The island itself wouldn't be secured until November 25th and that after the Marines were relieved by the Army's 81st Division.
This and other small glitches aside, this book is a good place to start with budding WW2 naval history buffs.
So it is with the War's naval aspects.
So where does one start? Nathan Miller takes care of that nicely with his "War At Sea: A Naval History of World War II". Starting with the sinking of the Donaldson Liner Athenia by U-30 on September 3rd, 1939, Miller tells in a clear and engaging way the long, bloody struggles in both theaters leading to the drama's final ending in Tokyo Bay almost six years to the day later. The reader isn't overwhelmed with detail nor does Miller forget the human element, telling of what both officers and men experienced while under fire and in their off hours.
It's not without its flaws however. Talking about the early stages of the September 1944 invasion of Peleliu, he states the 1st Marine Division encountered only "light resistance" on landing and that the island was secured a week later. I'm sure Marine veterans such as Robert Leckie and Eugene Sledge would debate him on that point as casualty figures for D Day alone were about 200 killed and 900 wounded. The island itself wouldn't be secured until November 25th and that after the Marines were relieved by the Army's 81st Division.
This and other small glitches aside, this book is a good place to start with budding WW2 naval history buffs.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2025
As a 1-volume history of the naval war in all theatres in WWII, this book can by no means be complete or in-depth. However, if you read this book as an introduction to naval warfare, or as a look at the "big picture", this volume does the job very well. It is easy to read, informative, touches on virtually all the important events, and keeps up a good pace. Of course, certain events are relegated to mere footnotes in the interest of timing and length, including the Dieppe raid and the loss of USS Indianapolis (the Manhattan Project ship, whose shipwrecked crew was subject to continuous shark attacks). However, Miller usually points the way to further readings in such cases, if the reader wants to know more. There is an extensive notes section at the end of the book divided by chapter, listing many primary sources, which gives the book a good deal of credibility.
His analysis is generally brief as well, which is ideal for a book of this type, where pace is important. This doesn't mean it's any less insightful, however. He convincingly argues that the use of the atomic bomb was a strategic, war-ending measure, not just an attempt to scare the Soviet Union; that the refusal of the Japanese to withdraw skilled pilots to train the next generation was a fatal error; and that the industrial might of the combined allies was too much for the Axis - they had to win in the first couple of years or be ultimately worn out. Another important point in praise of this book is the way Miller is careful to point out the involvement of the so-called minor allies. For example, by 1945, Canada had the 3rd largest navy in the world, but because the RCN primarily participated in the Battle of the Atlantic, they get ignored by many historians caught up in Big Events storytelling. Miller is always very careful to point out these countries' contributions.
Unfortunately, there are a few quibbling points that drop the book to 4 stars. First, the maps are conveniently located together at the back of the book, but are never referred to in the text, and are often of too large an area to be useful. For example, a lot of space is devoted to amphibious operations on Guadalcanal, Okinawa, etc., but these islands are merely dots on a "Pacific theatre" map. Even a 1/4 page sketch per island would have been very helpful. Secondly, Miller seems to have a vendetta against Winston Churchill - he is always quick to ridicule Churchill's wild ideas, but never to give credit to his good ones, instead saying, "The British wanted ...." Finally, there's an occasional confusion, such as mixing up the British cruisers Dorsetshire (that sunk the Bismark) and Devonshire.
These quibbles do not really detract from the overall enjoyment of the book, however, and it's recommended for any armchair historian interested in the naval aspects of World War II.
His analysis is generally brief as well, which is ideal for a book of this type, where pace is important. This doesn't mean it's any less insightful, however. He convincingly argues that the use of the atomic bomb was a strategic, war-ending measure, not just an attempt to scare the Soviet Union; that the refusal of the Japanese to withdraw skilled pilots to train the next generation was a fatal error; and that the industrial might of the combined allies was too much for the Axis - they had to win in the first couple of years or be ultimately worn out. Another important point in praise of this book is the way Miller is careful to point out the involvement of the so-called minor allies. For example, by 1945, Canada had the 3rd largest navy in the world, but because the RCN primarily participated in the Battle of the Atlantic, they get ignored by many historians caught up in Big Events storytelling. Miller is always very careful to point out these countries' contributions.
Unfortunately, there are a few quibbling points that drop the book to 4 stars. First, the maps are conveniently located together at the back of the book, but are never referred to in the text, and are often of too large an area to be useful. For example, a lot of space is devoted to amphibious operations on Guadalcanal, Okinawa, etc., but these islands are merely dots on a "Pacific theatre" map. Even a 1/4 page sketch per island would have been very helpful. Secondly, Miller seems to have a vendetta against Winston Churchill - he is always quick to ridicule Churchill's wild ideas, but never to give credit to his good ones, instead saying, "The British wanted ...." Finally, there's an occasional confusion, such as mixing up the British cruisers Dorsetshire (that sunk the Bismark) and Devonshire.
These quibbles do not really detract from the overall enjoyment of the book, however, and it's recommended for any armchair historian interested in the naval aspects of World War II.
June 25, 2017
This must be the summer of nonfiction books for me. I felt compelled to dive into this straight from the Kissinger book, and it turned out to be a great decision that you can replicate without ruining your reading life.
This is an even-handed look at the U.S., Japanese, German, and British navies in World War II, and you get a good history of the battles in which all of them were involved to one degree or another.
I don’t care much frankly about the history of European naval conflict prior to the U.S. entry into the war, so the first six chapters or so were a major slog for me. That said, if naval battles in Norway and France turn your crank, you’ll find those early chapters as well written and interesting as the rest of the book.
Things start to really get riveting with the descriptions of Pearl Harbor and from there, battles like the Battle of Midway. I was particularly gratified to read about the battleship on which my dad served and its value in what was to all intents and purposes the final naval battle Japan could seriously mount in the fall of 1944.
The careful reader is bound to wonder whether you can legitimately compress something as massive in scope as were the various naval battles of World War II into a single volume. Before taking this on, I would have said it was impossible. But Miller is obviously a stellar researcher and a man of great talent where writing and editing are concerned. Somehow, he manages to do a credible job with what I would have assumed was the impossible.
This is an even-handed look at the U.S., Japanese, German, and British navies in World War II, and you get a good history of the battles in which all of them were involved to one degree or another.
I don’t care much frankly about the history of European naval conflict prior to the U.S. entry into the war, so the first six chapters or so were a major slog for me. That said, if naval battles in Norway and France turn your crank, you’ll find those early chapters as well written and interesting as the rest of the book.
Things start to really get riveting with the descriptions of Pearl Harbor and from there, battles like the Battle of Midway. I was particularly gratified to read about the battleship on which my dad served and its value in what was to all intents and purposes the final naval battle Japan could seriously mount in the fall of 1944.
The careful reader is bound to wonder whether you can legitimately compress something as massive in scope as were the various naval battles of World War II into a single volume. Before taking this on, I would have said it was impossible. But Miller is obviously a stellar researcher and a man of great talent where writing and editing are concerned. Somehow, he manages to do a credible job with what I would have assumed was the impossible.
March 6, 2020
I was assigned this book for a class and to be honest...I really didn’t like it. Which I’m sure you could guess by my two star rating. If you’re looking for a book that talks about specific naval battles in depth then look no further because this is the book for you. However, for an undergraduate online class that covers an extremely popular subject with a teacher who doesn’t post videos (come on...) this is really not the book you should assign. Far too in depth and difficult to discern what the purpose of the book and point of each chapter was.
February 19, 2022
First of all the book was incredibly researched and thorough but wasn’t organized well. This made for a frustrating read despite the incredible information presented.
The book jumped around so much it was confusing and hard to follow.
Also as it happens in a lot of historical books this book needed a lot more maps. I found myself needing an atlas throughout the book.
It’s a worth the read but it’s harder to read than it should be.
The book jumped around so much it was confusing and hard to follow.
Also as it happens in a lot of historical books this book needed a lot more maps. I found myself needing an atlas throughout the book.
It’s a worth the read but it’s harder to read than it should be.
March 27, 2018
A solid, compelling one volume naval history of the ascension of the United States into preeminence afloat.
April 10, 2019
As a U.S. Navy veteran, I especially found this book fascinating reading. I like Nathan Miller's writing style. I own five of his books.
May 1, 2019
Informative. The book covers most, if not all, of the war at sea from surface battles to submarines to convoys.
September 18, 2022
If you want a comprehensive history of naval operations during WWII, This is an excellent book
March 10, 2023
This was a pretty good overview of the naval battles of WWII.
June 6, 2012
Solid, general history of the naval war of WWII. Would have liked for the maps to be included in the chapters instead of all grouped at the end. Also, Miller focuses heavily on air power and omits the contributions of the U.S. Submarine force in the pacific theater. The book is slightly to narrative for my tastes and only vaguely touches on the production of naval equipment or the rapid changes in technology and subsequent strategic and tactical changes.
November 23, 2015
The naval history of WWII is one of the best-known, most widely-reported parts of history. While I don't have any specific objections to this book, it does not much, if anything, to what a reasonably well-informed reader would know about the subject. The author competently hits his mark on the major parts of the struggle, but does not add anything to the story.
February 5, 2008
Miller's tight and concise rendering of the naval battles of World War II was a thrilling read. By keeping the focus on the narrative of the battles, Miller manages to keep the action moving while covering the vast scale of history's greatest naval conflict. A good popular history.
March 8, 2014
This is a great book for the naval history of World War II. Miller covers the significant sea battles of all the participants, unlike some books which focus on a single battle/campaign/nation. Highly recommended and I wish there was a companion volume for armies in WWII.
July 22, 2012
Read it while underway in 1992
August 21, 2014
A very complete account of major aspects of the naval conflict during World War II that is supported by extensive notes, bibliography, maps, charts, and some pictures.
May 1, 2017
This book was assigned to me as a textbook. For me, I didn't even find it useful when writing papers because it mostly just spit out dates. And I am good with dates. But this text was difficult to retain.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews