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Aircraft Carriers: The World’s Greatest Carriers of the last 100 Years
Aircraft Carriers features 52 of the most significant flat tops and amphibious assault ships built since the 1920s.
During World War II, the aircraft carrier finally came into its own. Fleet carriers carrying 30–40 aircraft allowed the Japanese and US navies to project air power across the vast Pacific Ocean, with the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor presaging a new kind of warfare. With the sinking of hundreds of ships during World War II, including the German battleship Bismarck in 1941, by the end of the war carriers ruled the waves and the era of the battleship had passed. Aircraft Carriers features flat tops and assault ships from the last 100 years, from the USS Yorktown, which survived direct hits during the battle of Midway (1942), through the Falklands War veteran HMS Invincible, to the mighty Nimitz class, the core of the US Navy's carrier battle groups today. Also included are significant amphibious assault ships, such as the USS Tarawa and French Mistral. Each entry includes a brief description of the ship's development and history, a color profile view or cutaway, key features, and specifications.
During World War II, the aircraft carrier finally came into its own. Fleet carriers carrying 30–40 aircraft allowed the Japanese and US navies to project air power across the vast Pacific Ocean, with the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor presaging a new kind of warfare. With the sinking of hundreds of ships during World War II, including the German battleship Bismarck in 1941, by the end of the war carriers ruled the waves and the era of the battleship had passed. Aircraft Carriers features flat tops and assault ships from the last 100 years, from the USS Yorktown, which survived direct hits during the battle of Midway (1942), through the Falklands War veteran HMS Invincible, to the mighty Nimitz class, the core of the US Navy's carrier battle groups today. Also included are significant amphibious assault ships, such as the USS Tarawa and French Mistral. Each entry includes a brief description of the ship's development and history, a color profile view or cutaway, key features, and specifications.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published June 2, 2022
12 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 4, 2022
Aircraft Carriers by David Ross is a very interesting look at the development of the ship from refitted battleship to dedicated aircraft carrier, told by looking at specific ships over the past 100 years.
As I did with the Submarines book, I will offer some personal background. I don't remember specifically the first time I saw an aircraft carrier, no doubt at one of my father's duty stations (he was career Navy) while I was young. At that age, even destroyers looked big, so perspective carries little meaning into the present. After I completed ET A and C schools, I got temporary duty on a surface ship while waiting to go to Nuclear Power school and prototype then on to my submarine. I was stationed aboard the USS Mount Whitney which at the time was the amphibious command ship for the Atlantic. It was, to my eyes, big. But while in Norfolk either the Kennedy or the Independence came into port and when I visited an old boot camp friend onboard I was really taken aback by the size. Ever since, my interests have largely been submarines and aircraft carriers when it comes to Naval vessels.
The entries in this book do a great job of not just describing each ship but also how it fits into the evolution of the carrier. An extra bonus, for my interests anyway, was the information given about many of the planes that could use each ship. Particularly the older planes, like one with, as I recall, metal for the front half and material covered wood for the back. As is my habit, I went online several times to follow leads of particular interest to me. That is also a positive of the book: it provides quite a bit of information without getting bogged down in any area while giving an interested reader the keywords necessary to dig deeper in whatever might interest them.
While many of the photographs are wonderful, I most enjoyed the drawings that showed cross sections and locations of key elements. Between these pictures and the text, it was easy to understand the rationale behind many of the design changes over the years.
Highly recommended for military history buffs as well as those interested in histories of specific things. I could even imagine someone who likes to create replicas using this, along with additional research, to make realistic models.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
As I did with the Submarines book, I will offer some personal background. I don't remember specifically the first time I saw an aircraft carrier, no doubt at one of my father's duty stations (he was career Navy) while I was young. At that age, even destroyers looked big, so perspective carries little meaning into the present. After I completed ET A and C schools, I got temporary duty on a surface ship while waiting to go to Nuclear Power school and prototype then on to my submarine. I was stationed aboard the USS Mount Whitney which at the time was the amphibious command ship for the Atlantic. It was, to my eyes, big. But while in Norfolk either the Kennedy or the Independence came into port and when I visited an old boot camp friend onboard I was really taken aback by the size. Ever since, my interests have largely been submarines and aircraft carriers when it comes to Naval vessels.
The entries in this book do a great job of not just describing each ship but also how it fits into the evolution of the carrier. An extra bonus, for my interests anyway, was the information given about many of the planes that could use each ship. Particularly the older planes, like one with, as I recall, metal for the front half and material covered wood for the back. As is my habit, I went online several times to follow leads of particular interest to me. That is also a positive of the book: it provides quite a bit of information without getting bogged down in any area while giving an interested reader the keywords necessary to dig deeper in whatever might interest them.
While many of the photographs are wonderful, I most enjoyed the drawings that showed cross sections and locations of key elements. Between these pictures and the text, it was easy to understand the rationale behind many of the design changes over the years.
Highly recommended for military history buffs as well as those interested in histories of specific things. I could even imagine someone who likes to create replicas using this, along with additional research, to make realistic models.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
January 14, 2024
Diving into David Ross's "Aircraft Carriers: The World’s Greatest Carriers of the last 100 Years" was like setting sail on a captivating journey through the annals of naval history. If you've ever been curious about those colossal 'giants of the seas' and their pivotal roles throughout history, this book is an absolute gem, wrapped in fantastic photographs and a treasure trove of information.
From the humble beginnings of the first airplane take-off from the HMS Hibernia in 1912 to the game-changing moments during World War II, where carriers truly came into their own, this book is a comprehensive exploration. It vividly chronicles the development of carriers, from interwar marvels like Lexington and Courageous to the era-defining giants like the Nimitz class that dominate today's naval landscape.
The storytelling isn't just informative; it's a riveting narrative that brings history to life. Take, for instance, the Sopwith Camels launching from HMS Furious in 1918, or the carrier-based warfare that reshaped naval dynamics during World War II. With the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck and the rise of carriers, the book expertly navigates through key moments, each page unveiling a new chapter in the evolution of naval warfare.
What truly sets this book apart is the visual feast it offers. The 52 featured carriers, including the resilient USS Yorktown, the Falklands War veteran HMS Invincible, and the mighty Nimitz class, are not just described—they're showcased in vibrant color profiles and cutaways. With over 200 artworks and photographs, every page is a gallery of naval prowess, making it an irresistible treat for enthusiasts.
As someone who always wanted to learn more about these floating behemoths, this book exceeded expectations. The concise ship descriptions, coupled with key features and specifications, create a seamless blend of education and fascination. Whether you're a naval warfare enthusiast or just someone intrigued by the might of these engineering marvels, "Aircraft Carriers" is a captivating voyage through time.
From the humble beginnings of the first airplane take-off from the HMS Hibernia in 1912 to the game-changing moments during World War II, where carriers truly came into their own, this book is a comprehensive exploration. It vividly chronicles the development of carriers, from interwar marvels like Lexington and Courageous to the era-defining giants like the Nimitz class that dominate today's naval landscape.
The storytelling isn't just informative; it's a riveting narrative that brings history to life. Take, for instance, the Sopwith Camels launching from HMS Furious in 1918, or the carrier-based warfare that reshaped naval dynamics during World War II. With the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck and the rise of carriers, the book expertly navigates through key moments, each page unveiling a new chapter in the evolution of naval warfare.
What truly sets this book apart is the visual feast it offers. The 52 featured carriers, including the resilient USS Yorktown, the Falklands War veteran HMS Invincible, and the mighty Nimitz class, are not just described—they're showcased in vibrant color profiles and cutaways. With over 200 artworks and photographs, every page is a gallery of naval prowess, making it an irresistible treat for enthusiasts.
As someone who always wanted to learn more about these floating behemoths, this book exceeded expectations. The concise ship descriptions, coupled with key features and specifications, create a seamless blend of education and fascination. Whether you're a naval warfare enthusiast or just someone intrigued by the might of these engineering marvels, "Aircraft Carriers" is a captivating voyage through time.
May 18, 2022
This accessible guide to the major aircraft carriers of our times (have there been many minor ones, come to think of it?) is going to appeal to many. If you know little about this type of ship you'll be surprised to find one serving in World War Two that was a veteran of WW1 – a ship that had been intended to be a cruiser, and was well over 200 metres long. It took a lot of years and experiments to iron out some naiveties about the style, however – a flight deck that was too narrow, plumes of the ship's fumes venting in entirely the wrong place for such early planes, hangar decks too small for the planes... One of the early ships had been using two-gallon jerry cans for the birds' fuel, as nobody had thought to employ a specific tank.
The entries for all the ships are pretty much the same standard – a history of their build and/or conversion, enough text to say what was different and what might have been wrong with each one, and the facts about their military successes. Visually both get a side-on diagram across a double-page spread, perhaps a top-down view to match, and a contemporary photo. I am sure there are experts who know more about this and that, or would want more about the other to fill their knowledge, but for the more inquisitive layman I think these are perfectly judged small chapters, especially if you can skip the paragraphs about all the different radar units and don't mind all the military acronyms being defined on their second use. I didn't get a sense of how comprehensive this was – hence the quip about minor carriers – but I did get a sense that this was a valuable book for the right reader. What I saw did not appear to have been updated and revised since this first came out in 2017, mind – the HMS Ocean now being Brazilian-owned proof.
The entries for all the ships are pretty much the same standard – a history of their build and/or conversion, enough text to say what was different and what might have been wrong with each one, and the facts about their military successes. Visually both get a side-on diagram across a double-page spread, perhaps a top-down view to match, and a contemporary photo. I am sure there are experts who know more about this and that, or would want more about the other to fill their knowledge, but for the more inquisitive layman I think these are perfectly judged small chapters, especially if you can skip the paragraphs about all the different radar units and don't mind all the military acronyms being defined on their second use. I didn't get a sense of how comprehensive this was – hence the quip about minor carriers – but I did get a sense that this was a valuable book for the right reader. What I saw did not appear to have been updated and revised since this first came out in 2017, mind – the HMS Ocean now being Brazilian-owned proof.
June 23, 2022
This was a brilliant book. I really enjoyed reading it . I must admit this straight away I know nothing about them other than they fascinate me. This book was perfect fit for me as I learnt so much from reading it and I just loved the multi view aspects of the diagrams.
The book was set out brilliantly in chronological order with there little country flags. Plenty of useful information that was well explained. However, it could of used a glossary but I just googled new words to me. As mentioned before labeled diagrams of there important features. Then a great photograph of it in action.
I definitely recommend this book to all submarine fans or people like me who love to learn about new things.
My favourite diagrams where the view from the front as it just gives that extra dimension to enjoy.
I will definitely be looking out for more books by this author and publishers.
I would like to thank them all for creating this really fascinating and very informative book which I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in. Its a great page turner!
The book was set out brilliantly in chronological order with there little country flags. Plenty of useful information that was well explained. However, it could of used a glossary but I just googled new words to me. As mentioned before labeled diagrams of there important features. Then a great photograph of it in action.
I definitely recommend this book to all submarine fans or people like me who love to learn about new things.
My favourite diagrams where the view from the front as it just gives that extra dimension to enjoy.
I will definitely be looking out for more books by this author and publishers.
I would like to thank them all for creating this really fascinating and very informative book which I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in. Its a great page turner!
April 26, 2022
Great book very interesting regarding aircraft carriers
Worth reading very well written
Everyone should get this book learn more about vital part of our armed forces
Worth reading very well written
Everyone should get this book learn more about vital part of our armed forces
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews