Book Review of
Images of War
United States Navy Destroyers
Rare Photos from Wartime Archives
Author: Michael Green
Pen & Sword Books
ISBN: 9781529758545
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2020
MSRP: $24.95
ISBN: 9781529758545
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2020
MSRP: $24.95
The classic images of War book traces the critical role played by destroyers of the U.S. Navy (USN) since the first order for 16 in 1898l. Before America’s entry into WWI, a further 63 destroyers were commissioned and due to the U-boat threat, 267 more were authorized by Congress once hostilities were joined.
Between 1932 and Pearl Harbor, ten new classes totaling 169 destroyers came into service. During the war years, American shipyards turned out a further 334 vessels. Of the three types, the 175 ship Fletcher Class was judged the most successful.
The Cold War years saw the development of seven more types. More recently, 82 of the stealth shaped Arleigh Burke Class have been ordered, but the futuristic Zumwalt program has been curtailed for cost reasons.
Expert author Michael Green is to be commended for compiling this overview account of the USN’s impressive destroyer program with its authoritative text and superb images.
THE BOOK:
Pen & Sword books is located in the UK.
This book is soft-bound of 208 pages in 7 ½” x 9 ¾” page format.
The cover art shows a Zumwalt program destroyer, that is overall chalk-white with a grey bow number 1000 on its side. It looks like something out of Star Wars.
Below it is 3 black and white photos and 1 color one.
The first black and white one shows the USS Flusser (TBD-20) of the Smith Class, built between 1908 and 1910.
The second black and white one shows the USS Ericsson 1904.
The third black and white one shows the USS Nicholas (DD-449), Fletcher Class in 1941.
The color photo is of an Arliegh Class Destroyer (name not given).
The back cover has 3 more black and white photos and 1 more color one on it.
The first black and white one is of a Spruance Class-type destroyer in 1981.
The second black and white one is the USS Perkins (DD-877) a Gearing Class destroyer, commissioned in April 1945.
The third black and white one is a head-on shot, not named.
The color one is the USS Hopewell (DD-681) 1960’s.
The book holds 191 black and white photos and 17 color ones.
There are 17 maintenance manual illustrations, 2 side-views as all-black silhouettes, a chart, 1 color illustration, 2 black and white illustrations, a line-drawing, a chart, dedication, introduction and acknowledgements.
Photos show the exteriors and interiors of several destroyers, weapons and crews.
This is one neat book on US destroyers. It will be of great interest to ship modelers and naval historians alike.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers, the North American distributor of Pen & Sword books for this review sample. All Pen & Sword titles can be viewed on Casemate’s web-site at:
Between 1932 and Pearl Harbor, ten new classes totaling 169 destroyers came into service. During the war years, American shipyards turned out a further 334 vessels. Of the three types, the 175 ship Fletcher Class was judged the most successful.
The Cold War years saw the development of seven more types. More recently, 82 of the stealth shaped Arleigh Burke Class have been ordered, but the futuristic Zumwalt program has been curtailed for cost reasons.
Expert author Michael Green is to be commended for compiling this overview account of the USN’s impressive destroyer program with its authoritative text and superb images.
THE BOOK:
Pen & Sword books is located in the UK.
This book is soft-bound of 208 pages in 7 ½” x 9 ¾” page format.
The cover art shows a Zumwalt program destroyer, that is overall chalk-white with a grey bow number 1000 on its side. It looks like something out of Star Wars.
Below it is 3 black and white photos and 1 color one.
The first black and white one shows the USS Flusser (TBD-20) of the Smith Class, built between 1908 and 1910.
The second black and white one shows the USS Ericsson 1904.
The third black and white one shows the USS Nicholas (DD-449), Fletcher Class in 1941.
The color photo is of an Arliegh Class Destroyer (name not given).
The back cover has 3 more black and white photos and 1 more color one on it.
The first black and white one is of a Spruance Class-type destroyer in 1981.
The second black and white one is the USS Perkins (DD-877) a Gearing Class destroyer, commissioned in April 1945.
The third black and white one is a head-on shot, not named.
The color one is the USS Hopewell (DD-681) 1960’s.
The book holds 191 black and white photos and 17 color ones.
There are 17 maintenance manual illustrations, 2 side-views as all-black silhouettes, a chart, 1 color illustration, 2 black and white illustrations, a line-drawing, a chart, dedication, introduction and acknowledgements.
Photos show the exteriors and interiors of several destroyers, weapons and crews.
This is one neat book on US destroyers. It will be of great interest to ship modelers and naval historians alike.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers, the North American distributor of Pen & Sword books for this review sample. All Pen & Sword titles can be viewed on Casemate’s web-site at:
Highly recommended.