Customer Reviews

Brassey's Book of Naval Blunders (Military Blunders)

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Geoffrey Regan is described as "Britain's premier authority on military disasters" and, with the word "Blunders" in several of the titles of his previous books, he is certainly well qualified to provide an accurate account of those that are part of the world's naval history.

"The Brassey's Book of Naval Blunders" is a soft cover book measuring 9¾" x 7½" containing 182 pages of detailed information on various historic naval encounters from around the world. There is a good selection of supporting B&W photographs throughout. In an easy-to-read style of writing - and following a two-page introduction, the author commences with an account of the 18,000 mile journey of the Russian Fleet in 1905 and how two-thirds of that fleet were lost when they finally came up against the Japanese. Likening some of those involved to the Marx Brothers is an apt comparison and a good indication of what is to follow.

Part I of the book is then divided in chapters headed "Lunatic Admirals" - in which we are treated to no fewer than 16 excellent tales to fit that particular heading, "Tale of a Tub" - 10 instances of ship design ranging from a circular battleship to vessels that torpedoed themselves, "The Price of Admiralty" - where all the ultimate life-costing decisions are made by the governments and civil-servants-in-uniform of the day, "A Life on the Ocean Wave" - 6 tales of life aboard ship, "Above us the Waves" - various tales of submarine design left wanting (including the dreadful K-class) and "That Sinking Feeling" - recounting the loss of several well known vessels including the Mary Rose and HMS Vanguard.

Part II is simply headed "Case Studies" and is exactly that, the case studies of 22 important naval battles ranging from Drepana in 250 BC to Leyte Gulf in 1944. Whilst I had not previously heard of Drepana - I never realised how Leyte Gulf was such a close-run thing.

Altogether, this is a fascinating book, an excellent read and the answer to an awful lot of questions about naval warfare in general, the outcome of several naval engagements in particular and the fate of certain specific ships..

NM

While the book goes the same way than the rest in the "blunder" series, the cases studied are far shorter (and thus less thoroughly explained) and the stories Regan has picked may be a little bit surprising, since none of the most known naval blunders in History doesn't appear in it (Actium, the Invincible Armada, the expedition to Cartagena de Indias in 1739...)

This book has a considerable number of stories regarding naval blunders. Most are quite amusing and entertaining. If your goal is this, the book would be a five star. However, if you are looking for an analysis underlying the so-called blunders you will be dissappointed as the author provides very little in the way of analysis (either of the individual stories or any underlying themes as a group). A conclusion providing such a discussion in either the individual stories or the end of the book would have been useful.

It's a fun read, as the title implies, but not to be confused with naval history. In fact, too often Mr. Regan seems to have edited out too much of the story, leaving me a bit perplexed. I found myself wishing there were fewer but longer entries.

Nonetheless, the ride was worth the fare.