Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems (Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World) [Hardcover]

Eric Wertheim (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2005 | ISBN-10: 1591149347 | ISBN-13: 978-1591149347

Internationally acknowledged as the best one-volume reference to the world's naval and paranaval forces, this popular Naval Institute guide is both comprehensive and affordable. Updated biennially since 1976, it has come to be relied on for all-inclusive, accurate, and up-to-date data on the ships, navies, coast guards, and naval aviation arms of more than one hundred eighty countries and territories, including for the first time this year East Timor. Large fleets and small maritime forces get equally thorough treatment as evidenced in this new edition, which highlights major and even minor developments that could have an impact on the world scene. From orders of new patrol boats for Yemen and ship name changes in the Georgian navy to performance details of the British navy's new Astute class submarines and Type 45 destroyers, the information is easily accessed by readers wanting to keep abreast of the world's navies. A thorough indexing of material and a logical ship-typing system makes the book easy to use and allows quick comparisons between fleets. For those who need fast access to facts about the world's navies, this single-volume naval reference is essential - and a bargain considering the wealth of material it provides. Present timely, authoritative information Supported by hundreds of new illustrations With contributions from more than a hundred correspondents from around the world Complete descriptions of naval aircraft, weapons, weapons systems, and sensors Commentary on organization, personnel strengths, and bases

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Eric Wertheim, a strategic analyst in Northern Virginia, consults to government and private industry. A columnist for Proceedings magazine since 1994, he is the coauthor of Chronology of the Cold War at Sea, among other books.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1104 pages
• Publisher: US Naval Institute Press (January 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591149347
• ISBN-13: 978-1591149347
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 9.4 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,707,263 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Almost perfect alternative to Jane's Fighting Ships, March 18, 2005

By 

Isabel Miranda (Portugal) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems (Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World) (Hardcover)

I bought this book because the price of Jane's Fighting Ships is simply impossible for me and many defence workers. I was very satisfied with this alternative and happy to know that there's an alternative to Jane's at a much cheaper price.

The only aspects I didn't like so much is that these editions are not annual but cover two years instead, so some information is very outdated (example: new chinese destroyers and fast missile boats, Tikuna class submarine, portuguese building program-multiple classes - at least these are closer to my work) and some pictures could be replaced by real photos of ships already launched last year.

I'm sure the next edition will be even better and personnaly I wish Naval Institute decide to put a Combat fleets guide every year out.

You will not regret to buy this.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Biger and at One Third the Price is Pretty Convincing, March 22, 2005

By 

John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems (Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World) (Hardcover)

Sub-Title: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems (Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World) ==There are only two books like this published in the world, so it is inevitable that they have to be compared. Jane's Fighting Ships is now in its 107th edition. The Naval Institute's Guide to Combat Fleets has been published every couple of years since 1977. In any case that's enough for both of them to have become established and to have developed a solid background/format/procedure for gathering the information about ships and for publishing it in as accurate a maner as possible. They are both excellent works. Neither is perfect, because some information is difficult to get (The Naval Institute book says: "Data for North Korea are only marginally reliable."), and there is a time lag between freezing the writing and the delivery of the finished product. ==So what is left to compare. They are both huge books, 7+ pounds of paper. The Naval Institute book has about 150 more pages than Janes, and it is about one third the price. Yes, one third of the price, not one third less. ==This book has 1104 pages, 4450 photographs. I also find it easier to read, easier to find what I need to know.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worlds Navies on CD, November 2, 2006

By 

G. A. Rhodes (Dorset uk) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Naval Institute Guide To Combat Fleets Of The World 2005-2006: Their Ships, Aircraft, And Systems (CD-ROM)

This publication is an American equivalent of Janes Fighting Ships.I personally like the CD version as it has a good index facility and fairly good photos and illustrations with plenty of information about every navy particularly of the minor vessels. More illustrations would be useful but you cannot have every thing. Overall I like this product and keep it loaded on my laptop.