Customer Reviews

Concrete Battleship: Fort Drum, El Fraile Island, Manila Bay

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

BOUGHT THIS BOOK ON A WHIM VERY INTERSTING ONLY 64 PAGES AND APROX 10X14 BUT PACKED WITH HISTORICAL INFORMATION, DETAILS ON CONSTRUCTION, COMBAT HISTORY AND LOTS OF BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHS AND SOME EARLY DRAWINGS. CAPTIONS ARE WELL WRITTEN AND DO A GOOD JOB OF EXPLAINING THE PHOTOGARPHS. I RECOMEND THIS BOOK TO ANYONE WHO LIKES OFFBEAT MILITARY SUBJECTS. THE ONLY TWO THINGS I THOUGHT COULD BE IMPROVED WAS THERE WAS NOT ANY UP TO DATE DRAWINGS OF LAYOUT (DRAWINGS PROVIDED WERE OLD AND HARD TO READ) OR HARDLY ANY UP TO DATE OR COLOR PICTURES. MOST OF LATER PICTURES WERE TAKEN RIGHT AFTER WW2. IF YOU LIKE OFFBEAT MILITARY SUBJECTS THIS MIGHT BE THE BOOK FOR YOU.

A bit short and not much detail on WWII actions, hence the 4 stars. In all fairness, there may not have been many survivors from Ft. Drum after the "Death March".

Good history and background with many rare construction photos and design diagrams. I liked the modern day follow-up photos of how it looks now or least in the 1990's. However, Ft. Drum's use or non-use during Japanese occupation was never really discussed, only the subsequent disablement when the Philippines were liberated.

I would also recommend the Osprey Publications' booklet on Manila Bay defenses.

Concrete Battleship is filled with minute historical details about the daily operations of this fort located in Manilla Bay. A fun read with loads of detailed photos taken during the construction and final days of this fort. The fort with it's imposing size and isolated location is sure to be the subject of question for years to come.

Make sure you check other books in this series!

I am a buff of the first year of the war in the Pacific which drew me to this book. It is not a page turner but it is an excellent reference book. One thing that stands out is how little it was used between the wars because of the nation's financial crunch. It is odd to say the least to see this "ship" rise out of Manila Bay. I was fortunate enough to get a tour of the bay in a Philippine Navy patrol boat and we circled Fort Drum. It gave me goose bumps.