Customer Reviews

Destroyer weapons of World War 2

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

 

 

The cover title will lead most prospective readers to assume that this book covers in reasonable detail most, if not all, of the weaponry carried by the destroyers of every major naval nation during the 2nd World War. There was a good variety and considerable differences between the guns, torpedoes, depth charges etc. and especially their fire control methods and employment during the war years. Some readers will have expectations of some useful detail as to the development of each nation's weaponry and how this affected the design, construction and in-service performance of the respective vessels.

However, this is a tome focused heavily upon the gun armaments of all sizes as fitted to the destroyers of the British Royal Navy and (the second half of the book) the United States Navy. Within the limits of the two navies covered, some detail is given to torpedoes and their mountings / fire control but somewhat perfunctory coverage is given to anti submarine weapons.

An international encyclopaedia of weapons in the fashion of M.J. Whitleys' coverage of cruiser and destroyer classes across the globe it is not. Little mention is made of the German, Italian and Japanese navies and nothing of any others.

A better working title would have been "British and US Destroyer Guns of WW11". The reader would then consider the information on other weapons and sensors as a side bonus.

Despite this particular criticism, the book is worth the purchase price provided you find the considerable detail of British and American medium calibre guns to be within your field of interest.