Customer Reviews

Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775-1990: Major Combatants

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Steve Roberts has built on the earlier work of Jack Bauer to put together one of the most accurate lists published of ships of the U.S. Navy. Meticulously researched through primary Navy records, the book corrects dozens of earlier errors of names, dates and details and provides comments on nearly every type of combatant vessel built for the USN. This is NOT a coffee-table book full of pretty pictures; rather, it is stuffed with details that are quite useful for anyone needing reliable information.

There are many reference guides available for those involved in the history of U.S. Navy ships but the Bauer & Roberts Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775-1990 is the most authoritive single volume available. As a naval historian I have and use them all but this is the one I reach for first and the one I most rely on for details of the construction and outfitting of the navy's warships. It is an essential element of naval vessel history and despite the relatively high price the book is worth more than it costs in research time saved. We literally wore out the first book from heavy use and had to buy a second copy.

Do not waste your money on this book! I was very shocked when I opening the book and discovered there was very littleillustration. Also, the text was very hard to read. It literally is just a bunch of small text thrown together with no thought to organizing it in a readable manner. Incredibly sad for the price I paid for it!!! Very disappointed. I should have just looked up the information and printed it out from the web and crammed it in a binder. The publisher evidently didn't want to put any thought whatsoever into this publication!!