Customer Reviews

Two-Ocean War: A Short History of the United States Navy in the Second World War

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I read this book in preparation for a sea power class I was going to take in graduate school. The author has a well planned format for his work which keeps continuity by alternating Atlantic and Pacific theaters in accordance with the timeline of events. Morison covers the major battles in depth and mentions the minor skirmishes which are relevant to the big picture. By reading Two Ocean War, readers are able to better understand the course of events for naval forces during the war which are often overlook in favor of the `more popular' land battles.

Samuel Eliot Morrison is one of the best writers of history and this book is a prime example of his craft. Morrison has a very practical common sense style that equals clear, concise prose that cuts to the heart of the matter without a lot of diversion.

This book is his "short" history of the war. He has also written the official multi-volume history of WWII called: "The History of US Naval Operations in WWII". It is widely regarded as the definitive history on the subject.

I have read many book about the US Navy in WWII. Mr. Morison's book ties all of the events together in a very readable and streight foward manner.

Two Ocean War by Samuel Eliot Morison is a one volume abridgement of Morison's 15 volume History of United States Naval Operations in World War II. What makes Two Ocean War a particularly interesting book is Morison's contemporaneous access to the major players in the US Navy during the war. At the beginning of WWII, Morison, a Harvard history professor and friend of FDR, proposed writing and official history of the war from the inside. FDR and SecNav Frank Knox agreed, commissioned Morison a LTCDR USNR and turned him loose.

Morison apparently went wherever he wanted during the war to "get the story". During the war be sailed on convoy duty in the Atlantic twice, watched the TORCH landings from USS Brooklyn, made a cruise with "Ching" Lee's fast battleships, patrolled "the Slot" with PT boats, and was present at the battle of Kolombangara (USS Honolulu), the invasions of the Gilberts (USS Baltimore) and the Marianas (USS Honolulu) before wrapping things up in 1945 aboard USS Tennessee as it pounded Okinawa before and during the invasion.

As a result of his unprecedented access, Morison's writing displays a great familiarity with the personalities of the Admirals involved I the operations. At times one almost gets the impression that Morison is writing about the doings of his friends to be read by other friends. He has a very lively writing style, which strikes a good blend of narrative and exposition. He not only tells the reader what happened, but when appropriate, why it happened. I wonder if the 15 volume history (of which this is supposed to be an abridgement) features the same writing style.

There are only a few small criticisms of the book. First, it is, as one might expect from a history of US Naval Operations in WWII very Pacific-centric. Although operations in the Atlantic and Med are covered, they have nothing like the detail of those in the Pacific. This includes the Battle of the Atlantic, which is given a cursory examination and account. However since it was largely a British battle I suppose this makes some sense.

The second criticism is kind of the "flip side" of Morison's access and apparent acquaintance with the Admirals involved. There is very little serious criticism of American forces involved. Even Halsey gets no more than a nominal "tutt-tutt" finger shake for haring off after Ozawa's empty carriers and leaving Ziggy Sprague's behind flapping in the breeze at Samar Island.

Which those provisos, this is still the best one volume account of the American Navy in WWII, especially in the Pacific, that I've ever seen or heard about. I recommend it highly for anyone who wants to understand the USNs experience in WWII.

I first got this book and read it in eighth grade. I read it once a year ever since! This is, without a doubt, the quintessential book on the US Navy in World War II. (That is, excluding his 15 volume set) Well written, it shows not only the big picture, but the smaller battles and skirmishes. Morison goes over the buildup to it, speaking of the "Twenty Years' Peace", sheds light on the oft-overlooked ABDA command, talks about the attack on Pearl Harbor in-depth, gives amazingly accurate details on the Battle for the Atlantic, and speaks of the battles that have become synonymous with the Pacific, as well as some that may be new to even the most accomplished World War II/Navy buff. A great read, and it's a great way to understand how important the US Navy was in WWII.

I found this single volume history to be magnificent. Thanks to this work I discovered a love of U.S. naval history that has lasted for the last two decades. I give this book my highest recommendation.

Got this for my birthday this past April. Well written overview of the Naval history of World War II. Does an excellent job of spending time on both the Pacific and Atlantic theaters of operation.