United States Destroyer Operations in World War II [Hardcover]

Theodore Roscoe (Author), Lieut. Comdr Fred Freeman (Illustrator), Rear Admiral Thomas L. Wattles (Technical Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0870217267 | ISBN-13: 978-0870217265 | Publication Date: December 1953 | Edition: 1st

A detailed account of the operations of U.S. destroyers in World War II, prepared from personal narratives and official records.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 581 pages
• Publisher: US Naval Institute Press; 1st edition (December 1953)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0870217267
• ISBN-13: 978-0870217265
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.7 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #634,138 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Poor reprint of an excellent book, October 9, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: United States Destroyer Operations in World War II (Hardcover)

I have inherited copies of the original volume published in 1953. All text and photographs are as in the original volume, but the reprint loses out in photographic reproduction. The original used photographic-grade paper for the pictures and, given the limitations of the era, reproduction is excellent. In the reprint, photographs are printed on the same type of paper used for the text. The details of the photographs are obscured and fuzzy compared to the original, sometimes to the point of being almost indistinguishable. The text is unchanged and will bring a wealth of information to those interested in the naval history of this era. Altogether, considering the price, a disappointing effort. These comments also apply to "U. S. Submarine Operation in World War II" by the same author.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As complete as I had hoped to find., July 15, 2008

By 

Ned Middleton (British professional underwater photo-journalist & author) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: United States Destroyer Operations in World War II (Hardcover)

This is one of those book which is easily recognised as a product of supreme quality and that quality comes from the detailed information found within.

The destroyers of the United States of America during WW2 bore the brunt of many a battle as they placed themselves between the enemy and the much larger capital ships their very existence demanded they protect - because that was their role. To include the details of all US destroyer operations of WW2 in one book is an immense undertaking.

I purchased this book because I was researching the loss of a small number of specific ships with the USS Aaron Ward being one. Just as soon as the book arrived, therefore, I went straight to that name. I was previously unaware that the first USS Aaron was one of several four-funnelled US Destroyers sold to the Royal Navy and renamed - in her case, HMS Castleton. Another was USS Buchanan which became HMS Campbeltown and was used to ram the dock gates at St Nazaire with devastating effect. My point being, all the information is here.

The book begins with a brief history of the US destroyer which is quickly followed by a description of this type of vessel in 1938. Various deck guns and deck-mounted torpedo tubes and their operating mechanisms are all explained. Then there is an overview of the 8 classes of WW2 destroyer and a cutaway diagram of a typical ship.

So far we are only at page 26 and the next 500 pages carry a narrative, assessment and appreciation of all US destroyer operations throughout the second world war. This coverage of such a vast subject is as complete as one could hope to find.

Appendices include details of all losses, Presidential Unit Citations, Navy Unit Commendations, the composition of different fleets (i.e. which ship was serving where), which ships were transferred to the Royal Navy and Free French Navy, the names of new ships added during WW2 and which ships were converted to other duties. Completed with a 27 page index, I am confident that the reader will quickly find anything of particular interest.

Altogether a full and comprehensive coverage of a most complex subject and an excellent addition to my own private library.

NM

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent story about the apex of destroyer warfare, December 15, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (San Juan Capistrano CA 92675) - See all my reviews

This review is from: United States Destroyer Operations in World War II (Hardcover)

The destroyer's best years were WWII. She could sink a BB or Cruiser with five steam torpedos, chase down and blast submarines into an icy grave, give fire support to troops ashore and those landing; or they could shuttle admirals and generals & pick up downed pilots. There was no ship like the destroyer. They laid one keel a week and they ruled the seas from Midway to Anzio and Omaha. This book tells it all in fast moving, battle experienced detail; the exact details of the battles, the line of march, the mistakes, the dud torpedoes, the intrepid captains, the iron discipline, and a sense of humor ...