Customer Reviews

War at Sea: A Naval History of World War II

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a 1-volume history of the naval war in all theatres in WWII, this book can by no means be complete or in-depth. However, if you read this book as an introduction to naval warfare, or as a look at the "big picture", this volume does the job very well. It is easy to read, informative, touches on virtually all the important events, and keeps up a good pace. Of course, certain events are relegated to mere footnotes, including the Dieppe raid and the loss of USS Indianapolis (where most of the deaths were from sharks and exposure, not enemy activity) in the interest of timing and length. However, Miller usually points the way to further readings in such cases, if the reader wants to know more. There is an extensive notes section at the end of the book divided by chapter, listing many primary sources, which gives the book a good deal of credibility.

His analysis is generally brief as well, which is ideal for a book of this type, where pace important. This doesn't mean it's any less insightful, however. He convincingly argues that the use of the atomic bomb was a strategic, war-ending measure, not just an attempt to scare the Soviet Union; that the refusal of the Japanese to withdraw skilled pilots to train the next generation was a fatal error; and that the industrial might of the combined allies was too much for the Axis - they had to win in the first couple of years or be ultimately worn out. Another important point in praise of this book is the way Miller is careful to point out the involvement of the so-called minor allies. For example, by 1945, Canada had the 3rd largest navy in the world, but because the RCN primarily participated in the Battle of the Atlantic, they get ignored by historians who get caught up in Big Events storytelling. Miller is always very careful to point out these countries' contributions.

Unfortunately, there are a few quibbling points that drop the book to 4 stars. First, the maps are conveniently located together at the back of the book, but are never referred to in the text, and are often of too large an area to be useful. For example, a lot of space is devoted to amphibious operations on Guadalcanal, Okinawa, etc., but these islands are merely dots on a "Pacific theatre" map. Even a 1/4 page sketch per island would have been very helpful. Secondly, Miller seems to have a vendetta against Winston Churchill - he is always quick to ridicule Churchill's wild ideas, but never to give credit to his good ones, instead saying, "The British wanted ...." Finally, there's an occasional confusion, such as mixing up the British cruisers Dorsetshire (that sunk the Bismark) and Devonshire.

These quibbles do not really detract from the overall enjoyment of the book, however, and it's recommended for any armchair historian interested in the naval aspects of World War II.

I must concur with other reviewers that Nathan Miller's "War at Sea: A Naval History of World War II" is the best history on naval warfare during the Second World War. The book reads like a novel without getting bogged down in details. What I enjoyed most was Miller's recounting of the naval battles that took place during the European war's early years. When most individuals think of naval warfare in the Second World War, they tend to think of the Pacific war - Pearl Harbor, Midway, Leyte Gulf, etc. (for the simple and correct reasoning that the Pacific Ocean's great expanse required strong and large navies to ferry troops, equipment, aircraft, etc.). But Miller does an excellent job of educating the reader about the tremendous naval battles that took place in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. For instance, Britain's pursuit of the Bismark, the destruction of the Italian fleet and, importantly, the U-boat war. Thus, in essence, the European war was as much of a naval war as was the Pacific war. I highly recommend this history to all World War II history readers.

in the Second World War.

This book, which begins with the opening of the war in 1939 and ends with the surrender off of Japan in 1945 is probably the most comprehensive, most thorough narrative of naval action involving the major forces. While I agree with one review (in an Air Force magazine, I believe) that states that the Russian and Italian navies were underrepresented, the other forces are represented. Readers feel as if they are chasing after enemy battleships, fighting attacking aircrafts, battling fires, or firing torpedoes from submarines.

This is an excellent introduction to the naval war--one that's worth reading again and again.

This book is a classic. A great read for anyone slightly interested in naval history or WWII. The stories in the footnotes are great. It gives the war a more personal touch than most books on naval history.

A marvellous journey through the sea nightmares of World War II. The best you can get in only one volume, by an expert in Naval history. No complains. Magnific.

Solid, general history of the naval war of WWII. Would have liked for the maps to be included in the chapters instead of all grouped at the end. Also, Miller focuses heavily on air power and omits the contributions of the U.S. Submarine force in the pacific theater. The book is slightly to narrative for my tastes and only vaguely touches on the production of naval equipment or the rapid changes in technology and subsequent strategic and tactical changes. For the causal reader.

This work is pure and unadulterated magic for any reader even remotely interested in World War II. The scope of the work is daunting: documenting the enormous impact naval activity had on the course of the War . . . in one manageable volume.

As a fairly well-read amateur historian (admittedly unfamiliar with many of the primary and secondary historical sources upon which the author relies), I cannot overemphasize the joy I found reading this book. The author's prose is almost uniformly flawless, a characteristic sadly lacking in all too many historical works. The book reads as easily as any work of fiction you would care to name, without losing any of its historical accuracy or objectivity.

The author scrupulously documents the issues faced by all the War's participants, though a careful reader might detect a certain amount of Anglo-Allied bias. However, whenever the author passes judgment on the actions of a particular admiral or political leader, he almost always presents an opposing viewpoint.

Overall, the reader will be, as the title of this review indicates, in the presence of greatness upon taking up this book.

This is the best book I've ever read about the USN in WW2. It reads more like novel than history. It is well-researched, well-written and a pleasure to read. This is a complete library in one volume.

From the first sentence, to the last it keeps you in the edge of your bed. Had to read it again, as soon as I finished. Should be in everybody's collection of books. Buy it, you will not be disappointed!

This is an excellent book for the already knowledgeable and the newly interested. Though somewhat lugubrious and pedantic in spots, at least for the new aficionado, it is sure to excite further research into the history of the time, and its impact upon the use of Naval weaponry and strategy to prosecute a difficult and bloody war.