Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1860-1905 (Hardcover)

by Robert Gardiner (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: US Naval Institute Press (December 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 087021912X
• ISBN-13: 978-0870219122
• Product Dimensions: 12.8 x 8.8 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,498,946 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A complete reference library in one book., May 4, 2007

By	Ned Middleton (British professional underwater photo-journalist & author) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860-1905 is the first in a series of 4 books which, as the title suggests, lists all the worlds fighting ships built in that period between the first ironclad warship and the Dreadnought battleship. This was a time when the world's first great arms race was running a full speed - in short, as one country built a big battleship - so another would simply design one that was even bigger.

Conway Maritime Press are well known for their factual books on ships - especially warships, in which they provide the finest technical documentation. "All the World's Fighting Ships 1860-1905" is hard-back measuring 12½" x 8¾" with 440 pages of detailed and factual information. After a brief foreword and an explanation of abbreviations used, the navies of the world are divided into three main headings; The world's great powers, coast defence navies and minor navies. Under each of these headings all the relevant ships are then listed by country. Displayed by "class," each section then commences with the largest battleships and progresses all the way down to the smallest torpedo boats (or whatever) with the oldest vessels mentioned first. For each class there is one or more of those profile line drawings which have become Conway's trademark. These are followed by all the usual technical details such as; Displacement, dimensions, machinery, armour, armament and complement followed by the names of each ship within that class - it's builder, date laid down, date completed and fate. These are accompanied by a very "readable" text from which we learn of the political intrigue of the day, variations between vessels, refits, new equipment, whatever defects or other problems that beset either the class or a specific ship and a short résumé of the fate of each vessel.

Altogether, the book is well illustrated with an excellent selection of historic black and white original photographs throughout with at least one picture on almost every page.

In summary, this is an excellent technical work of reference and one which will continue to stand the test of time. Put another way, this is one of those books you will wish you had bought - after it becomes out of print.

NM

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent single volume compilation for this period, July 29, 2006

By	Christopher J. Keesing - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This remains among the best single volume reference works on naval materiel for the ironclad up through the pre-dreadnaught era and a worthy kick-off to the rest of the "All the World's" series. This was especially true in 1979 when systematic coverage of ironclad and pre-dreadnaught capital ships, much less other naval units, was virtually lacking unless one had access to old editions of Brassey's, Jane's, or Parkes and even then illustrated coverage of the first 20 years of this period was scant. One might hope that Conway would have followed through on its promised update to correct some omissions and increase the number of line drawings. Additionally, a promised volume on the first half of the 19th century's naval materiel to address the transition from sail to steam and shell gun has never emerged. A must-have for any collection on 19th century naval materiel and history.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars conways, January 3, 2007

By	Shippy (California) - See all my reviews

Different point of view then Janes of the similiar period. I like the way the information is layed out.