This report is a comparison of two very similar books, both are about similar ships and published by the Naval Institute Press. The first book is “Fletcher-Class Destroyers” by Alan Raven, c. 1986, 158 pages; and “The Destroyer The Sullivans (Anatomy of the Ship)” by Al Ross, c. 1988, 119 pages. Both books follow the format of the popular Anatomy of the Ship Series. Both books have a wonderful collection of photographs and excellent drawings. The major difference is that Raven’s book is a design history of a large class of ships over four decades, while Ross’s book is about just one ship that served from 1942 to 1965. Ross’s book also acknowledges Raven’s book as a source. Both books have a table of contents, but no index.
Raven’s book starts off with thirteen pages of text covering the design, construction, wartime modifications, CIC, Radar Pickets, and onset of the cold war. This is followed by forty one pages of photographs including at least fifteen close ups that would be very helpful to model builders. There is also an interior shot of the Engineering throttle board and a photo of the bridge. This is followed by ninety five pages of drawings. This segment includes an extra 27 photos that are mostly close ups that would be very useful to model builders. The drawing section includes drawings of many variations over the four decades of service ... 28 pages are general arrangement plans, 10 pages are general fittings and equipment, 4 pages are propellers, shafting and rudders, 10 pages are of the antennas, 28 pages are weapons and associated equipment, and 10 more pages of camouflage and funnel designs. The last three pages are a list of all of the ships in the class giving the respective hull numbers and dates of laid down and commissioning.
Ross’s book starts off with 12 pages of text, including service history (1 page), general arrangement, Machinery details (4 pages), weapons (5 pages), and camouflage. This is followed by twenty two pages of photographs most of which are mostly close ups that would be very useful to model builders. Finally there are 71 pages of drawings … 18 pages of general arrangements, 2 pages of hull construction, 6 pages of machinery, 2 pages of general arrangement of accommodations, 12 pages showing changes in superstructure from 1943 to 1959, 3 pages of rigging, 21 pages of armament, four pages of exterior fire control equipment, 8 pages of fittings, 2 pages of ground tackle, and 4 pages of ships boats.
In conclusion, both books give a good design history for naval historians and lots of useful photos and drawings for the model builder. Raven’s book has slightly better data for the model builder but Ross’s book would still offer some extra useful information. Ross’s book also has data and drawings of the machinery which are completely lacking from Raven’s book.
Readers would like even more super details of similar US destroyers will enjoy "Sumner-Gearing-Class Destroyers" by Robert Sumrall, c. 1995, 289 pages.
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Top reviews from other countries
Graham Bickerton
Anatomy of the ship "The Sullivans"
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 8, 2013luis caamano martinez
Perfect book, it was covered all my expectations
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 25, 2016
