History of the US Navy

Fülszöveg

HISTORY OF THE
!AMES M MORRIS
The story of the US Navy has been filled with drama from the very beginning. Within a few short months of its establishment in 1775 with a handful of small ships and a few dozen seamen the US Navy was harrying its British enemies with great success. As a token of this effectiveness, the US Navy's first great triumph, the victory of John Paul Jones and the Bonnehomme Richard over the Sera-pis, was won only a few miles from the English coast. The tradition of raiding and harassing attacks was continued in the War of 1812 with the Constitution's defeat of the Java perhaps the finest of many fine successes. Despite victories in these and other conflicts the Navy was larg-ley negected until the outbreak of the Civil War when both sides quickly built substantial naval forces. The eventual success of the North's naval blockade was one of the decisive factors ensuring the defeat of the Confederacy. Both navies were at the forefront of technological... Tovább

Fülszöveg

HISTORY OF THE
!AMES M MORRIS
The story of the US Navy has been filled with drama from the very beginning. Within a few short months of its establishment in 1775 with a handful of small ships and a few dozen seamen the US Navy was harrying its British enemies with great success. As a token of this effectiveness, the US Navy's first great triumph, the victory of John Paul Jones and the Bonnehomme Richard over the Sera-pis, was won only a few miles from the English coast. The tradition of raiding and harassing attacks was continued in the War of 1812 with the Constitution's defeat of the Java perhaps the finest of many fine successes. Despite victories in these and other conflicts the Navy was larg-ley negected until the outbreak of the Civil War when both sides quickly built substantial naval forces. The eventual success of the North's naval blockade was one of the decisive factors ensuring the defeat of the Confederacy. Both navies were at the forefront of technological development also as the Battle of Hampton Roads between the Monitor and Memmac shows.
From the end of the Civil War American eyes began to look abroad and gradually a stronger and still more effective Navy was created. Dewey's victory at Manila Bay and the cruise of the Great White Fleet in 1907-9 marked the US Navy's rise to world rank while by the end of World War I the Navy had come to be regarded as the equal of the previously predominant British. Between the two world wars the US Navy forged ahead in the development of naval air power, to such good effect that the disaster at Pearl Harbor was set right by the victory at Midway six months later. From then on the Navy's carrier task forces and submarine fleets relentlessly extended their grip and made possible the Allied victory.
Since World War II the US Navy has played an important part in the Korean and Vietnam Wars - emerging from even that most controversial conflict with an untarnished reputation. Most recently the Navy has kept a high profile in support of US policy in the Middle East and Central America and, even without the presently planned expansion, its nucear carrier battle groups and ballistic missile submarines provide an astonishing and devastating range of capabilities.
The History of the US Navy provides an enthralling account of the vital part naval power has played in making America what it is today. James Morris' authoritative text is complemented with numerous carefully selected illustrations and photographs which help make this a work no naval buff can afford to miss. Vissza