OT: Time for some new book recommendations

BrucePowers · Post by **BrucePowers** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 12:26 am

I bought 2 copies of Tiornu's book. One is going to a friend for Christmas. I am reading the other one. It is a good book.

Tiornu · Post by **Tiornu** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 12:35 am

Thanks, Bruce.

BrucePowers · Post by **BrucePowers** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 12:49 am

You are welcome Tiornu.

I know these are WWI, not WWII but I also recommend

Dreadnaught and Castles of Steel by Robert K. Massie

treespider · Post by **treespider** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 2:23 am

- World War II Pacific Island Guide by Gordon L Rottman

- Bloody Shambles - Vol 1.

- Companion to Colossus Reborn - has the complete Soviet OOB on 6 different dates from 1941 through 1943.

Howard Mitchell · Post by **Howard Mitchell** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 9:24 am

The First Team: Pacific Air Combat from Pearl Harbour to Midway
The First Team and the Guadalcanal Campaign: Naval Fighter Combat from August to November 1942
 
Both by John B. Lundstrom and now available in paperback are excellent. Very, very detailed histories of USN fighter operations in the opening months of the war, but also very readable. 
 
Bloody Shambles: The First Comprehensive Account of Air Operations Over South East Asia, December 1941- April 1942 (volume 1)
Bloody Shambles: The Complete Account of the Air War in the Far East, from the Defence of Sumatra to the Fall of Burma (volume 2)
 
Both by Christopher Shores, Brian Cull and Yasuho Isawa. Almost as detailed accounts of the air battles over South-East Asia. They benefit from having a Japanese co-author and so give an account of operations from both sides.

Przemcio231 · Post by **Przemcio231** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 3:01 pm

Geee so many books not expensive too... but if i would like to buy them i would pay 2 or 3 times of the actual price in shipping[:@][:@]

MikeBrough · Post by **MikeBrough** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 6:41 pm

ORIGINAL: BrucePowers

You are welcome Tiornu.

I know these are WWI, not WWII but I also recommend

Dreadnaught and Castles of Steel by Robert K. Massie

Couldn't agree more, although I much prefer the latter: more action, fewer potted biographies.

Does anyone know if there's a WWII or inter-war follow-up?

Don Bowen · Post by **Don Bowen** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 7:51 pm

Terminus · Post by **Terminus** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 7:58 pm

ORIGINAL: Don Bowen

...good old Amazon might not be the best place to buy them though...

Heh, ain't that the truth!

Don Bowen · Post by **Don Bowen** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 9:30 pm

A few more, some not so easy to find:

The Independence Class Light Aircraft Carriers - Andrew Faltum - ISBN 1-877853-62-3
Warship Losses of World War II - David Brown - ISBN 0-85368-802-8
US Merchant Vessel War Casualties of World War II - Robert M.Browning Jr. - ISBN 1-55750-087-8
US Coast Guard and Revenue Cutters 1790-1935 - Donald L Canney - ISBN 1-55750-101-7
Australian and New Zealand Warships 1914-1945 - Ross Gillett - ISBN 0-86824 095 8
Royal Australian Navy 1939-1942 - G. Hermon Gill - Official History, no identifying number found
Royal Australian Navy 1942-1945 - G. Hermon Gill - Official History, National LIbrary of Australia Registry Number Aus 68-1798
Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet 1939 - James C Fahey - Reprint ISBN 0-87021-633-3
Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, Two Ocean Fleet Edition (1942) - James C Fahey - Reprint ISBN 0-87021-634-1
Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, War Editon (1942) - James C Fahey - Reprint ISBN 0-87021-635-x
Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, Victory Editon (1945) - James C Fahey - Reprint ISBN 0-87021-636-8
Navies of the Second World War: Royal Netherlands Navy - H.T. Lenton - Library of Congress Card Number 66-13603
Ugly Ducklings, Japan's WWII Liberty TYpe Standard Ships - S.C. Heal - ISBN 1-59114-888-X
The Japanese Merchant Marine in World War II - Mark P Parillo - ISBN 1-55750-677-9
Empire Ships (A Record of British Built and Acquired Merchant Ships during the Second World War) W.H. Mitchell and L.A. Sawyer - ISBN 1-85004-275-5
Destination Corregidor - Robert L. Underbrink - ISBN 0-87021-142-0

m10bob · Post by **m10bob** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 10:09 pm

ORIGINAL: Don Bowen

A few more, some not so easy to find:

The Independence Class Light Aircraft Carriers - Andrew Faltum - ISBN 1-877853-62-3
Warship Losses of World War II - David Brown - ISBN 0-85368-802-8
US Merchant Vessel War Casualties of World War II - Robert M.Browning Jr. - ISBN 1-55750-087-8
US Coast Guard and Revenue Cutters 1790-1935 - Donald L Canney - ISBN 1-55750-101-7
Australian and New Zealand Warships 1914-1945 - Ross Gillett - ISBN 0-86824 095 8
Royal Australian Navy 1939-1942 - G. Hermon Gill - Official History, no identifying number found
Royal Australian Navy 1942-1945 - G. Hermon Gill - Official History, National LIbrary of Australia Registry Number Aus 68-1798
Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet 1939 - James C Fahey - Reprint ISBN 0-87021-633-3
Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, Two Ocean Fleet Edition (1942) - James C Fahey - Reprint ISBN 0-87021-634-1
Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, War Editon (1942) - James C Fahey - Reprint ISBN 0-87021-635-x
Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, Victory Editon (1945) - James C Fahey - Reprint ISBN 0-87021-636-8
Navies of the Second World War: Royal Netherlands Navy - H.T. Lenton - Library of Congress Card Number 66-13603
Ugly Ducklings, Japan's WWII Liberty TYpe Standard Ships - S.C. Heal - ISBN 1-59114-888-X
The Japanese Merchant Marine in World War II - Mark P Parillo - ISBN 1-55750-677-9
Empire Ships (A Record of British Built and Acquired Merchant Ships during the Second World War) W.H. Mitchell and L.A. Sawyer - ISBN 1-85004-275-5
Destination Corregidor - Robert L. Underbrink - ISBN 0-87021-142-0

Sheeeeeesh!...Don is such a show off, with catalog card numbers and everything....[:'(]

Er...uhh...I mean...Here are some more of my favourites:

Lonely Vigil.(Coastwatchers of the Solomons)..Walter Lord

The Coast Watchers...Commander Eric Feldt

Both are phenomonal sources that really shed light on the deeds and events portrayed in WITP each turn!

mordrynge · Post by **mordrynge** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 10:41 pm

Alan Brooke's War Diaries.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/War-Diaries-193 ... F8&s=books

Brooke was British chief of the general staff (CIGS) for much of the war. The memoirs are particularly interesting as they were actually written over the course of the war, when the outcome was not known and so don't suffer from a we won so it must have been right viewpoint. Originally published in two volumes edited by Arthur Bryant. More recently the complete diaries were published. Bryant had tactfully edited out some criticisms of allied leaders particularly Churchill. Both Bryant's volumes (Turn of the tide, Triumph in the West which have extensive additional commentary) and the unexpurgated version are good. Brooke is particularly fascinating on the relationships between the allied leaders and their differences in strategy (including who fell asleep at staff meetings). Of course the focus is mainly on the war in Europe rather than the Pacific, but he touches on the high level strategy of all theatres. Also Brooke is a very accomplished diarist which make his memoirs very easy to read.

M

JWE · Post by **JWE** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 11:48 pm

Different. Fun and exceptionally well written. Has stuff you may not see elsewhere.

KAIGUN, Startegy, Tactics, and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887 - 1941, David C. Evans, Mark R. Peattie, Naval Institute Press, 1997

Oliver Heindorf · Post by **Oliver Heindorf** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 10:02 pm

Hey Don, thanks for sharing this great list with us, intresting !

has anyone this ? I think buying it for me for x-mas !

[font="verdana,arial,helvetica"][size="-1"]Naval Institute Guide To Combat Fleets Of The World 2005-2006: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems[/size][/font]

krishub1492 · Post by **krishub1492** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 11:30 pm

New books on the Pacific War that look good:

"Sea of Thunder: Four Commanders and the Last Great Naval Campaign 1941-1945"
Evan Thomas

"From Mahan to Pearl Harbor: The Imperial Japanese Navy and the United States"
Sadao Asada

"Battle for Leyte, 1944: Allied And Japanese Plans, Preparations, And Execution"
Milan N. Vego

"Aircraft Carriers: A History of Carrier Aviation and Its Influence on World Events, Volume 1: 1909-1945"
Norman Polmar

"Black Shoe Carrier Admiral: Frank Jack Fletcher at Coral Sea, Midway & Guadalcanal"
John B. Lundstrom

"Carrier Battles: Command Decision in Harm's Way"
Douglas V. Smith

waynec · Post by **waynec** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 12:08 am

ORIGINAL: ctangus

I expect you've read some of these already, but here are my current favorites:

The Second World War - Winston S. Churchill - Dry at times, and it omits some data that's now non-confidential (e.g. Ultra) but it's a fascinating insight into the decision making process that guided the war. I'd recommend all 6 unabridged volumes as opposed to the 1 volume abridged version which is available.

The Rising Sun... - John Toland - An overview of the whole Pacific war largely from the Japanese point of view. It provides very interesting data on how Japan got involved with the war in China & then the Great Pacific War.

Shattered Sword - Jonathan Parshall - Challenges some of the myths of the Battle of Midway & provides a chilling account of how-it-was for the sailors of KB.

Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors - James Hornfischer - I only recently picked this up, but it's by far the best account of the battle off Samar that I've read.

Stalingrad - Antony Beevor - I've read a lot about that battle as it somehow fascinates me more than any other, and Antony Beevor's account is by far the most complete & intimate that I've personally come across.

Gudalcanal - Richard B. Frank - Great detail on both the land & sea battles around that island.

Fire in the Sky - Eric Bergerud - This probably should be higher in my list. It provides great understanding on the air war in the Solomons & New Guinea. And how/why the allies eventually got the upper hand. Very good book, IMO.

PLUS

COMBINED FLEET DECODED John Prados
KAIGUN (japanese strategy, tactics, ship design) Davis C Evans
THE FIRST TEAM John Lundstrom
CASTLES OF STEEL (ww1 at sea) Robert K. Massie
RISING SUN VICTORIOUS (alternate pacific war scenarios) ed Peter Tsouras any collection by him about alternate possible what if scenarios

btaft · Post by **btaft** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 1:17 am

Shattered Sword - I have to put in another vote for this one, I just finished it and it is an excellent comprehensive study of Midway
Destruction of the Bismark
Making of the Atomic Bomb - Excellent comprehensive study into the incredible efforts to make it happen
Clear the Bridge - Very good history of the patrols of the US Sub Tang
Pacific Alamo - Detailed history with personal interests (i.e. like Ambrose) on the battle of Wake Island

YankeeAirRat · Post by **YankeeAirRat** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 4:41 am

I just finished Lundstroms new book about Frank Fletcher, http://www.amazon.com/Black-Shoe-Carrier-Admiral-Guadalcanal/dp/1591144752/sr=1-3/qid=1166329709/ref=sr_1_3/103-1697081-6972657?ie=UTF8&s=books, Titled "Black Shoe Carrier Admiral: Frank Jack Fletcher at Coral Sea, Midway, & Guadalcanal". It is a pretty good read, Lundsrom seems to make the point that Fletcher did what he had to due at the time which was preserve the carrier fleets that he commanded because that was all the US had at the time until the rest of the Rainbow fleet came out. THen he was dumped off to lead the US Naval forces in the Pacific Northwest and he is where he exelled just as well, through his tough leadership that Bremerton turned into a top quality shipyard, along with other improvements to the area for the defense of the region and he also was one of the biggest proponets of the Al-Can highway.

OT: Time for some new book recommendations

RE: OT: Time for some new book recommendations

RE: OT: Time for some new book recommendations

RE: OT: Time for some new book recommendations

RE: OT: Time for some new book recommendations

RE: OT: Time for some new book recommendations

RE: OT: Time for some new book recommendations

RE: OT: Time for some new book recommendations

World War II Naval Library

RE: World War II Naval Library

RE: World War II Naval Library

RE: World War II Naval Library

RE: World War II Naval Library

RE: World War II Naval Library

RE: World War II Naval Library

RE: World War II Naval Library

RE: OT: Time for some new book recommendations

RE: OT: Time for some new book recommendations

RE: OT: Time for some new book recommendations