Images of War - United States Navy Destroyers

Published on
July 5, 2021
Review Author(s)
Book Author(s)
Michael Green
ISBN
978-1-52675-854-5
Other Publication Information
Softcover, 9.5 X 7.5 inches, 208 pages, 250 B&W & color photos
MSRP
$24.95
Company: Pen & Sword - Website: Visit Site
Provided by: Casemate UK - Website: Visit Site
Front Cover

The Author: Michael Green is the author of numerous acclaimed books in the Images of War series.

Overview

This classic Images of War book traces the key role played by destroyers of the United States Navy since the first order for 16 in 1898. Prior to the USA’s entry into the First World War a further 63 destroyers were commissioned, and due to the U-boat threat, 267 more were authorized by Congress once hostilities were joined.

Between 1932 and Pearl Harbor, ten new classes totaling 169 destroyers came into service. During the war years American shipyards turned out a further 334 vessels. Of the three classes, the 175 Fletcher-class were judged the most successful.

The Cold War years saw the development of seven more classes. More recently 82 of the stealth shaped Arleigh Burke class have been ordered but the futuristic Zumwalt-class program has been curtailed for cost reasons.

Table of Contents

  • Introduction
  • Acknowledgements
  • Early Development
  • Interwar Destroyers
  • Second World War Destroyers
  • Cold War Destroyers
  • Post-Cold War Destroyers

For a 208-page book there is quite a bit of information packed in. Starting with the construction of the ‘First-class torpedo boat in 1886 (with a length of 140 ft, a beam of 15 ft and weighing 105 tons), all the way to the Zumwalt class of today (with a length of 610 ft, a beam of 80 ft and weighing in at 16,000 tons), and every class built in between. This book not only details the ships, their specs and evolution of Destroyers, but also describes in detail many of the weapons, fire control and radar systems (Development and evolution) of these ships with ample photos of each. I found it very interesting & informative to read about all the different classes of DD’s and their development especially since my father and his brother were ‘Tin Can Sailors’.

I recommend this book for anyone interested in U.S. Navy destroyers & anyone interested in building a model of one.

I’d like to thank Casemate publishers for providing this book and the review Corps for letting me review it.

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