For more than half a century the big gun was the arbiter of naval power, but it was useless if it could not hit the target fast and hard enough to prevent the enemy doing the same. Because the naval gun platform was itself in motion, finding a 'firing solution' was a significant problem made all the more difficult when gun sizes increased and fighting ranges lengthened and seemingly minor issues like wind velocity had to be factored in. To speed up the process and eliminate human error, navies sought a reliable mechanical ...
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For more than half a century the big gun was the arbiter of naval power, but it was useless if it could not hit the target fast and hard enough to prevent the enemy doing the same. Because the naval gun platform was itself in motion, finding a 'firing solution' was a significant problem made all the more difficult when gun sizes increased and fighting ranges lengthened and seemingly minor issues like wind velocity had to be factored in. To speed up the process and eliminate human error, navies sought a reliable mechanical calculation. This heavily illustrated book outlines for the first time in layman's terms the complex subject of fire-control, as it dominated battleship and cruiser design from before World War I to the end of the dreadnought era. Covering the directors, range-finders, and electro-mechanical computers invented to solve the problems, America's leading naval analyst explains not only how the technology shaped (and was shaped by) the tactics involved, but analyses their effectiveness in battle. His examination of the controversy surrounding Jutland and the relative merits of competing fire-control systems draws conclusions that will surprise many readers. He also reassesses many other major gun actions, such as the battles between the Royal Navy and the Bismarck and the US Navy actions in the Solomons and at Surigao Strait. All major navies are covered, and the story concludes at the end of World War II with the impact of radar. This is a book that everyone with a more than passing interest in twentieth-century warships will want to read, and nobody professionally involved with naval history can afford to miss.
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Add this copy of Naval Firepower: Battleship Guns and Gunnery in the to cart. $175.28, new condition, Sold by GridFreed rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from North Las Vegas, NV, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by Naval Institute Press.
Add this copy of Naval Firepower: Battleship Guns and Gunnery in the to cart. $180.00, very good condition, Sold by Voyageur Book Shop rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Milwaukee, WI, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by Naval Institute Press.
This is an excellent addition to the collected naval technical histories by Prof Friedman. He lucidly and clearly explains fire control as well as armament manufacture issues from prior to and during WW I through WW II. It helps considerably to know about this to understand events at Jutland, for example, or in WW II in various engagements. As usual it is well written and marvelously illustrated with great diagrams by Mr Baker and Mr Jurens, as well as with excellent photographs.
