Product Description
2010,paper covers, oblong 10 1/2 x 8, glossy page stock, 13 month formatfrom Jan 2011 thru Jan 2012.For the first time ever, a calendar that is comprised entirely of originalW.W.II color photographs of USN warships, in a 13 month format, including January 2012. Many differenttypes of warships, battleships, carriers, cruisers, destroyers, submarines, etc., make up this fantastic display of the mighty US Navy during the W.W.II period. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Awesome
An excellent and long awaited product for Naval fans.
In previous years I could only find generic naval calandars, never an all Warship one!. ... Read more

Product Description
Since the US Navy SEALs came into existence in 1983, they have become famous for their daring missions, advanced and unconventional tactics, hard training and hard-fought successes. SEALs have taken part in numerous conflicts ranging from Grenada in 1983, the invasion of Panama and operations in Somalia, Bosnia, Haiti, and Liberia. Most recently, SEAL units have participated in the ongoing missions of Operation Enduring Freedom in the war in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in the war in Iraq.

Now in paperback, this bestselling book from respected authors Mir Bahmanyar and Chris Osman offers readers afocus on modern combat operations between 1983 and 2006, examining various combat operations, the Navy SEAL training regimes, and the development of tactics and weapons. It includes first-hand accounts from SEALs on the ground, including revealing accounts from those currently involved in operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. This is an eye-opening insight into the shadowy and mysterious world of the US Navy SEALs, guaranteed to appeal to anyone with an interest in modern military operations, current events, and even those interested in becoming a Navy SEAL. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Comprehensive
This book is a very good compilation of SEAL mission Profiles. Plenty of new and updated information and pictures; not just the same old contemporary photographs seen in every other Special Operations book.

Informative and simple
For anyone interested in the U.S. Navy Seals this is only a snap shot of what they have done. Nevertheless, there is some great information in this book.

Great Navy Seal Book
This is a great book about the Navy Seals.It has lots of colored pictures and has a lot of info about the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.It is a must have for Navy Seal enthusiasts or anyone who wants to learn about Navy Seals.

AWESOME! If you're interested in SEALs, buy this now
This is the authority on SEALs. It's the best reference I have seen on them and has tons of really great photos you won't see anywhere else.

If you buy this you will be happy. Wait till you see the goat as a battering ram hahaha.

Buy

Overall good description on what it takes to be a SEAL
I found this book to be a great model for anyone who would even consider The Navy's elite training and lifestyle. The introduction of BUD/S is a very detail oriented on what exactly these men have to go through just to carry the SEAL trident. With that in mind the personal acounts given by SEALs themselfs gives great imagery on the strenous activity and dedication focused on the team aspect in BUD/S three phases in becoming a SEAL.
The whole process can be summed up with a couple of words from SEALS themselfs: "The only easy day was yesterday"
Overall a good depiction on what type of Men it takes to be a SEAL and the special tatics used by the best. ... Read more

Product Description
Several books have been written about US naval air patrol operations in World War II, but none do full justice to the role played by patrol squadrons of the US Navy in the longest, most bitterly fought campaign of the war, the Battle of the Atlantic. From the Arctic to the Equator, anti-submarine aircraft of the US Navy patrolled both sides of the stormy Atlantic alongside their Allied counterparts.They escorted merchant convoys through the submarine-infested waters, protecting the crucial lifeline from the United States to Great Britain and the Mediterranean that carried troops and supplies for the ultimate liberation of North Africa and Europe.

The PBY Catalina, in which most of these vital missions were flown, was the most successful flying boat ever designed. Built in greater numbers than any other, it served the maritime air forces of all principle Allied nations, as well as the four branches of the US military. Except for a handful of Martin PBM Mariners, the Catalina was the only long range patrol bomber in the US Navy's inventory when the USA entered World War II. Though considered obsolete in 1939, it served in significant numbers until war's end and for many years after. Its total contribution to victory can only be surmised and the number of ships and lives saved by the PBY's mere presence over convoys will never be known. However, US Navy PBYs sank 19 Axis submarines, all identified by the author from contemporary evidence.Photographs of the Catalina in service in the Atlantic are rare but the author has assembled over 80 through research in official archives and private collections.

Related Titles
PV Ventura/Harpoon Units of World War II (Combat)
Kriegsmarine U-boats 1939-45 (New Vanguard)
Sunderland Squadrons of World War II (Combat) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

A biased view
I haven't purchased this yet, but plan to now that I found a reason. On page 61 is a photograph of my late uncle, (On my mother's side) who sank U-590.

So it's obvious that I have a very biased view of this book. :)

PBY Memories
My 91 year old Uncle Mike was a PBY pilot during WWII and we purchased this book for him as a Christmas present.He said it was the best present he has received in a long time!Pictures, details, and stories brought back a lot of good memories for him.If you were a pilot or a crew member of the PBY you will really enjoy this book.

US Navy PBY Atlantic Review
The book is a good overall account of the PBY in the European War of WWII against Germany. It also has accounts of production and reconnosance work done before and after the war in the Atlantic.

Excellent book.
Very pleasant reading, good background information even for someone new to reading about operating a PBY in wartime. Great pictures that clearly show the weather influences of the Atlantic ocean and the human side.
The detailed study on the development of the PBY as an introduction helped to set the basis of how important this "old" aircraft was in the defeat of the 'modern' U-boat.
Pictures are clearly described in detail. All through the book, it tells about the struggle to overcome the dominance early in the war of the german U-boat and the slow change in numbers and tactics to help the convoys getting through unharmed.
I really like reading the Search and Rescue stories that showed the versatility of landing a PBY anywhere.
It exactly contains what the title says.
If you are looking for a book that descibes the PBY, see:
PBY Catalina - Walk Around No. 5; ISBN-10: 0897473574
PBY: The Catalina Flying Boat; ISBN-10: 0870215264
PBY: The Catalina Flying Boat

very Informative
This is a well written, well documented book regarding the PBY and Navy crews in the Atlantic during WWII. The pictures are black and white and sometimes difficult to see. I am looking forward to the similiar book on the Pacific operations of the PBY. ... Read more

Product Description
In 1941 the US Navy had 17 battleships - of which eight would be knocked out on the first day of the war - four aircraft carriers, and about 340,000 men including reservists. Pearl Harbor so weakened it that it was unable to prevent the Japanese capture of the Philippines and a vast sweep of Pacific islands. By 1945 it was the strongest navy the world had ever seen, with nearly 100 carriers, 41,000 aircraft and 3.3 million men; the unrivalled master of air-sea and amphibious operations, it was poised to invade Japan's home islands after reducing her fleet to scrap and her Pacific empire to impotence and starvation. This extraordinary story is illustrated here with dramatic photos, and nine meticulous colour plates showing a wide range of USN uniforms. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

More Good Work from Mark Henry
The suthor has recently come to the table of Osprey's most prolific authors. As a professional historian he knows how to find the more obscure official reports and studies, and has the ability to understand them and the skill to present the information in a clear manner.
The subject here is one of vast proportions and a work of this size cannot be complete in all detail. It is nonetheless useful to the general public and as a summary to be used by the enthusiast and professional alike for quick reference.
As with the author's other works, it is both succint and comprehensive (with a broad brush) as well. ... Read more

Product Description
The USS Langley, the first American aircraft carrier, entered service in 1922. Despite being converted into an aircraft tender, it was the first step in a new direction for the US Navy and naval warfare. This book covers the design, development and operation of USN aircraft carriers built prior to World War II, including their aircraft and weaponry. It also explains their various successes and losses such as the first carrier vs carrier battle at Midway; the battle of the Coral Sea; the battle of the Philippine Sea; and the Operation Torch landings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

An excellent booklet.
At first sight there really does not appear to be very much to this book. In fact, I would call it more of a booklet than a book - after all, there are magazines which are much larger. But don't be fooled. This publication is well worth the money and the illustrations by Tony Bryan are of the highest order.

What you get is a synopsis of the state of the US Navy Carrier Fleet at the outbreak of World War Two, details of the individual ships and a summary of their fate. There are historic photographs from the period on almost every page with all the aforementioned artwork placed together in the middle of the book.

This is excellent value for money and will leave most readers wanting to know more about these great ships.

NM

Carriers
Little of interest, most can be found better elsewhere.Pictures are very good.

Wonderful book on pre-war carriers
This is a gem of a book. Filled with great BW photos and color plates of the Carriers that won the Pacific war in WWII. Lots of information on the different classes of carriers that made life miserable for the Imperial Japanese Navy. A great companion book to this is the other Osprey book on Imperial Japanese carriers-which is also worth a look.

I'm so glad osprey has published all of these wonderful military books. I always loved reading about the legendary Pacific battles of WW II. Now I can take a trip down memory lane and examine the great ships that helped America secure theseas during the Pacific WWII conflict of 1941-1945.

This book not only honors these legendary ships, but the great men who served aboard them.

These ships won the Pacific war!
I may be guilty of exaggeration when I claim that the pre-war American aircraft carriers won the war in the Pacific, but I stand by my claim.Osprey's "US Navy Aircraft Carriers 1922-45 : Prewar classes" is a compact history and guide to these eight American aircraft carriers, CV-1 Langley through CV-8 Hornet.One ship, the CV-4 Ranger, was a "failure," but participated in Torch.The experimental Langley had been reclassified as an auxilliary when sunk by Japanese bombs in 1942.The illustrious Enterprise and the Hornet were part of the daring Doolittle Raid, the little stunt that had limited material effect, but forced Japan to change horses in mid-stream and lose the fight at Midway against the Enterprise, Yorktown, and Hornet (all of the Yorktown class) and the unsinkable (and immobile) "aircraft carrier Midway Island."

These eight carriers suffered five of their number sunk in action against the Japanese--and two severely damaged multiple times.The Ranger didn't see combat in the Pacific.The Enterprise was perhaps the most famous survivor.And the Saratoga survived the worst Japan and the Pacific could dish out, ending its days as a target for American atomic bombs in Operation Crossroads, sinking on July 2, 1946.CV-4 Ranger was scrapped in 1947.CV-6 Enterprise was sold for scrap in 1958.These pioneer carriers lived on in name only when new aircraft carriers were commissioned.

The color plates show wartime camouflage measures applied during their wartime service.It wasn't really possible to "hide" something the size of two city blocks--the intent was to confuse submarines and aircraft concerning the aircraft carrier's vector and hopefully cause bombs and torpedoes to miss.A useful index and comprehensive bibliography are two items I look for in my reference works--usually, I have new questions after reading non-fiction.It's nice to find answer material.Radar and armament packages are detailed, and sidebars give thumbnail ship stats such as crew, displacement, and maximum speeds.I think I spent my money well on this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Dominating the seas during World War II, the US aircraft carrier played a crucial role in every major naval combat of the war.

Development of the Essex class began in 1941, and was the largest class of carrier ever built. During the Pacific War it formed the backbone of any fighting force and became renowned for its mighty 'Sunday Punch' - the impressive offensive power of 36 fighter planes, 36 dive bombers, and 18 torpedo planes.

The Independence class was a lighter and faster carrier, built after Pearl Harbor, to bring more ships into action as quickly as possible. Alongside the Essex class their crews saw a dramatic change in tactical deployment as they began to form the fast carrier task forces that were so effective in Pacific operations.

Featuring an annotated cutaway and artwork detailing both the interior and exterior features of the ships, this book explores the design, development, and deployment of both the Essex and Independence class of light carriers. This sequel to US Navy Aircraft Carriers 1922-45: Prewar classes (New Vanguard 114), provides a detailed exploration of the carriers that were at the forefront of many actions in World War II, including the climatic battles of Phillipine Sea and Leyte Gulf in 1944. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Low-End Reference
Not a bad book, but not a go-to reference. Lacks a lot of the history behind the design and construction of the Essex-class fast carriers. It would be better also if it had more diagrams and photos of inner workings and living spaces aboard these impressive vessels. This is, overall, a very skimpy reference for the price.

An excellent survey
Mark Stille's US NAVY AIRCRAFT CARRIERS 1942-45 tells of the US Navy's principal weapon against Japan during the Pacific War, following forces, battles, and including artwork detailing ship interior and exterior features. From ship origins to design and construction, NAVY AIRCRAFT CARRIERS provides an excellent survey important for any collection strong in Navy weaponry.

US Navy Aircraft Carriers 1942-45: World War Two Built Ships
An adequate overview of the Essex and Independence class carriers.I was hoping for a little more depth since my father flew off of CV17 in Air Group 8.But worth the price. ... Read more

Product Description
The Barbary War - the first American war against Libya - was the first war waged by the United States outside national boundaries after gaining independence and unification of the country. The four Barbary States of North Africa - Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli - had plundered seaborne commerce for centuries. This was piracy on an extraordinary scale: they controlled all trading routes through the Barbary waters and North Africa: demanding ransom and booty for safe passage.
In 1801 the newly elected President Jefferson ordered a naval and military expedition to North Africa in order to put down regimes that endorsed piracy and slavery. The Pasha of Tripoli declared war on the United States. Under the leadership of Commodores Richard Dale and Edward Preble, the US Navy blockaded the enemy coast and engaged in close, bitterly contested gunboat actions. On 16 February 1804 LT Stephen Decatur led 74 volunteers into Tripoli to burn the captured American frigate The Philadelphia. British Admiral Lord Nelson called the raid "the most daring act of the age". In 1805 Marines stormed the Barbary pirates' harbor fortress stronghold of Derna (Tripoli), commemorated in the Marine Corp Hymn invocation "To the Shores of Tripoli."
The US Navy troops were recalled before they could secure their gains, but returned after the War of 1812. Their success then won worldwide admiration for the Americans and their Navy. They marked the way for the European nations to finally quash the Barbary States and end the piracy.

This event marks the true birth of the US Navy and Marines and is ever remembered in the Marines' battle hymn. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Fairly Good Book on this Forgotten Little War

In general, this is a well written book with a lot of information.The maps are uncluttered and the author did an excellent job of showing where each ship was stationed during a particular battle.The book contains a multitude of color and black and white drawings.These illustrations provide the reader with an excellent visual image of the various engagements.The book, however, also has some shortcomings.

First, the author expends five pages on the Lewis and Clark expedition.Osprey books are intentionally short and space is a precious commodity.This narrative is found in the chapter on the "World Around War." One page on Lewis and Clark might be appropriate but five pages was a waste of space.This expedition had noting to do with the Barbary Wars.

Second, the author did not spend enough time on William Eaton.His march across the African desert and capture of Derna was a major event.This was the first instance of US covert action taken to overthrow a foreign government.This was also the first time the US flag was planted on foreign soil after combat.Shamefully, the logistical support provided to Eaton was so negligible that it is a miracle he survived, much less succeeded.This entire event is covered in minimal detail.The author also presents a biased view of the peace treaty made by Tobias Lear.Tobias Lear is given credit for a peace treaty but no mention is made of its humiliating hidden clauses.Lear was more interested in making a name for himself than in achieving an honorable peace.All of this history is left out.

Finally, the author wasted too much space in the chapter on "Conclusions and Consequences" by philosophizing over slavery.He discussed the hypocritical attitude of America, which opposed white slavery, but proceeded to enslave thousands of black Africans.Although the author makes an interesting point, this book is not the place for such commentary.

The best part of the book is found in the chapter on the war's ending.This chapter covers the Algerine Wars of 1815.After the War of 1812, The US Navy returned to the Mediterranean under Commodore Stephen Decatur.Decatur achieved a true honorable peace with the Barbary nations.Soon afterward, the British Royal Navy under 1st Viscount Exmouth put a complete end to Mediterranean piracy when he bombarded Algiers in 1816.This chapter ends with a discussion of the French invasion of Algeria in 1830 which led to the subsequent colonization of that country.

Bottom line: this is a pretty good book.On the down side, the author wasted space on unrelated topics and omitted relevant aspects of the War.On the up side, this book does a great job of discussing how the U.S. and Royal navies eventually put an end to Barbary piracy a decade after the war's end.Despite these shortcomings, the reader will still find this an enjoyable and informative book.

Ideological shortcomings
The author does a fine job covering details of the military conflicts that took place between the United States and the Islamic Barbary states.It was, in fact, the United States' first war on terror.

However, the author fails to connect the "pirates" making war on nations (i.e. the United States) who had done them no harm with the teachings of Islam to make war on the infidels, the unbelievers, in other words all non-Muslims.He also failed to mention the exchange between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, who in 1786, went to negotiate with Tripoli's ambassador to England Sidi Haji Abdrahaman.When the two Americans asked him why they make war on countries who had done them no injury Abdrahaman replied, "It was written in the Koran, that all nations which had not acknowledged the Prophet were sinners, whom it was the right and duty of the faithful to plunder and enslave; and that every Muslim who was slain in this warfare was sure to go to paradise."So he misses the Islamic influence and connection altogether.

President Obama, in his Cairo speech, referenced a quote from John Adams in 1796 that "the USA has in itself no enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Muslims" he also ignored the quote from the Tripolitan ambassador.It isn't that we have enmity toward them but that they have perpetual enmity towards us, the unbelievers of Islam.

Also, on page 63 it states that Stephen Decatur was born January 5, 1799 when actually he was born in 1779.

Barbary Pirates Tothe Shores of Tripoli
Thus far a good read and insight into the mentality of the pirates and leadership that still haunts that area of the world.

The Wars of the Barbary Pirates.....
A current interest in the War of 1812 led me to this book by Gregory Fremont-Barnes, who holds a doctorate in history from Oxford University. The very long title for a relatively small book tells you exactly what to expect from it. Its 95 pages are so well presented, so succinct yet so full of information, that it is a pleasure to read. Illustrations on every page -- maps, reproductions of historical paintings and line drawings are indeed worth thousands of words. The two-column pages offer a journalistic feel -- that current news is being presented by top reporters.

A three-page chronology summarizes the contents of the book for those who want to find facts instantly. The Introduction is also all-encompassing -- it tells all that the book contains. A "Further Reading" list at the end leads readers and researchers to other sources on this fascinating subject. An index pinpoints all the events, people, places and shipping vessels found in the book.

I was seeking information on the USS Epervier, the ill-fated ship that was lost at sea returning to America from North Africa bearing the Treaty of Ghent which formalized the end of the War of 1812 between the British and the Americans. I also wanted information on Stephen Decatur and other prominent commodores and captains of US ships of that era. This book far exceeded my expectations. I am so very pleased that Google pointed me to it and Amazon.com had it in stock. I love this book, and recommend it without reservation to anyone wanting a palatible source of information on this pivotal period of our history that is so woefully lacking in below-college-level schools.

The unmatched bravery of the Navy of a new republic
This is a terrific book about the long forgotten Naval war against the Islamic pirates of North Africa.It recalls our Navy's first heroes, particularly Stephen Decatur.It should remind everyone that the history of conflict between the civilized world and Islam goes back many centuries.The book documents conflicts between those who recognize the situation for what it is and seek to end it by force, and the diplomats who seek to appease the Barbary pirates.Not surprisingly, then as now, the Navalists were right.Altogether, this is a well-told, well-documented book about the conflict of civilized nations, with one of the world's longest running pathologies. ... Read more

Product Description
Arriving on station with the USS Ranger (CVA-61) in early December 1967, the first Corsair II squadron became operational immediatedly and sustained its first combat loss three weeks later. This book tells how the A-7 soon proved its worth supporting ground operations in South Vietnam. As it continued to serve in the ground support role, the navy swiftly introduced the A-7E which soon ran into difficulties with supply lines - perhaps on account of what many perceived to have been a rushed introduction to service. Once these teething problems were resolved, the A-7E became the primary air-to-ground aircraft of the fleet. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

UA NAVY CORSAIR II UNITS OF THE VIETNAM WAR
For a small book, this volume contains an amazing amout of detail and first-person recall of the A-7 Corsair II flown by naval aviators during Viet Nam.

The book is easy to read, although the photographs (B&W) are quite small.

A good edition to anyone's Naval Aviation library. ... Read more

Product Description
For every American fighter pilot involved in the Vietnam War, the ultimate goal was to 'kill a MiG'. In eight years of conflict 43 Vietnamese Peoples Air Force aircraft were claimed by US Navy and US Marine Corps Phantom II crews, and one single ace crew produced. Navy Phantom IIs scored the first kills of the Vietnam War, in April 1965, as well as scoring the last in January 1973. This volume charts the successes of the navy fighter crews as they encountered 'MiGs, Missiles and AAA' over the jungles of North Vietnam. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Phabulous Phantom Book part deux!
Like I said in the USAF F-4 review, you gotta love this bird.While the illustrations don't have the appeal of later F-4 paint schemes, they are presented quite well and in great variety. Standard white grey color schemes save the back cover camo scheme.Lots of nice color maps detailing op zones and areas make this quite readable, thanks for that.Nice color photo selection. Can't miss with this one. Love the Mig camo picture shown on page 21. I remember watching these F-4s land and take off while stationed on the Midway.Recommended for all Phans of the Phantom!

Missile age meets reality
This Osprey book deals with the exploits of Navy F-4 drivers in the early portion of the Vietnam War and how they performed against the North Vietnamese Air Force and more importantly how they compared to the Navy F-8 Crusader pilots.The chapters follow the Vietnam War from its introduction thru the lull point of 1970.This break point selected due to the Navy changing tactics and the overall change in the air war.Within each of the chapters is a good breakdown of events during the given year.Attention is paid to the the individual encounters and if a shoot down occurred.A somewhat depressing piece was the number of aviators who would achieve their first kill and then get shot down, usually by air defense forces.Something that was a little hard to follow at times was which squadron was from which aircraft carrier, however Osprey does have a section in the Appendices that helps with that.Speaking of the Appendices, there's a great table in there comparing F-4 kills/losses to F-8 kills/losses.Seeing this table, one has to wonder why the Navy either didn't hold on to the F-8 longer than they did or didn't equip their F-4's with cannons earlier than they did.

The bottom line is this is a solid 4 star book!The graphics are good, the pictures meaningful, and the color plates are very nice.

Great Account on U.S Navy Phantom Operations 1965-1970
This is an excellent account of the difficulty faced by U.S Navy Phantom crews during Rolling Thunder in vietnam. A combination of overtly restrictive rules of engagement,lack of ACM training and malfunctioning missiles all contributed to a low kill ratio by Phantom crews. This book discusses these issues through first person account and rare photos of the naval aviators and their planes. It shows that despite all the disadvantages, the Phantom crews still managed a superior 2-1 kill ratio in their favour. ... Read more

Product Description
Designed and built as a carrier-based attack aircraft in 1944, the A-1 reached frontline units too late to see combat in World War 2. With the advent of jets in the late 1940s, the Skyraider was seen as a dated throwback to the golden age of piston-engined naval aviation. Despite its days seemingly numbered, the A-1 proved to be a huge success in the Korean War. Remaining in production through to 1957, some 3,180 Skyraiders had been built by the time the last one left the Douglas plant.

Nicknamed the ''flying dump truck'', the A-1 remained a key component in naval air wings into the 1960s, allowing the aircraft to play its part in the escalating conflict in Vietnam. Both A-1 attack and EA-1F airborne early warning aircraft saw action in Southeast Asia from 1960 through to 1969, when the last examples were finally retired from carrier decks. The A-1s in particular bombed targets in both North and South Vietnam, despite the aircraft being highly vulnerable to enemy flak and fighters. Co-written by a two-tour Vietnam War combat veteran in the A-1, this is the first book that focuses exclusively on the aircraft's service in Vietnam, providing a must-have volume for Vietnam aviation enthusiasts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

WELL DONE TOME ON THE A-1 ..................
I very much enjoyed this book, as I have a BIG interest in naval aviation, particularly in the Vietnam War. I think that this is one of the better books in Osprey's aviation series, probably because one of the authors was actually a Navy Skyrader pilot in SEA. So you have someone writing from firsthand experience, instead of just a good wordsmith who had little to do with the events described therein. A must have for any military aviation buff, I give it 10 stars !!!!!!!!!!

Navy Spads in Action!
Although seemingly an anachronism in the jet age, the Douglas A-1 carved out a memorable combat career in Southeast Asia. Until the North Vietnamese deployed SAMs, Skyraiders were part and parcel of Yankee Station strikes from Day One. Following that, A-1s became an integral part of RESCAP missions, the Spad's formidable armament and great loiter time enabling it to assist in many pick-ups of American shootdowns. Rick Burgess and 'Zip' Rausa provide a comprehensive guide to Navy Skyraiders at war in this 2009 Osprey volume, #77 in their 'Combat Aircraft' series.

Rausa and Burgess do a good job of detailing the strike, armed recce, ECM and RESCAP missions flown by such famous A-1 units like VA-196 'Main Battery,' VA-145 'Swordsmen,' VA-215 'Barn Owls' and VA-25 'Fist of the Fleet.' A number of first-hand accounts by Spad pilots like Cliff Johns, George Carlton, MiG killer Tom Patton, Jerry Tabrum and Gordon Smith enliven the text and really put the reader in the cockpit.

Ninety-two b&w and color photographs along with ten pages of excellent color profiles by Jim Laurier complement the story.

If you are looking for a comprehensive, well-illustrated overview of Navy Spads in action, US NAVY A-1 SKYRAIDER UNITS OF THE VIETNAM WAR is your book. Having said that, I wish Osprey had given Burgess and Rausa a few more pages to relate more sea stories about the colorful aviators who flew the A-1 in harm's way. They were the last of the breed. Recommended.

The Flying Dump Truck
After attaining success as an attack aircraft in the Korean War (1950-1953), the AD-1 (later A1) Skyraider at the early 60's was just another piston-engined airplane slated for replacementby new jet models like theA4, A6 and A7 fighter/fighter- bombers. Nevertheless , the Vietnam War (1964-1975) brought her a new span of life with the VA squadrons in the Pacific Fleet.Starting just after the Tonkin Gulf incidents on August 1964, the A1, later driven out of the North Vietnamese skies by the dangerous Sa-2 AA missiles, managed to stay as a ground support machine for the troops engaged in the South against the VC and later found a new role in which excelled: scorting SAR missions. In fact, its propelled driven engine allowed in excess of 5 hours flight time and its huge load carring capability gave the rescue forces protection and guidance in and out of the extraction points, saving numerous aircrew downed in hostile territory.

A 'must' for any serious military collection
Designed and built on a carrier-based attack aircraft, the A-1 never saw combat in World War II and eventually was viewed as dated. But it proved its worth during the Korean War and earned a reputation as a craft able to carry any weapon in the naval arsenal. This history comes packed with black and white photos and is a 'must' for any serious military collection.

A Bargain
Even at full price, this book is a bargain.Crammed with information, it's written by two of the best possible authors, both with extensive naval aviation credentials. Zip Rausa is one of only three Osprey authors I know of who has flown the aircraft he writes about (the others being Powell of the Vigilante and Brooke of the Vulcan.)

While the mighty Skyraider became nearly a cult icon, the authors rightly focus on the men rather than the machine.The personal sagas in this book contain dramatic stories of early loss (Richard Sather), happy endings (Dieter Dengler), and many bitter episodes (Joe Dunn and others).

Throughout the text the authors describe the dozens of deployments of all 10 A-1 attack squadrons and detachments from three electronic or early warning units from 1964 to 1969.

As with all Osprey titles, the Skyraider volume is especially strong on illustrations.More than 70 mostly excellent black & white photos are augmented by 19 color plus a generous 30 color aircraft profiles. ... Read more

Product Description
Fifteen members of the Secret Scurvy Dog Society relate their own accounts, many humorous and some pointedly not, of life at sea on U.S. Navy destroyers during the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War. Beginning with the question - Why the Navy? - and ending with reflections on how their experiences during hard lives at sea came to be considered cherished memories, these men, both officers and enlisted, tell the quintessential Sea Stories of the latter half of the 20th century. Scurvy Dogs, Green Water and Gunsmoke is the first joint effort for these writers, most of whom have been published previously in the Tin Can Sailor, the journal of the National Association of Destroyer Veterans. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Best Book Ever Written
The seller delivered the book promptly and as described.I may be a little biased with this review because I was one of the eighteen contributing authors of the book, but I think anyone who ever served on a Navy ship, especially a destroyer or destroyer escort type, will really enjoy this collection of true short sea stories many of which involve McHale's Navy type SNAFU's and "WCGWW" (what can go wrong will).

Sassy and salty
An enjoyable sojourn with ordinary salts recalling not so ordinary events in the life of American tars and ex tars. Light, laughable and most inmportantly reminiscent of days gone by.

Bob Nadal

A real eye-opener!
Bob Cohen and his fellow writers completely opened my eyes to the hardships of naval life.The stories really bring home the loneliness,frustration and dedication of our sailors.I hads no idea of
what these brave souls had to contend with.A must read for anyone interested in life at sea,written by the people who have actually served
Plus proceeds from the sale of this book go to the navy-marine relief society.

Destroyer stories
Both books do an excellent job of providing vignettes of life aboard U.S. Navy destroyers.Some accounts are a little off-color, which detracts from the overall book.All-in-all, anyone who has served on a destroyer or is curious about what it is like to do so should read this book.Easy read.

Wayne Stewart
Past crew member of USS Henry B. Wilson (DDG7)

Long live the destroyermen
Pick an ocean, any ocean. Add a few Navy destroyers, throw in a healthy dose of salt spray, then brace yourself. Such a concoction breeds unique ship crews who are renowned as colorful characters with irreverent lifestyles. Now some of their own have jumped ship and penned these clever sea stories.
These tales, some taller than others, offer unique insights into life aboard the "greyhounds of the sea." A good read.





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Product Description
This book explores the role of the US Navy Hornet units in the northern Iraqi campaign. These units were the first Navy Reserve unit to be mobilized since the Korean War, and their attacks were launched from carriers off the coast of Turkey. The conflict for these squadrons was very different from the campaign fought in southern Iraq: they worked almost exclusively with clandestine Special Forces teams from the US Army, Marine Corps, Navy SEALs, British and Australian SAS and Kurdish guerrillas. First-hand accounts accompany the indispensable role these units had in the battle to liberate Iraq. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Hornets over Iraq - The Saga Continues!
Tony Holmes scores another direct hit with this account of Navy Hornet drivers in combat over northern Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The Hornet's air war over northern Iraq was totally different in nature than that waged by F/A-18 units committed in the south. These Hornet units supported Special Operations Forces and Kurdish units tasked with pinning down Iraq divisions heading south to aid their comrades. Close air support was the name of the game for the Hornet units deploying from carriers Harry Truman and Theodore Roosevelt.

As with part one of this set, Holmes' text benefits from the unparalled access he had to Hornet pilots who flew over Iraq. The book is chock full of combat stories that put you right in the cockpit.

The text is complemented by dozens of photos, most in color, and five pages of F/A-18 side-views by Chris Davey.

If you enjoy fast movers in action, you'll want to get this book - and the others in the series. ... Read more

Product Description
After the United States' failures in special operations missions during the late 1970s and 1980, a decision was made to revamp its unconventional military capabilities. The subsequent reorganization and redesignation in 1983 created the SEALs as they are known today, and later the all-encompassing command for US special operations forces under which they operate. Since then, these Navy Special Warfare (NSW) forces have operated in Grenada, the Persian Gulf, Panama, Somalia, Bosnia, Haiti, and Liberia. NSW units have also participated in the ongoing missions of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq. This book looks at the history, organization, training, uniforms, equipment and missions of the US Navy SEALs since their redesignation until the recent conflict in the Gulf. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A great single-volume introduction to the Navy SEALs
Osprey's Elite series is an outgrowth of it's earlier Men-at-Arms series. I think it was originally conceived as a way to cover some of the world's special military forces like the British Paras or the Texas Rangers. Although the series has veered off into other topics like tactics in recent years, this volume from Mir Bahmanyar brings it back to its original goal of covering special ops. It's not as comprehensive as information you'll find in longer books--or even Bahmanyar's new book on the SEALs, which is awesome--but it has lots of great photos and the illustrations are informative, if somewhat below Osprey's usual high standard.

Amateur, Poorly-Written Effort
This book smacks of an author attempting to rush a book into publication for the sake of having his name on the cover. The books provides absolutely no new, insightful information on the SEALs and seems to simply regurgitate information from other sources. The most telling thing about the book is the reference sources include the author's other books and personal web site devoted to the history of Army Rangers.

Disappointing Effort By Osprey
I was quite anxious to get this book as it's publication date was repeatedly pushed back since it's origianl publication date almost a year ago.What I finally got was very disappointing. Osprey and the author have done much better in the past, but stay away from this one.The cover of the book pretty much sums it up -- the title is US NAVY SEALS, but there is not a SEAL in sight on the cover.The section of the book descriping the naval spec ops community looks like it was cut and pasted verbatim from Specialoperations.com circa 1999.It spends alot of time descrbing the SEALS as there were a few years ago, but glances over the major changes that have occurred in the community recently and how they are currently structured and operate today.The artwork is poor and lacks the crispness and realism of other Osprey titles.There is nothing in it that has not been presented much better elsewhere.Wanna learn about the SEALS?Read Dick Couch's books.The Navy SEALS and the navy's Special Operations community deserves a better effort from Osprey, I hope that they give it another go. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume depicts the United States Navy's contribution to the twenty-five-year American and Vietnamese campaign to defend the Republic of Vietnam. The dimension of that effort is suggested by the fact that two million U.S. naval personnel, more than 2,500 of whom lost their lives, served their country in Southeast Asia.

The text and maps in By Sea, Air, and Land cover all naval aspects of this prolonged campaign, particularly the operations of carrier, surface, amphibious, logistic, riverine, coastal, and mine forces. Assessments of the Navy's overall experience in counterinsurgency, civic action, and the advisory effort are provided. Coverage extends to naval forces assigned to the Seventh Fleet as well as to units based ashore that reported to the Commander Naval Forces, Vietnam.

This is the ultimate guide to relive through the fate and success of our maritime soldiers in Vietnam. ... Read more

Product Description
US NAVY FACT FILE
Battleships
BB-60
USS Alabama


Everything you need to know ... Read more

Product Description
“Top Secret” mystery missions, many without other ships in support, were becoming uncomfortably familiar for the crew of the USS Nashville CL43. It started like a Hollywood thriller, secretly transporting from England $25 million in British gold bullion, delivered to the ship in unguarded bread trucks, a pre-war “Neutrality Patrol” that was really an unofficial hostile search for the far bigger and more powerful German battleship Prinz Eugen, and sneaking through the Panama Canal at night with the ship’s name and hull number covered for secrecy. Now, with the ship bulging with an unusual load of fuel and supplies, in the company of a large fleet quietly passing under San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, the crew was about to learn of their latest (but not last) and most improbable adventure yet as the captain made an announcement that would change the war and their lives forever, “We are going to Tokyo!”. Over three years, scores of battles and hundreds of thousands of ocean miles later, the Nashville and her crew had earned 10 Battle Stars, served from the North Atlantic to the South Pacific, from the Aleutians to the Yangtze River, as McArthur’s flagship and suffered heavy casualties from a devastating kamikaze attack. Tokyo Rose reported her sunk, repeatedly. Earlier, with goodwill trips that included France, England, Scandinavia, Bermuda and Rio de Janeiro, the new, sleek Nashville built a pre-war reputation as a “glamour ship”. But with war came the secret missions, capturing the second and third Japanese POWs of the war, having a torpedo pass just under the stern, being strafed and bombed by Japanese planes, losing a third of the crew in a single Kamikaze attack, swimming in shark infested waters protected by marines with machine guns, enjoying the beauty of Sydney and her people, planning a suicide mission to destroy the Japanese fishing fleet, and bombarding Japanese troops and airfields across the Pacific. The Nashville crew served their ship and country well. They came from Baltimore rowhouses, New York walk-ups, San Francisco flats, Kansas wheat farms, Colorado cattle ranches, Louisiana bayous and Maine fishing towns. Many had never traveled more than 25 miles from home and had never seen the ocean until they joined the service. They were part Irish, part Italian, part Polish and All-American. Battered, burnt and bombed, they made the USS Nashville their home and lived and died as eternal shipmates. This is the story of their beloved Nashville and their personal experiences. A hardcover version is available on Booksurg.com (866-308-6235), an Amazon company. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

My Father's Ship
My father served on the U.S.S. Nashville from 1940 til 1943. He was on the Dolittle raid and numerous Pacific shellings. It was great to read about his service and fill in the blanks in the letters I have that he wrote home. Since my dad died of leukemia in 1955 when I was only 8, I did not have a chance to discuss his service. This book help fill that gap. I am grateful to author for that.

Bob Yager

The Untold Story - Finally Told
If you are in the US NAVY as I am or you simply LOVE the men and women who fought for our freedom so long ago then is a book for YOU. This is about the great honorable men of WWII and a very important ship - The USS Nashville. It's a must read! Reading this book made me feel like I was on the ship living these stories with these men! What an honorable ship and what a book! These men you will never meet today but you can re-live their lives and see what it took to hold a nation together. One heart, one tear and one soul at a time! Mr. Joe Graves a great legacy to our nation served aboard this great ship. His story along with many others are told here. We pass hero's everyday and don't even know. Here are some accounts of what it took to be a US NAVY sailor and what it took to make this country that way it is today!

Humble Heroes is an Odyssey of Valor
The USS Nashville began its epic journey across the turbulant waters of World War II in February 1941 when it transported a contingent of U.S. Marines to Wake Island. When she finally sailed into San Francisco Harbor in January of 1946 on her return to the United States, she carried an incredible legacy to her native shores of pain, loss, horror, grief and death combined with heroism, devotion,selflessness, loyalty, skill and great distinction. If she could tell her own tale, it would no doubt be with the same humility shown by the humble heroes who served with such dedication upon her blood-stained and fire-scarred decks.
But, the job of telling that engrossing tale has fallen to Steven George Bustin, a writer of great clarity and instinctive empathy for the individuals whose exploits and travails he so lovingly depicts on the pages of this inspiring work. And the story of The Nashville and its intrepid crew is in good hands."Humble Heroes" is meticulously crafted----both as a fond and poignant remembrance and a breathtaking tale of adventure in the perilous waters of the Pacific during WWII. The Nashville seemed to be everywhere: on Lend Lease missions in the North Atlantic, as part of Doolittle's daring raid on Tokyo, at Midway, Hollandia, New Guinia, the Battle of Leyte Gulf and as MacArthur's flagship on his triumphant return to the Phillipines. Full of intriguing first-hand vignettes from former crew members, it is also a history of the War in the Pacific in micrcosm."Humble Heroes" is masterful in its thoroughness and truly a great read, especially for World War II buffs and history buffs in general.
Review by:
Donald J. Farinacci, author of "Truman and MacArthur, Adversaries For A Common Cause (Merriam Press).

The Untold Story of an Historic Ship and Crew
My first reaction after reading Humble Heroes was one of disbelief.How could a ship and crew that played such an important role in World War II not already be a part of its popular history?Secret missions collecting English gold as a part of lend-lease (from a bakery truck no less)?MacArthur's flagship that quite literally "returned" him to the Philippines? The Japanese actually occupying the Aleutians for a period of time before the Nashville and crew dispatched them?Dozens of harrowing missions that served to win World War II?Why hadn't I heard of this before?

Luckily for all of us Steve Bustin has put his heart and soul into telling the story of the USS Nashville.What I especially enjoyed is Steve's storytelling style, weaving not only factual and tactical information about the missions accomplished but also lighter hearted, behind-the-scenes narrative about the crew and their adventures off-shore.Mr. Bustin painted a realistic and very human portrait that serves as a microcosm for the many brave men and women who served in the Pacific theater.

Hello, Hollywood?There's a story here that deserves some screen time.

Finally---An Interesting Account of the USS Nashville & Her Men During WWII
For the first time, Steven George Bustin brings us the story behind the proud, yet humble men of the USS Nashville, a Brooklyn Class light cruiser. As the son of George L. Bustin, Gunner's Mate 2nd Class, who served over 3 ½ years aboard the Nashville, Steven Bustin is uniquely qualified to tell this story. Through many USS Nashville reunions, letters, stories, newspaper clippings and countless hours of listening, Bustin reconstructs the history of not only the Nashville, but the extraordinary young men who fought for our country during the war.The reader follows this naval adventure from the time the ship was built and commissioned in 1938, until she was decommissioned in 1982.The life, death, tragedy, and camaraderie of the Nashville's men will live on forever in Steven Bustin's "Humble Heroes".
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