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Three Huzzahs for "Six Frigates"!
By Lt Col P
I'm only about a quarter of the way into it, but unless this book completely goes flat, I'll be giving three huzzahs-- the only appropriate accolade-- to Ian Toll's history of the early American Navy, Six Frigates.
I started it earlier this week, I can't put it down. I read it in every free moment during a conference this week, and sometimes during not-free moments.
The book describes in great detail how and why America came to have its Navy-- note that, despite being a maritime nation, no one saw a need for a real naval defense-- and how in particular the little nation came to possess six extraordinary, innovative, and dare I say transformational vessels. At the time, the frigate build was the largest Federal spending project; it drew resources and skills from across the country. Not surprisingly, the project was also heavily politicized, controversial, over budget and off schedule. All (reassuringly) familiar. Much to my surprise I learned that even though American yards had turned out hundreds of ships by the end of the 18th century, the four 44s and two 38s were the biggest vessels ever built in America, and the size of the project strained the available workforce and technologies.
My one complaint is that so far I have found three (3!) instances of a failure to capitalize the title "Marine." Although I am incensed by it, I shall overlook it.
All in all, strongly recommended.
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Comments
through = threw
crap.. I need to get some sleep
hey Sir send it to me when you're done!!
An excellent book and a great example of the more things change the more they stay the same.
A great book. Ought to be required reading for all officers. Amazing how warfare changes over the years with new technology and tactics, but politics always seems to be the same.
First lesson is there is nos such thing as safe sex with a politician. You're gonna get screwed, but you ain't gonna get kissed!
I read this book last year and then forwarded it to my daughter, an Ensign serving on an LPD in the Persian Gulf she loaned it out to half the ship's officers after she finished it and it was then added to the ship's library.
I also bought an illustrated book printed by Osprey that covered the frigates' construction and history. Made some things a bit easier to understand.
Bob
I just finished that book last week & loved it (I have absolutely NO connection to the Navy, BTW; forgive me, but for many years I was a, ahem, (mumbling) AF wife) I found that, although Toll warned that he was including some chronistic jargon where he thought the context would suffice to explain it, I found a LOT of the ship terminology befuddling. Nonetheless, I refused to quit.
How so very true that, "Plus ca change, "plus c'est la meme chose." Even including the part about the gunboats - talk about failing to listen to the guys who're doing the fighting, eh?
Has anyone read the recent WWII naval history, "Sea of Thunder" by Evan Thomas? Wha'ja' think? I was fascinated, but then, having no personal knowledge, I find it ALL fascinating.
ColoComment;
"Six Frigates' is outstanding!
Add to "Sea of Thunder" the more personal look at the battle: "Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors" by Hornfischer. Then, get his second book: "Ship of Ghosts" about the USS HOUSTON caught in the Java Sea at the beginning of WWII, and the brave allied attempt to push back at the advancing Japanese. Most of them ended up building the Burmese railroad as prisoners. Story included if the Lost Battalion of TXANG artillerymen caught up in the battles, too.
xformed: thanks for the pointer to "Last Stand" & "Ship of Ghosts". I will follow up on that.
PS: I became enthralled 'way long ago in jr. high with sea stories: first with naval fiction, like the Hormblower books, and then with the early MacLeans: South by Java Head, HMS Ulysses, Guns of Navaronne. If you (or anyone else out there) have any more book recommendations, either fiction or non-, they would all be welcome. Many thanks.
Thank you for the recomendation. I got out to the library the next day and have only put the book down for the Superbowl.
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Fantastic book... I forwarded it to my old man. I flew threw the pages in less than a week. My wife thought I was a man possessed (she has yet to understand the siren call of books about war, politics, and technology that attracts men so...)