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

Norman Polmar ¼ 7 READ & DOWNLOAD

Aircraft Carriers is the definitive history of world aircraft carrier development and operations. Norman Polmar’s revised and updated, two-volume classic describes the political and technological factors that influenced aircraft carrier design and construction, meticulously records their operations, and explains their impact on modern warfare. Volume I provides a comprehensive analysis of carrier developments and warfare in the first half of the twentieth century, and examines the advances that allowed the carrier to replace the battleship as the dominant naval weapons system. Polmar gives particular emphasis to carrier operations from World War I, through the Japanese strikes against China in the 1930s, to World War II in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Arctic, and Pacific theaters. It begins with French inventor Clément Ader’s remarkably prescient 1909 description of an aircraft carrier. The book then explains how Britain led the world in the development of aircraft-carrying ships, soon to be followed by the United States and Japan. While ship-based aircraft operations in World War I had limited impact, they foreshadowed the aircraft carriers built in the 1920s and 1930s. The volume also describes the aircraft operating from those ships as well as the commanders who pioneered carrier aviation.Aircraft Carriers has benefited from the technical collaboration of senior carrier experts Captain Eric M. Brown and General Minoru Genda as well as noted historians Robert M. Langdon and Peter B. Mersky. Aircraft Carriers is heavily illustrated with more than 400 photographs—some never before published—and maps.Volume II, which is forthcoming from Potomac Books in the winter 2006-2007 (ISBN 978-1-57488-665-8), will cover the period 1946 to the present. Aircraft Carriers: A History of Carrier Aviation and Its Influence on World Events, Volume I: 1909-1945

This was an interesting book. It reminded me of 'warbirds' with the wealth of information in the book. It is actually two books; this book was 'volume I.' It was different from Warbirds in that Warbirds reminded me of an encyclopedia in its format whereas this book was more of a narrative format. The author definitely knew his technical background.

I also found it interesting that this author did not necessarily have the same opinion as other authors about certain events. The biggest difference I found was in regard to the British attack at Taranto as to whether or not it influenced the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor. The majority of the other authors I have read seem to be of the opinion that the success of the British attack on the Italian base had some level of influence on the Japanese decision to attack Pearl Harbor; Polmar was of the opinion that the British attack had no influence on the Japanese attack.

I did not feel like the book was overwhelming in terms of the technical detail. I felt it was a readable book; it held my interest throughout the entire reading. It was easy to follow; the font was big enough that it was not difficult to read. The small font in 'Warbirds' was one of the few drawbacks of that book. This book also included many photographs throughout the book, which I felt helped enhance the experience of reading it.

I enjoyed this book as much as 'Warbirds' and plan on purchasing it [and volume II] for my personal library at some point. Hardcover I love reading nonfiction books.The one I read this marking period was called Aircrafts Carriers. I love reading about transportation,but mostly about planes.I like that nonfiction books have amazing facts about aircraft carriers. The book includes all the things I want to read about. It also includes amazing pictures and captions. I would give a five stars rating for the book Aircraft Carriers.

By Jay Patel Hardcover