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An international team of naval historians and scholars has pooled their expertise for this definitive reference on how the great navies of World War II were organized and how they trained, operated, and fought. They provide a point-by-point evaluation on the inner workings of the navies of the United States, the United Kingdom and Commonwealth, Japan, Germany, Italy, France, and the Soviet Union. Each navy has its own chapter, which covers such key features as weaponry, training, logistics, and doctrine. In bringing together data buried in specialized works in various languages, the authors deliver a fresh, multinational view of the naval war.
Vincent P. O'Hara is the author of four other books, including Struggle for the Middle Sea. He lives in Chula Vista, CA.
W. David Dickson, an expert on Japanese naval doctrine, is the author The Battle of the Philippine Sea and lives in Hernando, MS.
Richard Worth specializes in warship design. A resident of Bolivar, MO, he is the author of several books, including Fleets of World War II.
For more information visit the website for On Seas Contested.
Praise for On Seas Contested
“Numerous stimulating and provocative observations [are] in One Sea Contested, which will be a standard reference for years to come.”
— The Journal of Military History, April 2012
“…A book that breaks new ground; it is an absolute must for anyone with aspirations to be a naval historian, and a good read for those simply interested in the navies of the Second World War.”
— Warship 2012
“Although On Seas Contested is basically a reference book, it is also a very good read. For anyone studying the conflict as a whole at say undergraduate level, or even A-level, or with an informed but non-specialist interest (i.e. many readers of Shipwright) it is absolutely ideal. At a sensible size and a reasonable price, this ‘one-stop’ basic reference on the major navies of the Second World War is, at least in the near future, unlikely to be bettered.”
— SHIPWRIGHT 2012: The International Annual of Maritime History & Ship Modelmaking.
“This effective collection of essays provides much detailed information on the French, German, British, Italian, Japanese, American, and Soviet navies during World War II. The range of material covered is very impressive.”
— Naval History, April 2012
“Published by the prestigious Naval Institute Press, this book is the product of an unprecedented collaboration by an international team of naval historians….Excellent book…The book’s multinational orientation delivers a fresh view that will be of great value as a reference source. It should be on the shelves of specialists in naval and military history as well as those generally interested in the hows and whys of the major navies in the Second World War.”
— The Northern Mariner, April 2011
“On Seas Contested fills a noticeable void in naval history….The reader will come away with a much better understanding of the inner workings of each of the Seven Great Navies.”
— Sea History, Autumn 2011
“One Seas Contested is a fascinating, in depth comparison of the major naval powers of the Second World War. On Seas Contested is a well-balanced, extensive examination of the seven major navies of the Second World War. The integration of foreign language sources, detailed multinational accounts, and a complementary organizational structure make this a must have reference for scholars and armchair historians alike. The authors present the material in a concise, easy to read format accessible to a variety of readers. The wealth of images and figures complement the analyses, while the appendixes and glossary of terms allow even a lay reader to follow and understand the text.”
— Nautical Research Journal, September 2011
I am reading this book, and each page is very interesting. The book is written in a language and organisation, which leaves nothing to the imagination. The section on the French Navy, or the Marine Nationale, before, and during World War Two, is fascinating. The Marine Nationale was clearly a defensive instrument, in her nation's combat repertoire. However, the Admirals of the Marine Nationale, had a few changes of heart and intent, before the Second World War. They wanted again to build large warships, looking at the Panzershiffe's of the German Kriegsmarine. Unfortunately, for France, the French Army, was not as strong, internationally, as the Marine Nationale was, in the same vein. Perhaps, the French defense ministry did not balance the various requirements of the French defense. The book is written methodically, and in plain language. The writers let their intentions do the writing, and are not daunted, nor engaged by elaborate expressions. If one is interested in the subject, then the work is unputdownable.
