That large echo on everyone’s scope is no mystery. Deadly COVID-19 is disrupting all our lives. Fortunately, the Naval Institute has upgraded its software and computer system regularly, permitting the staff to work remotely and our magazines to continue publication. I hope this issue of Naval History finds you in good health and you find it a good read.
As you probably know, our main focus is U.S. Sea Service history. Unfortunately, that sometimes is at the cost of an international perspective. For example, we’ve published plenty of articles about American ironclads, but the first armored battleship was French. Moreover, while the U.S. Navy slipped into post–Civil War doldrums and largely turned away from steam and iron, the rest of the world’s navies surged ahead by embracing new naval technologies and the evolving ironclads. These ships were the future, as the U.S. Navy finally realized.
A couple of years ago when I discussed the idea of an international ironclads article with Nick Lambert, a member of the Naval Institute’s Naval History Advisory Board, he suggested I contact Bruce Taylor, whose book The World of the Battleship had just been published. The result is our cover story, “A Global Phenomenon,” which offers a broad look at these innovative ships during peacetime and at war. Complementing that perspective, Richard Selcer’s article, “‘Blockade Busters’ of the Confederate Navy,” examines a pair of lesser-known ironclads that briefly scattered Union warships outside Charleston Harbor.
If this Naval History seems extra colorful, it may be courtesy of our excerpt from The Stringbags, a new graphic novel release from Dead Reckoning, an imprint of the Naval Institute Press. Accomplished comics writer Garth Ennis and artist P. J. Holden present the tale of torpedo-plane aviators who flew Fairey Swordfish biplanes—“stringbags”—in some of the Royal Navy’s most daring World War II operations.
On a different note, this issue marks my 15th anniversary as editor-in-chief of Naval History, and the job has been as fulfilling as I’d hoped it would be when I started. But after much reflection, I believe it’s time for a change, and this issue will be my last as editor. Taking over will be Eric Mills, who has a broad background in naval and maritime history.
When I became editor, Eric was a Naval Institute Press acquisitions editor, but he soon began contributing articles to Naval History. He later served as the magazine’s senior editor before becoming manager of the Naval Institute’s Oral History Program. Eric continued working on the magazine, most notably writing “Naval History News” and “Pieces of the Past.” I’m sure his will be a steady yet creative hand on the helm. Meanwhile, I’ll continue with Naval History in a reduced role.
Given the adjustments necessary to produce a magazine during a pandemic, this issue has been my most challenging. It’s only rivaled by my first issue, August 2005. Richard Frank came through with its key article, “The Amphibious Revolution,” and fortunately he’s continued writing insightful pieces for the magazine. I’m also grateful to Craig Symonds, one of my references when I applied as editor-in-chief, for steadily contributing solid Civil War and World War II articles.
For 15 years, Tom Cutler has patiently answered my many naval-related questions as well as written for the magazine. Among many others, thanks go to Norman Polmar for his contributions and constructive advice and to J. M. “Jim” Caiella, who began working on Naval Institute periodicals a few weeks before I came aboard and is one of the most conscientious editors I’ve worked with. And finally, I’m indebted to my editor-in-chief predecessors, Paul Stillwell and Fred Schultz, for their guidance and assistance.
Richard G. Latture
Editor-in-Chief