Aircraft Carriers: The Illustrated History of the World's Most Important Warships

by Michael E. Haskew

Overview

Step aboard the floating cities that patrol international waters, launch aircraft from their decks, and decide the fate of war. Behold the king of naval warfare: the aircraft carrier.

Soon after the Wright Brothers' historic flight in 1903, officials explored the airplane's military applications. The seaplane and the flying boat were conceived to combine air and naval operations, but their potential proved limited. Aircraft that could operate from the deck of a ship, however, offered tremendous possibilities. A few visionaries seized the opportunity, and by mid-century the aircraft carrier eclipsed the battleship as the preeminent weapon of naval warfare.

Since the first successful launch of an airplane from the deck of a naval ship in 1910, "fighting flattops" have evolved into immense, nuclear-powered vessels--floating cities capable of launching dozens of aircraft performing a variety of missions, including attack, escort, antisubmarine patrol, and deterrence. This illustrated history covers that evolution, from the first tentative steps taken by naval aviators before World War I to the roles these massive ships have played in the War on Terror. While author Michael Haskew focuses on US Navy carriers, he also provides coverage of parallel and competing carrier developments overseas. In addition to explaining the technologies behind past and present carriers and their aircraft, Haskew reexamines major engagements involving carriers, especially the epic Pacific battles of World War II, as well as personalities who were central to carrier development and deployment and naval doctrine relating to carriers.

Filled with carefully curated period photography and modern images showing aircraft carriers throughout the decades, Aircraft Carriers is a celebration of naval warfare's most important innovation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780760351437
Publisher:	Zenith Press
Publication date:	11/30/2015
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	750,333
File size:	79 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Michael E. Haskew has been writing and researching military history subjects for over twenty-five years. He is the editor of WWII History magazine and The World War II Desk Reference with the Eisenhower Center for American Studies. He is the author of West Point 1915: Eisenhower, Bradley, and the Class the Stars Fell On; Appomattox: The Last Days of Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia; and Tank: 100 Years of the World's Most Important Armored Military Vehicle, among numerous other publications. He lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Michael E. Haskew has been writing and researching military history subjects for over twenty-five years. He is the editor of WWII History magazine and The World War II Desk Reference with the Eisenhower Center for American Studies. He is the author of West Point 1915: Eisenhower, Bradley, and the Class the Stars Fell On; Appomattox: The Last Days of Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia; and Tank: 100 Years of the World's Most Important Armored Military Vehicle, among numerous other publications. He lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Editorial Reviews

"...readers can appreciate the black-and-white and color photographs, vintage advertisements, unit patches and the layout of this visual history." - Military Times

"This is the book for the reader wanting a full appreciation of aircraft carrier developments, battles, modern uses and their aircraft. The images are historic and astounding...often majestic...of both aircraft and aircraft carriers. Haskew's book is nearly coffee table in size and welcomed by any reader wishing to become aware of the aircraft carrier in the past, present and future. Significant developments, persons, events and aircraft are addressed and the index is wonderfully useful." - SeattlePI.com Blog Travel for Aircraft

"This is a broad and deep subject, but Haskew gives the reader a rich overview of the history of aircraft carriers in this single, well-illustrated volume. The author has written several books focused on the military and is the editor of World War II History magazine, and his assurance with the subject matter is especially evident during the period covering World War I through the end of World War II, which comprises the bulk of the book." - DefenseMediaNetwork.com

"This is a broad and deep subject, but Haskew gives the reader a rich overview of the history of aircraft carriers in this single, well-illustrated volume. The author has written several books focused on the military and is the editor of World War II History magazine, and his assurance with the subject matter is especially evident during the period covering World War I through the end of World War II, which comprises the bulk of the book."

—DefenseMediaNetwork.com

"Filled with curated period photography and modern images showing aircraft carriers throughout the decades, Aircraft Carriers is a celebration of one of naval warfare's most important innovations."

—Military Officer

"...readers can appreciate the black-and-white and color photographs, vintage advertisements, unit patches and the layout of this visual history."

—Military Times

"There are a few large-format histories of aircraft carriers or their individual classes, but this one is a visual feast with its vast array of photographs - many in color - and paintings that depict the crews, aviators, builders, ships and aircraft that made the carrier the largest and most sophisticated weapon platform in history. Surrounding the chronological history, the photos and other art are well-chosen to give the reader or browser a rich appreciation of carriers over their century of operations."

—Seapower

"This is the book for the reader wanting a full appreciation of aircraft carrier developments, battles, modern uses and their aircraft. The images are historic and astounding...often majestic...of both aircraft and aircraft carriers. Haskew's book is nearly coffee table in size and welcomed by any reader wishing to become aware of the aircraft carrier in the past, present and future. Significant developments, persons, events and aircraft are addressed and the index is wonderfully useful."

—SeattlePI.com Blog Travel for Aircraft

"It is always delightful to find a book on a subject about which you feel well informed and discover that the author has done so much great research that there is much new to you. And this is enhanced when, as Michael E. Haskew did, the author collects equally new and different photographs to make his point."

—Walter Boyne, retired United States Air Force officer, Command Pilot, combat veteran, aviation historian, and author

"...a pleasingly and balanced history of the aircraft carrier that looks at all the types, past and present. Mr Haskew seems really at home with his subject..."

—WarHistoryOnline.com

"Aircraft Carriers" is a well-written and well-illustrated book that should be in the library of any reader interested in military history."

—Washington Times

“The history of aircraft carrier is a big subject and this book is equal to its task. The ships along with their development, tactics, and aircraft are all covered in details. This is a book which is both entertaining to read and pleasing to the eye.”—Military Heritage

From the Publisher