Decision at Sea: Five Naval Battles that Shaped American History by Craig L. Sym

Description: Decision at Sea by Craig L. Symonds Takes a look at pivotal moments in the history of the Navy and of the United States. This is also a study of the unchanging demands of leadership at sea, where commanders must make rapid decisions in the heat of battle with lives - and the fate of nations - hanging in the balance. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description From thunderous broadsides traded between wooden sailing ships on Lake Erie, to the carrier battles of World War II, to the devastating high-tech action in the Persian Gulf, here is a gripping history of five key battles that defined the evolution of naval warfare--and the course of the American nation. Acclaimed military historian Craig Symonds offers spellbinding narratives of crucial engagements, showing how each battle reveals thetransformation of technology and weaponry from one war to the next; how these in turn transformed naval combat; and how each event marked a milestone in American history. - Oliver HazardPerrys heroic victory at Lake Erie, one of the last great battles of the Age of Sail, which secured the Northwestern frontier for the United States- The brutal Civil War duel between the ironclads Monitor and Virginia, which sounded the death knell for wooden-hulled warships and doomed the Confederacys hope of besting the Union navy- Commodore Deweys stunning triumph at Manila Bay in 1898, where the U.S. displayed its "new navy"of steel-hulled ships firing explosive shells and wrested an empire from a fading European power - The hairsbreadth American victory at Midway, where aircraft carriers launched planes againstenemies 200 miles away--and where the tide of World War II turned in the space of a few furious minutes - Operation Praying Mantis in the Persian Gulf, where computers, ship-fired missiles, and "smart bombs" not only changed the nature of warfare at sea, but also marked a new era, and a new responsibility, for the United States. Symonds records these encounters in detail so vivid that readers can hear the wind in the rigging and feel the pounding ofthe guns. Yet he places every battle in a wide perspective, revealing their significance to Americas development as it grew from a new Republic on the edge of a threatening frontier to a globalsuperpower.Decision at Sea is a powerful and illuminating look at pivotal moments in the history of the Navy and of the United States. It is also a compelling study of the unchanging demands of leadership at sea, where commanders must make rapid decisions in the heat of battle with lives--and the fate of nations--hanging in the balance. Notes Subtitled, Five Naval Battles That Shaped American History. Author Biography Craig L. Symonds is a leading Civil War and naval historian who was Professor of History at the United States Naval Academy for three decades. He also taught at the U.S. Naval War College and the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, England. His ten books include award-winning biographies of Joseph Johnston, Patrick Cleburne, and Franklin Buchanan, and the reference titles The Naval Institute Historical Atlas of the U.S. Navy andA Battlefield Atlas of the Civil War. Review "Symonds is the consummate storyteller, creating powerful images.... The whole book is an effortless read, presenting a natural flow of history beginning with the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813 and ending with Operation Praying Mantis in 1988."--Linda Wheeler, Washington Post"A riveting account of the morphing of the United States Navy from its humble beginnings in the forests and lakes of the North American wilderness to an awesome and overwhelming strike force that cements the United States position as the worlds remaining superpower and de facto policeman."--Proceedings (The United States Naval Institute)"Without question, Decision at Sea is a riveting, well-researched account of the U.S. Navy in action. Historian Craig Symonds should be saluted for writing an important and living narrative that shows how sea battles shaped the course of American history." --Douglas Brinkley, author of Tour of Duty and The Unfinished Presidency"Craig Symonds delivers American naval history in the tradition of Sir Edward Creasys Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World. Combat at sea, from the Great Lakes to the Persian Gulf, jumps form the page in a vibrant, arresting narrative. Complementing each battle piece is an informed argument about the engagements impact on the course of history."--Alex Roland, Duke University"Craig Symonds, one of Americas leading naval historians, has written a fascinating battle history that also provides thoughtful insights into the American character and the character of America at pivotal moments in the last 225 years. His prose is very accessible and provocative, particularly as he portrays what the future may hold for the U.S. Navy at the apogee of its power."--William S. Dudley, Former Director, U.S. Naval Historical Center"Decision at Sea combines the wisdom of Alfred Thayer Mahan with the eminent readability we have come to expect from Craig Symonds. This book is destined to be a classic of both naval literature and national strategy."--Thomas Cutler, U.S. Naval Institute, author of A Sailors History of the U.S. Navy and The Battle of Leyte Gulf"Craig Symonds Decision at Sea deftly integrates five vigorous battle narratives with a comparative analysis that highlights the changing character and recurring critical role the U.S. Navy has played in American history."--John B. Hattendorf, Naval War College"Symonds is the consummate storyteller, creating powerful images.... The whole book is an effortless read, presenting a natural flow of history."--Linda Wheeler, Washington Post"A riveting account of the morphing of the United States Navy from its humble beginnings in the forests and lakes of the North American wilderness to an awesome and overwhelming strike force that cements the United States position as the worlds remaining superpower and de facto policeman."--Proceedings (The United States Naval Institute)"A riveting, well-researched account of the U.S. Navy in action. Historian Craig Symonds should be saluted for writing an important and living narrative that shows how sea battles shaped the course of American history."--Douglas Brinkley, author of Tour of Duty"Combat at sea, from the Great Lakes to the Persian Gulf, jumps form the page in a vibrant, arresting narrative. Complementing each battle piece is an informed argument about the engagements impact on the course of history."--Alex Roland, Duke University"Decision at Sea combines the wisdom of Alfred Thayer Mahan with the eminent readability we have come to expect from Craig Symonds. This book is destined to be a classic of both naval literature and national strategy."--Thomas Cutler, U.S. Naval Institute"Deftly integrates five vigorous battle narratives with a comparative analysis that highlights the changing character and recurring critical role the U.S. Navy has played in American history."--John B. Hattendorf, Naval War College"A fascinating battle history that also provides thoughtful insights into the American character and the character of America.... Accessible and provocative."--William S. Dudley, Former Director, U.S. Naval Historical Center"A masterful look at five vigorous battles waged by the United States Navy as the country grew from a tiny Republic into todays world superpower."--Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute Promotional A distinguished naval historian tells the dramatic story of five major battles--important milestones in naval and American history Long Description From thunderous broadsides traded between wooden sailing ships on Lake Erie, to the carrier battles of World War II, to the devastating high-tech action in the Persian Gulf, here is a gripping history of five key battles that defined the evolution of naval warfare--and the course of the American nation. Acclaimed military historian Craig Symonds offers spellbinding narratives of crucial engagements, showing how each battle reveals thetransformation of technology and weaponry from one war to the next; how these in turn transformed naval combat; and how each event marked a milestone in American history. - Oliver HazardPerrys heroic victory at Lake Erie, one of the last great battles of the Age of Sail, which secured the Northwestern frontier for the United States- The brutal Civil War duel between the ironclads Monitor and Virginia, which sounded the death knell for wooden-hulled warships and doomed the Confederacys hope of besting the Union navy- Commodore Deweys stunning triumph at Manila Bay in 1898, where the U.S. displayed its "new navy"of steel-hulled ships firing explosive shells and wrested an empire from a fading European power - The hairsbreadth American victory at Midway, where aircraft carriers launched planes againstenemies 200 miles away--and where the tide of World War II turned in the space of a few furious minutes - Operation Praying Mantis in the Persian Gulf, where computers, ship-fired missiles, and "smart bombs" not only changed the nature of warfare at sea, but also marked a new era, and a new responsibility, for the United States. Symonds records these encounters in detail so vivid that readers can hear the wind in the rigging and feel the pounding ofthe guns. Yet he places every battle in a wide perspective, revealing their significance to Americas development as it grew from a new Republic on the edge of a threatening frontier to a globalsuperpower.Decision at Sea is a powerful and illuminating look at pivotal moments in the history of the Navy and of the United States. It is also a compelling study of the unchanging demands of leadership at sea, where commanders must make rapid decisions in the heat of battle with lives--and the fate of nations--hanging in the balance. Review Text "Symonds is the consummate storyteller, creating powerful images.... The whole book is an effortless read, presenting a natural flow of history beginning with the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813 and ending with Operation Praying Mantis in 1988."--Linda Wheeler, Washington Post"A riveting account of the morphing of the United States Navy from its humble beginnings in the forests and lakes of the North American wilderness to an awesome and overwhelming strike force that cements the United States position as the worlds remaining superpower and de facto policeman."--Proceedings (The United States Naval Institute)"Without question, Decision at Sea is a riveting, well-researched account of the U.S. Navy in action. Historian Craig Symonds should be saluted for writing an important and living narrative that shows how sea battles shaped the course of American history." --Douglas Brinkley, author of Tour of Duty and The Unfinished Presidency"Craig Symonds delivers American naval history in the tradition of Sir Edward Creasys Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World. Combat at sea, from the Great Lakes to the Persian Gulf, jumps form the page in a vibrant, arresting narrative. Complementing each battle piece is an informed argument about the engagements impact on the course of history."--Alex Roland, Duke University"Craig Symonds, one of Americas leading naval historians, has written a fascinating battle history that also provides thoughtful insights into the American character and the character of America at pivotal moments in the last 225 years. His prose is very accessible and provocative, particularly as he portrays what the future may hold for the U.S. Navy at the apogee of its power."--William S. Dudley, Former Director, U.S. Naval Historical Center"Decision at Sea combines the wisdom of Alfred Thayer Mahan with the eminent readability we have come to expect from Craig Symonds. This book is destined to be a classic of both naval literature and national strategy."--Thomas Cutler, U.S. Naval Institute, author of A Sailors History of the U.S. Navy and The Battle of Leyte Gulf"Craig Symonds Decision at Sea deftly integrates five vigorous battle narratives with a comparative analysis that highlights the changing character and recurring critical role the U.S. Navy has played in American history."--John B. Hattendorf, Naval War College"Symonds is the consummate storyteller, creating powerful images.... The whole book is an effortless read, presenting a natural flow of history."--Linda Wheeler, Washington Post"A riveting account of the morphing of the United States Navy from its humble beginnings in the forests and lakes of the North American wilderness to an awesome and overwhelming strike force that cements the United States position as the worlds remaining superpower and de facto policeman."--Proceedings (The United States Naval Institute)"A riveting, well-researched account of the U.S. Navy in action. Historian Craig Symonds should be saluted for writing an important and living narrative that shows how sea battles shaped the course of American history."--Douglas Brinkley, author of Tour of Duty"Combat at sea, from the Great Lakes to the Persian Gulf, jumps form the page in a vibrant, arresting narrative. Complementing each battle piece is an informed argument about the engagements impact on the course of history."--Alex Roland, Duke University"Decision at Sea combines the wisdom of Alfred Thayer Mahan with the eminent readability we have come to expect from Craig Symonds. This book is destined to be a classic of both naval literature and national strategy."--Thomas Cutler, U.S. Naval Institute"Deftly integrates five vigorous battle narratives with a comparative analysis that highlights the changing character and recurring critical role the U.S. Navy has played in American history."--John B. Hattendorf, Naval War College"A fascinating battle history that also provides thoughtful insights into the American character and the character of America.... Accessible and provocative."--William S. Dudley, Former Director, U.S. Naval Historical Center"A masterful look at five vigorous battles waged by the United States Navy as the country grew from a tiny Republic into todays world superpower."--Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute Review Quote "Symonds is the consummate storyteller, creating powerful images.... The whole book is an effortless read, presenting a natural flow of history."--Linda Wheeler, Washington Post Feature A distinguished naval historian tells the dramatic story of five major battles--important milestones in naval and American historySelling point: Provides a gripping history of five key battles that defined the evolution of naval warfare and the course of the American nationSelling point: Offers spellbinding narratives of crucial engagements, showing how each battle transformed naval combat, marked a milestone in American history, and transformed technology and weaponrySelling point: Places every battle in a wide perspective, revealing their significance to Americas development as it grew from a new Republic on the edge of a threatening frontier to a global superpower Details ISBN0195312112 Author Craig L. Symonds Short Title DECISION AT SEA Language English ISBN-10 0195312112 ISBN-13 9780195312119 Media Book Format Paperback Year 2006 Residence Annapolis, MD, US Birth 1947 Affiliation United States Naval Academy Position Associate Professor of Psychiatry Subtitle Five Naval Battles that Shaped American History Imprint Oxford University Press Inc Place of Publication New York Country of Publication United States DOI 10.1604/9780195312119 UK Release Date 2006-11-02 AU Release Date 2006-11-02 NZ Release Date 2006-11-02 US Release Date 2006-11-02 Edited by Francisco Werner Qualifications R.N., B.S.N., Ocn Pages 400 Publisher Oxford University Press Inc Publication Date 2006-11-02 DEWEY 359.00973 Illustrations 55 halftones & line illus. Audience Further / Higher Education We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! 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