A Naval History of World War I

Rating:
Summary: Naval Warfare WW 1
Review: Excellent, I highly recommend this volume.

Rating:
Summary: War as seen by the Brits
Review: In this book you would have thought that Britannia rules the world single handed, no mention is made of the fact that the rickety British Empire, rotten to the core, was upheld not by the grace of Godm or the might of the Dreadnoughts, but by American finance.

Rating:
Summary: The book about naval warfare in WWI
Review: This is the best analysis of WWI naval warfare ever written. Mr Halpern has written a fascinating text describing the main guidelines of the naval aspects of this conflict. Do not expect shot by shot descriptions of the battles, this book deals with the reasons leading to the different battles and their consequences and should be considered essential reading for anybody interested in World War I or Naval History.

Rating:
Summary: Superior examination of WWI on, under and over the waves.
Review: With this volume, Paul Halpern has performed an invaluable service to all those interested in the Naval aspects of The Great War.

Unlike most other treatments of World War I at sea, Mr Halpern does not succumb to the temptation to concentrate on the Battle of Jutland and submarine warfare in and around the British Isles to the exclusion of all other theaters.

The book includes a refreshingly detailed examination of cruiser warfare, mine warfare, riverine warfare and the first halting steps of the various Fleet Air Arms. Conflict is detailed in the Pacific, the Mediterranean, the Adriatic, the Baltic, the Black Sea, on the Danube River and in many other generally ignored locations.

Additionally, the usually irritating and occasionally disastrous effects of political considerations are also brought to light. The intricate and frequently ignored cause-and-effect relationship of one theater to another is carefully included in the narrative.

Perhaps the most laudible aspect of this volume is the Mr. Halpern manages to include all of these diverse facets of the naval conflict without becoming bogged down in minutia or losing sight of the "big picture." Although much detailed information is presented and many obscure considerations revealed, the author maintains a focussed and methodical pace of delivery that holds the reader's interest from beginning to end.

This book is an indispensable asset for anyone interested in a treatment of the Naval History of the First World War that remembers that there are more to the world's great waterways than the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. Very highly recommended.