The Iowa Class Battleships: Iowa, New Jersey, Missouri & Wisconsin (Weapons and Warfare)

For the Battleship historian, this is a good book for quick reference to the four IOWA class Battleships. Actually, as an engineering type that was very closely involved with the 1980's reactivations of the ships, I found the appendices of more value than the historical text. But that is not meant to be demeaning. Mr. Muir's caption of a picture of the NEW JERSEY firing a broadside of her 16 inch guns is one of the only truthful statements ever made as to whether a full broadside would push a 57,000 ton ship sideways or not. They do NOT. Believe me. I have been aboard them during full broadside firings and those great grey ladies don't move an inch. Appendix B is also one of the few items published that note the fact that 18 inch guns were also considered for the class as well as a longer barreled, but heavier, version of the 16 inchers finally mounted. Appendix C are charts, diagrams and photos taken directly out of OP 769. Where do these civilian authors get their hands on these manuals? I had a hard enough time keeping one hidden under my desk during the reactivation era of the 1980's. I would not class this book as a "coffee table" book, but as one that meets a middle ground between a technical text and an historical log. In any case, it's a handy book for a Naval historian to have in his library. I would like to see a later revision of this book that includes the IOWAs up to their premature (my personal opinion) inactivation. And definetly in hard cover vs. soft cover. Richard Landgraff DREADNAUGHT CONSULTING Long Beach, California