The History of Aircraft Carriers: An Authoritative Guide to 100 Years of Aircraft Carrier Development

Synopsis

With magnificent illustrations, cutaway diagrams and historical paintings, this authoritative book provides both enthusiasts and historians with key information about the history of the aircraft carrier, and is an essential reference for everyone interested in naval aviation.

The History of Aircraft Carriers: An Authoritative Guide to 100 Years of Aircraft Carrier Development, from the First Flights from Ships in the Early 1900s Through to the Present Day

THE HISTORY OF AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

AN AUTHORITATIVE GUIDE TO 100 YEARS OF AIRCRAFT CARRIER DEVELOPMENT, FROM
THE FIRST FLIGHTS FROM SHIPS IN THE EARLY 1900s THROUGH TO THE PRESENT DAY

ISBN-13: 978- -84476-474-7 ISBN-10: 1-84476-47 4- 5
9 7 1844 764747
£8.99
Printed in Singapore

Overview

An illustrated history of aircraft carriers of the world, from zeppelin and seaplane carriers to vertical/short take-off and landing jet decks and nuclear carriers

Examines the evolution of the aircraft carrier, from the pioneering flights of the early 1900s, through the Dardanelles campaign and World War I to Pearl Harbor, Korea, Suez, Vietnam, the Falklands and beyond.

Features over 260 colour and black-and-white photographs, cutaway illustrations and historical paintings.

Includes quotes from military leaders and witnesses, plus a glossary explaining key military terms and abbreviations.

Considers the aircraft carriers of the future, examining the pros and cons of large versus small carriers, illustrated with concept diagrams of ships, planes and helicopters in action.

FEATURES FASCINATING QUOTATIONS FROM MILITARY LEADERS AND MORE THAN 260
IDENTIFICATION PHOTOGRAPHS AND COLOUR ILLUSTRATIONS • BERNARD IRELAND

From the Back Cover

THE HISTORY OF AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

An aircraft first flew from a ship's deck in 1910, just four years before the outbreak of World War I, and within nine years of that inaugural flight, the first true aircraft carrier was at sea, with planes designed to reconnoitre, protect the fleet and torpedo the enemy.

Ultimately, with its rapidly assumed capacity to deliver a concentration of destructive force, the aircraft carrier displaced the big-gun battleship as the undisputed arbiter of sea power.

This expertly written volume is a fascinating history of the aircraft carrier's development, including, at one end of the chronological scale, kite balloon ships and airships and, at the other, the many types of modern ships that carry aircraft such as V/STOL jets and helicopters.

Special topics include zeppelins, the Dardanelles campaign, the Konigsberg operation, the Washington Treaties, aircraft aboard submarines, Taranto, the Bismarck operation, the Battle of Matapan, Pearl Harbor, the Doolittle Raid, the Battle of Midway and the Battle of Santa Cruz.

The book also focuses on more recent history, such as the Korean War, Suez, Vietnam and the Falklands War, discussing the impact of helicopters, carrier jet aircraft developments, carrier battle groups and tactics, and assault carriers. Throughout the book there are evocative quotes that bring the historical facts to life.

With over 260 magnificent illustrations, cutaway diagrams and historical paintings, this authoritative book is an essential reference guide for everyone interested in naval aviation.

Contents

• Introduction
• First flights from ships
• Zeppelins
• Seaplanes versus land planes
• The Dardanelles Campaign
• Fighters aboard ships
• Air-dropped torpedoes
• The Konigsberg operation
• Naval aviation at Jutland
• The first naval air strikes
• British shipborne aircraft of World War I
• Rigid airships after World War I
• The Sempill mission and Japanese naval aviation
• The Washington Treaties (1921-22)
• Carrier operational philosophies
• "Billy" Mitchell and the US Navy bombing trials
• Catapults and arresters
• Aircraft aboard submarines
• Inter-war development in carrier aircraft
• Armoured versus "open" construction
• Taranto
• The Bismarck operation
• The Battle of Matapan
• Pearl Harbor
• The Doolittle Raid and the Battle of the Coral Sea
• The Battle of Midway
• Escort carriers
• Carrier aircraft development during World War II
• The Battle of Santa Cruz
• Battle of the Philippine Sea
• Leyte Gulf
• Post-war aircraft carrier developments
• Carriers in the Korean War
• Carriers for sale
• Suez
• The impact of helicopters
• Carrier jet aircraft developments
• Naval air power in Vietnam
• Carrier battle groups and tactics
• The introduction of V/STOL
• Argument — large or small carriers?
• Assault carriers
• Carriers in the Falklands War
• Glossary
• Index
• Acknowledgements

Publication Information

This edition is published by Southwater
an imprint of Anness Publishing Ltd
Hermes House, 88-89 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8HA
tel. 020 7401 2077; fax 020 7633 9499

Anness Publishing has a new picture agency outlet for images for publishing, promotions or advertising.

Publisher: Joanna Lorenz
Senior Managing Editor: Conor Kilgallon
Senior Editor: Felicity Forster
Cover Design: Bailey Design Associates
Designer: Design Principals
Copy Editor and Indexer: Tim Ellerby
Production Controller: Claire Rae

© Anness Publishing Ltd 2008

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Previously published as part of a larger volume, Aircraft Carriers

1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2

PAGE 1: Melbourne. PAGE 2: Invincible. PAGE 3: Ark Royal (I). PAGE 5: Illustrious.

 

£8.99

THE HISTORY OF AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
AN AUTHORITATIVE GUIDE TO 100 YEARS OF AIRCRAFT CARRIER DEVELOPMENT, FROM
THE FIRST FLIGHTS FROM SHIPS IN THE EARLY 1900s THROUGH TO THE PRESENT DAY
BERNARD IRELAND
ISBN-10: 1844764745

Library Catalog Listing

• Product Category : Books
• ISBN : 1844764745
• Title : The History of Aircraft Carriers: An Authoritative Guide to 100 Years of Aircraft Carrier Development, from the First Flights from Ships in the Early 1900s Through to the Present Day
• EAN : 9781844764747
• Authors : Bernard Ireland
• Binding : Paperback
• Publisher : Southwater
• Publication Date : 2008-02-12
• Pages : 96
• List Price (MSRP) :£ 8.99
• Height : 0.4700 inches
• Width : 8.6600 inches
• Length : 11.5700 inches
• Weight : 1.1500 pounds
• Keywords : General, Strategy, Tactics & Military Science, Naval Forces, General AAS, Military Vehicles, English, Paperback, Regular Size