Book Reviews

Tim Barrett. The Navy and the Na- background as it developed from the tion. Australia’s Maritime Power in British Royal Navy (RN). There are the 21st Century. Melbourne, AU: brief accounts of twentieth-century Melbourne University Press, naval conflicts —Jutland, the Battle www.mun.com.au, 2017. 89 pp., of the Atlantic, and the Coral Sea— notes index. AU $19.99, paper; ISBN and convincingly relates their impor- 978-0-522-87158-6. (E-book avail- tance to Australian naval power. The able) lessons he draws from these battles and other issues are that the RAN Vice-Admiral Tim Barrett, Chief of must focus on protecting Australia the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) through application of military force since 2014, has written a short (77 at the enemy. This encompasses five pages of text) book in which he posi- major points: projecting force at a tions the RAN within its historical distance (the Coral Sea battle); im- context, its work with other navies, posing great and unacceptable costs how the RAN fits in with Australia as on the adversary (Jutland); targeted a whole, and what the future holds. and decisive lethal force (the RN in Barrett states his basic thesis in the 1982 Falklands War and the US the very first paragraph: the RAN is a Navy [USN] in the first Persian Gulf national enterprise, part and parcel of war); agility through quick decision- Australian society, which supports, making (the Battle of Leyte Gulf in and must be supported by, the nation 1944); and the use of sea control (the as a whole. He breaks the book into Battle of the Atlantic). He further ten chapters: the shape of things to notes the rising influence and power come; the RAN’s heritage; naval of the People’s Republic of China. power, maritime power, and strategic His chapter on the RAN’s past and reach; the nature of contemporary current work with the USN, the RN, maritime power; the strategic contest; and the Royal New Zealand Navy is alliances and coalitions; the Navy as especially apt for countries entering a system; the Navy as a national en- into strategic alliances with other terprise; the Navy and the commu- nations. nity; the Navy and the nation. Barrett expands on his thesis in He states that clear direction and two chapters. First, a navy must be guidance are critical leadership quali- viewed as a system, not a closed sys- ties and that leaders at all RAN levels tem but a synergistic system of per- must be on the same page. He then sonnel, technology, and organization. moves on to describe the RAN’s All three of those components must

The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord, XXVII, No. 4 (Oct. 2017), 403-53. 404 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord work together to create an effective force must be seen as a system of navy. Given the changes in the times, manpower, equipment and technol- it is no longer possible to view a navy ogy, and organization; and that opera- as just a collection of ships and men. tional capability with other nations’ He emphasizes that the human di- forces is critical. The questions he mension will always be needed in poses can be applied to any military combat; it is too easy for a machine service. While the book is intended to mistake something harmless for a for an Australian audience, military target and thus, the human element in leaders and decision-makers can learn instant decision-making will always much from the broader points it be needed, as well as in prioritizing makes. It is superfluous to recom- targets. In the end, morality is re- mend this work; I need only state that quired in combat—so human discern- The Navy and the Nation deserves a ment is essential. world-wide readership. Finally—the RAN is an Austra- lian national enterprise—an integral Robert L. Shoop part of Australian society. It is neces- Colorado Springs, Colorado sary to protect the island nation/ con- tinent. Involved in that enterprise are five basic questions: where does the Christian Buchet, Michel Balard (ed.) nation, through its government, want The Sea in History - The Medieval the RAN to operate?; how long does World/La Mer dans l’histoire - Le the nation want the RAN’s submarine Moyen Âge. Martlesham, SFK: force to be stationed?; and how many B o y d e l l a n d B r e w e r , stations does the nation want to www.boydelandbrewer .com, 2017. RAN’s submarine force to have in 1086 pp., illustrations, notes, bibliog- order to effectively operate?; how can raphy, index. US $220.00, hardback; the submarine force be maintained?, ISBN 978-1-78327-159-2. (E-book and how can continuous training be available.) implemented? Those are questions that, when slightly modified, can be This intimidating volume represents posed to any navy and indeed, any the second in a set of four, following military service. on The Sea in History - The Ancient It is a short book, indeed; but that World, and preceding two more is also its virtue. Barrett makes his books on the early modern and mod- points concisely with the result that ern eras. The book’s editor, Michel this book can be read in one sitting. Balard, wastes no time in invoking While the author focuses on Australia Braudel in his introduction, which and the RAN, the concepts expressed serves as a clear enough signpost to therein are must-reading for military what follows. And what follows is officers and policy-makers of what- interesting, diverse, and often excit- ever force, wherever situated. To ing. Even 75 papers in French and broadly restate Barrett’s main points: English and over a thousand pages, ANY military force is a national en- however, can hardly do justice to a terprise which supports and is sup- subject that spans a millennium ported by that nation; that a military and—more ambitiously—the entire Book Reviews 405 world. The book embraces “Univer- Gerassimos Pagratis and Nevra sal History,” as the editor puts it, Necipo™lu, contest the traditional seeking to identify how the sea was a view of Byzantines as antipathetic to “differentiating factor in world his- the sea. Other contributors, however, tory.” It is a tall order, and one can- provide straightforward surveys of not envy the editor his job of herding their subjects, as in Sachin Pendse’s so many scholars, themselves distrib- paper on shipbuilding in India and uted across 40 countries, including Jorge Ortiz-Sotelo’s overview of the Caribbean, Mali, Korea, the “Central Andean Peoples and their Mongol Empire, Indonesia and else- Relationship to the Sea.” Some of where. Despite that geographical these feel more necessary than others: spread, the total regional distribution with a surfeit of books on the Vikings of the chapters does not stray that far available, do we need a new 14-page from the traditional haunts of medi- overview of the Viking ship, no mat- eval studies. Of the 75 entries, 31 ter how well written? One senses the deal with some aspect of the Mediter- intention to cover all the bases, but of ranean (including the Black Sea), course there are omissions. The ab- with 10 focussing on Venice and sence of Polynesia is surprising; like- Genoa alone. Another 14 cover the wise, except for a section on Spain, North Atlantic, North Sea and Scan- the Islamic Mediterranean during its dinavia. This leaves little room for so-called “Golden Age” before the the Americas, where we have two crusades is entirely absent. And papers on the Mayans and one on the while Angela Schottenhammer pro- Andean coast of South America. The vides a useful overview of “Maritime Indian Ocean is better served with Relations between the Indian Ocean seven papers, and the Far East with and China in the Middle Ages,” the six. The remaining chapters are intervening territory of mainland broader studies, which tend to focus South-East Asia doesn’t merit a sin- on European examples, such as Niko- gle article. las Jaspert’s look at the link between Meanwhile, for the ever popular piracy and state power, while a hand- city of Venice, we learn about the ful of authors travel even further culture and conditions of sailors in afield, to Senegal, or to the Philip- Doris Stöckly’s paper, Jean-Claude pines. Hocquet explains the vital role of salt A book like this faces a chal- in the commune’s economy, Bernard lenge: to cover the bases implied in Doumerc outlines different logistical its title, or to provide new offerings approaches to Venetian seafaring, and fresh scholarship. The Sea in Elisabeth Crouzet-Pavan describes History attempts to satisfy both re- the expansion of the arsenal over the quirements, with mixed results. centuries, while John E. Dotson ad- Some contributors offer new insights, dresses the shipbuilders and Ruthy such as Gertwagen’s insightful reflec- Gertwagen offers an admirable over- tions on the sheer incompetence of view of the “Naval Power of Venice the Venetian navy, and Gregor Roh- in the Eastern Mediterranean.” At mann on the Vitalian Brethen in the the other end of the world, of six Baltic. Two engaging chapters, by sections dealing with the Far East, 406 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord two full papers and part of another read; this reader had never before focus on the few decades of the early- considered the navigational problems fifteenth century in which the trea- faced by the early Maya, or the balsa sure ships sailed under Zheng He. rafts of the Peruvian coast. But no- In short, coverage is uneven and body buys a book at this price for its sometimes arbitrary. Guided by the entertainment value. Specialists in ghost of Braudel (and Horden and the history of shipbuilding, nautical Purcell), most of the authors make an technology, or naval organization attempt at the longe durée. The pa- will have reason to consult it, and pers mostly eschew historical person- those pursuing cross-cultural ages in favour of durations, which are approaches to these subjects may find usually measured in centuries. But it very valuable indeed. A compara- the comparative project suggested by tive approach to the various maritime the editor of the sea as a “differenti- histories of the world is a desirable ating factor in world history” is not outcome, which this book fosters, and made explicit, as each paper by ne- it may be recommended on that basis. cessity confines itself within one I would certainly hope to find it in region or subject area (already big any library or collection devoted to enough in most cases). Drawing out naval or maritime studies. the compar-isons is left to the reader, a task that is eased by the predomi- Romney David Smith nance of certain themes. Chief London, Ontario among them is shipbuilding. Individ- ual articles cover the topic in the Adriatic, Venice, Portugal, Byzantine S.D. Campbell. Tin-Can Canucks. A Constantinople, Viking Scandinavia, Century of Canadian Destroyers. India, and the Philippines, while oth- Calgary, AB: Kay Cee Publications, ers address it more lightly in Al- www. kcpublications.ca, 2017. iv+ Andalus, the Kingdom of Jerusalem, 336 pp., illustrations, notes, bibliog- knightly Rhodes, Lusignan Cyprus, raphy, index. CDN, US $17.95, UK Crete, England, Yuan China, and £14.50, Euro 16,75 €, paper; ISBN Korea. Any specialist in naval tech- 978-0- 96915-48-2-2. nology will be well served by this book. A second key theme is naval Despite the collective fixation on organization and state sponsorship of large surface combatants in most of fleets and maritime expansion, and the historical naval literature, the real here too the offerings span the globe. working fleet has always been the This book is, quite simply, too vast number of smaller vessels, par- big. There is a nice volume here on ticularly destroyers. Having evolved Venice and Genoa, another on the out of the need to protect major com- medieval Baltic and North Sea, a batants from torpedo boats, the de- third and slighter one on China and stroyer has become a highly versatile the Indian Ocean. Taken together, ship capable of defending against not they are difficult to deal with. It is just surface, but sub-surface and air- not clear for whom this book is in- borne threats. With such versatility, tended. Its diversity makes it a fun it is no surprise that the destroyer has Book Reviews 407 played a central role in every naval yacht SY Winchester and her subse- action since its creation. For a small- quent conversion into the first Cana- er navy like the Royal Canadian Navy dian escort, HMCS Grilse, and the (RCN), the destroyer has also repre- later acquisition of similar ships into sented a significant element of our the RCN. naval power. Therefore, an under- In the eight separate chapters that standing of the development of Cana- follow is the history of every class of dian destroyers is an essential aspect destroyer incorporated into the RCN of understanding the Royal Canadian from HMCS Patriot and Patrician, Navy. gifts from the Royal Navy in 1921, to To facilitate this process, Sean HMCS Athabaskan until her decom- Campbell, a RCN reservist and ardent missioning in March 2017. Each navalist and author, who has written chapter presents a brief discussion of for the Canadian Naval Review, has the adoption of a specific design of provided Canadian naval enthusiasts destroyer before going into brief with a concise history of Canadian histories of the ships in the class. For destroyers in his recent book Tin-Can example, in the chapter “Tribes of all Canucks: A Century of Canadian Types,” the author discusses the deci- Destroyers (2017). In presenting a sion to adopt British Tribal class history of an entire class of warship, destroyers into the fleet, followed by Campbell has provided a chronologi- a history of the individual ships. This cal understanding of the evolution of is concise and focused history at its Canadian destroyers throughout the best, as obviously, each of these ships 1900s and into the present day, all could be the subject of one or more within 336 pages. He sets up the books in its own right. The final context of the rise of the destroyer in chapter and afterword offer a brief his introduction by tracing the joint examination of the decisions that development of both the torpedo and have been made regarding the future torpedo boat destroyer. Inextricably of the RCN and their impact. Encap- linked, the torpedo gave purpose to sulating a vastly complicated process, the creation of the small torpedo boat the author manages to give a short destroyer. Acting as both a delivery synopsis of the key papers and stud- system for torpedo attacks and a ies relating to the decision-making means of keeping similar vessels at process and provides an excellent bay, the destroyer took its place in a basis for further research. supporting role for the main combat Collectively, this book is an ex- fleet in every navy prior to the First cellent place to begin an examination World War. With the addition of the the Canadian Navy’s growth and sub-surface threat shortly before war development in the critical area of began in 1914, it was inevitable that destroyers. Considering their central the destroyer would be thrust into a role in the battle for the Atlantic and defensive role here as well. Camp- Canada’s strong reputation for anti-- bell’s prologue, “HMCS Grilse,” submarine warfare (ASW), this study discusses early escort procurement provides an excellent foundation. during the First World War, starting Backed up by a solid bibliography with the acquisition of the steam and a good sense of the historical role 408 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord of these ships, the author produces an trade. He played a key role in trans- interesting text that is both enjoyable forming trade in the English colonies, and useful for naval enthusiasts and and contributed to economic growth students of history. Unfortunately, in pre-revolutionary America. In the brevity of the text is its major turn, Banister blended his business limitation. Covering a century of skills with a keen knowledge of law destroyer acquisition and develop- and an understanding of the period’s ment in a scant 336 pages, it inevita- emerging technologies. His maritime bly gives the reader a sense of being activities and his real estate ventures rushed. This is not necessarily a ashore afforded opportunities for negative, however, since it serves as working-class Rhode Islanders, there- an incentive for further research and by leveling the economic playing study. In that regard, the author has field in Newport. provided an excellent entry point for Desrosiers begins her study of those interested in the field and, in Banister by posing a series of ques- some important ways, a guide book tions which she answers in her fol- for future students of the Canadian lowing chapters. She asks, how did Navy. An excellent read, this book Banister become a leading capitalist should be a strong contender for in- in eighteenth-century Newport? Did clusion in the collection of most na- his role as a loyal citizen of the Brit- val enthusiasts. ish Empire help or hinder Rhode Is- land’s economy? How was Banister Robert Dienesch pivotal to the success of numerous Windsor, Ontario tradesmen and other merchants in colonial America and beyond? How deeply was he involved in the slave Marian Mathison Desrosiers. John trade? How did his commercial deci- Banister of Newport. Jefferson, NC: sions provide wealth for his family? McFarland & Company, Inc., www. How did he use his wealth for the mcfarlandpub .com, 2017. xii+234 benefit of the Rhode Island commu- pp., illustrations, maps, tables, appen- nity? And, can we integrate Banis- dices, notes, bibliography, index. US ter’s local successes within the $49.95, paper; ISBN 978-1-4766- broader perspective of Atlantic his- 2905-6. (E-book available.) tory? Born in Boston, in nearby Mass- Marian M. Desrosiers’ John Banister achusetts, John Banister (1707-1767) of Newport: The Life and Accounts of arrived in Newport in 1734, Des- a Colonial Merchant depicts the ca- rosiers tells us, “to establish business reer of a successful entrepreneur and in a port with potentially profitable businessman in eighteenth-century consumer markets, less competition, Rhode Island. A man of many tal- and more opportunities for success” ents, an exporter and importer, than he could enjoy in his hometown wholesaler and retailer, creditor and (16). In short order, he married well, insurer, as well as owning and outfit- built a wharf and warehouses, be- ting vessels, Banister was also invol- came a real estate developer of lands ved in Rhode Island’s notorious slave he inherited or purchased, and was Book Reviews 409 outfitting vessels for the American furniture makers, who created a dis- coastal trade, the overseas trade, and tinctive Newport style. the West Indies. His exports included Banister also met the demands of fish from New England and New- Rhode Island consumers for imported foundland, agricultural surpluses and processed foods, such as molasses, livestock from Rhode Island, Con- sugar, West Indies rum, and Madeira necticut, Pennsylvania, and Mary- wine. He exported rum to Africa in land, and lumber and naval stores exchange for slaves and was owner from New Hampshire, New Jersey, and employer of slave labour, and and the Carolinas, consequently pro- builder and outfitter of ships for the viding an economic boost for Amer- slave trade. English slave-trading ican producers. “Banister was not merchants approached him to build unique in any particular item he ships for them, recognizing his talent exported,” says Desrosiers, “but he for discovering the latest technologi- knew how to get the most value out cal advancements in shipbuilding at of the diversity of his cargoes” (8). reasonable cost. Among his imports were textiles According to Desrosiers, Banister from France, Italy, Ireland, China and assumed risks in funding privateering Japan in a variety of colours, tex- ventures in support of the Royal tures, weights and patterns, which he Navy in wartime. He paid the fees sold to consumers at affordable and taxes required, adhering reli- prices. Even his luxury items, gloves, giously to the legalities of insurance, hosiery, and shoes, he marketed on and the regulations of the admiralty easy credit terms. courts. Thus, he complemented his The amount and extent of Banis- income from the importation and ter’s imported goods were conducted selling of consumer goods with build- through “many triangles of trade,” ing and outfitting privateers and letter Desrosiers says. European semi- of marque vessels, further providing manufactured and manufactured employment for Rhode Island mari- goods, pig iron, wrought brass and ners. He formed privateering partner- copper, tools, tableware, ceramics, ships as well with other merchants to glassware, paper, paint, and house- protect his colony and enhance its hold furnishings, came from French prosperity. and Spanish ports along the Bay of Banister worked directly with his Biscay, and Amsterdam. Other “tri- captains and concerned himself with angles” linked Newport with Central his crews regarding wages and sup- and South America, and the Carib- plies to promote business in Rhode bean islands of France, Spain, and the Island and the Empire, always com- Netherlands. Banister’s ships sailed plying with imperial navigation laws. the Atlantic to trade for foods that In an interesting chapter, Des- Rhode Islanders craved, such as tea, rosiers deals with the personal ex- cocoa, coffee, and nuts, in addition to penses of the Banister family in the salt, spices, and tropical fruits. His matter of heating, lighting and food mahogany imports from Central and clothing costs, and the money America were sold to Rhode Island laid out for property improvements and household furnishings. She com- 410 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord pares Banister’s expenses with his accounts, adding as well colonial income, and that of other Newport office audit records, admiralty court families, to explain living standards records, clearances for Banister’s among the town’s mercantile elite. ships, and newspaper advertisements Banister’s account books reveal a of goods he offered for sale. Her world of trade and real estate devel- book contains prints, maps, and con- opment. From his activities in pro- temporary paintings of Banister’s viding goods, services, and jobs to world, statistical tables, and listings the local economy we see Banister as of vessels he outfitted, built, or a “rainmaker” generating prosperity owned from 1739-1749. John Banis- for other businessmen, artisans, wid- ter of Newport: The Life and ows, and even slaves. Accounts of a Colonial Merchant sets The importance of Banister’s role the standard for what the writing of as a merchant is reflected in the de- the economic and social history of tails of his records. He assembled his early America should be. cargoes with an eye to “price, quality, and demand” and was flexible William L. Welch enough not to trade in only one or Natick, Massachusetts two commodities or at one location. He diversified his ownership of ves- sels with other merchants, as well as Anthony B. Dickinson. North Ice to staggering the destinations of his South Ice: The Antarctic Life and ships to minimize the risk of loss. He Times of the Newfoundland ships affected the livelihood of Newport Eagle and Trepassey. St. John’s, NL: and its trading partners in North D R C P u b l i s h i n g , w w w . America, Central and South America, drcpublishingnl.com, 2016. xx+261 the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa, pp., illustrations, maps, appendix, and his business decisions had an notes, bibliography. CDN $ 19.95, impact on the well-being of New- paper; ISBN 978-1-926689-99-9. port’s workers and consumers. Mer- chants like Banister played a decisive Just another new book on Operation role in furthering the consumer revo- Tabarin, the secretive British Antarc- lution and the expansion of colonial tic operation during the Second trade in eighteenth-century America. World War, might be the first reac- Desrosiers has mined an impres- tion when opening Anthony Dick- sive list of sources, including Banis- inson’s new book. While it is true ter’s personal journal and account that the book deals mainly with what book (1746-1749), his memorandum is now a well-known British under- book (1749-1767), his receipt books taking in Antarctica, it is also true (1748-1768), and his letter books, that Dickinson provides much more ledgers, cash, and day books. She than one more version of an already has consulted Newport town meeting well-known story. Furthermore, it is and colonial court records, probate first time someone has looked at the and church records, customs records, operation from a maritime history and colonial governors’ correspon- perspective. dence to corroborate Banister’s own Book Reviews 411

Dickinson describes the story of experience with those conditions was the Newfoundland ships Eagle and at least as equally relevant as youth Trepassey during their Antarctic and physical ability. service and more importantly, he The chapter about the requisition discusses why two Newfoundland of dogs for the Antarctic sledging sealing vessels became the backbone operations seems at first to be a little of maritime logistics for British war- off topic, but on closer reading, it fits time activities in Antarctica. In addi- nicely into the larger argument that tion to the story of these two ships, without all kinds of support from Dickinson provides a plethora of Newfoundland and Labrador, Britain information on the participation of would have had difficulty establish- Newfoundland ships in all kinds of ing its sovereignty claims in Ant- Polar expeditions ranging from at- arctica. tempts by Peary and Cook to reach This book is a welcome addition the North Pole, via Shackleton’s ex- to the literature about the history of peditions south, to Operation Tabarin Antarctic expeditions, in particular as and the beginnings of the British it does not focus on the well known Antarctic Survey. Nor does he limit names of expedition leaders, but himself to the operational history of places the emphasis on the men and the ships. He provides the story of ships (and dogs) without which the their crews and analyses why New- expedition leaders would never had foundland mariners were particular been able to achieve their goals and well equipped for navigation in these objectives. To a certain degree, it often uncharted regions, whether the might be stated that Dickinson has Arctic or Antarctic. written one of the first histories of One of Dickinson’s most relevant Antarctic exploration that is neither points is the simple fact that these bound to the ‘great men’ tradition nor vessels were often chosen not be- to a strict history of science ap- cause they were an ideal choice, but proach. It embodies the concept of that they were simply the best mate- history from below, or maybe even a rial available during the Second revisionist approach linking regional World War. This means the maritime with global history. history of Operation Tabarin was For those neither interested in characterized by ships that were nei- Antarctic nor Newfoundland history, ther ideally suited for the task nor in it might be read as a curiosity with a prime condition. Dickinson’s care- good deal of regional pride, but such fully researched material on the a take on the book would definitely crews of these vessels is easily as undervalue the meticulous research important as her research on the ves- on which it is based. For the profes- sels themselves. It reinforces the idea sional Antarctic and/ or Newfound- that Newfoundland, with its long land maritime historian, it is a well history of sealing operations, was written book bringing an important perfectly suited to provide the crews story to light and opening the paths to for the maritime arm of wartime future research on the history of Ant- British operations. Clearly, for oper- arctic maritime history and in particu- ations under extreme conditions, 412 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord lar the related logistics on which formally trained naval historian, has Antarctic exploration depends. made very important contributions to Unfortunately, praise for the the study of the early modern Royal book must come with a grain of salt. Navy. His previous book, The Resto- Although the book is without any ration Warship, focused on the Lenox doubt carefully researched, the re- (built as part of the same programme spective references are not provided as the Anne). As such, I had very as traditional foot- or endnotes or in high hopes for this book. These text citations, but as notes in an ap- hopes were met in some measure, but pendix. These do not refer directly to this also makes the flaws so much specific sections of the text, but just more disappointing. to the chapters, thus somewhat limit- The structure and contents of the ing the potential to use the book for book are straightforward. First, a future research. Despite this caveat, chapter discussing the Thirty Ships which might be the responsibility of building programme and the general the publisher or the author, the book historical context. The second and needs to be recommended to those third chapters cover the Anne’s con- interested in the subject in one way struction and the immediately subse- or another way, regardless of whether quent period that it spent “in ordi- the ice lies North or South. nary” at Chatham. The fourth and fifth chapters examine the ship’s Ingo Heidbrink operational experiences in the Medi- Norfolk, Virginia terranean Sea and the Battle of Beachy Head. Chapter six focuses on the ordinance of Royal Navy war- Richard Endsor. The Warship Anne. ships in this period, and the final London, UK: Conway, www. chapter considers the Anne’s current bloomsbury,com, 2017. 160 pp., state. From an information point of illustrations. US $35.00, cloth; ISBN view, this book is generally fine. The 978-1-84486-439-3. structure works very well, and the writing itself is quite clear. It pro- The Anne was a third rate, and one of vides a good breadth of information, the 30 ships built for the Royal Navy and clearly should be a high quality, and paid for by an act of Parliament inexpensive book that would support in 1677. It served until 1690, when it the Shipwreck Museum. It is also was burned following the battle of visually impressive. There are very Beachy Head. The wreck settled ef- good colour illustrations on every fectively at the low water mark near single page, and the paper and the Hastings, Sussex. As such, the re- binding do not feel cheap. The refer- mains are an incredibly important ences alone are a fantastic thing for artifact of English naval history, par- any undergraduate or graduate stu- ticularly of the period immediately dent to have. At first consideration, following the Restoration. Anne is the book does seem like a slick pro- also a ship of some importance to duction, something that any naval Richard Endsor, who is one of those historian would like to have on their individuals who, despite not being a shelf, and a book that would increase Book Reviews 413 knowledge of both Restoration naval raphy index. US $30.00, cloth; ISBN history and the Anne itself. 978-1-6204-0908-4. A closer inspection raises ques- tions about the financial corners that After the War of 1812, the United were cut during production. Many of States increased its importance as an the images and illustrations are cred- Industrial Revolution competitor. ited to the author or his collection. The Atlantic became the storm-tossed This is not a problem, as illustrations thoroughfare over which people, and images are notoriously expensive merchandise, mail, money and mate- and Endsor has an extensive collec- rials were transported. Increasingly tion of prints and photographs. He efficient factories on both sides of the also creates rather remarkable draw- ocean produced a vast range of goods ings and paintings that fit well within for mass consumption. Sail-powered this book. There is, however, incon- ships carried passengers and cargoes sistency in how the illustrations are at a reasonable cost, but were subject accredited. In addition, there are to the vagaries of weather. They numerous typos and other errors in were slow and undependable for the text. For example, the title of the meeting a schedule in a timely fash- third chapter in the table of contents ion. A sailing vessel could manage is different from the title of the chap- roughly three crossings per year, ter on page 41. Among the numer- while a steamship might complete up ous typos spread throughout the book to twelve. The invention of the are misspelling of people’s names steamship and the building of rail and several sentences which are ei- links at deep-water seaport centres ther missing a word or have an extra changed the transportation industry word inserted. Effectively, it feels as forever. Early seaport hubs were de- if this book is about 98% complete. veloped at Liverpool in Britain and at It is my profound hope that the the competing American cities of publisher will take the time to go New York and Boston, with a Cana- through and correct the errors. If they dian port in Halifax, Nova Scotia. do so, then this will truly be a very The various levels of conflict and good book that should be on every sources of enmity arising from this maritime historian’s shelf. Until commercial development form this then, this remains a very good book riveting maritime story. in potentia. Many diverse problems had to be addressed and Steam Titans chron- Sam McLean icles their sometimes tenuous solu- Toronto, Ontario tions. What was the best hull design, deep or shallow, for a transoceanic William Fowler Jr. Steam Titians: steamer? Should the vessels be made Cunard, Collins, and the Epic Battle of timber or iron? How could steam for Commerce on the North Atlantic. engines become more efficient and New York, NY: Bloomsbury Publish- their designs made smaller and light- ing, www.bloomsbury.com, 2017. er to take up less space? Should they 358 pp., illustrations, notes, bibliog- be powered by paddle wheels or by screw propellers? For the issue of 414 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord fuel, wood was abundant and cheap largely the work of two fascinating in North America, but increasingly main characters; Cape Cod/New plentiful coal was becoming the fuel Yorker Edward Knight Collins and of choice. (The British General Nova Scotia Haligonian, Samuel Mining Association (GMA) became Cunard. Their competitive dealings highly influential in this choice.) and sometimes arcane interactions Should the accommodations be luxu- encompass the substance of book. rious to attract affluent passengers or Collins had put together a fleet of more functional to quarter a greater sail-powered packet ships that plied number of customers? the waters between New Orleans and Harbours were modified to ac- New York. In 1836 he launched the commodate stream ships. Ports now large Shakespeare, the first of the needed large quays and supporting theatrically named vessels in his shore-side infrastructure. Channels “Dramatic Line.” The ship steamed and harbours had to be dredged. the New York to Liverpool route car- Packet shipping was an attempt at rying passengers and cargo, well providing and maintaining a predict- timed to meet the growing demand able schedule, but weather, availabil- for international travel and American ity of fuel and mechanical break- cotton to energize the English textile downs at sea became major problems. industry. Sensing an opportunity, New routes were devised to accom- Cunard obtained a profitable contract modate the higher speeds, but this to carry Britain’s royal mail in 1839 presented increased dangers of colli- and simultaneously provide regular sion with seasonal North Atlantic ice passenger and cargo service between flows and Grand Banks fog that jeop- Liverpool, Halifax and Boston. By ardized ship and passenger safety. 1842, Cunard had launched a fleet of Finally, Fowler focuses on sev- four steamers that halved the time of eral thorny levels of financial con- sailing ships over the same route. flict. Was funding of the steamships There was now a lively competition and steamship lines going to be pri- between New York and Boston to be vate, public through the offering of recognized as America’s foremost shares, or by way of government sub- commercial port city. sidy? Because of the vessels’ speed, Sail power from the wind was they could accept contracts to carry free, but steam offered many advan- intercontinental mail and other confi- tages. Thus, Collins quickly tried to dential cargoes, but how were the match and surpass his rival with international laws and politics to be steamships. It turned out that ocean- resolved? going steam vessels required ex- The British Empire was ap- tremely large, heavy engines, men to proaching its economic peak while continually heave coal to fuel a the Americans were the upstarts, but boiler’s fire while underway and ma- both were vital trading partners. chinists to fix breakdowns—a fre- Fowler narrates the international his- quent occurrence, especially in the tory of the times as a skillfully writ- early years. It was a business pros- ten backdrop to how all these prob- pect that proved to be a financial lems were confronted. They were challenge. Book Reviews 415

Eventually both Cunard and Col- could collect . . . to form a raft . . . lins directly competed, operating [suddenly] an alarm was given that New York to Liverpool ocean ser- the ship was sinking.” To avoid be- vices. Hard-fought contests involv- ing sucked down by the rapidly sink- ing the fastest speed and most lavish ing steamer, Dorian shoved off with service were inevitable. Collins’s four male passengers, 26 crewmen, commodious and luxurious steam- and several empty seats. (222) ships outpaced Cunard’s, but the In summary, Steam Titans is an British vessels provided services at a intriguing and absorbing tale superbly lower cost. The Collins Line was told; a piece that reinforces the prem- losing money and needed subsidies ise that maritime history is the pillar from Congress. Then tragedy struck upon which America’s economy was one of Collins’s premier ships, the built. Dr. William Fowler Jr. is Arctic. Fowler’s description of the among the best author/historians to steamer’s sinking following a two- tell this engrossing chronicle. ship collision off Newfoundland is a masterful literary warp and weft, a Louis Arthur Norton tapestry woven from the threads of West Simsbury, Connecticut witness and survivor statements. Out of the fog, two points to star- board, suddenly appeared the menac- Cheryl A. Fury (ed.) The Social His- ing shape of a vessel heading straight tory of English Seamen 1650-1815. for Arctic, a vessel with all sails set Woodbridge, UK and Rochester, NY: and a stack belching smoke. Having Boydell Press, www. boydelland no means of communication other brewer.com, 2017. xii+ 265pp., illus- than his panicked voice, the lookout trations, notes, bibliography, index, ran aft toward the bridge calling US $95.00, UK £55.00, hardback; “stop her, stop her—steamer ahead.” ISBN 978-1-84383-953-8. . . . passengers [then] felt “a slight jar to [the] ship accompanied by a crash- This is the companion volume for ing noise against the starboard bow.” Cheryl Fury’s edited collection enti- (215-216) tled, The Social History of English On deck, passengers and crew Seamen, 1485 -1649 (Boydell Press, watched the water lapping up toward 2011). It continues the exploration of them as they cornered themselves on English seamen, from the time of the port quarter, struggling to keep Cromwell through to the end of the their footing on a wet deck sloping Napoleonic Wars. This volume tack- down toward a steadily rising sea. les the same topics, government sup- (220) Convinced “that the ship must port and admiralty organization, man- go down in a very short time” [Cap- ning, health and food, relationships tain] Luce, with the help of passen- ashore and afloat in the navy, and the gers and third mate Francis Dorian, careers of merchant seamen, the de- broke out axes and saws and began to velopment of a seafaring workforce, hack away at every floatable they and piracy. could find, putting over side spars, Jeremy Black and Cheryl Fury sails, “and such other materials as we start the volume off with a thorough 416 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord overview of the development of Eng- maries of their work, but contain little lish sea power during the era. They that is new. N.A.M. Rodger, based trace the influence of the various largely on The Command of the wars in the long eighteenth century, Ocean (London: Penguin, 2004), lays on Britain’s structuring of the admin- out the perspective that the British istration, government support for and Tar was a loyal, hard working person, use of the navy, as the country devel- especially for officers he liked. Even oped its foreign policy for Europe, with a revolutionary influence at the and expanded and protected global end of the period, they remained trade and its colonies. This was not a loyal to the Crown and the service. smooth evolution but ended with During the eighteenth century, offi- Britain becoming the dominant, Euro- cers, commissioned and warranted, pean maritime power, with a global became valued more for what they reach. accomplished than their social ori- Bernard Capp examines the naval gins. Margaret Lincoln’s contribu- seaman and officer from 1650 to tion is in line with her book, Naval 1700. Capp describes the seamen as Wives and Mistresses (London: Na- complaining (about food, access to tional Maritime Museum, 2011). She alcohol, discipline and pay), drinking describes the supportive role played to excess, seeking the comfort of by the wives of sailors, of both the prostitutes when ashore, and yet un- quarter and lower decks. Women der the influence of a good officer provided everything from moral en- becoming content and committed to couragement, the celebration of patri- the service. Among officers the otism, a home and family to which tensions were about personal back- the sailor could return, to a moral ground. The Puritan officers of the conscious for the nation over the na- Cromwell era, those of the aristoc- ture and pursuit of war. Burg’s ex- racy, and the men who rose from the ploration of the prevalence and nature ranks (the tarpaulins) held little re- of homosexual activity aboard ships spect for each other. While the is based on his book Boys at Sea: Commonwealth period saw a sharp Sodomy, Indecency, and Courts Mar- rise in religious affiliation aboard tial in Nelson’s Navy (New York: ship, the Restoration returned reli- Palgrave Macmillan, 2007). He gious belief to a more minor role, holds that men in superior positions with ability and patronage being aboard ship (commissioned and war- more important for determining an rant officers mainly) used their power officer’s employment. Capp, how- to dominate and sexually abuse ever, warns the reader not to dismiss young men and boys. The evidence the place of religion in the navy’s is quite clear and convincing, but the history. By the start of the eighteenth issue of frequency across the navy is century, the professional turn in the still open to debate. officer corps widened the gap be- The collection shifts to the study tween seamen and those in command. of merchant seamen. Peter Earle’s The next three chapters are based chapter looks at the origins and ca- largely on books written by the au- reer of seamen between 1650 and thors. They are useful, concise sum- 1730 and it too originates from his Book Reviews 417 earlier work, Sailors: English Mer- ers only Spavens as a factually cor- chant Seamen 1650-1775 (London: rect (mainly) account of his time at Methuen, 1998). Many were drawn sea, the other two are left looking to work afloat, not simply those more like works of fiction. But whose families had gone to sea be- Alsop is mainly interested in how the fore them. Money could be made, if three talked about food. Seamen’s the sailor was lucky, a saver and care- claim to proper food (what was ful. Some kept to the sea into their served, the portions and quality) and seventies as there was nothing ashore how they described themselves ob- for them but poverty. Many came taining it, Alsop suggests, reveals and went, spending more of their how they portrayed their masculinity. working life ashore than afloat, a ship A proper man had access to good tra- providing employment only during a ditional food on voyages, or knew downturn in their trade. how to get it, if a captain or purser David Starkey’s piece examines were not forthcoming with the right the effect of the interaction between victuals. It is an interesting analysis, private enterprise and public policy though I must admit, I was more on the seafaring workforce from 1650 impressed by his fact-checking on to 1815. In this statistics-heavy Bishop and Marshall. chapter, Starkey lays out how the John C. Appleby explores the rise government and ship owners shaped and fall of piracy during the period of the nature and size of the workforce the book. At its height during the employed at sea. The government early part of the eighteenth century, reacted to, more than they anticipated illegal piracy and legitimate priva- manpower needs, as did the merchant teering were often confused, one for ship owners, but the necessities of the other. Piracy, in its rejection of war and profit made both groups very social order and governmental restric- attentive to changing diplomatic and tions, offered opportunities, when market contexts. While manpower regular trade was at a low point, or did not increase in a straight line, by when England was at war with Spain, 1815 there were far more men sailing for sailors and ship owners to make in war and merchant ships than in money. But pirates were not a cohe- 1650. This reflects the need for an sive group and their loner mentality ever larger fleet to exert Britain’s lead to their demise, when govern- political influence globally, and the ments, or colonies, organized them- county’s increased economic reach. selves against the “‘Brutes and Beast Apart from the new information, of Prey’” (229). Starkey’s work provides an incredible Fury’s final chapter draws to- example of how to sample evidence gether the continuity of the two col- to build a numerical profile of a mari- lections, comparing the general find- time workforce (149-156). ings in this volume with those of the James D. Alsop reviews the con- first. It is brief, to the point and most tent of three well known biographical valuable to those who have read both memoirs by seamen. They include books. Across the past 350 years, the Matthew Bishop, George Marshall issues confronting the navy remain and William Spavens. Alsop consid- relatively the same—manning, health 418 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord and feeding, and the ability to pull the Sea. Madeira Park, BC: Douglas the navy into war standing at the out- & McIntyre, www.douglas- break of hostilities. Seamen, whether mcintyre.com, 2017. 336 pp, illustra- naval or merchant, had similar back- tions, bibliography. CDN $36.95, grounds, increased in overall number cloth; ISBN 978-1-77162-174-8. across the period and tried to use the context they found themselves in to Spindrift is an engaging anthology of their own benefit. English pirates well-chosen writings about the sea in swerved in and out of legitimacy de- various Canadian contexts. This no- pending on the nation’s need; finally table collection of largely contempo- fading from the seas (replaced by oth- rary selections is the first such with a ers). national focus. It contains 170 ex- Each chapter has its own foot- tracts chosen for their literary merit notes with a single reference list at from writings by 130 creators of fic- the end of the book for all the chap- tion, non-fiction and poetry. Spin- ters. The references and bibliography drift’s compilers worked on this pro- are great resources in and of them- ject for five years and their attention selves. Starkey’s chapter holds all to detail shows. One of the collec- three figures and six of the eight ta- tion’s outstanding strengths is the bles. They will be very useful for selection of the writings: each one is those examining the British maritime self-contained and long enough to workforce. The index is brief, just convey a short vignette, mood, or two and half pages. event. Another great virtue is the This collection, together with the breadth of the chosen themes and first installment, would make an ex- how evenly they are balanced. The cellent set of readings for a course on compilers, Michael and Anita British sailors in the years between Hadley, provide deft introductions for the founding of the English navy each selection to explain its context through its climb toward the height of and the of the author. The extracts power as the British Navy. The sec- are set in the Pacific, the Atlantic and ond volume alone provides excellent the Arctic; the Great Lakes have been summaries of the previous work of bypassed. Spindrift’s selections have Rodger, Lincoln, Burg and Earl. a refreshingly contemporary tone be- Black and Fury’s introductory over- cause more than a quarter of them view, Starkey’s workforce analysis, were published in the last twenty and Appleby’s contribution to piracy years and almost two-thirds of them in this volume are compelling, and have appeared since 1975. Mostly informative pieces, reason enough to about one-and-a-half pages to two have a copy. pages long, they are grouped in ten thematic chapters covering how the Thomas Malcomson writers experienced coastal locations, Toronto, Ontario individual vessels, large and sail, the joys of being on the water, particular mariners and marine workers, war- Michael L. Hadley and Anita Hadley times at sea, hazardous occasions, (eds.) Spindrift: A Canadian Book of specific voyages, and the like. Book Reviews 419

And what about the 130 contribu- pily timed to coincide with Canada’s tors? They too are a varied lot. His- 150th anniversary. A list of permis- torical insights are provided through sions to publish the extracts is at the selections like those of Marc back of the volume in lieu of an in- Lascarbot writing in the sixteenth dex. This serves as a bibliography century through Captain George Van- but has no page references, so that a couver in the eighteenth, to noted reader wishing to look up a particular modern historians such as Barry extract has to work through the 16- Gough, Peter C. Newman, Pierre page table of contents. This eclectic Berton, James Prichard and Robert collection is perhaps best enjoyed by Turner. There are cult figures like dipping into one or several selections Stan Rogers and poets including Bliss at a time. They are all rewarding. Carmen and E.J. Pratt. There is a Given its wide breadth and the rich- strong representation of “Can Lit” ness of the extracts, all relating to the names including Sally Armstrong, oceans and Canada, and the diversity Neil Bissoondath, Lawrence Hill, of its contributors Spindrift is an out- Wayne Johnston, L.M. Montgomery, standing achievement. Alice Munro, Nino Ricci, Jane Urqu- hart and Yann Martel. Annie Proulx, Jan Drent the contemporary American writer Victoria, British Columbia whose fiction has focused on Atlantic Canada is not forgotten. Anita and Michael Hadley are a Nate Jones (ed.) Able Archer 83. The husband and wife team who were Secret History of the NATO Exercise both post-secondary educators. Their That Almost Triggered Nuclear War. experiences together include decades New York, NY: The New Press, of saltwater cruising on the British www.thenewpress.com, 2016. xii+ Columbia coast in sailboats, as well 368 pp., index. US $27.95, cloth; as community service in Africa. ISBN 978-1-62097-261-8. Michael committed years to service in the naval reserve, made notewor- Whenever I come across a book like thy contributions in several academic Nate Jones’ Able Archer 83, I hate fields, and based significant books on The New York Times Book Review Canadian naval and B.C. coastal his- even more. Every Sunday the reader tory on groundbreaking research. In is treated to vapid fiction, boring compiling their anthology, the memoirs adventure tales in margin- Hadleys have thus drawn on rich life ally interesting lands or yet another experiences and associations with the biography or collected edition of the sea. letters of a Victorian author, while Spindrift has been attractively books like Able Archer 83 that illumi- produced by Douglas & McIntyre nate our very dangerous time are ig- with an evocative etching by David nored. Not that I am usually enam- Blackwood as the frontispiece and ored of the work of the National Se- cover. Small drawings by Matthew curity Archives on which the Jones Wolferstan appear at the start of each study is based. Too often the release chapter. Publication has been hap- of documents hinders needed diplo- 420 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord matic and security measures best left stumbled into Russian air space. The alone for a time. new president not only continued the But this book is different, setting modest military and especially naval forth a series of chilling develop- buildup of his immediate predeces- ments, miscalculations and blunders sor, he ramped it up dramatically. In that nearly pitched Soviet Russia and the midst of these activities, Reagan the West into world-shattering nu- told an audience of religious evangel- clear war a third of a century ago. icals that the Soviet Union was an Following an introduction and four “evil empire” and as such the “focus short chapters that illuminate the con- of evil in the world.” At the same text, Jones presents a collection of time, he planned to introduce short- documents which clearly set forth range Pershing missiles into Western why and how a NATO exercise Europe and approved a “PSYOP” whose sponsors thought routine, led campaign that was, according to a Soviet authorities to conclude that it later internal, highly classified CIA was a mask and launching pad for a study, designed to secretly attack the pre-emptive all-out Western nuclear Soviets “on economic, geostrategic strike against their homeland. and psychological fronts” in order to Jones argues plausibly that “The roll back and weaken” Kremlin world was so dangerous in 1983 be- power. A disturbing emphasis was cause the leaders of both superpowers placed “on what the White House allowed it to be so.” For some time, perceived as a Soviet image of the both the Reagan White House and President as a ‘cowboy’ and reckless Andropov’s Kremlin had engaged in practitioner of nuclear politics. [The] bluster, and as CIA Director William US purpose was not to signal inten- Casey told his president after the tions so much as keep the Soviets event, “The point of blustering is to guessing what might happen next.” do something that makes the oppo- Rather than intimidating the Soviets, nent pay high costs while the the effort alarmed them to such a de- blusterer pays none or little. The mil- gree that they went on more or less itary behaviors we have observed” permanent “hair-trigger” alert, inter- from the Pentagon before, during and preting every Western move and ges- immediately following Able Archer ture in the most sinister terms and “involve high military costs. . . add- reacting accordingly. (Quotes are in ing thereby a dimension of genuine- Benjamin Fisher, “The 1983 War ness to the Soviet expressions of con- Scare in US-Soviet Relations,” un- cern that is often not reflected in in- dated (ca. 1996), CIA Studies in telligence issuances.” (57) Intelligence, reprinted on p. 185) The Reagan Administration came According to a reprinted CIA into office convinced that the Soviets study, “The Navy played an even big- had achieved rough parity in both ger role” in PSYOP than did the Stra- nuclear weapons and conventional tegic Air Command’s historic daily forces. They had recently invaded thrusts toward a provocative fail-safe Afghanistan and in early 1983, a So- line in Arctic and sub-Arctic air viet MiG had shot down a Korean spaces. Just a month into his presi- civilian airliner that had inadvertently dency, Reagan “authorized” the U.S. Book Reviews 421

Navy “to operate and exercise” in Soviet first Deputy Defense Minister areas where the fleet had rarely— or and Chief of the General Staff, never—gone before. Major exercises Nikolai Ogarkov, openly admitted the in 1981 and 1983 in the Soviet far fact to a sympathetic Western jour- northern and far-eastern maritime nalist. “We cannot equal the quality approaches demonstrated US ability of United States arms for a genera- to deploy aircraft carrier battle tion or two. Modern military power groups close to sensitive military and is based on technology and technol- industrial areas without being de- ogy is based on computers. In the tected or challenged. Using sophisti- United States, small children . . .play cated and carefully rehearsed decep- with computers. . . Here we don’t tion and denial techniques, the Navy even have computers in every office eluded the USSR’s massive ocean of the Defense Ministry.” (ibid) All reconnaissance system and early of these developments added up to warning systems. Some naval exer- ever-increasing Kremlin alarm over cises included ‘classified’ operations both the capabilities and intentions of in which carrier-launched aircraft the U.S. to launch a pre-emptive nu- managed to penetrate Soviet shore- clear strike that would destroy the based radar and air-defense systems Soviet Union. The issue was further and simulate ‘attacks’ on Soviet tar- inflamed by the poor health of the gets. Summing up a 1983 Pacific Kremlin leadership. Andropov died Fleet exercise, the US chief of naval shortly after the Able Archer exercise operations noted that the Soviets “are concluded following months of phys- as naked as a jaybird there (on the ical decline and hospitalization. His Kamchatka Peninsula), and they successor, Chernenko, suffered from know it.” His remark applied equally various serious illnesses. Throughout to the Kola Peninsula in the far the first half of the 1980s, the Andro- north.” (Fisher, quoted on p. 187) pov and Chernenko regimes expend- The final element in creating a ed vast sums and energies to tease out Soviet hair-trigger response to any American intentions. Yet according suspicious U.S. and/or NATO exer- to a comprehensive report by a For- cise or operation was Reagan’s an- eign Intelligence Advisory Board es- nouncement of a Strategic Defense tablished by Reagan’s successor, Initiative (SDI) designed to make the George H. W. Bush in 1990 to study United States invulnerable to nuclear the “war scare” provoked by Able missile attack through a computer- Archer 83, Washington repeatedly based hyper-response mechanism. It dismissed all warnings of escalating is now clear to all what seemed obvi- Soviet concern over the NATO exer- ous to some of us then, that this sce- cise and was oblivious to the implica- nario would ultimately doom the tions. Not until December 1983 USSR to permanent military inferior- when “rumors of imminent war were ity. Neither side possessed the com- circulating at all levels of Soviet soci- puter power during the Reagan years ety” did the Reagan Administration to remotely bring “Star Wars” into awaken to the crisis it had created. sight, but the Americans might even- When later told that Able Archer 83 tually pull it off; the Russians, never. had sent Soviet forces to possible 422 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord first strike readiness status Reagan aug/14/ronald-reagan-bombing- expressed profound surprise border- russia-joke-archives 1984) ing on shock. (Advisory Board re- The connection between Able port, “The Soviet War Scare,” Febru- Archer 83 and the Great Korean War ary 15, 1990, reprinted pp 69-177. Scare of 2017 is too obvious to miss. The quote on Soviet society is on p. Unfortunately, the great mass of the 159.) The Board report included a North American and European pub- somber conclusion: “In this era of lics will remain ignorant of the earlier increasing instability in the USSR, incident and its illustration of the al- we cannot know who may long retain ways fragile nature of international or quickly assume the mantle of So- affairs in our nuclear age. viet leadership. Will he understand that US leaders are not going to start Lisle A. Rose World War III and behave as if he Edmonds, Washington understands?. . . The world will stay a chancy and changeable place and the only rule is perhaps that there is David Kahn. Seizing the Enigma. The an inevitability of uncertainty which Race to Break the German U-Boat we ignore at our peril. Information Codes, 1939-1943. Barnsley, S. at best will always be in some part Yorks: Pen and Sword, www.pen- fragmentary, obsolete and ambigu- and-sword.com , 2017. 400 pp., illus- ous.” (112) Ronald Reagan clearly trations, notes, bibliography, index, did not absorb the message; at least UK £14.99, US $22.95, paper; not immediately. The following Au- ISBN978-1-52671-145-8. (Revised gust (1984), with none of the tensions Edition, originally published in underlying Able Archer 83 resolved, 1991.) “the Great Communicator” “intoned” into his microphone as it was being Outside of the development and exis- adjusted for voice level, “My fellow tence of the atomic bomb, the most Americans, I am pleased to tell you closely guarded secret of the Second that I have signed legislation to out- World War was the fact that British law Russia forever. We begin bomb- Intelligence had cracked the German ing in five minutes.” Although never military codes. Postwar it became broadcast, the “joke” went viral. popularly known as the “Ultra Fortunately, the old men in the Secret” and even today, is surrounded Kremlin and the Soviet General Staff in myth, fabrication and a hint of held off from a spasm response and mystery. The German Wehrmacht the incident passed down the corridor and Luftwaffe used similar methods of history to be revived and recalled for encoding operational messages. with a collective shudder thirty years The Navy, or Kriegsmarine, had a later. (Harold Jackson, “From the much more complex methodology Archives; 14 August 1984: ‘Storm as albeit based on the same basic system Reagan Bombing Joke Misfires’.” as the other two. As a result, solving The [Manchester, England] Guard- the naval codes, especially those used ian, August 14, 2014 online at for communications with U-boats https://theguardian.com/world/2014/ operating against Allied convoys, Book Reviews 423 was very difficult at the outset. In to the Imperial German Navy seeking fact, the methods used by the their interest. Rejected, the inven- Kriegsmarine convinced the tor’s company turned to the commer- leadership that their codes were never cial market and in 1923 a cipher ma- compromised. There is only one chine was available on the open mar- known incident where Allied actions ket. How the Enigma was developed could have revealed they had been from then to the point in 1939 where broken. Fortunately for the Allies, it had become the common crypto- the connection was never made. How graphic system in the German Armed the British got to the stage where Forces is a fascinating story well told. German messages were being deci- The author cleverly relates the phered, translated and distributed in point and counterpoint of intrigue as time to be operationally valuable is various players, especially Polish In- the subject of this intriguing book. telligence, sought to crack the Ger- The author is a distinguished his- man codes prior to the onset of the torian who has become an authority Second World War. How the British on the history of cryptology. He tells initially acquired an Enigma machine the story with an engaging style and is almost an entire story in itself. The explains the concepts behind work of the cryptanalysts and mathe- complex technology in a clear and maticians, including the noted Alan understandable way and he provides Turing, at the so-called Government key insights into many of the key per- Code and Cipher School at Bletchley sonalities involved. Park is especially well described. It The vital component in encoding is astonishing to learn of all the activ- or decoding messages was an electro- ity ongoing behind the scenes in the mechanical machine known as the covert world of codebreaking. It is Enigma—thus, the title of the book. also fascinating to learn the stories of It comprised multiple rotary discs how various machines and cipher wired in a specific order which, in documents were captured from Ger- response to input from a typewriter man ships and U-boats during the war keyboard, substituted another letter or itself. symbol for that input. This way a The point is well made that, for message would be encoded and dis- Germany, the Achilles heel of the U- patched to a recipient. The recipient boat war was the method of opera- needed an Enigma machine whose tional control exercised by Admiral settings matched those of the encod- Dönitz, commander of the U-boat ing machine in order to decode the arm in the period in question. Dönitz message. The base settings or start- took strict control over its operations ing points could be changed daily, by using encoded radio messages to weekly or less often but all units had direct the actions of individual U- to know the new settings and the boats, based on estimates of where times for changing. the Allied convoys were routed. That The origins of the Enigma can be the Germans had penetrated the Brit- traced back to a German electrical ish codes for convoy messages made engineer who applied for a patent for these estimates fairly good! As the a cipher machine and in 1918 wrote author describes, once the British had 424 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord started to break the codes, signals Mark Lardas. USS Lawrence vs HMS analysis coupled with the High Fre- Detroit: The War of 1812 on the quency radio direction finding system Great Lakes. Oxford, UK: Osprey added to the intelligence picture Publishing, www.ospreypublishing which enabled the application of .com, 2017. 80 pp., illustrations, counter tactics. maps, tables, bibliography, index. The final chapter of the book is UK £12.99, US $20.00, CDN $27.00, entitled The Reckoning. In it, David paper; ISBN 978-1-4728-1582-8. Kahn puts into context the place of what became known as ULTRA and This work is the 79th installment of the decrypted messages it produced. Osprey's “Duel” series of books, of- Several key questions are raised and fering comparative studies of two the author responds to each. One specific adversarial vehicles of war, question, of course, is whether or not often naval vessels, tanks, or aircraft. ULTRA won the war. The author USS Lawrence vs HMS Detroit marks contends that it did not. He believes, author Mark Lardas’ fifth entry into and the evidence is supportive, that the series, with his previously pub- without ULTRA the war would have lished works focusing on naval ship been prolonged but not lost. Although duels of the American Revolution, for a while in 1941 the Germans War of 1812, and Civil War. This came close to cutting the Atlantic book offers an examination of the lifeline, by 1943 the tide had turned decisive 10 September 1813 Battle of in the Allies favour. As Kahn points Lake Erie, which saw the surrender out, while codebreaking was a signif- of an entire British squadron, “the icant factor, what eventually defeated only instance in naval history so the U-boats was a combination of crushing a victory was achieved over superior technology, adaptive tactics the Royal Navy,” and ensured Ameri- by the Allied naval forces and the can control of the Northwest Terri- introduction of long-range aircraft tory and northern Ohio for the rest of capable of patrolling the Atlantic. the war (5, 7). Following the stan- Also, with the entry of the United dard format of the Duel series, Lardas States into the war, the American offers a chronology of major events, shipyards produced ships at a faster followed by examinations of relevant rate than the U-boats could sink ship designs, strategic situations, and them. technical specifications before cover- This is a remarkable book full of age and analysis of the battle and its fascinating information about lesser aftermath. A small Further Reading known aspects of a critical part of the section is provided at the end, fol- Battle of the Atlantic. Highly recom- lowed by an index. While this work mended. is focused on the battle between USS Lawrence and HMS Detroit specifi- Michael Young cally, there is also heavy coverage of Nepean, Ontario the USS Niagara versus HMS Queen Charlotte as well. Lardas’ introduction states that “The Battle of Lake Erie had greater Book Reviews 425 strategic consequences than all other one-page biographies for both Oliver single-ship duels fought during the Hazard Perry and Robert Heriot War of 1812 put together.”(7) To Barclay. Lardas notes that “Despite explain how such a momentous event the Lakes’ strategic importance, na- occurred, he begins with a two-page val forces on their waters were an af- chronology of major events from the terthought,” with discussions of how birth of the naval commanders to the difficult it was to man ships with ex- final disposition of the main combat- perienced crews, the selection and ant vessels. Following this primer, roles of officers, and the need to sup- ship development is covered in a plement Marine contingents with multi-stage chapter, looking at the Army troops to maintain numbers evolution of the ocean going sloop- (39). The battle itself is examined in of-war design, the variants on this three stages, divided into the lead-up ship construction that arose from the to engagement, the actions of Law- unique nature of the Great Lakes, and rence against Detroit, and concluding the respective design and construc- with the final firefight between Niag- tion histories of the Americans and ara and Detroit’s. Maps, full-page British on the Great Lakes. One-page illustrations, and quarterdeck views technical and historical summary are interspersed throughout this sec- sheets with colour side profiles are tion to aid in understanding. In the presented for both the Lawrence and analysis section, Lardas mentions the Detroit so as to familiarize the reader two competing fields of thought re- with the work's primary subjects. garding Lake Erie, that Barclay “was The analysis of the strategic situation doomed from the start” versus that it is largely a summary for the start of was “a close-run thing” only won by the War of 1812, American desires Perry’s presence, before delving into for Upper Canada, and the actions statistics regarding engagement surrounding the Great Lakes. An forces to strengthen his own argu- accompanying map of the strategic ment that “both sides are right and points and key engagements in the talking past each other” (69). A brief Great Lakes area is included in this chapter follows covering the post- section as well. The Technical Speci- battle situation on Lake Erie and the fications section is essentially an ex- post-war interactions of America and panded form of the Design and De- Great Britain, and a select bibliogra- velopment chapter's information on phy is present within the final two- Great Lakes sloop-of-war hull, gun, page Further Reading chapter. and rigging patterns. Accompanying In terms of possible improve- cross-sectional hull drawings of ments, there are two that stand out. ocean versus lake hulls and cannons The first point of note is that there versus cannonades greatly aid in appears to be a large number of paint- reader understanding, and close-up ings that have been rendered in black pictures of scale models are used for and white. For example, in the showcasing gun mounts and rigging black and white rendering of Howard as well. Regarding the combatants, Pyle’s 1911 painting “Carrying Pow- Lardas examines the sailors, officers, der to Perry at Lake Erie,” much of and marines involved, with separate the picture’s detail is lost in close 426 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord shades of grey to the point where one Germany and pledged unqualified cannot read the large markings on the loyalty to the British Crown despite wagon or distinguish military troops years of rising colonial nationalism from civilians in the works mid- and Canada’s vast geographic dis- ground and background (30). Includ- tance from Europe. ing more original colour images Author John Mitcham contends would increase the amount of visual that just 30 years later, following the information accessible to the reader. Second World War, Canadian schol- The other critique is the lack of cita- arship began moving away from im- tions. This not so much specific to perial history and in favour of a more this work as it is endemic to all Os- multi-ethnic Canadian history. He prey publications, given their non- further asserts that historians have academic target audience. While this considered the study of Great Brit- is not likely something that can be ain’s interactions with its Dominions changed due to the longstanding pa- as anachronistic. With great acuity, rameters of Osprey books, the lack of the author explores the cultural, so- direct citations does hamper scholars cial, and political dimensions of the who wish to trace Lardas’ sources. military and naval cooperation be- USS Lawrence vs HMS Detroit is tween the British Empire and its Do- a solid primer on the 1813 Battle of minions during the late nineteenth Lake Erie, offering a neutral analysis and early twentieth centuries, with an of an often subtly biased subject to emphasis on the role of Canada and popular history readers. The infor- the naval relationship between the mation presented regarding Great two nations. Lakes warship design, crewing, and Sea power and the Royal Navy gunnery all offer interesting compara- were vital to the national existence of tive information regarding the more Canada. The decades leading up to traditional ocean-going warships of 1914 gave rise to the “New Naval- the early nineteenth century, and help ism” as the great European powers highlight the unique aspects of this and the United States expended vast important naval battle. sums of money to increase and ex- pand their naval power. Canada could Charles Ross Patterson II not escape the struggles for global Yorktown, Virginia naval supremacy. At the 1897 Colo- nial Conference, Britain urged Can- ada to assist with Royal Navy subsi- John C. Mitcham. Race and Imperial dies, but Canadian Prime Minister Defence in the British World, 1870 - Wilfrid Laurier replied that Canada 1914. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge preferred its financial resources be University Press, www.cambridge spent on local protection as opposed .org, 2016, viii+261pp., political car- to global and imperial goals. The ten- toons, bibliography, index. US $80, sion between British imperial needs cloth; ISBN 978-1-107-13899-5. and Canada’s domestic needs was constant. London’s dialogue with On 4 August 1914, the Dominion of Canada was continual as the Royal Canada went to war with Imperial Navy served as the imperial shield of Book Reviews 427

Great Britain and its empire. Though Canada did want to assist the British sea power was central to the cultural Admiralty—but on Canadian terms definition of “Britishness,” Navalism —while French-speaking Canada was meant for the white colonial em- tended not to be supportive. London pire, and strict racial boundaries were welcomed possible assistance from in force. The Royal Navy did not Canada, which the British press lov- warmly welcome contributions of ingly termed, “The Sea-King’s Daugh- manpower from India or the non- ter.” white populations of South Africa or In 1912, Canadian Prime Minis- New Zealand. Canada struggled to ter Robert Borden had the intention find the balance between Navalism, of providing London with a gift of nationalism, and imperial patriotism. three dreadnoughts, at a cost of more By the end of the nineteenth century, than $35,000,000, but the Canadian British imperial defence became in- Senate ultimately rejected Borden’s creasingly insecure as its naval power plan. In London, a disappointed First and industrial might was challenged Lord of the Admiralty, Winston on the global stage. In response, the Churchill, was to have more success British Admiralty took aim at main- with Australia and New Zealand. taining naval supremacy, and in a nod Mitcham’s Race and Imperial to imperial unity, named three new Defence in the British World, 1870– ships: HMS Dominion (1903), HMS 1914 addresses defence issues across Commonwealth (1903), and HMS the late-Victorian and Edwardian Canada (1913). The British Navy British Empire, with Canada and the League, founded in 1895, opened naval component as one important branch chapters in Canadian cities, part. In many respects, this period though membership in the League’s includes Great Britain’s last major colonial chapters was for white mem- and successful effort to strengthen bers only. In 1902, the British Navy the bonds of its empire in the face of League sent arch-Navalist H.F. Wyatt rising colonial nationalism, slowly to tour the chapters. Wyatt told Ca- changing racial/class attitudes, and nadians that the Royal Navy was the the impending world war, which engine that was responsible for the many believed was coming. Mitcham well-being of the British race. Start- goes to great lengths to detail this ing in 1907, the League published successful forging of British identity proposals for colonial navies, includ- and strong imperial unity. ing one submitted by prominent Ca- The book makes a significant nadian Navalist H.J. Wickham. contribution to defence studies of the A fascinating part of Race and period and to the thinking and actions Imperial Defence in the British of the imperial British world, now World, 1870–1914 is its discussion of vanished from the global stage. Mit- the 1909 “Dreadnought Panic,” and cham explores the meaning of British in particular, the role Canada played. identity in all its various forms, in- The year 1909 saw increased public cluding the themes of race, physical agitation for more British dread- fitness, and imperial federation. noughts as the Anglo-German naval Even the formation and the founda- race reached a fever pitch. Many in tion of the Boy Scout movement is 428 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord examined for what it reveals about History and Heritage Command, both the value British culture put on tradi- Mobley and Marolda demonstrate tional values of masculinity —in- their extensive knowledge of the sub- cluding encouraging its males to be- ject matter in Knowing the Enemy. come disciplined and physically fit in Mobley, a retired US Navy com- time for an impending war. mander, dedicated part of his career The book is well-produced, with as a navy intelligence officer operat- marvelous political cartoons and ing alongside many of the organiza- some interesting illustrations. The tions in Vietnam that are detailed scholarship is solid, with a wide use throughout the book. Marolda, who is of source material from across the no stranger to US Naval history, globe, as reflected in the extensive holds many different hats at Naval bibliography. A serious book for seri- History and Heritage Command from ous students of Canadian and impe- Director and Senior Historian to ac- rial defence history. complished scholar. Knowing the Enemy begins like W. Mark Hamilton any well rounded history does high- Alexandria, Virginia lighting much of the contextual his- tory leading up to key events - namely the Gulf of Tonkin incident - Richard A. Mobley and Edward J. igniting the powder keg in Southeast Marolda. Knowing the Enemy. Naval Asia. The authors waste no time delv- Intelligence in Southeast Asia. Wash- ing into the integral question of US ington DC: Naval History & Heritage national security agencies attempting Command, www.history.navy.mil, to gain a better understanding as to 2015. 100 pp., illustrations, maps, the developments of North Vietnam's suggested reading. US$ paper; Communist inclinations and military ISBN978-0-945274-78-0. actions towards the South Vietnam- ese Republic. In addition to under- The United States military conflict in standing the amount of aid stemming aiding South Vietnam during most of from the People’s Republic of China the 1960’s and early 70’s is certainly (PRC) and the Soviet Union to the an ever-growing quarry of historical North Vietnamese, the question really investigation and scholarship. One posited by US Intel that the authors such a history, Knowing the Enemy: address is how exactly Communist Naval Intelligence in Southeast Asia elements traversed the landscape to by Richard A. Mobley and Edward J. both attack South Vietnam and sup- Marolda, indeed chronicles the ef- ply the Viet Cong (VC). forts of US military intelligence orga- Initially US Intelligence efforts nizations and their struggles within centered around frontline personnel the Vietnamese theatre of war to suc- scoping out beachheads and assessing cessfully retrieve tactical and the terrain, much like the US “advi- strategic information. sors” sent in the 50’s and 60’s. Sea- As part of an historical series ti- borne lanes provided an easy access tled The US Navy and The Vietnam for enemy infiltration into South War, which is published by the Naval Vietnam bringing aide to the Viet Book Reviews 429

Cong; between 1963 and 1964, North decipher Morse and voice transmis- Vietnamese trawlers¯sometimes sions, detect radar transmissions, and under the guise of PRC flags¯sailed thusly create maps and charts for fu- back and forth bringing arms and am- ture personnel engaged in the war. By munition to the VC. Additionally, the July 1964, General Westmoreland authors point out how North expressed his doubts in the effective- Vietnamese infiltration of neutral ness of the Desoto patrols, yet top Laos not only prompted further US naval brass such as Commander, Sev- pressure on Hanoi but also really enth Fleet Vice Admiral Thomas H. brought intelligence gathering under Moorer praised the patrols for their joint military operations. close training and the potential infor- On 18 May, 1964 Admiral Harry mation collected from enemy posi- D. Felt, Commander in Chief in the tions. Pacific, commenced the joint Navy- In the wake of the 1964 Gulf of Air Force Operation Yankee Team, Tonkin incident involving USS Mad- which consisted of USN Carrier Kitty dox, the reality of intelligence col- Hawk and her task force of RF-8A lecting during active combat situa- Crusader and RA-3B Skywarrior re- tions encompasses the remainder of connaissance planes. Their mission Mobley and Marolda’s book. Natu- was aerial reconnaissance over Laos, rally as the war ensued, navy Admi- which proved to be no easy feat. On rals called on naval intelligence per- 6 June, North Vietnamese antiaircraft sonnel to scope out the North Viet- unit shot down an RF-8A com- namese terrain but also keep an eye manded by Lieutenant Charles F. on China’s involvement in supplying Klusmann and was taken prisoner. Vietnamese and Laotian Communist Albeit Klusmann’s successful escape elements. Notwithstanding some of after 3 grueling months in a jungle the delays of 1960’s technology – prison camp, the reality of collecting namely developing photographs and intelligence during the war, as the deciphering audio transcriptions – authors emphasize, was indeed haz- between ’64-’65 special aerial recon- ardous work. naissance squadrons from the Sev- When it came to seaborne intelli- enth Fleet photographed potential gence collecting, US sailors certainly targets at low, steady altitudes. This endured the hazardous work on a per- resulted in considerable casualties; sonal level given their close proxim- twelve RA-5C Vigilantes and twenty ity to enemy lines. Early in 1964, RF-8 Crusaders were shot down over President Johnson ordered the use of enemy territory. However, the 3-12 Desoto Patrols all along the coasts of inch cameras and the later panoramic belligerent countries in the Gulf of cameras operated well enough to de- Tonkin. Destroyers like USS Maddox liver photographic evidence of North embarked for enemy coast lines, orig- Vietnamese movements along the Ho inally being allowed only 20 miles Chi Minh Trail. distance but later cut down to12, with As the war continued into the late Direct Support Units (DSUs) aboard. 1960’s and early 1970’s much of the These DSUs consisted of naval com- aerial reconnaissance flights and pa- munications technicians employed to trolling of sea lanes continued and 430 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord certainly developed as the war kept of that war. More poignantly, it is a changing. By 1967 there arose an- chronicle of its crew: captains, petty other element as far as intelligence officers, seamen, bandsmen, boys, gathering to which the authors largely and marines—combatants, casualties, attribute the efforts of Navy SEALs survivors, prisoners of war, and repa- such as US attempts to secure the triated heroes. Mekong Delta. Indeed the Navy Gloucester was a 591-foot South- SEALs bore some gruesome encoun- ampton class cruiser that displaced ters collecting intelligence at the tac- 9,600 tons and was armed with 12 tical level; but towards the end of the six-inch guns, 8 four-inch guns, 16 war the authors also attribute many of pom-poms, two triple torpedo tubes the Naval Intelligence Officers and a number of .5-inch machine (NILOs) at the operational level, who guns. Capable of 32.3 knots, she was worked with respective combat units, launched 19 October 1937, with a the local populace, and captured ene- crew of roughly 810 officers and mies for information. men. After the war, the survivors Overall Mobley and Marold put nicknamed the vessel “The Fighting forth a really well researched and G.” written history of naval intelligence The cruiser initially sailed in gathering in the Vietnam War. The South African and Indian waters, but authors certainly do not skimp on later took part in battles fighting the detail from specific organizations and Italians and Germans in a seldom- personnel to much of the equipment written about theatre: Sicily, the used in these pursuits. Knowing the Adriatic Coast and the Greek Coast. Enemy is a perfect addition for both The first British warship to suffer the enthusiast and scholar. damage from German aircraft, Glou- cester’s most memorable engage- Christopher Pearcy ments were at Bardia, Matapan and Virginia Beach, Virginia Crete. It was off Kapsali Bay, near the shores of Kythira, Greece, where the Luftwaffe sank Gloucester. A Ken Otter. HMS Gloucester. The Un- convoy that she was serving in was told Story. Barnsley, S.Yorks.: Pen ordered split and she had few accom- and Sword, www. pen and sword. panying ships to offer protection. com, 2017. x+206 pp., illustrations, Critically, the cruiser had been insuf- maps, notes, Roll of Honour, bibliog- ficiently re-armed after several bat- raphy, index. UK £14.99, US $29.95, tles and lacked adequate anti-aircraft paper: ISBN 978-1-52670-211-1. ammunition to fight off attacks from dive-bombers. After receiving sev- Ken Otter’s memoir of HMS eral direct hits, Gloucester was set Gloucester is multi-layered. It is the afire and reduced to an uncontrolla- combat history of a Second World ble hulk. The ship was ordered aban- War British cruiser that took place doned and shortly thereafter, sank. mostly in the eastern Mediterranean. Tragically, the British naval com- This is also a tale of the evolution of mand failed to send ships to rescue naval combat during the early years survivors in a timely manner. It is Book Reviews 431 not known exactly how many men went down it was a terrible feeling. were lost, trapped in the ship, or sub- The crew really loved that ship.” sequently died in the confluence of (112) the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas. The last section of the book fo- Otter is the son of Fred Otter, cuses on the survivors, prisoners of Chief Yeoman on board Gloucester, an often-vindictive enemy, men who who was killed when the vessel sank shared a great deal of pain and priva- in 1941. The book is a quasi-memo- tion. For example, “The place was rial to his father, but really an inti- crawling with bugs and the food was mate look at the lives of the men who meagre and hardly fit for human con- served king and country on this Brit- sumption. It was several days before ish warship. The author supplies the I became hungry enough to eat any- reader with a rich collection of pri- thing. We had biscuits that were mary source material, letters and dis- green with mould, black peas crawl- patches that described life on board ing with weevils and ersatz tea. In the vessel. A reader soon feels like a time, we all got used to it somehow.” shipmate to an assemblage of ordi- (142) “The Commandant, . . . a mid- nary, likeable “chaps.” The book dle aged officer with greying hair, becomes extraordinary when Otter cold eyes and a Himmler chin, shares the first-person stories of the delighted in the misery which he men as they survived being ship- caused and was always baffled and wrecked and later the harrowing tales enraged that he could not break the of endurance as prisoners of war cap- spirit of the British prisoners. The tured by the Germans. Many of the sergeant major shared this feeling and accounts at sea are reminiscent of used to revenge himself by beating those in Nicholas Monsarrat’s classic and kicking his charges.” (146) novel The Cruel Sea. Otter’s many As the survivors’ memories were excerpts from letters and diary entries waning, their bond of brotherhood bring together the thoughts of men strengthened. Letters, documents and under aerial bombardment, preparing personal tales were told and col- to abandon ship, and seeing their for- lected. Therefore “The Untold mer floating home sink into a watery Story” is a compilation and skillfully grave. Most moving were the constructed narrative, but most im- descriptions of how they watched portant, a memorial to the 810 men comrades die nearby and their feel- from the far reach of the British ings of utter helplessness. “As the Commonwealth who served on HMS ship tilted over, I slid from the pom- Gloucester. Ken Otter’s book is like pom deck, over the side into the sea. a fine documentary film, at times sen- I had my Mae West on and swam to a sitive, graphic, compelling, and (for trough that was used by the baker for this reviewer) with unforeseen im- making dough and was now filling pact. The author succeeded in writ- with water. I was quickly joined by ing a short but powerful memoir others and soon there was no room, about a ship that was tragically, and so I swam away and reached a carley arguably, needlessly lost and her float where I held onto the rope crew of mostly ordinary men who at around the side. When Gloucester times acted heroically during trying 432 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord circumstances. A Viktor Frankl Shakespeare, to philosophy, psychol- quote effectively summarizes the ogy, business publications, memoirs book’s message: “To live is to suffer. (Churchill and Napoleon Bonaparte, To survive is to find meaning in suf- for instance) and, here and there, ad- fering.” vice from sailors themselves, among whom are several American admirals. Louis Arthur Norton A website, www,parani.org., leads West Simsbury, Connecticut the reader to still more information about the author, and “Advance Praise for Golden Stripes” by 28 sea- Captain V.S. Parani. Golden Stripes. men, academics, and business profes- Leadership on the High Seas. Dun- sionals who provide recommenda- beath, Scotland: Whittles Publishing, tions published on the pages preced- www.whittlespublishing.com, 2017. ing the title page of the main text, xvii+196 pp., illustrations, graphs, suggesting, as does Glen Blackwood bibliography. UK £18.99, hardback; of Memorial University, Newfound- ISBN 978-184995-314-6. (E-book land, that the book “addresses a huge available.) gap in maritime education”. It is not too much to say that this book is ap- Captain Parani suggests to the reader parently highly recommended! that he is one of those rare individu- Having acknowledged all this, als “bred to the sea”. At the age of and as a one-time navigating officer sixteen he and some school friends in in the RCN, it is difficult for this re- the Andaman Islands (an archipelago viewer to find fault with the plethora in the Bay of Bengal) put a rowboat of advice in this book, coming from a aground in “a mangrove jungle seasoned seagoing professional. He among wild animals and pesky in- cites various horrible examples to sects”. A professional boat handler emphasise his points. Titanic, Torrey rescued them, and the experience was Canyon, Concordia, Royal Majesty evidently a major influence in subse- for example “expose the myth of com- quent years. “As life went on”, petency.” He proposes a “Porthole writes Parani, “my friends each car- Model of Experience” in which only ved out paths of their own. I eventu- deliberate practice and intentional ally became a ship captain, knowledge, allied to experience and commanding ships several thousand “focussed feedback,” (the latter two times heavier than the rowboat, but I of which have to be acquired), lead to would never forget the lessons I “competency.” He advises the reader learned that day.” to find role models. He cites occa- In fact, with suitable modesty, sions when supposedly competent and citations from a very wide selec- seafarers relied too much on their tion of literature, Parani explains that own experience, leading to overconfi- it took many years of sea time and, it dence, complacency, and fatal navi- would seem, many hours of reading, gational errors. Canadian and Ameri- to understand fully what seamen need can examples, some of them very re- to know. He quotes sources that cent, which do not find their way into range from the bible and William this book, are worth remembering. Book Reviews 433

The Halifax explosion of 1918, ish warships from treaty-based inter- which Canadians remember very war reconstruction to technology- well, is a prime example of sins com- based wartime refitting. mitted in seamanship. A number of The four-page introduction to events in the Second World War led British Warships of the Second World to the unfortunate term Royal Colli- War outlines the standard British ship sion Navy”. Recent collisions at sea, design process from the original Staff in the Mediterranean and Pacific Requirements to final fittings, along Oceans, are equally worth noting. with an explanation regarding the Read, learn and inwardly digest refits and modernizations carried out this book! on various vessels. The second chap- ter offers a more in-depth introduc- W.A.B. Douglas tion to the Royal Navy’s position at Ottawa, Ontario the end of the First World War, the limitations imposed by the various naval treaties of the interwar period, John Roberts. British Warships of the and the gradual rearmament and mod- Second World War. Annapolis, MD: ernization as nations moved towards Naval Institute Press, www.usni.org, the start of Second World War hostil- 2017. 176 pp., illustrations, index. ities. The remaining chapters are di- US $58.95, hardcover; ISBN 978-1- vided between ship types and 59114-593-6. arranged largely according to descending tonnage, with capital This work is the 2017 edition of John ships being covered first, followed by Roberts’ 2000 primer on designs of the carriers which would supersede British warships that saw service in them in importance, then cruisers, the Second World War. Utilizing his and on down to motor torpedo boats original general arrangement and “as and auxiliary anti-aircraft ships. fitted” drawings, Roberts covers the While the chapters are largely self- design and evolution of the primary contained, a set of blueprints related warship types fielded by the Royal to the ship type discussed in the next Navy during the war years, from their chapter is often present at the end of pre-war origins through wartime al- the current analysis. The work con- terations. Declaring it “impractical to cludes with a brief bibliography and cover even major warships on a class index. by class basis,” the author instead The page distribution of the core opted to choose vessels that offered a chapters highlights Roberts’ stated more broad coverage of ship types, bias towards a primary coverage of with an admitted bias towards the larger fighting vessels. The discus- post-1920s designed fighting ships of sion of battleship designs accounts escort size or larger (6). Following for 47 pages of the work, almost the introductory sections, Roberts twice the average analysis given to examines 14 different types of ship cruisers, destroyers, and escorts. In designs through the key chosen ex- comparison, the smaller auxiliary amples, offering a chronological view vessels types, such as minesweepers of the evolution undertaken by Brit- and minelayers, often receive a mere 434 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord two pages of study paired with single In terms of possible improve- “as fitted” drawings (154-157). The ments for future editions, standardiz- text of each chapter begins with the ing the style and design used through- relevant start point for the history of out the work for labeling drawings each vessel type’s use in the Second and for ship data blocks would be World War. For example, the capital beneficial. Some of the drawing la- ship section effectively begins with bels feature a grey bar and dark grey the 1927 construction of HMS Rod- ship name, while others have a blue ney and Nelson, the coverage of air- bar and bright red ship name. Some craft carriers opens with a discussion ship data blocks have a similar issue, of the 1919 to 1930 experimental de- with most in black text on a grey signs, and the initial analysis of sub- background, while others have a blue marines begins with the 1921 design background, with no reasoning for of the X1 (19, 66, 141-142). Each the differentiation given. Addition- section quickly moves to discussing ally, some of the blueprints appear to the reasoning behind ship design have been copied in grey-scale, rather changes, and, in the more detailed than in colour like a majority of the chapters, specific information regard- images. Having a consistent pattern ing certain key vessels or classes such throughout the work would help with as the HMS Ark Royal and South- the overall visual impact of the work. ampton class cruisers (66-67, 94-95). An expansion of the more cursory Significant post-war designs or pro- chapters on the smaller ship types ject cancellations tied to the relevant would also be appreciated to increase discussions also receive mention the work’s value to historians wish- within chapters. The ship drawings ing for the same level of analysis of- chosen for each section are either fered for the heavier fighting ships. inserted with their captions within the Finally, the inclusion of citations and main text, or on an overleaf with the possibly an expansion of the some- caption on the page immediately af- what scant appearance of the bibliog- terwards. The captions of these im- raphy would be beneficial to scholars ages discuss the notable features of interested in examining the specific the vessel design, sometimes in com- sources used for exact sections of the parison to other vessels of the Royal text themselves. Navy, and often make mention of the British Warships of the Second drawings composition itself, citing World War is a rare opportunity for the presence or lack of detail and the scholars to examine detailed con- scenarios that led to that drafting struction drawings of numerous Brit- choice. Along with captions for the ish vessels housed in the collection of selected drawings, the illustrated the National Maritime Museum in ships also have a standardized data Greenwich. For those interested in block, listing the vessel’s displace- capital ships, carriers, and larger ton- ment, dimensions, armament, mach- nage fighting vessels, this work offers inery, crew complement, and armour, a solid examination of vessel design if applicable. As this is effectively a and evolution in response to interwar compendium, there is no traditional treaties and wartime lessons. For conclusion to the work. smaller craft, it offers a glimpse into Book Reviews 435 the construction of support and auxil- Unlike armies that can be rapidly iary craft, and their use by the Royal expanded by recruitment and armed Navy in the interwar and wartime with small arms, navies depend on periods. For a draftsman, naval engi- investments in ships that must, to a neer, model builder, or historian, the considerable extent, be ready when reproduced drawings and accompany- Mars’ siren calls. The navy was ing text offer insight into British war- America’s best prepared force and ship construction on a level not easily the first to extend its power into the reached outside of the United King- war zone. Less than six weeks after dom, making this a good introductory the declaration of war, Division 8 resource. consisting of five destroyers arrived at Queenstown, Ireland, “ready Charles Ross Patterson II now… except for refueling.” Yorktown, Virginia Every war shapes its warriors to meet its own challenges. During the First World War Britannia ruled the Lisle A. Rose. America’s Sailors In waves, but all Germany needed to The Great War: Seas, Skies And Sub- starve Britain out was to cut its sup- marines. Columbia, MO: University plies of food and materiel. Surface of Missouri Press, www.press. raiders played their role, but most of umsystem. edu, 2016. 344 pp., illus- the work of interdiction was carried trations, notes, bibliography, index. out by the U-boats lurking beneath US $36.95, cloth; ISBN 978-0-8262- the surface. The stage was set by the 2105-6. time America entered the war so it molded its expanding navy to play its Popular images of the Great War gen- assigned parts. The primary German erally involve trenches, gas and dog- threat was U-boats, so American fights between romantic aviators shipbuilding concentrated on destroy- trailing their beloveds’ scarves in the ers and mine layers to counter it. breeze. America’s Sailors In The Before the Doughboys could halt Great War tells the story of the men the Hun, they had to navigate the U- and ships that guarded supplies and boat-infested Atlantic. The task of troops as they traversed the Atlantic transporting a huge American army between North America and Europe, overseas was unprecedented. One chased U-boats, laid mines, and made solution was escorted convoys in the Old Salts’ first, cautions forays which destroyers would hunt, and if into naval aviation. possible, sink any harassing U-boats. During its neutrality, America While Canadian convoys generally was introduced to German potential left Halifax for British ports, most in 1916 when the monster “mer- American troops left New York and chant” U-boat, Deutschland, made Hampton Roads for Brest, St. two visits to the United States and Nazaire, La Pallice and Bordeaux. Lieutenant Hans Rose surfaced U-53 Crucial to the American build-up was in Narragansett Bay near the U.S. the safe delivery of troop transports Naval War College. of which only three were lost, and 436 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord those on lightly-escorted return trips in large numbers to be sent out in when empty of their human cargos. search of U-boats. This work examines both the ‘big Although the title mentions the picture’ of the wartime role of the sailors, most of the book deals with U.S. Navy as well as the lives of the the ships, boats and planes that were individual sailors. It commences part of America’s contribution to the with the “State of Play,” an analysis Great War, some of the most enter- of the state of the American Navy taining anecdotes are drawn from the and the status of Neptune’s Theatres lives of the sailors. Division 8 sailors at the time of the declaration of war, who arrived in the United Kingdom the relationships between the Ameri- looking forward to encounters with can, British and German navies and Irish colleens were disappointed to the Unrestricted Submarine Warfare find “not a one had any teeth, their that finally compelled a reluctant hair looked like rope and they had no President Wilson to lead his country shape.” (58) Later arrivals, however, into belligerency. Its next topic is the aroused jealousy among the Irish “Call To Quarters” as the Americans lads. Quick backpedaling was are quickly incorporated into the required by the drunken swabbie who Maritime combat. shouted “To hell with King George” Author Lisle A. Rose then ad- below his portrait in a Liverpool bar. dresses the variety of America’s ves- When a husky Anzac replied with sels. While we might think of naval “To hell with President Wilson”, the aviation as requiring the advent of Yank offered a hand and cried, aircraft carriers, in fact, planes were “That’s what I say! I’m a Republi- merely new tools adopted by all can.” (183) forces with sea planes being a major I find America’s Sailors In The part of the navy’s contribution to the Great War an excellent introduction air war. One of the most interesting to the men and machines that so hero- chapters deals with the development ically completed the missions assign- of the convoy system that became ed to them. Names of ships and men essential when success on the battle- who would achieve fame in a later field overseas relied on the transpor- war, Texas, Arizona, Nimitz, Kimmel tation of men and supplies from Can- and Halsey are distributed throughout ada and the United States. this tome. It is well researched and Next Rose focuses on the types skillfully crafted so as to retain the of ships employed: the destroyers that reader’s attention. By the time I protected the convoys and hunted the closed this work I had a much firmer menacing U-boats; the battleships grasp on the contributions of Amer- that, although little suited to the ac- ica’s sailors to the Great War. tion of the war, did, on occasion, pro- vide artillery support to land forces; James M. Gallen the submarines that hunted other sub- St. Louis, Missouri marines; the minesweepers that made channels impassable; and, perhaps Jan Rüger. Heligoland: Britain, Ger- unique to this war, the sub chasers, many, and the Struggle for the North essentially yachts, that were produced Sea. Oxford and New York: Oxford Book Reviews 437

University Press, www.oup.org, armed and demolished fortifications 2017. ix + 370 pp., illustrations, in the decade afterwards, Nazi leader maps, notes, bibliography, index. US Adolf Hitler, who showed special $34.95, hardback; ISBN 978-0-19- sentiment for the island, ordered its 967246-2. refortification and stationed large numbers of troops there, and the Brit- Heligoland, referred to as Helgoland ish after the Second World War in German, is a rocky island with red barred access by first undertaking the sandstone cliffs in the lower North largest non-atomic explosion in his- Sea off the coast of Germany, the tory to level the place and then using main island being less than two kilo- it as an aerial bombing range. metres in total space, at its highest Heligoland only returned to the con- elevation sixty metres above sea level trol of West Germany after consider- and a smaller sister island named able political and diplomatic pres- Düne nearby. Local inhabitants are sure, then residents were allowed outnumbered by birds and the vaca- back to a rebuilt showcase of moder- tioners and day trippers who come to nity and peaceful intentions. Rüger the island and its seaside resorts in expertly documents Heligoland’s rise the summer months. Blessed with and return from obscurity in the con- natural attractions and other enter- text of European warfare and compe- tainments, Heligoland’s geography at tition in the twentieth century. the eastern part of the Frisian chain The book, however, goes further on the doorstep of the large commer- by focusing on the people who called cial port of Hamburg on the Elbe the island home, its consideration in River, Wilhelmshaven naval base, culture and art, and public discourse and the entrance to the strategic Kiel around Heligoland both in Germany Canal connecting the Baltic with the and Great Britain. The discussion is North Sea was significant. This solidly based in archival research in a small, secluded island was once a range of locations and sources perti- potent symbol of nationalism, milita- nent to the subject listed in the refer- rism, and geopolitical ambitions. Jan ences and bibliography. The narra- Rüger, a professor of history at the tive is multi-dimensional in scope University of London known for his and objective, rather than a simple scholarship on the rivalry between dry recounting of the main events that Great Britain in its heyday and Impe- determined the island’s destiny. rial Germany, turns his attention to The maritime aspects of Heligo- the role that Heligoland played in this land, as presented by Rüger, are wo- contest. ven into the broader tapestry of the Heligoland was taken from the island’s history and contacts with the Danish by the British and then external world. Fishing was a handed over to the Germans, in return mainstay industry, and smuggling for consideration in other colonial was a lucrative enterprise encouraged possessions. Imperial Germany, un- by the British during the Napoleonic der Kaiser Wilhelm, militarized the period but declined precipitously af- island before and during the First terwards. Artists painted maritime World War, the victor powers dis- scenes, waterfowl brought bird 438 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord watchers, and “mainlanders” enjoyed ers of maritime history with an inter- the beaches and relative tranquility. est in the two world wars. The German navy used fortified Heligoland as a forward operating Chris Madsen base for submarines, destroyers, and Toronto, Ontario coastal craft. In keeping with Alfred Mahan’s classic phrase, “a ship is a Salty Dips, Volume 10, “An All fool to fight a fort”, the extensive Around Look - 100 years of Subma- fixed defensive positions and big rines in the RCN.” Ottawa, ON: Na- guns on the island provided a potent val Association of Canada (Ottawa obstacle to offensive action by enemy Branch), 2014. 254 pp., illustrations, naval forces at the approaches to the appendix, notes, index. CDN $10.00, Elbe estuary. Thousands of troops, paper; ISBN 978-0-9784862-2-8. (E- involuntary tourists, were garrisoned book available.) there to man defences warding off seaward and aerial attack. The Royal The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) is Navy’s interest in disarmament ef- not known as a giant in the world of forts after the two world wars was submarine operations, but it has a primarily to ensure that the German long, if intermittent, tradition of oper- navy and Heligoland did not pose a ating submarines. Salty Dips, Vol- threat again. The big explosion was ume 10, “An All Around Look-100 as much a psychological demonstra- years of Submarines in the RCN” tion as an attempt to demolish and contains a delightful collection of neutralize the physical war infrastruc- first-person accounts of submarine ture on the island. Coastal fortifica- operations dating back to the incep- tions, made out of concrete and rein- tion of RCN submarine operations in forced steel, are incredibly costly and 1914. hard to remove. It might have just In August 1914, in Seattle, Wash- been better to leave them as a mu- ington, the RCN located two small seum piece or testimony to another submarines originally meant for the era. Chilean Navy. Three days of negoti- Though an academic book, Ox- ating with the shipyard and a $1.2 ford University Press has included a million cheque meant that the subma- number of attractive features in terms rines would not reach their intended of marketing and layout. The simple original buyer. The Canadian navy cover incorporates a striking color- took over the two submarines and ized and enhanced photograph, illus- they entered (and have gone down in trations conveniently located near history) as HMCS/M CCI and CC2. related text feature older black-and- The RCN’s submarines stayed in white photographs and artwork, and a British Columbia waters until the two nautical soundings map graces the craft were ordered to Halifax in 1917. front and inside covers. The book These two subs have a further histori- was printed in Great Britain, when so cal distinction: CC1 and CC2 were many other publishers have gone the first ships carrying the White En- overseas citing price and quality. sign to transit the Panama Canal. Heligoland is recommended for read- Book Reviews 439

They remained in Halifax until they Johnson, one of the RCN’s first sub- were sold for scrap in 1920. mariners. There follows a section on The RCN operated two other sub- RCN personnel serving in Royal marines briefly after the First World Navy submarines during the Second War: HMCS/M Ch14 and Ch15. World War. They were reluctantly accepted under The vast majority of this book is pressure from the British Admiralty, devoted to recollections of RCN sub- but post-war demands to reduce the marine operations in the modern era. Canadian military and cut defence The accounts in the three sections costs forced the RCN to lay up both provide an invaluable perspective submarines in 1922. (The story of —the human one—on RCN subma- the survival of the RCN in the inter- rine operations. One common thread: war years has been told by Tony Ger- the pervasive smell of diesel fumes man in his classic work, The Sea is at that cling to any submariner, Our Gates.) something submarine veterans With the exception of two ex- remember throughout their lives. The Kriegsmarine U-boats that the RCN accounts include Cold War experi- operated briefly after the Second ences, training and operations, simu- World War, the RCN had no subma- lated attacks, cooperation with avia- rines of its own between 1922 and tion, the proposed acquisition of nu- 1961. Many RCN personnel served clear submarines, the effort to pre- in British Royal Navy (RN) subs dur- serve Ojibwa as a museum, and even ing the Second World War. In the the recollections of a Canadian Army immediate post-war period, the RN Special Forces officer, relating his stationed submarines at Halifax while positive experiences on joint exer- the RCN provided personnel and cises with HMCS Onandaga. training. This arrangement lasted Instead of a centre block of illus- until 1965, when the RCN stationed trations, the book is well illustrated the new, British-built HMCS Ojibwa throughout, with photographs appear- at Halifax. Prior to that, however, the ing in appropriate places alongside RCN commissioned an ex-U.S. Navy the text relating to the submarines, submarine into its own fleet in1961 pertinent personnel, and other rele- and renamed it HMCS Grilse. vant items. This was a wise decision, Whichever date the reader chooses— as the photographs are closely the commission of HMCS Grilse or integrated with the text and make the stationing of HMCS Ojibwa, the reading easier. Maps also appear in RCN has continuously maintained a appropriate places and do not detract small fleet of submarines since that from the reading. The cover carries time. photos of HMCS CC2, HMCS “An All Around Look,” tells the Grilse, HMCS Victoria, and HMCS story of RCN submarine operations Rainbow. These images grab the in the words of those who actually reader’s attention and tie the various served in them. Arranged chronolog- years of RCN submarine operations ically, the stories begin with the together. An unusual and very nice memories of a sailor who served on feature is a pull-out inset in the back CC2 and a long chapter on Barney cover showing scale drawings of 440 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord

CC1, CC2, CC14, the two former U- the preface, he notes that his boats, Grilse, Onondaga, Rainbow, approach is “to provide an intricate and Victoria. This feature shows the account of Scottish Arctic whaling evolution of Canada’s submarines within which I have layered more over the last 100 years. personal insights obtained from Being a collection of stories from newspapers. I have also let the whale various sources, this is not a straight- men speak for themselves whenever line narrative with a consistent style possible through their log books, of writing. The contributors’ narra- journals and diaries to help bring dry tives are all different in style but this facts and complex concepts to life.” does not detract from the book. A (xii) He also waxes lyrical about his very useful appendix contains mini- use of newspapers from the period, as biographies of those whose narratives “It enabled me, so to speak, to mingle appear in Salty Dips. with the general public, purchase pa- Those looking for a comprehen- pers from corner news boys and rub sive history of RCN submarine opera- shoulders with friends and family at tions will not find in this book, but it dockside upon departure and return was never intended to be a compre- of each vessel.” (xii) hensive history of RCN submarines. There is, however, a note of cau- Yes, it includes a brief history of tion in his statement that the book RCN submarine operations, but this “draws together under one cover in- book would be more profitably read formation contained in two graduate in conjunction with a comprehensive theses and more than twenty journal RCN submarine history. This vol- papers and chapters dating from 1973 ume of Salty Dips presents the human to 2012,” and “in order to make perspective and makes submarine Arctic Bowhead whaling and it’s operations come alive. All who have contribution to Scotland’s history ever served in a submarine will rec- better known and more easily avail- ognize the many issues raised by this able to a broader audience.” (xv) book. It is recommended as a very The 120 pages of text is organ- enjoyable read. ized into a preface followed by ten chapters, the first of which is a some- Robert L. Shoop what academic discussion entitled Colorado Springs, Colorado “The Context,” while chapter ten consists of a summary and conclusions. The other chapters Chesley W. Sanger. Scottish Arctic cover the period from pre-1750 to Whaling. Edinburgh: Birlinn, 1801. Each chapter contains a short www.birlinn. co .uk, 2016. xx+220 introductory paragraph followed by a pp., illustrations, maps, tables, notes, good outline of the period, bibliography, index. UK £20.00, pa- terminating with an (untitled) per; ISBN 978-1-906566 77-7. summary. The chapters are quite readable, with good statistical This book adds to Professor Sanger’s material covering the Scottish and considerable oeuvre regarding Scot- English fleets, and explanations tish whaling, and promises much. In regarding the impact of wars and the Book Reviews 441 payment of bounties (a government (1841-1861), a sore omission from subsidy). In this respect, the reader the other chapters. Price information should note that Professor Sanger is is noted as being available from of the opinion that any voyage newspaper references, and occasional revenue, other than that coming from pricing is provided in the text. the whale itself, constitutes a subsidy. So much is missing regarding the Thus, seal fishing, trading, etc. are activities of the Scots and considered subsidies. competition from the Americans after Chapter seven rightfully acknow- 1850, that it might have been better to ledges the achievement of the Larkins have terminated the book at 1860. (Leith) and the Elizabeth (Aberdeen) By this point, Captain William in finding a way into the North Water P e n n e y h a d s u c c e s s f u l l y (a seasonal area of unfrozen sea with- demonstrated the benefits of over- in an ice field, or polynya) in 1817, wintering, and Scottish Arctic and radically changing the nature of whaling entered an entirely new the fishery. Without their period. Also, Dundee’s jute mer- exploration, there would, arguably, chants and spinners became much have been no Golden Age to discuss. more involved following the loss of Given Sanger’s interest in local flax supplies after the Crimean War newspaper reports, it would have and the rise of jute spinning and been interesting to see what the Aber- weaving. deen Journal or the Dundee Courier Bartering and trade receive two had to say about their achievement. brief mentions, but no detail. As an The next chapter, The Golden example of the importance of such Era of Scottish Arctic Whaling 1802- revenue, the American whaler George 1840, does not provide British fleet Comer realized over $100,000 in information as in the earlier chapters, whaling and trading returns from depriving the reader of comparable 1900-1903 at Fullerton Harbour on data about English whalers. Such the northwest coast of Hudson’s data would have helped explain some Bay. Of this, trading provided of the confusing fleet references in $70,000. the text. Despite this omission, the Readers should be aware that the chapter does cover the period quite ice charts on page six of The Context, well. at least for Davis Strait, represent The ninth chapter, The Final 9/10ths ice, not 4/10ths. It might also Decline: Subsidised Bowhead have been helpful to caution the Whaling - The Transition to Harp reader that these charts may not Sealing and Other Arctic Activities: represent conditions existing 250 1841 to World War I, lacks any years ago. For example, if Sir John comparable data regarding the Franklin had experienced the ice English, although in this period, New normals referenced in the book, his England whalers, driven by economic expedition would probably have been necessity, were more of a competitor successful. Also, the text and log than the English. This is the only extracts about ice conditions do not chapter to contain any consistent always align with the evidence in the information on oil and bone pricing charts. A short discussion about the 442 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord

Middle Pack, or Middle Ice, in Davis many’s use of submarines during the Strait would also have been helpful. First World War, one that details its In summary, and apart from the operation and its overall impact on regrettable number of typographical the war. errors and the urgent need of a good Sondhaus begins by explaining editor, the book will be of great value the role envisioned for submarines in to the academic, given the extensive prewar naval thinking, showing how endnotes (49 pages) and the it fit neatly within the Jeune École’s newspaper references they contain. vision of a naval strategy focused The book can actually be read upon commerce raiding. That without reference to the endnotes, submarines were not developed for which become intrusive. They can be this prior to the war is attributable to treated almost as a second book, and the supersession of battleship read after the main text, referring technology at the end of the nine- back as needed. teenth century over that of the smaller vessels around which the Christopher Wright Jeune École was developed in the Digby, Nova Scotia 1870s and 1880s. With advocates of the battleship-based fleet in the ascendancy, submarines were Laurence Sondhaus. German envisioned as serving primarily as Submarine Warfare in World War I: harbour-defense vessels, and were The Onset of Total War at Sea. Lan- designed and constructed with that in ham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, mind. www.rowman.com, 2017. xvii+259 These attitudes changed quickly pp., illustrations, maps, notes, in the first months of the war. The bibliography, index. US $36.00, UK initial success of Germany’s U-boats £24.95, cloth; ISBN 978-1-4422- provided their navy with one of their 6954-5. (E-book available.) few bright spots in their early war record, and the naval high command Of the many new weapons deployed quickly embraced submarines as a during the First World War, none of cost-effective weapon to deploy them came as close to determining while their High Seas Fleet remained the outcome of the conflict as the harbour-bound. While these attacks submarine. Though all of the major were conducted under the confining navies deployed submarines during rules of commerce warfare drawn up the war, it was only the Germans who in the nineteenth century, as early as used them as one of their primary November 1914 Germany’s naval means of defeating their enemies, secretary, Alfred von Tirpitz, gave an particularly Great Britain. In this interview to a German-American book, Laurence Sondhaus—a journalist designed to test the professor of history at the University American reaction to a broader of Indianapolis and the author of campaign of unrestricted warfare on several previous studies of naval merchant shipping, one that pushed policy and naval warfare during the the German leadership into launching era— provides an account of Ger- their first attempt at unrestricted U- Book Reviews 443 boat warfare three months later. loss of tonnage would inhibit the With only a limited number of U- deployment of U.S. forces abroad and boats, however, this initial effort thus, blunt the impact of an American proved premature, and the growing entry into the war, the German backlash in the United States against emperor, William II, issued orders on the loss of American lives led to the 9 January 1917 to resume the suspension of the campaign after just campaign. Sondhaus accords seven months. considerable initial success to this As Sondhaus demonstrates, Ger- effort, noting that in its first five many’s return to traditional cruiser months the U-boats exceeded their rules did not end the threat they targets of tonnage sunk. Yet the posed to Allied shipping. Instead, the Germans underestimated the total Germans employed their U-boats in shipping capacity available to the increasingly versatile ways by Allies, while increasingly effective transferring several boats to the countermeasures—most notably, the Mediterranean and using some of the convoy system that was implemented ones that remained to lay mines only in late 1917—deprived the U- around British and French ports, boats of easy targets and placed them allowing them to continue to sink at greater risk, a combination that, in shipping in a diplomatically less the end, doomed their campaign to controversial way. In response, the failure. Entente powers put an increasing Cogently written and backed by a amount of effort into antisubmarine good command of the published operations, though much of this was material on the subject, Sondhaus’ wasted in largely futile “barrages” book is an extremely useful work on designed to obstruct passage through submarine warfare in the First World various transit points and Q-ships War. By detailing the military, which rarely delivered on their political, and economic aspects of the premised ability to lure unwary U- German campaign, he offers several boat commanders into traps. interesting insights both into the For all of their growing effectiveness development of submarines as a as the war wore on, however, the weapon and their overall impact on promise of U-boats as a means of the course of the war. The result destroying the Entente economies leaves readers with a clearer proved elusive. Faced with understanding of the capabilities of debilitating deadlock in the trenches, the U-boat arm, the constraints on its several members of the German high deployment, and how these two command grew convinced that with factors shaped the role that the U- the increased numbers of U-boats boats played in the conflict. It is a now available and the improved book that anyone interested in capabilities of the newer types, a submarine warfare or the naval renewed employment of unrestricted history of the First World War can warfare would be successful enough profit from reading, and will likely to achieve a German victory against serve as a standard text on the subject their enemies on the Western Front. for years to come. With his advisors calculating that the 444 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord

Mark Klobas Mediterranean area, Stanton Phoenix, Arizona impressively links the decisive role sea power played in not only the liberation of Sicily and southern Italy Charles D. Stanton. Norman Naval from Islamic dominance but in the Operations in the Mediterranean. shaping and expansion of shipping Martlesham, SFK: The Boydell within the Mediterranean. This, in Press, www.boydellandbrewer.com, turn, played an important role in the 2016. (First published 2011.) xii+ Crusades and the cultural dominance 323 pp., illustrations, maps, notes, of the west into the Mediterranean appendices, bibliography. UK basin. This was something that no £34.95, paper; ISBN 978-1-78327- other power was able to achieve and, 138-2. inevitably, it rests on the work of Roger de Hauteville and his son Unfortunately, when it comes to Roger II. Stanton’s background as a medieval military history, the popular former U.S. naval officer can concept of warfare is almost certainly be seen in his compelling exclusively ground-based. After all, and clear understanding of the the romanticized view of the Middle influence of naval power during the Ages which has come to dominate period. public perception rests squarely with Starting with an introduction that the heroic knight, the living clearly illustrates the strategic embodiment of chivalry and honour, significance of Sicily, Stanton charging bravely on his trusty steed. proceeds to lay out his history in a Intermeshed with the idea of agape clear chronological structure. The love, the damsel in distress, and often text is broken down into four main co-opted into literature and movies, sections. Starting with “the the concept of fighting in the Middle Conquest” (827-1101) and followed Ages has been popularly understood by “the Apogee” (1101-1154), and as men in heavy armour fighting on “the Eclipse” (1154 – 1194), the horseback. While incredibly popular, author elegantly traces the rise, it is an incredibly myopic view of the decline, and impact of the Norman era. presen c e o n t h e we s t e r n In the face of this, Charles Mediterranean. In the process, he Stanton’s Norman Naval Operations introduces the reader to the key in the Mediterranean (2016, 2011) personalities and the important roles represents an absolutely fascinating they played. The final section, “the and ground-breaking look into an Impact,” assess the changes brought aspect of medieval warfare that is about because of all these efforts. mostly forgotten, naval history. In The rise of Norman naval strength in the process, Stanton demonstrates the the central Mediterranean in the role of naval power in shaping the twelfth century had monumental history of Sicily, Italy and the repercussions that have lasted for Mediterranean in general. Examining centuries. The wide ranging political, naval power during the eleventh and economic, and military changes twelfth centuries in the central shaped all the nations and cultures Book Reviews 445 that bordered the Mediterranean. amateur) and are as important as the Inevitably, Stanton includes a text itself. discussion of how the western Italian Well written and documented, trading states expanded eastwards, Stanton’s book is an incredibly the dramatic return of commerce in fascinating and valuable resource that the western Mediterranean and of should be an important addition for course its impact on Muslim com- scholars and laymen. It represents a merce patterns in the area. Backed significant addition not just to naval up with a conclusion and impressive historians, but also to anyone appendices, this book turns our interested in the history of the understanding of medieval warfare on Mediterranean and its development. its head. Naval history is, after all, a history of The appendices are a particularly national power and society on the important and valuable addition to sea. Thus, by examining the history the text. As Stanton accurately points of Norman naval power, the author out, contemporary authors lacked enriches our understanding of not just maritime expertise, making them the role of Norman presence in the difficult sources to work with. area but of the entire region that Likewise, any attempt to understand borders this critical body of water. the naval infrastructure is extremely The Mediterranean really represents problematic. Lacking any systematic in a lot of ways what the ocean or documentation regarding Norman ‘the great common’ really is. It was naval matters, and similarly without the place where three great cultures physical examples of naval vessels of met. It is in these waters that the the period, Stanton was forced to European, Greco/ Byzantine, and build up this knowledge. Describing Muslim societies interacted, and in the Normans as masters of the process, created a unique and accommodation and adaption, he distinctively Mediterranean culture. reconstructed the Norman fleets of Dr. Stanton’s work represents a very the period through often indirect important addition to understanding methods, studying the sources on that development. As such, it is a Muslim and Byzantine naval highly recommended text for anyone practices backed up with the latest in interested not just in early naval maritime archaeology. This gives the history but in Mediterranean history reader a solid understanding of the as well. ships, sailors, and support systems of the period. Appendix A “the Fleet Robert Dienesch (ships, sailors, shipyards, and Windsor, Ontario strategies)” is the result and it serves as an incredible source in its own Anthony Sullivan. Man of War. The right. It is a must-read for anyone Fighting Life of Admiral James pursuing naval research in the period. Saumarez: From The American When matched with Appendix B Revolution to the Defeat of Napoleon. “Sources,” the two appendices Barnsley, S. Yorks: www.pen-and- provide a wealth of material for any sword.co.uk, 2017. 272 pp., scholar (whether professional or illustrations, maps, notes, 446 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord bibliography, index. UK £ 25, US commanded his own vessel and had $50.00, cloth; ISBN 978-1-52670- been promoted to a post-captaincy by 651-5. 1782. His actions with the fleet in the 1780s included an engagement at Anthony Sullivan has undertaken the Dogger Bank with the Dutch, who first serious study of Saumarez in had allied themselves with the nearly two hundred years. Americans, and he served with Surprisingly so, notes Sullivan, since Rodney at the battle of the Saintes, Saumarez was a key player in Royal defending Britain’s valuable West Navy victories in the late eighteenth Indies possessions. Peace, however, and early nineteenth centuries. interrupted his Royal Navy service, Captains like Pellew, Cochrane, and and Saumarez found himself “on the Moore have their chroniclers, and a beach.” “god-like” Nelson dominates the The French Revolution and a period, but Saumarez, he says, has declaration of war between England largely been ignored. His aim is to and France in 1793 returned him to “finally reveal Saumarez as a active duty. Assigned to the Channel husband and father, and a God- Fleet, in successive command of brig fearing warrior diplomat, in his full HMS Crescent and ship of the line worth” (239). Orion, Saumarez’s days were Saumarez was born on Guernsey consumed in convoying and blockade in the English Channel in 1757 into duty, troop transport, and the one of the oldest and most distin- occasional single-ship engagement, guished island families. Naturally as in his defeat of the French frigate drawn to the Navy, through family Reunion off Cherbourg in 1793. influence he won a midshipman’s The transfer of Orion to the Med- berth in 1770 to learn the rudiments iterranean saw Saumarez engaged in of naval life. Midshipmen of the time a series of fleet actions, along with were responsible for the “good order Nelson, against France and Spain at and discipline” of a ship, and during the battles of Cape St. Vincent (1797) battle, for supervising gun crews. and the Nile (1798); and, in 1801 in They practiced taking the ship’s 80-gun Caesar at the battle of position with a sextant, measured Algeciras. Meanwhile, he became soundings, oversaw signaling, and rear admiral of the blue in were in charge of the ship’s boats. In recognition of his gallantry and their spare time, they studied achievements. The Peace of Amiens navigation, gunnery, and seamanship, in 1801, however, again interrupted and practised the social graces Saumarez’s naval service. required of young gentlemen-officers. After war with France resumed in Over many chapters Sullivan 1803, Saumarez was made details Saumarez’s career. He served Commander-in-Chief, Channel i n A m e r i c a a g a i n s t t h e Islands, and with Napoleon revolutionaries from 1776 to 1778, threatening an invasion of England, seeing action at Charleston and his squadron was busy defending Newport, having already made home waters. In 1806, he became lieutenant. Returned to Europe, he vice admiral of the blue, and two Book Reviews 447 years later was put in charge of turned to his Anglican faith, trusting England’s Baltic Fleet “one of the always in divine providence. He largest and most important fleets in ensured that bibles and religious the Royal Navy” aimed at destroying tracts were available to his crews, and the Russian fleet and “affording his interest in religion was not limited protection to his majesty’s firm and to his own ship, but extended faithful ally, Sweden” (149). throughout his squadrons. He As Commander in the Baltic, understood the important role Saumarez became what Sullivan calls religion played aboard a naval vessel, “Britain’s Diplomat Afloat” (169). as moral support and an aid to England’s Baltic policy reflected discipline. He observed, “religious Saumarez’s reports from the front, sailors in particular were the most and he sometimes chose not to courageous in battle.” (237) implement London’s orders, feeling Still, Sullivan’s admiration for they might be detrimental to British Saumarez in not unmixed. He credits interests. As a result, he was able to the admiral’s successful career to continue the flow of trade in the “fortuitous timing.” Saumarez made Baltic , and more importantly, lieutenant early in the American war, maintain peaceful relations with he says, giving him ample Sweden and Russia, fracturing opportunity to display his abilities, Napoleon’s Continental System, and by the time he became post- designed to secure French hegemony captain, a long war with France had in Europe. Says Sullivan, “Saumarez begun. The generation following his can claim credit for Napoleon’s was less fortunate. With Europe at fateful decision to invade Russia.” peace, an equal chance to Because of Sau-marez’s diplomatic demonstrate its skills failed to manoeuvering, Russia broke her materialize. And, in comparing alliance with France joining Britain Saumarez with Nelson, Sullivan says, and Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in that while Saumarez showed response proved to be a disaster for “initiative in battle,” he lacked the Emperor (235). Nelson’s “killer instinct.” At Cape In 1819, Saumarez was made rear St. Vincent he nearly captured the admiral of the UK, retiring from Spanish flagship, but broke off to active service in 1827. In 1831, he support the British line. Similarly, at was promoted to Admiral of the Red, the Nile, Saumarez disagreed with and finally received his long-sought Nelson over tactics. Where Nelson peerage, becoming Baron de would double his line, Saumarez Saumarez. He died in 1836 and was thought this would recklessly buried on his native Guernsey. endanger British lives. “Throughout Sullivan calls Saumarez “one of his career Saumarez displayed a lack the navy’s best fighting captains” of enthusiasm for any attack that during the Age of Sail (234). Despite would lead to unacceptable losses his fighting reputation, however, among his men.” (233-34) contact with his wife and family was Sullivan’s study of Saumarez is his life’s foundation, and when detailed and well-written, and he has family was beyond reach, Saumarez a keen understanding of naval 448 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord minutiae. To help the reader he Taylor prepared the first version presents naval matters against the of the manuscript more or less historical background of Saumarez’s immediately after his return from time. His sources are impressive Antarctica, but due to a variety of inclusive of Saumarez’s personal circumstances, several attempts to papers, Navy Records at the National publish this Antarctic memoir failed, Archives, Kew, records in the making the manuscript finally A d m i r a l t y a r c h i v e s , a n d available only 70 years later. As a contemporary newspaper accounts result, Taylor’s book needs to be from the British Newspaper Archive. understood today as a published, His maps, battle plans, and autobiographical historic resource descriptions of ship manoeuvers rather than an analytical history of complement the text. Man of War is Operation Tabarin. Consequently, its a fine contribution to the library of relevance to those interested in naval biography. Antarctic history during the Second World War period has changed from William L. Welch a contemporary description of Natick, Massachusetts historic events to a personal perspective of a participant in those activities. Taylor, a Captain with the Andrew Taylor. (Daniel Heidt and P. Royal Canadian Engineers during the Whitney Lackenbauer, eds.) Two war, joined the British expedition Years Below the Horn—Operation because of his pre-war experience as Tabarin, Field Science and Antarctic a surveyor and was the only Canadian Sovereignty. Winnipeg, MB: member of Operation Tabarin. After University of Manitoba Press, the original leader of the expedition www.uofmpress .ca, 2017. 496 pp., resigned due to mental stress in 1944, CDN $ 34.95, paper; ISBN 978-0- Taylor took charge of the whole 88755-791-0. operation. Under his leadership, Station D at Hope Bay was Operation Tabarin, the secret British established, making him not just the military Antarctic operation during only Canadian to lead an Antarctic the Second World War, has recently expedition, but the expedition leader gained substantial interest among responsible for establishing the first Antarctic historians and enthusiasts. permanent research station on the Andrew Taylor’s account of his Antarctic continent itself and not an participation in Operation Tabarin, island. carefully edited by Daniel Heidt and Taylor’s extremely detailed Whitney Lackenbauer, provides most descriptions of the construction of welcome new insights into the history Station D at Hope Bay and, more of this wartime Antarctic endeavour. importantly, the sledge journeys after This is particularly relevant for the the completion of the base make the light they shed on this small, but book a most relevant source for a important, facet of the Second World period of Antarctic history War Antarctic history, from a British, characterized by the transformation but mainly Canadian perspective. of Antarctic research from pure Book Reviews 449 exploration to scientific research, or place Taylor’s achievements in in other words, the shift from the context and document the “Heroic Age” of Antarctic contribution of an often-overlooked exploration to the age of scientific explorer to the understanding of Antarctic research. Taylor’s first- Antarctica. As a Canadian, Taylor hand account repeatedly illustrates represents the fact that Antarctic that the tools available to the men of history was also written by people Operation Tabarin were likely the who were not part of the main same for Amundsen, Scott, Shackle- Antarctic nations. ton or any other explorer of the When it comes to maritime Heroic Age, but that the goals of the history, Taylor’s memoir treats expedition had shifted towards a traditional maritime topics more scientific approach. Some of peripherally, at best. Yet many mar- the book’s more lengthy passages, itime historians would be interested which may even be repetitive, are in the concepts of establishing definitely suggestive of the dullness political sovereignty, coping with or monotony the members of the everyday life in extreme expedition had to face. environments, or leading prolonged After the war, Operation Tabarin expeditions. There are certainly became the Falkland Island comparisons to be made between the Dependencies Survey (FIDS), then challenges of nature facing human later, the British Antarctic Survey activities at sea and in Antarctica. (BAS). Taylor’s book now I can recommend the book to constitutes part of the early history of anyone who is even slightly inter- modern British Antarctic research, ested in the history of Antarctica. making it a relevant resource for Taylor’s autobiographical approach anyone interested in the development makes the book both personal and of today’s international Antarctic enjoyable to read. research under the regime of the Antarctic Treaty System. In fact, the Ingo Heidbrink birth of modern international research Norfolk, Virginia on a continent without national sove- reignty originated in such Second World War era attempts to either Conrad Waters. Seaforth World establish national sovereignty or at Naval Review 2017. Barnsley, S. least prohibit other nations from Yorks: Seaforth Publishing, doing so. www.pen-and-sword.org, 2016. 192 An impressive set of maps and pp., illustrations, tables, notes. UK illustrations help the reader to £30.00, cloth; ISBN 978-1-4738- understand the complex geography of 9275-0. a region with which only very few will be familiar. The editors have Although dated 2017, this World provided a detailed foreword and, Naval Review really deals with the more importantly, an afterword, that maritime situation as it was last year could be considered an academic in 2016, when it was published. In publication in its own right. They fact, the introductory chapter is dated 450 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord

June 2016, but it is unlikely that any offshore patrol vessel. The USN is unheralded innovations would have shown as shifting from littoral been manifested between then and warfare strategies back to the oceanic now. The author/editor, Conrad control of the past; this is further Waters, has for some years been discussed in the article on the “land- responsible for the section in the attack destroyer” Zumwalt, in Section annual Warship that deals with new Three. In the Asia Pacific sub- ships. The rest of that publication, section, the Chinese determination to which is reviewed annually in The control the South China Sea ands all Northern Mariner, is devoted to its islets and reefs is the most historical naval events and ship important factor. (The most serious designs of the past. World Naval of the present troubles with North Review 2017, on the other hand, is Korea have developed since the book totally concerned with the present went to print). Within some of the worldwide balance of naval power regional sections, specific navies and geopolitical considerations. have been selected for a deeper The book is divided into four examination and analysis (Fleet sections. The first is a general Reviews) by authors of undoubted overview by the editor containing a expertise. In 2017 these are the table showing that the United States Malaysian navy in the Asia Pacific continues to be the overwhelmingly Section 2.2 and the Danish and Dutch superior naval power. It is, in fact, navies in the Europe and Russia the only nation capable of exerting Section 2.4. The authors are naval dominance in any ocean it Mrityunjoy Mazumdar, Søren Nørby chooses, but in the second rank, the and Theodore Hughes-Riley navies of China, Russia and India are respectively. growing in importance, each with the Section Three contains objective of controlling their adjacent descriptions of specific ships or ocean basins. The former naval classes that are presumed to be powers of Western Europe, long in trendsetters or revolutionary designs. decline, can now exert meaningful These are the Japanese Akizuki class influence only in conjunction with of large, capable, general-purpose each other or the United States. destroyers (by Tomohiko Tada), the Section Two contains the South Korean Dokdo class assault regional reviews: North and South ships which should be suitable for America, Asia and the Pacific, the export to other navies (by Guy Tore- Indian Ocean and Africa, Europe and mans) and the Zumwalt, the USN’s Russia. Here, Waters discusses the revolutionary land-attack destroyer development of the principal navies (by Edward Feege and Scott Truver). in each region. In the part on the The last is the most original warship Americas, Canada is the first nation conceived in many years. Its mentioned and our navy’s efforts to futuristic appearance is dramatically find an interim solution to the lack of demonstrated by excellent supply ships are noted along with the photographs of the vessel in and out Arctic sovereignty issues that of the water. The USN has reduced resulted in the Harry DeWolf class the planned number of these ship to Book Reviews 451 only three, while resuming current naval situation. It is construction of more conventional recommended for any library or Arleigh Burke type destroyers. This personal collection dealing with mod- is because of more emphasis being ern navies. given to readiness for oceanic as opposed to littoral combat C. Douglas Maginley The last section consists of Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia technological reviews. The review of world naval aviation by David Hobbs is an annual feature that deals with Glen H. Williams. The United States naval aircraft as well as the ships that Merchant Marine in World War 1. carry them. While the USN’s fleet of Ships, Crews, Shipbuilders and ten large carriers is the embodiment Operators. Jefferson, NC: McFarland of sea power, there are a lot of flight Publishing, www.mcfarlandpub.com, decks on somewhat smaller carriers: 2017. vi+465 pp., illustrations, e.g. the French Charles de Gaulle, bibliography, index. US $55.00, helicopter carriers like the Japanese paper; ISBN 978-1-4766-6703-4. Hyuga class (described for some political reason as destroyers) and Greg H. Williams brings impressive amphibious assault ships such as the credentials to the table as both a South Korean Dokdo featured in the mariner and a writer in his latest previous section. The chapter on volume. A U.S. Navy veteran, he shipborne anti-ship missiles is by also has sailed on Second World distinguished author Norman Fried- War-era Liberty ships such as the SS man. He observes that if a missile is Jeremiah O’Brien, and is the author approaching a mixed group of ships, of a large number of reference books it is very likely to lock on to a large on American maritime history. He is radar target like a big container ship a tireless compiler of maritime data, or tanker rather than an escorting including a fascinating volume that warship that may well be of stealth lists U.S. Navy vessels sold into design. This is not a happy thought private hands after the Second World for the crew of a big merchant ship. War, and a book on French The final chapter, by Jan Ziolo, is on depredations against American the interesting subject of submarine shipping in the 1790s. These are all escape equipment and procedures. very valuable and informative books The photographs throughout the that assist maritime scholars of all book are outstanding, especially stripes; he cannot be praised enough those of USS Zumwalt. Her striking for his grueling labour. He brings a profile provides the frontispiece and truly impressive level of knowledge is on the back cover and those of her to bear. in drydock show her to be just as The United States Merchant remarkable underwater as above. Marine in World War I once again The tables in Sections One and Two demonstrates William’s strengths as provide essential information in clear, a compiler of data. The heart of this concise form. This book offers an work is the listing of American excellent summary of the world’s shipbuilders and operators from 452 The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord roughly 1914 to 1920. Separate and carefully records the casualties, sections address ship operators and generally listing their names, often shipbuilders, with an entry with the seaman’s address and commensurate with the importance of ethnicity or race. For example, the the entity. A rather fun aspect of this American freighter A.A. Raven, sunk is that Williams includes the street by the German submarine UB-55 off address for each business; one Cornwall on March 14, 1918 (397): suspects the editors at McFarland had Dirk Stimis (aka D.P. Stines), chief to restrain him from including the engineer, American, 25 South St., phone number as well. These entries NY. quickly and effectively sketch out the James Alfred Stiles, 1st engineer, activities of shipping and shipyards British, wife Catherine, 46 Stacey during the war years, and are nicely Rd., Cardiff, Wales complemented by a separate section Louis Collins, oiler, Belgian, 432 W. that details ship construction by 19th St., New York shipyard, and a chapter on the Naval John Maseneck, fireman, Russian, 25 Overseas Transportation Service South St., New York (NOTS). He wraps up the book with Charles Sousis, coal passer, Russian, a highly detailed chapter on father David, Riga, Russia American shipping losses, including Bida Shosaburo, British (naturalized), the names of seamen lost and often steward, wife Ada, 30 Court Rd., including first-person accounts of the Grange, Cardiff, Wales sinking, and a short chapter that Jesse George Guy, unk., English, 47 provides a brief statistical analysis of Grange Gardens, Cardiff, Wales the Great War on American shipping. Joseph Martin, unk., Cuban, father William’s approach is essentially Joseph, 33 Teniente Rey, Havana encyclopedic. He provides numerous Academics may be less pleased entries regarding different events of with Williams’ narrative efforts, the war at sea, but this is not a which span the first 100 or so pages. traditional monograph or work of He does not footnote his sources, and non-fiction. The entries tend toward his bibliography relies heavily on the episodic. Covering individual sources produced during or topics such as the Lusitania sinking, immediately after the First World the financial losses suffered by War I. This is a great shame, because different parties, or the British North there have been some very influential Sea blockade, Williams on the whole monographs on U.S. shipping in the avoids a narrative arc. Illustrations Great War era, such as Jeff Safford’s are few, but useful, and come from Wilsonian Maritime Diplomacy, and the author’s personal collection. Rodney Carlisle’s Sovereignty at Genealogists and ship buffs will Sea: U.S. Merchant Ships and be pleased with the high level of American Entry into World War I. A detail in this work. Chapter 16, sprinkling of current monographs “American Ship Losses,” is would have made his own narratives especially good in this regard. far more compelling. Williams details the loss of all Purely academic concerns aside, American ships due to enemy action, it is difficult to not be impressed with Book Reviews 453 the amount of data and the amount of research that goes into a work such as this. One of the reviewer’s take- aways is that he should immediately purchase the author’s other books. He has done highly valuable service to everyone with an interest in the history of the American merchant marine, and his latest labour underscores his talent for compilation. The United States Mer- chant Marine in World War I is one of those highly useful books that should find its way to the bookshelves of anyone with an interest in the First World War or the history of American shipping.

Joshua M. Smith King’s Point, New York