What are you currently reading ?

[kipt]

Finished two Ospreys, "US Fast Battleships 1936-47" by Lawrence Burr, illustrated by Peter Bull, and "The Japanese Army 1931-45 (2)" by Phillip Jowett, illustrated by Stephen Andrew.

Typical with pictures, OB's and descriptions.

[kipt]

Finished "Civil War in the Ozarks" by Phillip W. Steele and Steve Cottrell. Combat, bushwacking, raids, guerrilla warfare in Missouri, Arkansas, the Indian Territory and Kansas. Prior to the ACW there was much trouble between the abolitionists and the slave owners.  When the war started official "sides" were taken/developed.

Several outlaw bands came from the Confederate raiders after the war; Jesse and Frank James, Billy the Kid, Cole Younger and others.Some of the above rode with "Bloody Bill Anderson (killed in the war) and part of Quantrill's bunch.

High level, no tactics for the "regular" actions.

[kipt]

Finished "Japanese Carriers And Victory In The Pacific: The Yamamoto Option" by Martin Stansfeld. A very interesting book on carriers, both Japanese and US and a what if proposal. 

What if the Japanese had concentrated on carriers instead of super battleships?  The author posits that the Japanese could have taken Hawaii given more carriers for the attack and cover for an invasion force. The US could get Hawaii back but late in the game since all US power would have to come from the West Coast.

He also has a scenario for US and British carriers in the Indian Ocean, forcing the Japanese to fight a two ocean war (as did the US with the Atlantic and the Pacific).

Much more than IO have detailed here.  Highly recommended.

[hammurabi70]

Great stuff but I do not think the Japanese had the logistical lift capacity to mount an invasion nor to sustain it once the invasion had been completed.  They had enough difficulty in the Aleutians.

[kipt]

In reality, yes, but in the book there are prior years planning.  Reaching, but plausible.

[paulr]

The Japanese also had major problems sustaining the air groups they had, without extra carriers

Would have taken a massive shift in pilot and aircrew training

[kipt]

Which is also what the author proposes.

[kipt]

Finished "Operation Storm: Japan's Top Secret Submarines And Its Plan To Change The course Of World War II" by John J. Geoghegan. Japan planned these subs to perhaps bomb New York, Washington DC, the gates at the Panama Canal, the anchorage at Ulithi.  Ultimately none of these happened.

The Japanese had submarines that carried a plane for scouting.  These, however, were designed and built, to carry fighter bombers; originally 2 planes but when built, three.  They also modified the "scouting" subs to carry 2 scout planes.  They had planned 10 of the super subs, but due to wartime lack of materials and time, built three; I-400, I-401 and I-402.

The book is the story of the Japanese sub commanders and the pilots, as well as the US submarine people and subs that were involved in the Japanese surrender.

Good story and I heard the author speak at a Naval Order luncheon in San Francisco in November, where my friend purchased a couple of books and gave me one.

[Ithoriel]

Which is also what the author proposes.

I feel a lot of these "what if" scenarios ignore both the ethos of the protagonists and the resources available to them.

Interesting as thought experiments but in practice not a practical alternative.

In this case I don't see how the Japanese could have done this and still remained the Japanese. It would have taken a huge shift in world view and would have required resources the Japanese would have struggled to acquire.

[kipt]

Finished "Our Connection With Savannah: A History of the !st Battalion Georgia Sharpshooters" by Russell K. Brown.  I bought this book at a plantation in Georgia that is mentioned ion the book while on our vacation cruise on the southern east coast.

Quite a bit on the soldiers, their history, and families.  Also what happened to them during and after the war.  I was a bit surprised on the number of deserters (especially since it was usually reported in the home town newspaper).  An extensive roster of the battalion that goes for 71 pages. The author did a lot of sleuthing.

Maps and action reports along with the snapshots of the people.  There were times during the Atlanta campaign when the battalion went into action with less than 50 men.  Other regiments in the brigade were down to less than 200 each.

[kipt]

Finished "Long Gray Lines: The Southern Military School Tradition, 1839-1915" by Rod Andrew Jr.  I bought this book when visiting The Citadel in Charleston, SC.  Hoped for more on the different southern military schools and their involvement in the ACW.  There is some, but as the title infers, more about the long tradition of southern military schools.

Military discipline was thought by US educators to tame down young men and to give them a good grounding on being a God fearing citizen.  Southern schools at all times in the above years had uniforms, and military regimens such as drill and cadet ranks, particularly after the ACW, instilling the "Lost Cause" into the students.  Northern schools not so much of the drill, uniforms and studies of tactics.

The book references Black Southern military schools, but because of the southern racist feeling, most of these schools had no weapons for drill.

[paulr]

Finished "Fear God and Dread Nought Years of Power 1904-1914"
The Correspondence of Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher of Kilverstone

424 letters mainly from Fisher to a wide array of people, he was certainly very sure of his opinions and the writing style is definitely of a different age.

Interestingly many of the letters are labeled Private. Please burn. or similar

[kipt]

Finished "Learning War: The Evolution Of Fighting Doctrine In The U.S. Navy, 1898-1945" by Trent Hone.

Interesting chapters:
Prologue: Complex Adaptive Systems and Military Doctrine,
1. A Professional Officer Corps,
2. The Gunnery System,
3. Plans and Doctrine before World war I,
4. The Interwar Learning system,
5. Heuristics at Guadalcanal,
6. The CIC,
7. Victory in the Pacific,
Epilogue: The Cost of War.

Discusses the big gun theory before the war and how the Navy let officers experiment, particularly with the destroyers.  Good book.

[fsn]

The Northern Coalition against Napoleon, Patrik Björk, Helion
A new frontier! Not an area I'd really come across, but it has Swedes vs Russians in 1808, Finnish partisans and the promise (as yet unfulfilled) of the Royal Navy piling in.

[kipt]

Finished two more Osprey's "US Navy Destroyer Escorts Of World War II" by Mark Lardis and "US Navy Aircraft Carriers 1942-45" by Mark stile.

Both good.

[kipt]

Finished "The Journal of Military History" Vol. 89, No. 1.  Published 4 times a year,

Articles include:
News Has Been Secondary to Service: Joseph Daniels, William Sims, and the American Press in World War I.
Polycracy, Fascism, and the armed Forces: The Development of Italian Air-Naval Cooperation, 1919-1940.
Portable Surgical Hospitals in the Burma Campaign of World War II: Prototypes of Forward Combat Casual;tyu Care.
"For Conspicuous Gallantry": Bravery Awards to the Rhodesian Security Forces, c.1970-80.
But It Still goes On: Paul Fussell's The Great War and Modern Memory at 50.

And 97 pages of book reviews.

[kipt]

Finished "Sheridan: The Life and Wars of General Phil Sheridan" by Roy Morris. Jr.  Good biography from early life through his Indian wars.  He was in charge of the Texas border are after the ACW watching the french incursion into Mexico, with aid to the insurgents.

Talks about his "selective" following of orders, particularly with Grant, who did not seem to mind.

Interesting fellow.

[paulr]

Finished "The Ancient Mariners", Seafarers and Sea Fighters of the Mediterranean in Ancient Times Second Edition by Lionel Casson

An interesting read with good use of classical sources, ancient art, traditional, marine and experimental archeology. Published in 1991 so doesn't include some of the recent finds such as rams probably from the Battle of the Aegates

No prizes for guessing what my next project will be  

[kipt]

Finished "The Battle Of Wilson's Creek" by Edwin C. Bearss.  The book was published by the Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Foundation. Good description of the battle with regimental units identified.  OB at the end with unit numbers (which is unusual unfortunately).

Well done by the author.

[kipt]

Finished "Slaughter at the Chapel: The Battle of Ezra Church 1864" by Gary Ecelbarger.

Discusses Black Jack Logan, Union Corps commander who temporarily held the Army of Tennessee command after McPherson's death until replaced by O.O. Howard (from the Army of the Potomac).  Logan was a politician who became a great combat commander. (Next book to be read is the biography of Logan, also by Ecelbarger).  Sherman wanted a West Point trained officer who knew about logistics and reporting.

Anyway, the book goes into the tactical detail I really like about the ACW - down to regimental level.  Good maps and stirring action.  This battle was one during the Atlanta Campaign.