This annual has an established reputation as an authoritative but affordable summary of all that has happened in the naval world in the previous twelve months. It combines regional surveys with major articles on noteworthy new ships and other important developments. Besides the latest warship projects; it also looks at wider issues of importance to navies; such as aviation and electronics; and calls on expertise from around the globe to give a balanced picture of current events and to interpret their significance. This edition includes an in-depth analysis of the Royal Netherlands Navy; while the section on Significant Ships will cover the USN’s radical new Zumwalt-class destroyers; the Republic of Korea’s amphibious assault ship Dokdo; and the JMSDF’s Akizuki-class destroyers; among others. There are technological reviews on naval aviation by David Hobbs (with a focus on the present state of the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm); while Norman Friedman surveys naval surface-to-surface missiles.The Seaforth World Naval Review features specially commissioned drawings and the most up-to-date photographs and artists’ impressions. For those interested in contemporary naval affairs―whether enthusiast or defense professional―this annual has become required reading.
#1080302 in Books Osprey Publishing 2016-09-20 2016-09-20Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.89 x .81 x 7.72l; 1.50 #File Name: 1472813219208 pages9781472813213
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Colorful compilation of excerptsm from Osprey's guidebooksBy John L MurphyFirst off; that titular word's more a verb than a noun. Derived probably from {vÃk} for inlet; bay or fjord; the derivation suggests a pirate lurking within these waters; going {a-viking}. Second; while the Vikings receive a bad reputation; and their descendants may revel in such; the peoples of Scandinavia who undertook such raids did so not merely to carry out rapine; but to break out of a stratified; limited society. This led war-bands to assemble. Violence became institutionalized in the Northern lands.The division of the peoples into a king {jarls}; (earls); {bóndis} (freemen) and thralls reminds readers of the harsher reality beneath the boasts and brawls of a militant troop. Slaves could be snatched up by raiders and delivered to Dublin or Byzantium markets. Without forced labor; farms could not operate; for the freemen had to serve in the royal levy. Some farmers sold produce in town. Others sought their own fortune {a-viking}. While they invaded monasteries such as Lindisfarne and gained ecclesiastical condemnation early in the medieval period; the Viking targets; one of the joint authors of this book avers; were selected not out of a desire for desecration as much as sudden self-valuation.The Church and State did not collude to restrict aggression outside the English Saxon kingdoms. Therefore; the Vikings aimed for lucrative centers; whether monks lived there or lay-folk in a trading port or river town. Those privateers marshaled against the Continental or British and Irish storehouses formed a "fundamental combat group;" with ties beyond blood linked to a gift economy connecting a warrior to his lord. Freely pledging their troth; the fealty of a Viking to his commander could be tenuous rather than permanent.The flexibility of this arrangement enhanced their fighting tactics. The combination of nimble sailing and rapid mobility enabled shield-walls; with soldiers formed up to five deep in a phalanx. These "artificial tribes" as {Jomsvikings} formed professional cadres. Norwegian king Harald Hardrada tried to claim the throne of England in 1066; using this arrangement. He met his doom at the hand of Harold; Godwin's son; who too soon after was forced to rush to Hastings with the same battle plan; only to lose his exhausted men and his own life to another Viking descendant; William the Conqueror; less than three weeks later. The intricate web of those from the North who sought a greater share of the Northlands draws in many from the territories; Harald had been a mercenary in nascent Russia and among the Byzantines as part of his long and storied career as a Viking overlord.This wanderlust compelled some such as Harald to journey south. The Russians; Greeks and Arabs all called these intruders Varangians. A guard of this name protected the Byzantine monarch in the city his guardians called Miklagarðr; that is; “big wall/stronghold.†One roamer gave his name to Russia. Others fared as far as Newfoundland to settle; if temporarily given their combative temper and disdain for the natives. The lively illustrations in this little volume will appeal to those curious about how the Vikings dressed; fought and celebrated. Motivated to join Odin in Valhalla; those fallen in a bravely conducted struggle found reward with more daily fighting in their eternal hall; followed by feasting.The last section of this primer explains the function of the longship. These crafts evolved to carry trade and terror more widely. But the voyages must have wearied even doughty crews. For no fixed seats were installed on the vessels. Instead; for that same flexibility; rowers made do with crates.This colorful compilation of excerpts from the military publisher Osprey's series of historical guidebooks lacks some cohesion; not to mention a proper introduction and conclusion. Marketed as a "gift book;" the results will appeal to the fan of strategy; war-games; history and re-creation of venerable warriors. They sought fame in this world and continual strife; if for play themselves; in the next realm.
