Book recomendations

[Chuck]

Has anyone read these books?
1) Technical change and British Naval Policy 1860-1939 (Rabft)
2) In Defense of Naval Supremacy: Finance, Technology, and the British Naval Policy 1889-1914 (Sumida)
3) Dreadnought Gunnery and the Batle of Jutland (Brooks)
They seem to be important to understanding WWI naval concepts and are very expensive. Anyone recommend one over another?

Any feedback is appreciated

[TheDreadnought]

Yeah, I'd be very interested in what people have to say on those.

[theoz]

While I haven't read any of those (yet) I do have Sumida's book on Jacky Fisher's Naval Revolution, and it is a very good, well-documented study of the concept of "flotilla defense" and puts forth both the financial and technical reason why Fisher wanted to build battlecruisers and destroyers and submarines, and not much else. I would imagine that Sumida's book you mention just covers a wider timespan in the same detail. Sumida is certainly well-spoken of as a leading naval historian.

Brooks also has a good reputation, although I have to base that on reviews of his works that I've seen, as I don't think I've read anything from him.

Rabft is a name I don't recognize.

[warchariot]

Conway's are wonderful book, but are out of print and can be pricey. However, they are well worth it.

[shigure]

Abe's Books lists some used copies.
www.abebooks.com
Prices start at $ 50.00 depending upon condition. Some of the copies are from the UK, so shipping costs could be high for such a heavy book.

Amazon lists availability depending upon the editions you are interested. Prices start at $49.01 used.

Barnes and Noble lists some used copies at prices a little below the others.

So they are available and as warchariot stated well worth it.

If you want more information on auxiliaries, you would have to look up the Ian Allen series of books on specific navies (ex. French Warships of WWII, German Ships of WWII, etc.) these are long out of print, but they show up on Ebay every once in a while.

[warchariot]

Thanks, I have all but one of these, I'll have to see if I can find it.

[warchariot]

I found these at Alibris which is an Amazon like place. I have ordered lots of different books from them with great results. Here's the link:

www.alibris.com/booksearch?binding=&mtype=B&keyword=Conway%27s+all+the+worlds+fighting+ships&hs.x=13&hs.y=13

Hope this helps