Passing of David K. Brown

[old_pop2000]

In April, British Naval ship historian and designer David K. Brown passed away. He was famous for his design of the 1950's Tribal class Frigates and the Castle class offshore patrol boats. He was the chief of preliminary design in the 1970's. He left behind a legacy of excellent volumes on the history of British warship design and placed many constructors notebooks in the National Maritime Museum of England.

[Mike Malanaphy]

In April, British Naval ship historian and designer David K. Brown passed away. He was famous for his design of the 1950's Tribal class Frigates and the Castle class offshore patrol boats. He was the chief of preliminary design in the 1970's. He left behind a legacy of excellent volumes on the history of British warship design and placed many constructors notebooks in the National Maritime Museum of England.


Hi Dennis,

Brown was to naval buffs and the RN as Norman Friedman was to the USN. A great writer on ship design for many years with a tremndous legacy of authorship. His trilogy on the RN, "Warrior to Dreadnought", "The Grand Fleet", and "Nelson to Vanguard" are must haves for any serious naval historian. As a member of RCNC, he haqd access to many documentts and his experience as a naval constructor gaver his books first hand insights on many of the arcane details in ship building.

[JMS]

Hi Dennis,

Brown was to naval buffs and the RN as Norman Friedman was to the USN. A great writer on ship design for many years with a tremndous legacy of authorship. His trilogy on the RN, "Warrior to Dreadnought", "The Grand Fleet", and "Nelson to Vanguard" are must haves for any serious naval historian. As a member of RCNC, he haqd access to many documentts and his experience as a naval constructor gaver his books first hand insights on many of the arcane details in ship building.

There are 4 books, you are missing "Rebuilding the Royal Navy" for post-war designs. In his memory I have bought the last 2 which were the ones I had missing. His last book was "Atlantic Escorts : Ships, Weapons and Tactics in World War II" which will be bought in due time...

[Ed Rotondaro]

Hi Dennis,

Brown was to naval buffs and the RN as Norman Friedman was to the USN. A great writer on ship design for many years with a tremndous legacy of authorship. His trilogy on the RN, "Warrior to Dreadnought", "The Grand Fleet", and "Nelson to Vanguard" are must haves for any serious naval historian. As a member of RCNC, he haqd access to many documentts and his experience as a naval constructor gaver his books first hand insights on many of the arcane details in ship building.

Mike:

A very fitting comparison of Brown to Friedman and his passing is a serious loss for students of naval history. His books hopefully will remain in print.

[Mike Malanaphy]

There are 4 books, you are missing "Rebuilding the Royal Navy" for post-war designs. In his memory I have bought the last 2 which were the ones I had missing. His last book was "Atlantic Escorts : Ships, Weapons and Tactics in World War II" which will be bought in due time...

Hi JMS,

I have that one too though I don't think it was as good as the other three as I suspect there may have been security restrictions on the information he could use. Atlantic escorts is an excellent book, you'll l be very happy with it. He weaves operational, technical, and design themes for those ships in an infomative narrative that really fills in the picture of these important ships.

[William Miller]

Mr. Brown will be missed.

His 'Nelson to Vanguard' has precious snippetts of information that are almost impossible to find in contemporary works and is my favorite of his writings.

[old_pop2000]

Mr. Brown will be missed.

His 'Nelson to Vanguard' has precious snippetts of information that are almost impossible to find in contemporary works and is my favorite of his writings.

Absolutely, that book has been on my desk for days. I still haven't gotten through all the incidentals he inserts in the margins. That's where much of the great stuff is located. He has a lot of information like freeboard ratios that will help in my springsharp program.

[Ed Rotondaro]

Absolutely, that book has been on my desk for days. I still haven't gotten through all the incidentals he inserts in the margins. That's where much of the great stuff is located. He has a lot of information like freeboard ratios that will help in my springsharp program.

Dennis:

I've been pricing most of Brown's books and the early volumes in his design histories only seem to be available as used and with prices sometimes exceeding $100. Maybe they will be re-printed. One can always hope.;)

[Mike Malanaphy]

Dennis:

I've been pricing most of Brown's books and the early volumes in his design histories only seem to be available as used and with prices sometimes exceeding $100. Maybe they will be re-printed. One can always hope.;)

Hi Ed,

I don't know what kind of price NWS can get you, but I have recently seen his books in regular book stores for under $35.00. I purchased them when they appeared for $55-60.

[Ed Rotondaro]

Hi Ed,

I don't know what kind of price NWS can get you, but I have recently seen his books in regular book stores for under $35.00. I purchased them when they appeared for $55-60.

Mike:

I think the problem was that I was only checking on-line book dealers. If I recall correctly don't you have Burt's book on British battleships? That's a pricey and hard item to find.

[Mike Malanaphy]

Mike:

I think the problem was that I was only checking on-line book dealers. If I recall correctly don't you have Burt's book on British battleships? That's a pricey and hard item to find.

Hi Ed,

Yes, I have all three. I picked up the first two volumes when they were published in the 80s by USNIP. Evidently the third volume was never published in the US and I only heard rumors about ti until I saw a review in the 96 or 97 issue of Warship. I found a copy a couple of years ago in the UK and paid $215.00 for it. My wife merely screamed. I enjoy showing her much they fetch on some websites and tell her it's cheaper than a Harley for my mid life crisis. :)

OOOPS, sorry about that Chris.

[Ed Rotondaro]

Hi Ed,

Yes, I have all three. I picked up the first two volumes when they were published in the 80s by USNIP. Evidently the third volume was never published in the US and I only heard rumors about ti until I saw a review in the 96 or 97 issue of Warship. I found a copy a couple of years ago in the UK and paid $215.00 for it. My wife merely screamed. I enjoy showing her much they fetch on ******** and tell her it's cheaper than a Harley for my mid life crisis. :)

OOOPS, sorry about that Chris.

Mike:

You are a man after my own heart when it comes to books! Well done sir.