Conway's All the World's Battleships

[Ed Rotondaro]

Hi:

The British maritime publishing firm of Conway's is well known for its wide range of books on naval subjects, specifically warships. It published a book in the 1990s entitled "Conway's All the World's Battleships" by Ian Sturton. It was an encylopedic volume covering battleships and battlecruisers from the age of the Dreadnought to the end of the battleship era. There was a brief introduction on the subject and then the ships were described by nation. Several noted naval historians contributed to this, generally focusing on a navy that they had written on. Norman Friedman handled the US navy.

Well recently the Naval Institute Press, which frequently partners with Conways to publish their books in the US, has released an updated and expanded version of this book. At first I was hesitant to purchase a book that I already had in my library. Why bother? Well I am glad I did since this is a lot more than an expanded edition. It's practically a new book and definitely worth the price.

First off it has about 80 more pages than the original edition. Most of the photos are new, culled from Sturton's ample library. Unlike the original edition, this one has both color photos as well as color illustrations, many of them period pieces. The line drawings of the ships are crisper and the book is printed on glossy paper.

There are many encylopedia type books on warships, especially battleships. They vary in their level of detail and accuracy on the ships in question. While more specialized titles will give you more insight into the topic, many readers are either not interested in that detail or not willing to build up a massive library of specialized books, hence the appeal of a more general guide such as this book.

I can say that this expanded edition is definitely superior to the original on all levels. One thing I like about this is the ship description section. Depending on where a book is published, measurements can be given in the metric system or in the English system. While I'm pretty good at converting small metric measurements, I do appreciate the fact that the editor provides both English and metric scale measures for these ships. (C'mon do you really know off the top of your head that a 12" belt is 304.8 mm in thickness?).

The updated version of this book gives the editor a chance to describe the swan song of the battleship in the service of the USN with the converted Iowa class BBs, something many older titles don't cover.

In short, the new edition of Conway's All the World's Battleships definitely belongs in the library of any naval enthuisiast. And since it is published by the Naval Institute Press, NWS should be able to get it for you at a good price. Put it on your Christmas list.

[Mike Malanaphy]

Hi:

The British maritime publishing firm of Conway's is well known for its wide range of books on naval subjects, specifically warships. It published a book in the 1990s entitled "Conway's All the World's Battleships" by Ian Sturton. It was an encylopedic volume covering battleships and battlecruisers from the age of the Dreadnought to the end of the battleship era. There was a brief introduction on the subject and then the ships were described by nation. Several noted naval historians contributed to this, generally focusing on a navy that they had written on. Norman Friedman handled the US navy.

Well recently the Naval Institute Press, which frequently partners with Conways to publish their books in the US, has released an updated and expanded version of this book. At first I was hesitant to purchase a book that I already had in my library. Why bother? Well I am glad I did since this is a lot more than an expanded edition. It's practically a new book and definitely worth the price.


First off it has about 80 more pages than the original edition. Most of the photos are new, culled from Sturton's ample library. Unlike the original edition, this one has both color photos as well as color illustrations, many of them period pieces. The line drawings of the ships are crisper and the book is printed on glossy paper.

There are many encylopedia type books on warships, especially battleships. They vary in their level of detail and accuracy on the ships in question. While more specialized titles will give you more insight into the topic, many readers are either not interested in that detail or not willing to build up a massive library of specialized books, hence the appeal of a more general guide such as this book.

I can say that this expanded edition is definitely superior to the original on all levels. One thing I like about this is the ship description section. Depending on where a book is published, measurements can be given in the metric system or in the English system. While I'm pretty good at converting small metric measurements, I do appreciate the fact that the editor provides both English and metric scale measures for these ships. (C'mon do you really know off the top of your head that a 12" belt is 304.8 mm in thickness?).

The updated version of this book gives the editor a chance to describe the swan song of the battleship in the service of the USN with the converted Iowa class BBs, something many older titles don't cover.

In short, the new edition of Conway's All the World's Battleships definitely belongs in the library of any naval enthuisiast. And since it is published by the Naval Institute Press, NWS should be able to get it for you at a good price. Put it on your Christmas list.

Hi Ed,

Good info. I was wondering if it was a newer edition. Sometimes it's difficult to tell. I bought my Conway's when it came out in the 80s and the new edition maybe worth a look. I have a number of books from the Anatomy of the Ship series. Many of these have been reissued as new edtions, but the only new info is the scale plan on the back of the book covers. I had the original edition from the HMS Hood and was thinking the new edition might include new info regarding ther exploration of the wreck, but there is nothing new in the edition other than the plan.

[Ed Rotondaro]

Hi Ed,

Good info. I was wondering if it was a newer edition. Sometimes it's difficult to tell. I bought my Conway's when it came out in the 80s and the new edition maybe worth a look. I have a number of books from the Anatomy of the Ship series. Many of these have been reissued as new edtions, but the only new info is the scale plan on the back of the book covers. I had the original edition from the HMS Hood and was thinking the new edition might include new info regarding ther exploration of the wreck, but there is nothing new in the edition other than the plan.

Mike:

To show you how ridiculous I am, I took my existing copy out and compared it to the new edition and realized that it is almost a complete re-write. It was a great deal and I expect to consult it frequently (since its in the room where my home PC is).

[Mike Malanaphy]

Mike:

To show you how ridiculous I am, I took my existing copy out and compared it to the new edition and realized that it is almost a complete re-write. It was a great deal and I expect to consult it frequently (since its in the room where my home PC is).


Hi Ed,

I think that's a great idea. I have a copy of Peter Padfield's "Battleship Era" which is a great little book and learned that ther was a revised and updated edition published as "Battleship". I finally got a copy and after an extensive examination have found nothing new in it. I remember back when we were talking Pearl Harbor and Denis talking about H. P. Wilmott's tome on the subject. I ordered one and found to my chagrin, he has two....one a picture book. I got the picture book by no noticing the number of pages in teh description of the book. At least it was cheap!

[Ed Rotondaro]

Hi Ed,

I think that's a great idea. I have a copy of Peter Padfield's "Battleship Era" which is a great little book and learned that ther was a revised and updated edition published as "Battleship". I finally got a copy and after an extensive examination have found nothing new in it. I remember back when we were talking Pearl Harbor and Denis talking about H. P. Wilmott's tome on the subject. I ordered one and found to my chagrin, he has two....one a picture book. I got the picture book by no noticing the number of pages in teh description of the book. At least it was cheap!


Mike:

I hate when publishers pull that kind of nonsense. Baen books who I normally respect, releases new editions of previously published material with one new short story to get customers to buy them. I think Padfield's book has been broken out into three shorter volumes covering the Ironclad era, the Dreadnought Era and the modern Battleship era without adding any new content.

[paladin5]

Mike:

I hate when publishers pull that kind of nonsense. Baen books who I normally respect, releases new editions of previously published material with one new short story to get customers to buy them. I think Padfield's book has been broken out into three shorter volumes covering the Ironclad era, the Dreadnought Era and the modern Battleship era without adding any new content.


Speaking of Baen, do you have any idea when the next Honorverse book is due be released?


*is tired of waiting*


Oh sweet. I'll probably have to bye that as a late Birthday present for myself.

[Ed Rotondaro]

Speaking of Baen, do you have any idea when the next Honorverse book is due be released?


*is tired of waiting*

Mike:

A hardcover of the latest title "Storm From the Shadows" is due in March. Check out the Baen website.

[old_pop2000]

Hey guys:

Does Conroy's have information such as freeboard, armor thickness etc. There are certain bits of information that Springsharp needs, that are difficult to find. If I had them, I could use the program more.

[Mike Malanaphy]

Mike:

I hate when publishers pull that kind of nonsense. Baen books who I normally respect, releases new editions of previously published material with one new short story to get customers to buy them. I think Padfield's book has been broken out into three shorter volumes covering the Ironclad era, the Dreadnought Era and the modern Battleship era without adding any new content.

Hi Ed,

Yeah, some of those marketing techniques are annoying. I was unaware that Padfield's book had been broken down into three volumes. For those unfamiliar with his "Battleship Era" published in the early 70s, it is really quite a good book. He weaves the technical, doctrinal, and political stories of the modern battleship in a compact book that is a very informative tome that is a great one volume reference. In fact, I would say if you wanted a small, but comprehensive battleship library, you could get by with his book and Friedman's "Battleship Design and Developement 1905-1906" for most of your needs. It's a shame both are out of print though you can find Padfield's book on used book sites pretty reasonably priced.

Books are kind of my one financial vice and I'm picky about them. It's too bad that prices are such that you spend $30-35 for a trade paper reference book.

[Mike Malanaphy]

Hey guys:

Does Conroy's have information such as freeboard, armor thickness etc. There are certain bits of information that Springsharp needs, that are difficult to find. If I had them, I could use the program more.

Hi Dennis,

Perhaps Ed can comment on the revised edition. The original had photographs and general tabular information, but no scale plans which I believe would provide the kind of comprehensive data your looking for.

[paladin5]

Mike:

A hardcover of the latest title "Storm From the Shadows" is due in March. Check out the Baen website.


Oh sweet, I'll have to buy that as a late birthday present for myself.

[Ed Rotondaro]

Hey guys:

Does Conroy's have information such as freeboard, armor thickness etc. There are certain bits of information that Springsharp needs, that are difficult to find. If I had them, I could use the program more.

Dennis:

Conways (not Conroy's oh senior moment friend) has armor thicknesses, but not freeboard data. That is harder to find. You may have to beg the commander in chief (aka Chris) for that kind of data. He'll tell ya, but then he'll have to kill ya.:D

[Ed Rotondaro]

Hi Ed,

Yeah, some of those marketing techniques are annoying. I was unaware that Padfield's book had been broken down into three volumes. For those unfamiliar with his "Battleship Era" published in the early 70s, it is really quite a good book. He weaves the technical, doctrinal, and political stories of the modern battleship in a compact book that is a very informative tome that is a great one volume reference. In fact, I would say if you wanted a small, but comprehensive battleship library, you could get by with his book and Friedman's "Battleship Design and Developement 1905-1906" for most of your needs. It's a shame both are out of print though you can find Padfield's book on used book sites pretty reasonably priced.

Books are kind of my one financial vice and I'm picky about them. It's too bad that prices are such that you spend $30-35 for a trade paper reference book.

Mike:

All reviews that I have read of the three part version of Padfield's books agree, it's no better than the original. I still keep an eye out on it for the library (you can never have enough battleship books!).

I have Friedman's book and love it. I'm really surprised that the Naval Institute Press has not considered republishing and updated version of it. Maybe Norm needs to think about adding to his retirement fund?

[Ed Rotondaro]

Hi Dennis,

Perhaps Ed can comment on the revised edition. The original had photographs and general tabular information, but no scale plans which I believe would provide the kind of comprehensive data your looking for.

Mike and Dennis:

Unfortunately, the only book I've seen that provides good details on armor thicknesses in line drawings if Seigfried Breyer's "Battleships and Battlecruisers 1905-1970". It can be found on line at varying prices. I made the mistake of buying his updated version which featured nice pictures of the ships in question, but lacked the detail that his original edition had. That is one case where the first edition was superior to the revised edition. There are individual ship study books that give this level of detail, but the best readily available source is the three volumes that Garzke and Dulin have produced on the final generation of battleships from Naval Institute Press.

[Ed Rotondaro]

Oh sweet, I'll have to buy that as a late birthday present for myself.

Mike:

Honor Harrington rules! Worth the money. I still want to see how Weber resolves the various plots in his Honorverse. When's the Birthday?

[paladin5]

Mike:

Honor Harrington rules! Worth the money. I still want to see how Weber resolves the various plots in his Honorverse. When's the Birthday?


February 21st will me my 23rd birthday.

[Ed Rotondaro]

February 21st will me my 23rd birthday.


Mike:

Sounds good to me. Are you in college or working?

[Mike Malanaphy]

Mike and Dennis:

Unfortunately, the only book I've seen that provides good details on armor thicknesses in line drawings if Seigfried Breyer's "Battleships and Battlecruisers 1905-1970". It can be found on line at varying prices. I made the mistake of buying his updated version which featured nice pictures of the ships in question, but lacked the detail that his original edition had. That is one case where the first edition was superior to the revised edition. There are individual ship study books that give this level of detail, but the best readily available source is the three volumes that Garzke and Dulin have produced on the final generation of battleships from Naval Institute Press.

Hi Dennis,

He has two volumes, "Battleships and Battlecruisers 1905-1970" and "Battleships of the World 1905-1970". The first is a large book illustrated with line drawings while the second is more of a picture book, but is a good referenece too. Mutually complimentary. Hough's "Dreadnought" started the picture book era.

[old_pop2000]

Hi Dennis,

He has two volumes, "Battleships and Battlecruisers 1905-1970" and "Battleships of the World 1905-1970". The first is a large book illustrated with line drawings while the second is more of a picture book, but is a good referenece too. Mutually complimentary. Hough's "Dreadnought" started the picture book era.

Thanks. I am still attempting to get through Friedman and then the aircraft books. But I will put them on my book list.

[paladin5]

Mike:

Sounds good to me. Are you in college or working?


Job hunting. I was working at one of the local factories until the end of November, but orders for the hydraulic components they make have started to dry up so they layed off my entire shift.

[Ed Rotondaro]

Job hunting. I was working at one of the local factories until the end of November, but orders for the hydraulic components they make have started to dry up so they layed off my entire shift.

Mike:

Sorry to hear that my friend. Keep the head up and good luck in the job search! We will turn the corner in this economy so stay strong.

[paladin5]

Mike:

Sorry to hear that my friend. Keep the head up and good luck in the job search! We will turn the corner in this economy so stay strong.


Meh, I'll survive. I always do.

[Mike Malanaphy]

Job hunting. I was working at one of the local factories until the end of November, but orders for the hydraulic components they make have started to dry up so they layed off my entire shift.


Hi Mike,

Sorry to hear about that...hopefully it is just temporary.

[Ed Rotondaro]

Hi Mike,

Sorry to hear about that...hopefully it is just temporary.

Mike:

The new president has a lot to deliver. And yes, I voted for him. Time to stand in the strike zone and deliver a hit.

[Mike Malanaphy]

Mike:

The new president has a lot to deliver. And yes, I voted for him. Time to stand in the strike zone and deliver a hit.

Hi Ed,

I didn't. : ) But so far I am impressed with his atitude and intellect. Whether he can sustain that in teh face of all the usual political issues remains to be seen. All good Americans should wish him success in improving the economy.

[Warship NWS]

Guys.. back on topic please.

[Ed Rotondaro]

Hi Ed,

I didn't. : ) But so far I am impressed with his atitude and intellect. Whether he can sustain that in teh face of all the usual political issues remains to be seen. All good Americans should wish him success in improving the economy.

Mike:

I was at a Christmas party last week with a guy who is a realtor. The year before at the same party he had already predicted problems due to the sub-prime mortgages and the effect it was having on credit. So I said to him how was it he was able to see this and the geniuses at Lehman brothers managed to miss it? He said anybody in the actual business could see the problems since they were close to the ground and knew houses being overvalued. The US has work ahead of it for sure.

[JMS]

Mike:

I was at a Christmas party last week with a guy who is a realtor. The year before at the same party he had already predicted problems due to the sub-prime mortgages and the effect it was having on credit. So I said to him how was it he was able to see this and the geniuses at Lehman brothers managed to miss it? He said anybody in the actual business could see the problems since they were close to the ground and knew houses being overvalued. The US has work ahead of it for sure.

The guys at Lehman and everyone else last year knew we were in for the dip but preferred to ignore the rather obvious signs and hope for the best. And not only Lehman, they just ended up paying their part of the party, but several other have been bailed out by capital injections, public and private.

[Warship NWS]

Back on topic everyone.. off-topic discussions can be handled on the appropriate sections of our forums.