Ironclads at War
1854-1891

Book

Reviewed by Jerry Lane

The Origin and Development of the Armored Warship, 1854-1891

Written by Jack Greene and Alessandro Massignani this covers the last 50 years of the Nineteenth Century saw the transformation of the warship from the wooden, broadside armed sailing ships of Nelson to the armored and turret armed steam ships of the first half of the Twentieth Century. Greene and Massignani look at this period and go over both the design and use of the early Ironclads. This book is the only current survey of naval warfare and warships for this period. The book opens with the initial developments of the Ironclad in France and England during the Crimean War. The next four chapters, around half the book, cover the American Civil War. The focus is on the actions around the southern coast. New Orleans and Charleston each receive a chapter. The focus then shifts to Europe with a chapter on the German and Italian Wars of Unification. The many actions that took place during the period involving the newly independent countries of the Pacific coast of South America are covered in Chapter 7. The last chapter covers some of the smaller actions around the world during the last part of the period such as the 1877 Russo-Turkish War and the Japanese Civil War. The book is illustrated with maps, drawings, and photos. It also includes a selection of sidebars that cover interesting little tidbits that do not fit into the main body. This book is a treasure trove for the naval wargamer. Many of the small battles can be easily transferred to the tabletop. This book will be a great addition to any library. The price is $34.95, but it can be found discounted at several of the on-line booksellers. ISBN 0-938289-58-6; Hardcover, 423 pages including annotated bibliography and index. Available from bookstores, on-line from one of the major booksellers, or contact Combined Publishing by mail at; PO Box 307, Conshohocken, PA 19428; or online at combined@dca.net. Combined Publishing also has a webpage at www.dca.net/combinedbooks.

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