[.uk] Russian and Soviet Battleships (ISBN 1557504814)

Book Description:
Here is the definitive English-language overview of Russian and Soviet battleships, from the ironclad Petr Velikii of 1869 to Stalin's final projects. Meticulously researched, this work describes and illustrates the design history, technical detail, characteristics, and service history of the forty sea-going battleships that served in the Russian and Soviet navies. It is the first book about Russian battleships to be drawn from Russian-language materials, including books and articles published since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Some one hundred drawings of ships and design studies, many specially commissioned for this book, are showcased, as well as one hundred photographs, many of them never before published in the west. The author analyzes all aspects of battleship design, from the policy decisions behind their construction to details of fire control and gunnery, and evaluates their strengths and weaknesses compared with their foreign contemporaries. In addition, numerous projected battleships and conjectural studies are outlined. In analyzing the active and often tragic careers of these ships, Stephen McLaughlin reassesses many of the myths and misconceptions that have grown up around Russian ships and the Russian navy. 528 pages. 105 photographs. 96 line drawings. Appendixes. Notes. Bibliography. Hardcover. 10 x 12 inches.

A researchers dream!:
Mr. McLaughlin has written what may well be the best book of the genre! While most books of this nature usually consist of long list of data and short dry explanations, Russian and Soviet Battleships reads more like a detailed history rather than a staff engineering report. He has managed to not only provide all the information that you expect from a book of this type but he brings it alive. The lineage of design is clearly defined as he brings the reader through the many phases of Russian naval design history. The ships are brought to life with descriptions of actions they fought as well as of the men who designed them. An outstanding job!

Definitive book on the subject:
Finally the subject of Russian and Soviet battleships has been given the treatment it deserves. These interesting vessels have been generally overlooked by naval historians. Steve McLaughlin has corrected that situation with his impressive work. Deeply researched with newly available Russian language sources this book provides the first in depth look at the technical and operational histories of these vessels to be published in English. It is a must for anyone with an interest in gun armed capital ships, the Imperial Russian and Soviet Navies or naval aspects of the three major conflicts of the first half of the Twentieth Century.

Excellent Research Tool!:
This really is a splendid book for those interested in the capital ships of the Russo-Japanese war, not to mention the 1st and 2nd world wars as well. So little is readily available on the Russian ships of this era, and even less that is really useful. Excellent drawings, great photographs, splendid specifications and historical narrative as well! I just wish Mr. McLaughlin might consider a similar treatise on Russian cruisers and/or the Japanese ships of the Russo-Japanese war too! A really useful source for modellers, and naval historians!

BZ...... well done:
Only one word can adequately describe this volume...EXCELLENT....The section on WWII/Postwar era (1922-1963, my primary interest area) is absolutely outstanding....Photos are good and relatively plentiful...line drawings excellent ... and most important to me, accurate information, documentation, and drawings are presented on the Sovietsya Soyuz BB classes, which to date has been sorely lacking.... And a plethora of data on a multitude of other little known Soviet postwar BB/CB projects is included......Highly recommended and well worth the price...

A Superb Technical History:
Stephen Mclaughlin's Russian & Soviet Battleships is the best available technical history of the battleships built by Russia and the Soviet Union between 1869 and the 1940s. It is not only a superb technical history that describes the design and construction of each ship in great detail, but also provides quite a bit on the operational use of each vessel as well. Furthermore, the research behind this volume is impressive and there is a great deal of information packed into these 496 pages. If you are looking for an English-language reference on Russian battleships, this is the best available (although there are now many Russian-language books available on the internet, as well). Russian & Soviet Battleships consists of 49 chapters, beginning with the construction of the original Russian ironclad, the Petr Velikii in 1869 and stretching to the final uncompleted battleship projects under Stalin. The author also intersperses chapters on Russian naval policy; wartime service in the Russo-Japanese War, the First World War and the Second World War; lessons learned from each war; design developments and foreign assistance. Each class of Russian battleships is covered in an individual chapter, which include sub-sections on design and construction, general features, armament, protection, machinery and trials, modifications and career. These sections also include line drawings of each class and a data plate. The volume is packed with a large selection of quality B/W photos, including some rare ones drawn from Soviet archives. A large number of endnotes are also provided. This book is very well written and although pricey, is worth every dime.