Aircraft Carriers - Volume 1

“Aircraft Carriers” is the definitive history of world aircraft carrier development and operations. Norman Polmar’s revised and updated, two-volume classic describes the political and technological factors that influenced aircraft carrier design and construction, meticulously records their operations, and explains their impact on modern warfare. Volume I provides a comprehensive analysis of carrier developments and warfare in the first half of the twentieth century, and examines the advances that allowed the carrier to replace the battleship as the dominant naval weapons system. Polmar gives particular emphasis to carrier operations from World War I, through the Japanese strikes against China in the 1930s, to World War II in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Arctic, and Pacific theatres. It begins with French inventor Clément Ader’s remarkably prescient 1909 description of an aircraft carrier. The book then explains how Britain led the world in the development of aircraft-carrying ships, soon to be followed by the United States and Japan. While ship-based aircraft operations in World War I had limited impact, they foreshadowed the aircraft carriers built in the 1920s and 1930s. The volume also describes the aircraft operating from those ships as well as the commanders who pioneered carrier aviation.“Aircraft Carriers”has benefited from the technical collaboration of senior carrier experts Captain Eric M. Brown and General Minoru Genda as well as noted historians Robert M. Langdon and Peter B. Mersky. “Aircraft Carriers” is heavily illustrated with more than 400 photographs—some never before published—and maps.Volume II, which is forthcoming from Potomac Books in the winter 2006-2007 (ISBN 978-1-57488-665-8), will cover the period 1946 to the present.

COMMENTS ON THE FIRST EDITION OF AIRCRAFT CARRIERS"An excellent book."--Adm. Arleigh Burke, USN, Chief of Naval Operations, 1955-1961, "Aircraft Carriers offers a definitive history of world aircraft carrier development and operations. Chapters analyze the first half of the 20th century and offer much in-depth analysis that is key to any serious military collection's holdings."--Midwest Book Review-- (5/25/2007 12:00:00 AM), "A very well-written, comprehensive primer on the operational history of American carriers."--Nautical Research Journal-- (11/12/2007 12:00:00 AM), "This is a truly outstanding reference work. . . .this is a must-have book for those who want to know more about the development of naval aviation."--Canadian Naval Review-- (6/11/2007 12:00:00 AM)

Norman Polmar is an internationally known analyst, consultant, and award-winning author specializing in naval, aviation, and intelligence areas. He has participated in or directed major studies in these areas for the U.S. Department of Defense and Navy, and consulted to U.S. and foreign commercial firms and government agencies. He has been an advisor or consultant on naval issues to three U.S. Secretaries of the Navy and two Chiefs of Naval Operations, as well as to three U.S. Senators and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. He has 50 published books to his credit, including eight previous editions of Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet and four editions of Guide to the Soviet Navy. Mr. Polmar is a columnist for the Proceedings and Naval History magazines. He is a resident of Alexandria, VA.