tek@CS.UCLA.EDU (01/12/90)
From: tek@CS.UCLA.EDU
The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapon Systems
Norman Friedman. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1989.
572 pp. Photos. Drawings. Index. $89.95. 9" x 12".
ISBN: 0-87021-793-3.
This is the first edition of a biennial guide to naval weapon systems.
The intention is to publish it in alternating years with the USNI's
other biennial guide, "Combat Fleets of the World".
This book was heavily promoted to USNI members as the best thing since
sliced bread. It claims to be "totally comphrensive", "unparalleled in
its breadth and depth in coverage" and "an indespensible resource". In
my opinion, the superlatives are laid on pretty thick, but the book is
still quite good.
The book is reasonably comphrensive. It includes sections on what you
would expect: guns, missiles, torpedos, mines, bombs, radars, and
sonars. There also material on surveillance, communication,
countermeasures, CICs, fire control systems, terminology and
designations. Included is also some background discusion of how the
systems work and emerging trends. Some "obsolete" systems are
included, due to their widespread use in the Third World. Also, some
future or proposed systems are included. There are some gaps in
coverage (eg Soviet air to air missiles). It's not clear whether these
areas were just overlooked or were purposely excluded as being
"non-naval".
This subject area is one where hard numbers are difficult to find.
Friedman gives us a good set of basic stats, but military trivia buffs
will probably be disappointed. The descriptions of the systems often
include facinating histories of development. The author presumes some
familiarity with military systems. In a few places, the jargon gets
thick. Fortunately, he provides an abbreviations list to help sort
things out.
Originally, I purchased this guide because it seemed a lot cheaper
than what Jane's had put out. (Do they ever sell anything for less
than $100 ?) On the whole, I think it was a good buy. (By the way,
USNI members can get it for $71.96 .)
-ted
Ted Kim
UCLA Computer Science Department Internet: tek@penzance.cs.ucla.edu
3804C Boelter Hall UUCP: ...!{uunet|ucbvax}!cs.ucla.edu!tek
Los Angeles, CA 90024 Phone: (213) 206-8696