- ARRSE Rating
Number 4 in the Osprey “Fleet” series, the full title of this book is “US Seventh Fleet, Vietnam 1964-75 - American Naval Power in Southeast Asia” and once again for an Osprey campaign book, it does exactly what it says on the tin. The author is a naval historian who’s concentrated on detailing the US Navy experience in Vietnam, and this shines clearly throughout the book.
Whilst the first image which comes to mind for most of us considering US Navy in Vietnam is jets flying off carriers, there was a lot more going on than just that; most notably blockading, intelligence gathering, naval gunfire support, interdiction of NVA vessels, and amphibious assault ops. This book gives a rounded precis of eleven years of Naval operations without getting into the weeds too much.
The book is broken into four main parts: the Fleet’s purpose, its fighting power, how it operated, and combat / aftermath. There’s also a list of suggested further reading and a very basic index. Produced in Osprey’s signature A4 format, it’s 80 pages long and as usual is lavishly illustrated with pertinent photos, clear maps and diagrams, and of course some outstanding artwork. Priced at £15.99 this is somewhat costly but as a reference book it’s well worth the price. The author explains things clearly and simply throughout, and doesn’t neglect the unsexy bits of naval ops; logistics is discussed in some detail. There’s not much in the way of a conclusion or appraisal of the campaign, which is a pity, as it’s a glaring omission in an otherwise excellent volume
This is not a book which will tell you everything you need to know about the US Navy’s ops in Vietnam, nor does it pretend to be, but it will give anyone interested a decent working knowledge and point them in the right direction. If you're interested in US Naval ops in Vietnam this book is definitely worth the price
Amazon product
Whilst the first image which comes to mind for most of us considering US Navy in Vietnam is jets flying off carriers, there was a lot more going on than just that; most notably blockading, intelligence gathering, naval gunfire support, interdiction of NVA vessels, and amphibious assault ops. This book gives a rounded precis of eleven years of Naval operations without getting into the weeds too much.
The book is broken into four main parts: the Fleet’s purpose, its fighting power, how it operated, and combat / aftermath. There’s also a list of suggested further reading and a very basic index. Produced in Osprey’s signature A4 format, it’s 80 pages long and as usual is lavishly illustrated with pertinent photos, clear maps and diagrams, and of course some outstanding artwork. Priced at £15.99 this is somewhat costly but as a reference book it’s well worth the price. The author explains things clearly and simply throughout, and doesn’t neglect the unsexy bits of naval ops; logistics is discussed in some detail. There’s not much in the way of a conclusion or appraisal of the campaign, which is a pity, as it’s a glaring omission in an otherwise excellent volume
This is not a book which will tell you everything you need to know about the US Navy’s ops in Vietnam, nor does it pretend to be, but it will give anyone interested a decent working knowledge and point them in the right direction. If you're interested in US Naval ops in Vietnam this book is definitely worth the price
Amazon product
