Book Comparision

Buck_O · 07-17-10, 05:01 PM

Hi all

I recently bought "Cold War Submarines" by Norman Polmar. Its a great book, however I was also thinking of buying "U.S. Submarines since 1945" by Norman Friedman.

Do any of you know if such a purchase would be redundant? If not what book do you prefer? The book by Friedman is no longer for sale, so I would have to buy a used copy...not cheap either...77.00 USD..

Sailor Steve · 07-17-10, 06:04 PM

Norman Friedman is a physiscist who has worked for the defense industry and for the US Navy as an anylist. He has published many books on naval history and more specifically on the inner workings and development of different types of ships. His books are considered to be the best on the subject, period.
http://www.afcea.org/events/west/10/...nNormanbio.pdf
http://www.allbookstores.com/author/..._Friedman.html

Buck_O · 07-18-10, 12:24 AM

Thank you Sailor Steve, Can you tell me if you think this particular book will ever be printed again?

It seem all that are available are used versions with a steep price...77 USD is the lowest I find. One copy that is brand new is listing for almost 1thousand USD!!

I'm just wondering if I should wait for a re-printing, or should I nab it before there gone forever..

Sailor Steve · 07-18-10, 10:34 AM

Good question. It may be reprinted again sometime, but I wouldn't count on it. I doubt it will disappear forever, and the price may come down someday, but in both cases I could be wrong.

If you decide to buy it, and use Amazon.com, be sure to use the link on the top right of this page so Subsim gets a cut. In fact that's true of anything you buy from Amazon.

Me, I'm still wishing I had $400 for R.A. Burt's British Battleships of World War One.

07-19-10, 09:23 AM

Hey Buck O,

I've had that book since 1997 and let me tell ya @ USD $45.00 I thought it expensive back then. But I have gone back to it over and over as a reference. It is pretty technical in nature as to be expected from Friedman. I ususally have to read it a number of times and refer to the diagrams on occasion. It is well footnoted and sourced.

There are also some interesting antecdotal stories included.

A former Scorpion officer recalled an encounter with Task Group Bravo, in which his CO waited for the destroyers, then deliberately raised his RADAR to radiate. As two pouncers ran down the line of bearing toward the RADAR, he lowered masts, turned, and dove at full speed, leaving a prominent "knuckle" in the water. A magnificient SONAR target, it fully occupied the destroyers while Scorpion ran back towards the carrier. She soon came back up to periscope deapth and deliberately raised her masts to create a visible "feather". By the time the closer-in escorts could react, Scorpion had retracted her masts and moved out of the way. Once the ships of the task group had become thoroughly confused, Scorpion closed in for the attack. Pgs 130-131

Try to justify the price.

07-19-10, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

... Me, I'm still wishing I had $400 for R.A. Burt's British Battleships of World War One.

@Sailor Steve
You might do better with Oscar Parkes' British Battleships 1860-1950 if you don't already have it.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...&condition=all

I prefer Parkes to Burt but then I own a copy of Parkes and have only read Burt.

Buck_O · 02-28-11, 11:35 PM

I ended up buying the Norman Friedman book too, glad I did. Can any of you tell me about this title?

Naval Institute Guide to the Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, 18th Edition

Im thinking about getting it, but I don't want to if there is a new edition comming out soon (19th edition). The 18th came out in 2005. I read somewhere that he puts out 3 editions per decade. Seems a new edition would have been out some time ago if that were true.

07-17-10, 05:01 PM	#1
Buck_O Helmsman Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: California Posts: 110 Downloads: 46 Uploads: 0	Book Comparision Hi all I recently bought "Cold War Submarines" by Norman Polmar. Its a great book, however I was also thinking of buying "U.S. Submarines since 1945" by Norman Friedman. Do any of you know if such a purchase would be redundant? If not what book do you prefer? The book by Friedman is no longer for sale, so I would have to buy a used copy...not cheap either...77.00 USD..

07-17-10, 06:04 PM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Norman Friedman is a physiscist who has worked for the defense industry and for the US Navy as an anylist. He has published many books on naval history and more specifically on the inner workings and development of different types of ships. His books are considered to be the best on the subject, period. http://www.afcea.org/events/west/10/...nNormanbio.pdf http://www.allbookstores.com/author/..._Friedman.html __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

07-18-10, 10:34 AM	#4
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Good question. It may be reprinted again sometime, but I wouldn't count on it. I doubt it will disappear forever, and the price may come down someday, but in both cases I could be wrong. If you decide to buy it, and use Amazon.com, be sure to use the link on the top right of this page so Subsim gets a cut. In fact that's true of anything you buy from Amazon. Me, I'm still wishing I had $400 for R.A. Burt's British Battleships of World War One. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

07-18-10, 12:24 AM	#3
Buck_O Helmsman Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: California Posts: 110 Downloads: 46 Uploads: 0	Thank you Sailor Steve, Can you tell me if you think this particular book will ever be printed again? It seem all that are available are used versions with a steep price...77 USD is the lowest I find. One copy that is brand new is listing for almost 1thousand USD!! I'm just wondering if I should wait for a re-printing, or should I nab it before there gone forever..

07-19-10, 09:23 AM	#5
The Third Man Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Hey Buck O, I've had that book since 1997 and let me tell ya @ USD $45.00 I thought it expensive back then. But I have gone back to it over and over as a reference. It is pretty technical in nature as to be expected from Friedman. I ususally have to read it a number of times and refer to the diagrams on occasion. It is well footnoted and sourced. There are also some interesting antecdotal stories included. A former Scorpion officer recalled an encounter with Task Group Bravo, in which his CO waited for the destroyers, then deliberately raised his RADAR to radiate. As two pouncers ran down the line of bearing toward the RADAR, he lowered masts, turned, and dove at full speed, leaving a prominent "knuckle" in the water. A magnificient SONAR target, it fully occupied the destroyers while Scorpion ran back towards the carrier. She soon came back up to periscope deapth and deliberately raised her masts to create a visible "feather". By the time the closer-in escorts could react, Scorpion had retracted her masts and moved out of the way. Once the ships of the task group had become thoroughly confused, Scorpion closed in for the attack. Pgs 130-131 Try to justify the price.

02-28-11, 11:35 PM	#7
Buck_O Helmsman Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: California Posts: 110 Downloads: 46 Uploads: 0	I ended up buying the Norman Friedman book too, glad I did. Can any of you tell me about this title? *Naval Institute Guide to the Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, 18th Edition* Im thinking about getting it, but I don't want to if there is a new edition comming out soon (19th edition). The 18th came out in 2005. I read somewhere that he puts out 3 editions per decade. Seems a new edition would have been out some time ago if that were true.