The American Steel Navy: A Photographic History of the U.S. Navy from the Introduction of the Steel Hull in 1883 to the Cruise of the Great White Fleet, 1907-1909

Commander Alden is gone now, but this book will serve as an excellent grave marker for those only familiar with the early history of the modern US Navy from a tour through the USS Olympia. His excellent text and wonderful selection of photographs (many of which show something other than guns and hulls and rigging) fills in the whole story, not just a technical book about the ships that took us from the era of sail and early steam to the point where a truly modern US Navy could evolve as World War I started and dragged us kicking and screaming to near parity with the other great fleets of the world.Ships of the Spanish American War and Great White Fleet eras were transitional items. Other than for their odd color schemes (white and tan - what were they thinking?), ships like the Olympia and the USS Oregon look very much like modern battleships like the USS Alabama. Same sort of turreted armament, same general layout, same smoke stacks, same general hull shapes. What was the big deal?The reality was quite different. While wood hulls were (mostly) gone, much of what we had operated in the same general fashion as did the ships of the American Civil War. Guns were still aimed over individual sights, and ships were still easily damaged by normal steaming operations, much less battles. (The first USS Texas, a battleship before we gave them numbers, actually caused itself more damage than did the Spanish fleet at the Battle of Santiago.)At the same time, innovation was taking place, and this book highlights much of that, but in an extremely readable format. So, instead of reading your way through the many innovative patents filed by Bradley Fiske, a serving naval officer who can rightly be termed the "Electrifier of the American Navy", you instead get led through the innovations that he pioneered, along with photos of many of them in action. You see how the ships of the period functioned, along with how the sailors made them function. Coal, a major influence on the navies of the day, gets full scope here, and the filth it offered, even in cleaned up photos, is more than apparent.The book ends with the adventures of the Great White Fleet, although Alden presents it here, warts and all. And, you get to see the flaws with the early American modern navy, from ship design flaws to the somewhat questionable activities of the men that manned them.Much of what is here will not be new to students of the period, What will be new are many of the photographs. Commander Alden had worked in naval history for many years, and was aware of unique images taken by official and other photographers as a result. In this book, we get to see the results of his studies. Among the many interesting shots are a number of early images of fire control devices (range indicators), internal communication devices (helm and engine room telegraphs) and signaling devices (a masthead light array) that were the result of Fiske's intensive research and development - stuff little noted in most other books on the topic.Being a partially picture book, this is not the ultimate technical resource. However, it will point those interested in such things in the right direction. Also, the book is very slightly flawed in that the ship diagrams in the back are only from the left elevation viewpoint; plan views are necessary to accurately represent warship layouts for reference purposes.But, those minor flaws aside, this is a great book, and one well-worth the high Naval Institute Press purchase price. If you are extremely fortunate, you may even be able to pick up a copy at Half Priced Books, where I found one for a close friend.

This copy replaces one that I loaned out at some point in the past. As a naval architect as well as an amateur historian, I am always interested in the development of naval technology, which this book provides as an introduction into that topic, on a wide front. Love the photos, especially of the Puritan class monitors at "fighting trim".

This is the most I've ever paid for a book, and it's value is driven up by the fact that it's long out of print. However, if you're interested in that period of US Navy history, this is one of the very few that covers it. The photographs are not found anywhere else that I've seen, and the author is a well-known authority on Naval history. If it was reprinted, it would still cost as much as current used copies which range from $53 into the $100s depending on condition. I've never understood why this is such a neglected and forgotten era of Naval history, but the author is very thorough in his treatment of it. Highly recommended.

I bought this book as I didn't know much of the subject and have an engineering back ground. I was pleased, the photos are realistic and give you a lot of details about these incredible ships. The description is educational without being pedantic and any details are easy to find with the index. I do recommend this book for anyone interested in these 100 year old fascinating war machines. American Steel Navy: A Photographic History of the U.S. Navy from the Introduction of the Steel Hull in 1883 to the Cruise of the Great White Fleet,

A terrific book with excellent photos. One of the best books I have read in any genre. You don't need to be a naval history buff to enjoy or understand this book.

Brilliant photos and informative narrative. This has been the best I have ever seen on this subject. I was lost for words when I first thumbed through the photos.

An excellent pictorial history of the New Navy from about 1880 through the sailing of the Great White Fleet. The photographs alone are worth the price, and Cdr Alden's succinct history of particular areas simply adds to everything.

Great history

Excellent photo essay on the early US navy. Many excellent clear photographs and accompanying text. Well recommended if the steam age is your thing.