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Norman Friedman

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About the Author

NORMAN FRIEDMAN is arguably America s most prominent naval analyst, and the author of more than twenty books covering a range of naval subjects, from warship histories to contemporary defence issues. His latest book, Firepower, covering battleship gunnery and fire control, was an instant success and quickly reprinted.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Seaforth Publishing; First Edition (20 Feb. 2010)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1848320493
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1848320499
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 25.6 x 2.6 x 29.7 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 284,196 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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4.8 44 ratings

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Oliver B.

Great reference, Could do with even more pictures.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 August 2023

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A great reference or general interest guide. Comprehensive and informative, my only improvement would be that more diagrams would have been useful, e.g. of different sections and internal areas, though I realise these are more difficult to obtain accurate information on in the first place... Overall, a fantastic overview of the most common types and their development, role, and effectiveness.

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J. J. Bradshaw

Everything you would expect from a Norman Friedman book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 May 2014

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Norman Friedman is rightly revered as one of the foremost naval writers of not just this era but of any era therefore expectations are always high when picking up one of his books. This one does not disappoint (not that any of his others have ever disappointed either!) and along with the companion volume on destroyers and frigates of the second world war and after is set to be the standard reference work on the subject. The destroyer evolved from the torpedo boat and torpedo boat catchers and evolved into the principal surface warship of the worlds navies, eclipsing the big gun capital ship. From humble beginnings the destroyer grew in size and capability from ships with a very narrowly defined purpose to the advanced ships which became the backbone of the fleet. This book covers the early part of this journey, whilst a book on British destroyers in reality it is a good guide to the development of the destroyer generally given the Royal Navy's role in developing the type in the era covered by the book. The self propelled torpedo was a truly revolutionary weapon which de-coupled destructive power from ship size. Men of war needed heavy guns and carried heavy armour to withstand bombardment from such guns, driving ships sizes upwards with obvious implications for cost. The torpedo transformed ship design as no longer was it necessary for effective fire power to be predicated on large guns needing equally large hulls, as such it set the trend which has continued through to the warships of today albeit by use of missiles and radar detection/evasion rather than by use of torpedoes. As ever, Friedman looks at context of why the ships were developed, the history and evolution of their design and considers the strategic/tactical issues affecting them. Some may find his writing style a bit dry, many will probably find that this book is much more comprehensive and detailed than they want from a book on early torpedo boats and torpedo boat destroyers but what is beyond doubt is the quality of the research and analysis and for those with a serious interest in the subject it is an outstanding book. Very well illustrated, as ever much of the praise must go to A.D.Baker III for his wonderful line drawings. The only times the book feels a bit light is when considering the propulsion machinery and systems where there is a definite feeling that the authors prodigious talents when analysing ships and weapons does not really extend to the ships engines and propulsion systems. However, this is a minor quibble and does not detract from the books status as a standard work of reference. 5*.

5 people found this helpful

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Mr. Stephen Bradley

A fine work again

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 December 2012

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At this rate Norman Friedman will have written a book on every warship to grace the Royal navy before:as they used to say: the ink dries on these pages. What we have here is a well researched volume that will not look out of place on any warship enthusiast, historian or model makers bookshelf. In essance he traces the history of warships built for the anti-torpedo boat role from the 1880's untilthe start of the Second World War. We are lead from frail, early, river launch, like torpedo boats to vessels that contined to grow in size and power. Torpedo boats that sacrificed their torpedo tubes for a heavier armament are covered and this leads us onto a good section that starts with torpedo cruisers and continues in great detail with their half sisters: the torpedo gunboats. That said, we now pass onto the early 26 knot prototypes and 27 knotters, 30 knotters, Rivers and so on. In common with many of his other, similar books, Mr Friedman always introduces us to various foreign contemporaries, especially when built by British builders, and these are often well illustrated. Further chapters follow this pattern until the start of the Second World War. There are some surprises. For example: there are several pages tracing the development of the scout cruiser/flotilla leader concept of the mid 1900's.
Books of this kind however will never fully satisfy "armchair admirals" like myself and any criticisums are purely personnal in nature. I would have liked the 1930's Tribals included and the ex US destroyers excluded. The latter would have been fine when being used to compare with the V/W Classes, but there seems to be a lot of space devoted to these ships that were never meant to be fleet destroyers in the accepted sense. Being a traditionalist, I still like my technical in formation grouped with the classes and not at the end of the book alonside the index. I can see that this might interfere with the narrative but thats how I like my information. Therefore I will still keep a copy of Manning or Lyon handy.
The illustrations on the whole are very good. Some are over two pages and not always the examples I would have chosen for clarity or focus. Dan Bakers' fine drawings are used to great effect and I have never seen so many clear illustrations of a good size [covering a half page] before. "As fitted" Builders plans are of great interest but by necessity, are reduced to book size. They are also ammended, often in coloured pen or wash, so that when presented in black and white they appear confusing. In passing I think the photograph of HMS Arun in the River Class section is actually HMS Arno that was built much later; at least Manning thought so fifty years ago. Still, all in all a very good book, and a reasonable price when you consider the cost of a round of drinks or a take away! No doubt I will be lost to the world when my Birthday arrives soon and I open the pages of British Cruisers of the Victorian era by the same author, Steve Bradley

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Amazon Customer

outstanding detail

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 May 2021

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There is nothing to dislike about this book. It is a lucid description of the development of what we now call the destroyer. It traces this journey from the early torpedo boats through the torpedo boat destroyers to the eventual destroyer. The illustrations and drawings are excellent. For a researcher and those with a general interest in the roots of modern naval warfare this book is a must.

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Amazon Customer

A must have for anyone interested in the warchips of the period...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 April 2015

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Another example of that overused phrase tour-de-force, but a valid claim from a volume that explains the evolution of the Destroyer type within the Royal Navy and the why of the changes made and what this meant for capabilities. Never too dry, or academic I found it a rousing read and one that I have flipped back to on many occasions.

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Mike

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Love living in Cornwall

British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the Second World War

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 August 2012

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Norman Friedman never fails to please with his meticulous research. This is a book either for reading from cover to cover or just dipping into for some particular information. Even dipping in I get hooked, and end up reading more than I intended.

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Der Graf

Definitive Study of pre-WW2 British destroyer design history

Reviewed in the United States on 7 January 2010

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There is no doubt that Norman Friedman belongs to the foremost naval analysts in the world. His work on individual ship types of the USN belongs among the classical reference sources for all students of naval history and naval operations. It is with the greatest pleasure that I welcome Dr. Friedman's foray into the realm of Royal Navy. The now complete, two volume set devoted to RN's destroyers ("British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the Second World War" and "British Destroyers & frigates: The Second World war and After" BRITISH DESTROYERS AND FRIGATES: The Second World War and After ) is unquestionably the most authoritative analysis of the development and employment of these ships currently available anywhere. It is also the first work of this type that fills the gap left by Edgar March's classic "British Destroyers: 1892 - 1953" British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892-1953; Drawn by Admiralty Permission From Official Records & Returns, Ships' Covers and Building Plans]. Friedman expands the field by providing details unavailable to March, adds a wealth of new information, and brings the history of British destroyer development to the present day.

The first volume of the series (which, curiously, emerged as the follow up on ships constructed during WW2) is devoted to the era between the earliest stages of destroyer development to the last pre-war "I" and "H" classes. The volume also includes the analysis of the wide range of WW2 conversions of the aging "V" and "W" ships, and of the modifications to the destroyers acquired from the USN under the "Lend and Lease" programme ("Town" class. While the earliest destroyers received handsome treatment by David Lyon in his "The First Destroyers"[[ASIN:184560010X The First Destroyers , Friedman provides the reader with the fascinating history of the development of WW1 classes, and a thorough analysis of seemingly very similar ships constructed between the two wars (A-I/H classes). Probably for the first time since March, the diffrences among individual classes are carefully described, and the development of these ships from the relatively simple "As" to fully capable "Hs" is carefully studied.

As expected from Friedman's books, both this and the companion volume are filled with often rarely seen photographs which, together with the informative captions, provide the essential visual support of the text. Superb drawings by A.D. Baker II day greatly enhance the informative aspect of the two volumes, making both the major reference source not only for naval professionals and buffs, but also for modelers.

The text is written in traditional Friedman's style. It is crisp, lucid, and conveys often complicated information directly and clearly. In short, it is a book one reads with the greatest pleasure, and one to be frequently returned to not only when authoritative reference is required, but also for the very pleasure of once again leafing through the pages of this superb volume and its companion. It is to be hoped that having entered the world of the Royal Navy, Dr. Friedman will continue his work on other types of RN vessels, and offer us a similar set that he has written about the vessels of the United States Navy.

In the end, one must also commend the Naval Institute Press . After a series of rather sub-standard publications, the present one returns USNI back to its customary level of excellence in editing and production. The volume (and its companion) have the required, large format, their heft is "just right", the quality of photographic and graphic reproduction peerless, and all are accompanied by careful editorial work. The book represents what a good book should be - a pleasure to hold, a pleasure to read, and a source of solid information.

11 people found this helpful

S. E. Bradfield

Everything I Could Have Hoped For, And More

Reviewed in the United States on 31 July 2012

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I've been studying the history of warship development for more than thirty years. Unfortunately I have no access to primary documents, so I have to take the word of others. For someone in my position it is vital that sources cite their own sources, so I can get at least a glimpse of what the original documents had to say. I've long relied on books like Conway's and Jane's, and taken part in many arguments over which is more accurate. Conway's Warship series has been a great delight over the years.

Where the development of the destroyer is concerned I've been a fan of David Lyons' 'The First Destroyers' since the day I bought it. It cites many primary sources, making it invaluable to any serious student of the subject. I had long hoped that Mr. Lyons would continue with sequels, and was saddened to find that he had passed away without accomplishing that task.

Now the man some consider the greatest naval historian of them all has tackled the subject, and Norman Friedman's 'British Destroyers: From Early Days to the Second World War' does not disappoint. Dr. Friedman starts with the development of the early torpedo boats of various nations and carries through the development of the earliest torpedo-boat destroyers, the First World War and then to the eve of the Second World War. He not only gives detailed descriptions of each class of ship, he also gives excellent explanations of why each class was created, citing the writings of various admirals, directors and lords discussing and even arguing over what direction the next step of small British warship should be. He quotes the experiments undertaken by then-commander of the Mediterranean forces Admiral Jacky Fisher concerning destroyer deployment and use, and how those tests affected British policy concerning the small ships. He carefully explains the differing opinions on whether destroyer forces should operate independently or as close escort to the battleships.

A great asset to the book is the many fine internal and external line drawings by A. D. Baker III. Almost every class is represented in detail, including some of the one-offs and lesser-known ship types.

My only complaint would be the lack of tactical-diameter listings in the technical descriptions. It's a small matter, but I would like to have seen them.

That said, if I had to choose any one book on the subject it would be this one. It is not only valuable for its technical pages and for its history of the people as well as the ships, it is also a rarity among this type of book for being highly readable just for the story. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in the story of the "footsoldiers" of the Royal Navy.

6 people found this helpful

Timothy G Rootes

One of the few reference books for those interested in ...

Reviewed in the United States on 26 December 2016

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One of the few reference books for those interested in the design development of British destroyers. The book is full of technical information and design history and is well illustrated with profile, plan and sectional drawings.

3 people found this helpful

Bayard B.

Excellent! Covers every type of Destroyer from about 1880 to 1935 or so. Many issues discussed.

Reviewed in the United States on 29 February 2016

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Excellent! The book covers every type of "Destroyer" developed for the Royal Navy between about 1880 and the mid 1930s. It covers the types classified as torpedo boats, torpedo gunboats, and torpedo boat destroyers up to around 1900; the pre - 1914 and World War I destroyers; and the post World War I destroyers of the 1920s through the mid - 1930s. The book ends with the A through I classes. There is also discussion of the American "Town" class 4 - pipers transferred to Britain and the resulting modifications that the Royal Navy made to them to convert them into reasonably effective anti - submarine escorts. The ships starting with the "Tribal" class are covered in a subsequent book. There is much discussion of issues such as propulsion machinery, armament (guns, torpedoes, anti - aircraft, anti - submarine), and range. There are also discussions on issues such as Royal Navy thinking on subjects such as crew habitability, ship sea keeping, and even structural design stresses of the hulls. One issue that really stands out is how cost conscious the Admiralty was. Time after time, some design feature wasn't incorporated, or was revised, in order to keep costs down.

2 people found this helpful

P. Weiser

Slightly less than five stars, but Great

Reviewed in the United States on 16 May 2018

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I'm tempted to short this one a star, in comparison with "British Cruisers of the Victorian Era." The drawings are excellent (though they still don't include a waterline trace in plan views or some means of showing degree of hull flare, which is important per the text). The text is dense, but seems a bit disorganized chronologically or topically since both forms of organization are used.

That said, this book is vital and very fine both to read and to enjoy visually. Its flaws are, really, the flaws of its subject: emphasis on speed over seakeeping, trying to use destroyers as scouts in an age before radar, and - especially - treating destroyers as a commodity in constant production leading to universal incompatibility (all pointed out in the text). HMS Zubian was a miracle, not because surviving halves of two Tribals were joined, but because - though both were Tribals - the hulls, from different yards, were similar enough to splice (my thought, not the author's).

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British Destroyers 1870-1935 Hardcover – 20 Feb. 2010

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