Who was responsible for the design of the Admiral Popov, the circular Russian battleship that wouldn't steer straight? Why did Lord Ansonset out to circumnavigate the world with a crew of Chelsea pensioners? And how did the British cruiser HMS Trinidad manage to torpedo itself in the Arctic? The answers to these questions and details of numerous other entertaining and unbelievable historical events are revealed in this absorbing survey of naval incompetence from Roman times to the Falklands War. Best-selling author Geoffrey Regan certainly sets out to prove that there is truth in the old adage "Worse things happen at sea." Crammed with intriguing and often bizarre anecdotes and over fifty illuminating illustrations, Naval Blunders takes a serious, but often entertaining look at the misjudgements and oversights of captains, fleet commanders, strategic planners and ship designers over the ages. Peppered with quotes from those who did their utmost (albeit unwittingly) to hinder naval progress, such as Admiral Lord Sir Charles Beresford who stated, "The submarine can only operate by day and in clear weather, and it is practically useless in misty weather," this entertaining and instructive book will appeal to the naval enthusiast and general reader alike.
From ancient times to the Bay of Pigs and the Falklands War, military history has been marked as much by misjudgements and incompetence as by gallantry and glory. In this fascinating and entertaining collection, author Geoffrey Regan recounts some of the staggering stories of military blunder. His anecdotes encompass every aspect of warfare from the insanity of commanders to the provision of inadequate supplies."--Back cover.
In Heroes of Battle bestselling author Geoffrey Regan takes a remarkable look at the fine line that has separated cowardice from bravery throughout the long history of armed conflict. In the explosive uncertainty of war there are those whose courage deserts them and those who are inspired to perform astonishing acts of heroism in the midst of terror and overwhelming carnage. Geoffrey Regan offers breathtaking recreations of the unforgettable battles that brought out the worst and the very best in the fighting men who faced death at the eleventh hour.
Militærhistorien er gennem tiderne hyppigt karateriseret ved ulykker, fejlslutninger og udygtighed såvel som heltmodighed, triumf og lykke. Forfatteren har her fokuseret på en række af de fejlslagne operationer fra 216 f. Kr. og frem til 1982.
From ancient times, military history has been marked as much by misjudgments and incompetence as by gallantry and glory. Such blunders have sometimes ended in tragedy, sometimes in farce -- and sometimes they have ended in triumph, despite all the odds ... In his ... follow up to Military blunders, Geoffrey Regan not only recounts some of these staggering stories, but also highlights the kind of difficulties that can lead to military disaster. Regan's anecdotes encompass every aspect of warfare from friendly fire and amphibious operations to meddling leaders and lack of cooperation. More detailed case studies analyse the tactical errors made in battles"--P. [4] of cover.
This annual series, sponsored by the National Bureau of Economic Research, provides a forum for research on the interactions among public policy, the innovation process, and the economy. Discussions cover all types of policy that affect the ability of an economy to achieve scientific and technological progress or that affect the impact of science and technology on economic growth. The books are designed to be of interest to general readers interested in public policy as well as to economists.
Arranged under a variety of topics such as Women, Weather, The Best of Enemies and The Whims of War, this is a collection of military anecdotes drawn from a wide range of sources, from Plutarch to the 20th century, and from medieval chronicles to the American Civil War.
A look at a history that has been marked as much by incompetence as by gallantry and glory. Find out which general believed he was pregnant with an elephant and which British cruiser torpedoed itself.
In this exciting and thought-provoking book, military historian Geoffrey Regan has selected fifty of the most decisive battles of world history. As the author explains, the decisiveness of these battles lies not only in the completeness of victory or defeat for either side, but also in the longer-term impact they have had on the course of history. The scope of the book is majestic. It starts with Salamis, where the Greeks put an end to Persian attempts to overwhelm their country. Other battles of the Ancient World include Zama, where Carthaginian power was finally crushed; Actium, which ushered in the Rome of the emperors; and Adrianople, which first demonstrated the potential of the mounted warrior to defeat the legions of Rome. Moving onto the Medieval World, famous battlessuch as Hastings and the fall of Constantinople - are set beside less well-known but equally crucial encounters such as Lechfeld and Ain Jalut. Then there are the great conflicts of the colonial age, from Plassey to Quebec, and battles such as Saratoga and Sedan that witnessed the birth of nations. From the present century, key engagements of the World Wars - including the Marne, Midway, El Alamein and Stalingrad - are featured, as are more recent conflicts whose reverberations are still very much with us - Dien Bien Phu, the Six Days War, and Operation Desert Storm. Geoffrey Regan not only examines the strategic context and long-term outcome of each battle, but also vividly brings to life the course of the fighting, the commanders and participants, and the significance of innovations in weaponry. Numerous maps help to explain tactics and strategy, while the many illustrations add a further dramatic dimension to this stimulating book.
The author of Guinness's two books of military blunders from all periods of history presents a corresponding survey of naval incompetence, focusing on the misjudgements and oversights of captains, fleet commanders and strategic planners from Roman times to the Falklands War. omissions of sailors of every rank, the book incorporates failed amphibious operations, avoidable submarine disasters and naval aviation disasters. Case studies at the end of each chapter provide analysis of what went wrong in key battles and campaigns such as Navarino, Tsushima, Gallipoli, Jutland, Midway and Leyte Gulf.
This entertaining collection of military anecdotes, interlaced with unusual illustrations, brings together over 400 little-known snapshots of men and women at war. Drawing on an impressive range of sources from Plutarch to the present century, from medieval chronicles to the American Civil War, the book includes many famous characters - Wellington, Rommel, Napoleon, Frederick the Great - as well as a gallery of lesser-known individuals, from Basil the Bulgar Slayer to Soviet fighter ace Lily Litvak and the other General Lee. Ranging from David and Goliath to Prince Rupert's poodle, from the the officer who was not only obliged to provide the paymaster with a certificate that he was alive, but also had to get it back-dated to prove that he was alive the previous month, to the shy Allied airman forced to disguise himself as a prostitute to escape the Gestapo, the book takes in some three thousand years of the quirkier side of military history. This highly original collection provides a feast of insights, curiosities and entertainment drawn from the rich sidelines of military history.
Elizabeth I - saviour of the Protestant religion, or cautious and conservative queen? Through an intriguing selection of primary sources - state papers, private correspondence, conspirators' letters, Catholic confessions, and Puritan demands - the author looks at Elizabeth as stateswoman and monarch. He considers the problems she faced, how she handled them, and her legacy to her successor, James I.
Who was responsible for the design of the Admiral Popov, the circular Russian battleship that wouldn't steer straight? Why did Lord Ansonset set out to circumnavigate the world with a crew of Chelsea pensioners? And how did the British cruiser HMS Trinidad manage to torpedo itself in the Arctic? The answers to these questions and details of numerous other entertaining and unbelievable historical events are revealed in this absorbing survey of naval incompetence from Roman times to the Falklands War. Geoffrey Regan certainly sets out to prove that there is truth in the old adage "Worse things happen at sea." Crammed with intriguing and often bizarre anecdotes and more than 50 illuminating illustrations, Great Naval Blunders takes a serious, but often entertaining, look at the misjudgments and oversights of captains, fleet commanders, strategic planners, and ship designers over the ages. Peppered with quotes from those who did their utmost (albeit unwittingly) to hinder naval progress, this entertaining and instructive book will appeal to the naval enthusiast and general reader alike.
A respected military historian examines the truth behind friendly fire: the term used for being killed by one's own colleagues or allies during a conflict. He examines the most tragic examples of military incompetence - a sadly ancient problem - including the Falklands, Gulf War and Afghanistan.
In this book, the author not only recounts some staggering stories, but also examines the kinds of problems that can lead to disaster. These problems range from the insanity of commanders to the provision of inadequate equipment.
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