Internationally acknowledged as the best one-volume reference to the world's naval and paranaval forces, this popular Naval Institute guide is both comprehensive and affordable. Updated biennially since 1976, it has come to be relied on for its all-inclusive, accurate, and current data on the ships, navies, coast guards, and naval aviation arms of more than one hundred eighty countries and territories, including for the first time this year East Timor. Large fleets and small maritime forces get equally thorough treatment as evidenced in this new edition, which highlights major and even minor developments that could have an impact on the world scene. From orders of new patrol boats for Yemen and ship-name changes in the Georgian Navy to performance details of the British Navy's new Astute-class submarines and Type 45 destroyers, the information is easily accessed by readers wanting to keep abreast of the world's navies. A thorough indexing of material and a logical ship-typing system makes the book easy to use and allows quick comparisons between fleets.
With the retirement of longtime Combat Fleets editor A. D. Baker III in 2002 and the appointment of Washington defense consultant and author Eric Wertheim as the new editor, the guide continues to present timely, authoritative information supported by hundreds of new illustrations. The section on the Indian Navy, for example, presents new photos and line drawings of frigates in the Shivalik and Talwar classes and late-breaking information about the modified Kiev-class aircraft carrier expected to enter India's fleet. For the Chinese Navy, Wertheim provides details of new armament fits and construction of its Project 52 destroyers, and for the German Navy he offers service entry details of the new Sachsen-class Type 124 air defense frigates. Even seemingly minor changes in naval aviation are recorded, including Japan's recent decision to purchase new EH-101 helicopters. Readers can also find out the latest about the U.S. littoral combat ships and DD(X) warship programs and the Kidd-class destroyers being transferred to Taiwan. More than a hundred correspondents from around the world contributed information and illustrations to this new volume.
From giant aircraft carriers and ballistic missile submarines to tugboats and launches, the characteristics and capabilities of ships large and small are reliably recorded. Complete descriptions of naval aircraft, weapons, weapons systems, and sensors are also provided along with useful commentary on organization, personnel strengths, and bases. For those who need fast access to facts about the world's navies, this single-volume naval reference is essential-and a bargain considering the wealth of material it provides. 4450 photographs. Also available in hardcover (ISBN: 1-59114-934-7).
Eric Wertheim, a strategic analyst in Northern Virginia, consults to government and private industry. A columnist for Proceedings magazine since 1994, he is the coauthor of Chronology of the Cold War at Sea, among other books.
