Naval Shiphandler's Guide (Blue & Gold Professional Library)

The first new book on naval shiphandling in more than a generation, this guide helps beginning and intermediate shiphandlers learn and perfect a skill crucial to their naval careers while at the same time offering useful hints to seasoned pros. The book reflects all the many changes that have occurred in recent decades and is the first to cover the use of shiphandling simulators. The author, a skilled shiphandler with years of experience in nearly every type of Navy vessel, helps novice shiphandlers get the most out of their opportunities, whether handling real ships or simulators. Captain Barber tells readers everything they need to know about forces acting on the ship, getting underway, making a landing, transiting the channel, and underway replenishment. Standard commands for both ships and tugs are included, along with needed information on the use of tugs and pilots. Voyage planning, emergency shiphandling, tactical maneuvering, and more are covered in detail. A chapter is devoted to the special shiphandling characteristics of various classes of naval vessels. An introduction to the Rules of the Road is provided in an appendix.

CAPT James A. Barber Jr., USN (Ret.) (1934-2017), served thirty years as a surface warfare officer in the U.S. Navy before retiring as a captain. His assignments included three commands at sea: a guided-missile cruiser, a guided-missile frigate, and a destroyer escort. Other assignments included special sea detail officer of the deck of an aircraft carrier, senior watch officer of a destroyer, executive officer of a destroyer, and qualification as a convoy commodore. In 1984 he was appointed CEO and publisher of the U.S. Naval Institute, a position he held for fifteen years.

Captain Barber earned a PhD at Stanford University and taught at Vanderbilt, the Naval War College, and George Washington University. His awards include the Navy League's Alfred Thayer Mahan Award, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with combat "V," the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, and six awards of the Vietnam Service Medal. In 1999 he was presented with the U.S. Coast Guard's Meritorious Public Service Award, and in 2000 with the Navy's highest civilian award, the Distinguished Public Service Award. He published two other books, including The Military and American Society: Essays and Readings, co-edited with Stephen Ambrose.