The United States Navy evolved from an ill-formed collection of merchant vessels, privateers, and small frigates into the most capable maritime force in world history . The author employs an historical narrative that describes this evolution of American warships, technology, and force structure as opposed to the battles or tactics in which they engaged. He examines the history of the U.S. Navy from the perspective of the American people and their elected and appointed political leadership—the President, the Congress, the Secretaries of the Navy— and the captains, commodores, and admirals who carried out their directives, as well as the changing nature of the naval establishment, physical infrastructure, and human capital that constituted the industrial base in each era. The U.S. Navy is our nation's first line of defense, composed of the most capable aircraft carriers, surface ships, submarines and naval aircraft ever built. It represents an enormous investment of our nation's treasure, but is designed, built, and operates largely out of the public eye. Naval professionals and students of naval history should learn the forces that determine ‘how’ and ‘why’ we build the ships and aircraft we do, and their true value to the American taxpayer.

The United States Navy evolved from an ill-formed collection of merchant vessels, privateers, and small frigates into the world's most capable maritime force. The author employs an historical narrative that describes the evolution of American warships, technology, and force structure rather than the battles or tactics in which they engaged. He examines the history of the U.S. Navy from the perspective of the American people and their elected and appointed political leadership-the President, the Congress, the Secretaries of the Navy, and the captains, commodores, and admirals that carried out their directives. Finally, the author profiles the naval establishment, physical infrastructure, and human capital that constituted the industrial base in each era. For naval acquisition professionals, this is a story worth telling-and worth reading.

Appendices include laws and legislation concerning the Army Medical Department. Maps include those of territories and frontiers and Continental Army hospital locations. Illustrations are chiefly portraits.

This fast-paced narrative charts the history of the US Navy from its birth during the American Revolution through to its current superpower status. The story highlights iconic moments of great drama pivotal to the nation's fortunes: John Paul Jones' attacks on the British during the Revolution, the Barbary Wars, and the arduous conquest of Iwo Jima. American Naval History: A Very Short Introduction illuminates the changes--technological, institutional, and functional--of the U.S. Navy from its days as a small frigate navy through the age of steam and steel to the modern era of electronics and missiles. Renowned naval historian Craig L. Symonds captures the evolving culture of the navy and debates between policymakers about what role the institution should play in world affairs. Internal and external challenges dramatically altered the size and character of the navy, with long periods of quiet inertia alternating with periods of crisis that spurred rapid expansion. The history of the navy reflects the history of the nation as a whole, and its many changes derive in large part from the changing role of the United States itself. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.