Quick Read: 'The U.S. Navy: A Concise History'

© 2015 Oxford University Press

On November 30, 2015, the Oxford University Press published Craig L. Symonds' The U.S. Navy: A Concise History. This 152-page hardcover covers the long history of America's naval service from its humble beginnings as the Continental Navy during the American Revolution (1775-83) all the way to its present standing as the strongest military fleet in the world.

As the title and number of pages suggest, this book by the author of The Civil War at Sea, The Battle of Midway, and Decision at Sea: Five Naval Battles that Shaped American History is not a comprehensive account of the 243-year-long history of the United States Navy. Rather, it's akin to an orientation booklet that a midshipman might get upon arrival at the U.S. Naval Academy (where Symonds is a Professor Emeritus in the history department) or something that you or I might find at a gift shop in Annapolis, MD or any Navy town.

Per Oxford University Press's description, The U.S. Navy: A Concise History doesn't pretend to cover every aspect of American naval history:

This fast-paced narrative traces the emergence of the United States Navy as a global power 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 in the Revolution, the Barbary Wars, and the arduous conquest of Iwo Jima.

The book 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. 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 rapid expansion emerging out of crises. 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. - Product description page, The U.S. Navy: A Concise History

This book is a nicely written introduction to the fascinating and often thrilling story of how the American navy rose in fits and starts from a spunky upstart that dared challenge Britain's Royal Navy in two wars and eventually became the most powerful navy on Earth. From the famous "six frigates" authorized by Congress during John Adams' Presidency to the stealthy Zumwalt-class destroyers of the 21st Century, The U.S. Navy: A Concise History tracks the changes in technology, strategy, and tactics that marked the evolution of America's second oldest armed service.

Because it is so brief, The U.S. Navy: A Concise History does not offer much in the way of detail or in-depth coverage of all the conflicts and crises that the Navy has played roles in. The Cold War, which was the dominant conflict in my childhood and early adulthood, only gets a brief paragraph, and many naval battles and campaigns (except for the more famous ones) are not mentioned at all.

This, dear reader, truly is a quick read.