by MatthewB » Wed Sep 30, 2015 1:52 pm
It is amazing to look back in time through this book.
They have a passing reference to the Tripitz and Bismarck (which are both "tentatively" called the "Admiral Tirpitz" and "Admiral Bismarck" in the book) for the Germans, and the Japanese ships are all kinds of messed up.
The English did not understand Japanese translation at that point, so the Fubuki-class Destroyers are the Hubuki-class. The Battleship Mutsu is called The Battleship Mutu. And the Shiratsuyu-class destroyers are called the Siratuyu-class.... among others. It makes it terrifically difficult to track down specific ships.
And, most hilariously, in hindsight, are the listings of the 3 Kager?-class Destroyers (32, 33, & 34), and 2 Y?gumo-class Destroyers (128 & 129) that the Japanese used to disguise the Construction of the Yamato-class BBs.
I have discovered some further copies of Jane's from WWI, and one publication from after the Second World War had begun (1940). But I have yet to have a look at the 1940 edition, to see what it reveals about Germany and Japan's secretive ships.
Another interesting book I have found, which made me aware of something that I did not fully notice in the Jane's Fighting Ships books, is a book titled All the World's Warships, from 1967.
And, when looking at the various photos of the ships, I noticed that there was extensive airbrushing of the superstructures of these ships. I then realized that this was what made many of the photos in the 1938 Jane's book look so strange as well (classified features had been airbrushed out).
The mid-20th Century was such a tumultuous time. The underlying fear that pervaded the world after WWII, with the introduction of the Nuclear Age, and the growing threat of Global Annihilation produced a great deal of both innovation, and a tendency toward the Reactionary.
Still.... These are some great finds for images of ships from this period. I just wish that the scans of the books had been conducted with a little more care (although I realize that is difficult to do with a book like Jane's Fighting Ships due to its size, and the need to effectively destroy the integrity of the book to get a perfect scan).
MB
It is amazing to look back in time through this book.
They have a passing reference to the Tripitz and Bismarck (which are both "tentatively" called the "[i]Admiral[/i] Tirpitz" and "[i]Admiral[/i] Bismarck" in the book) for the Germans, and the Japanese ships are all kinds of messed up.
The English did not understand Japanese translation at that point, so the [i]Fu[/i]buki-class Destroyers are the [i]Hu[/i]buki-class. The Battleship Mu[i]tsu[/i] is called The Battleship Mutu. And the [i]Shi[/i]ra[i]tsu[/i]yu-class destroyers are called the [i]Si[/i]ra[i]tu[/i]yu-class.... among others. It makes it terrifically difficult to track down specific ships.
And, most hilariously, in hindsight, are the listings of the 3 Kager?-class Destroyers (32, 33, & 34), and 2 Y?gumo-class Destroyers (128 & 129) that the Japanese used to disguise the Construction of the Yamato-class BBs.
I have discovered some further copies of [i]Jane's[/i] from WWI, and one publication from after the Second World War had begun (1940). But I have yet to have a look at the 1940 edition, to see what it reveals about Germany and Japan's secretive ships.
Another interesting book I have found, which made me aware of something that I did not fully notice in the [i]Jane's Fighting Ships[/i] books, is a book titled [i]All the World's Warships[/i], from 1967.
And, when looking at the various photos of the ships, I noticed that there was extensive airbrushing of the superstructures of these ships. I then realized that this was what made many of the photos in the 1938 [i]Jane's[/i] book look so strange as well (classified features had been airbrushed out).
The mid-20th Century was such a tumultuous time. The underlying fear that pervaded the world after WWII, with the introduction of the Nuclear Age, and the growing threat of Global Annihilation produced a great deal of both innovation, and a tendency toward the Reactionary.
Still.... These are some great finds for images of ships from this period. I just wish that the scans of the books had been conducted with a little more care (although I realize that is difficult to do with a book like [i]Jane's Fighting Ships[/i] due to its size, and the need to effectively destroy the integrity of the book to get a perfect scan).
MB