5 comments about Introduction to Naval Architecture.

1. With the possible exception of SNAME's "Principles of Naval Architecture," "Introduction to Naval Architecture" is the perfect introductory text for any naval architecture/marine engineering student. It includes brief but dense overviews of hydrostatics, hydrodynamics, ship structure, resistance, and propulsion. While there are more detailed texts for each of the above topics (again, SNAME's PNA does a good job as a reference, but not so much as a text, and Harvald's "Resistance and Propulsion of Ships" is THE text for that topic), it is the perfect source for equations, derivations, illustrations, graphs, and, most importantly, example problems. It's very hard to find any clear examples of NA problems in most texts - the examples in this book are worked through step by step, which makes comprehension a breeze. If you're studying or working in the field of naval architecture, this book is a necessary addition to your reference library.



2. This is a great text for everyone. I think Zubaly's Applied Naval Architecture does a slightly better job in presenting the coefficients, but in every other respect, this text is superior. Zubaly and this text are weak in the details of seakeeping, but there are several other specific seakeeping texts, namely Dynamics of Marine Vehicles by Battacharia (I know I misspelled his name)



3. Purchased for my high school senior to do an independent study in Naval Architecture. The math was more advanced than he was prepared for, but it provides the a reasonable introduction to basic concepts he needs to understand.



4. "Introduction to Naval Architecture" provides a unique approach to ship design. Although this approach is quantitative and mathematically "intense", Gillmer also provides qualitative description within certain chapters. Ultimately, for the purposes of clarity and a definitive understanding of basic ship design, this work is best coupled with "Introduction to Naval Architecture" (E.C. Tupper), which provides a "descriptive" perspective. The Gillmer and Johnson referenece is highly recommended for those individuals who have prior knowledge of naval architecture, and a strong foundation in mathematics; otherwise, the aforementioned coupling of two references becomes necessary.
   
   Please note: This is my opinion as a high school Senior completing an independent research project within the field of naval architecture.



5. If you r looking for an entry point for Naval Architect this is the book to do so.
   A broad overview on Naval Architect topics that will highlight all its various areas of knowledge

5 comments about Modern Exterior Ballistics: The Launch and Flight Dynamics of Symmetric Projectiles.

1. This is ballistician's dream book. It describes all of the introductory and some advanced material pertaining to modern ballistics in wonderful detail, and the example problems are useful and illustrative. There is a wealth of information, such as drag coefficients and functions, form factors, and a beautiful derivation of the MPM yaw of repose that do not appear anywhere else in my experience. The experimental and computer generated plots are beautiful and informative.

   Unfortunately, the book is also full of typographical and other errors, such as having the wrong variable in a place in several equations, having variables simply missing from equations or from an explanation in the text, having the wrong headings in some of the tables, repeating figure numbers on different figures, or even having multiple missing words in some explanatory paragraphs that make the sentences into hard to interpret giberish. Some of the citations,for instance in Chapter 9, do not appear in the Bibliography at all (Chapter 9 has references numbered up to 16 in the text, but only 10 appear in the Bibiolgraphy).

   The bottom line: This is a GREAT BOOK if you are mathematically sound and don't mind deriving some of the equations yourself, and if you know enough to catch the errors and make the corrections. Don't get me wrong... I like the book a lot. It is well worth its price. Just be aware that you will have to work a little harder than usual to read and understand it.

   [...]




2. Certainly McCoy's book , Modern Exterior Ballistics, is the result of years of work at the Army's Ballistic Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Grounds. The book contains some excellent shadowgraphs of projectiles in flight. The historical background is alone worth the price of the book. The hard core computational capability of the modern desk top computer has been over shadowed by its use as an internet station, word processor, game platform etc. Nevertheless, most of the approximations given in this book are easily side stepped by a "brute force" integration of the equations of motion be readily and easily achieved with such software as MATLAB or TrueBasic and I am sure with C++ if that is your choice. The important point here is that most of the approximations given in McCoy's book are methods that for the most part have been entirely superseded by the capability of readily available computer languages. To employ such methods makes no greater analytical demands of the reader than, say, to follow and use the analytical approximations such as the approximation for flat trajectory. McCoy does make some concession to computer analysis with a BASIC program for projectile drag. However, on the whole the book is not quite modern, but more suited to computational conditions as existed in 1975. Unfortunately, with the passing of Dr. McCoy, the task of brings this otherwise good book up to 21 century standards would have to done by others.



3. This is a great book, but full of typos and edition errors of all types.
   The errata ( you can find it in Internet ) is 20 pages long.
   The book, as it stands now, is of very limited use.
   Better wait the Dover edition.



4. As a ballastician, I must say that this book is a MUST HAVE for any professional in the field of exterior ballistics or the enthusiast with some knowledge of basic physics and high level mathematics. McCoy was a world renowned expert in the field of exterior ballistics throughout his 30 year career with the US Army Ballistic Research Lab (BRL) - this comes through in the pages of this book without a doubt. There are many excellent examples taken from McCoy's (and others) work with the BRL. All should take note, the book has many small typos peppered throughout both the text and figures. The errata pages can be printed off of several well maintained websites which can be found by searching on the title of the book.



5. McCoy's book is phenomenal if you seek the essentially pure theory and mathematical characterization of "real," differential equation-based ballistics. The book starts with the simplest form of ballistics calculations, the basic parabolic gravity-only point-mass trajectory everyone encounters in a basic physics course, and then slowly works up from there, all the way to the full six-degrees-of-freedom model (three positional dimensions of motion plus the three rotational dimensions of the spinning, wobbling projectile,) accounting for gravity, frontal air resistance, crosswinds, lifting forces, forces due to the projectile shape, Coriolis force (the consequence of Earth's rotation,) and even rocket forces if the "projectile" is actually a self-powered one. McCoy goes into the simplifications one can make to compute with only a point-mass projectile model (no rotational motion) and I most liked this approach for my own uses. He divides the work into chapters, with each new one adding a level of generality to the model(s) involved. This organization makes it very easy for the reader to choose the level of complexity and accuracy most desired. I was very impressed with McCoy's development of envelope curves, those being the curves of absolute flight limits of a projectile, giving the total interior region that a fired projectile could possibly hit.
   
   This book provides an immense background of everything needed to develop your own ballistics programs and could even provide enough material to do some original research in the field, but I would definitely contend that this book isn't for everyone. In particular, you need to have a very strong mathematics background, including linear algebra and differential equations, and one would do best with some numerical analysis background as well. McCoy does give some detail about various numerical methods one could use to advantage when doing the calculations with a computer, but not quite enough to actually get you started if you weren't already significantly familiar with standard single-step Runge-Kutta and multi-step differential equation solvers. Further, this book does contain a lot of typos and small errors buried deep in the equations, so you need to be able to follow the development well enough to catch them. Essentially, you need to be able to understand the methods used in higher math quite well, use McCoy's initial modeling, and then re-derive his equations on your own, with his derivations as guidance. Also, I think the typesetting of equations is done poorly in general, so it is often somewhat difficult to read them and keep his notations straight.
   
   This book is well worth its price, and the knowledge contained in it is probably nearly unavailable anywhere else these days. Ballistics is an old, but very technical and complicated field, and few people study it extensively any more, so I think it has become somewhat extinct in academic circles. This is unfortunate, for it is magnificent and rewarding, and McCoy's book is an opus dedicated to preserving this wonderful field of hard-won knowledge. The study of precise ballistics modeling and trajectory prediction was the first "big" problem that spawned the development of the digital computer, and the first true calculus problem ever solved by any mathematician was the shape-of-minimum-resistance ballistics problem, solved by Sir Issac Newton. McCoy's book is a grand survey of mid-20th century ballistics knowledge, complete with graphs, photographs, high-speed shadowgraphs from the ranges at Aberdeen Proving Ground, and references to the original authors and studies done by the military and other technical institutions.
   
   You will not regret the purchase of this book, especially if you want to understand the real theory and know how to calculate real ballistics trajectories for all kinds of projectiles at various speeds, not just watered-down, oversimplified, inaccurate, textbook-friendly versions of them. I'm even considering buying myself a second copy, just to be sure I will always have a mint-condition copy available!

5 comments about British Enfield Rifles, Vol. 1, SMLE (No.1) Mk I and Mk III (Internet Workshop Series) (Internet Workshop Series).

1. Very comprehesive work.



2. For anyone who owns a No.4 or No.5 Enfield this book is invaluable. Very well written with lots of easy to understand drawings and detail. This is the place to start if you are interested in the history or in working on one of these great rifles. I found more information in this one book then I did in a couple of months of online research.



3. Having used this rifle as a cadet back in the mid-seventies, and also as a member of the shooting team at school, the book held strong memories for me. But more importantly, it helped me to identify the recent purchase of a No.4 Mark I/2. The book is easy to read, I would have preferred more photos and diagrams because those unfamiliar with the rifle, may find discriptions difficult to follow. For the collector, this book is a must, to add to the others in the series.



4. Excellent. This is the definitive coverage for both of these rifles. Has been a tremedous asset in evaluation of rifles on sale.



5. As always in this series a small but useful and rather complete volume about SMLE rifles.
   They are worth every penny (or cent), fair price for lots of information.

3 comments about Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate Dynamics, Volume 93: An Introductory Text (International Geophysics) (International Geophysics).

1. Very well presentation of the material acompanied of details to conduct laboratory experiments and all the data accessible through book's website. The text is clear with concise explanations and tips to follow and try all their derivations. The treatment of ocean and atmospheres as a continuum and unique system is simply amazing. Key references are provided for the reader interested in an in depth treatment of any subject, and in it is own constitutes a valuable reference for teaching as well as for self-study (especially beginners). Not recommended for those interested in mesoscale dynamics or microscale processes. Finally, the carefully edition (recreative illustrations, footnotes with details on fathers of the field, etc) of the book makes this indeed a beautifull book.
   
   The only fault is that there is no paperback edition; this will help make this valuable reference more accessible.



2. This book is a concise, clear and holistic introduction to the subject of atmosphere, ocean and climate science. The book is written in a student-friendly manner. The authors present and develop the tools required to understand the climate system. These tools include radiation, thermodynamics and fluid dynamics. These tools are then used to understand the behaviour of the atmosphere and ocean. The interplay between atmosphere and ocean systems in giving rise to the climate system is elucidated. The last chapter is devoted to climate dynamics. While primarily discussing the general characteristics of atmosphere and ocean, the book also elaborates on slightly more specialized topics like wind-driven circulation, thermohaline circulation and paleoclimate.This book will help undergraduate and entry-level graduate students to secure a beachhead on the fascinating new territory of atmosphere, ocean and climate science.



3. The book provides a concise and clear introduction as to how the atmosphere and ocean behave on our planet. The authors apply first principles to explain the structure and circulation of both fluids, how heat is transported and fine-scale processes like convection operate. The explanations employ clear schematics, emphasizing the controlling processes, together with brief mathematical manipulations. The book is beautifully illustrated throughout including wonderful photographs of laboratory experiments, as well as historical asides about the key scientists who made the first break through. This is a great book for anyone wishing to acquire a more profound understanding as to how the atmosphere and ocean operate.

5 comments about Illustrated Guide to Wood Strip Canoe Building.

1. I have just completed Mac McCarthy's Wee Lassie using this book. The amount of detail in the book answered all my questions and some of the techniques (like reinforcing the deck with thin marine plywood) was better than using carlins and stripping the deck onto the carlins. I had no trouble building the boat. I built the boat with no staples or nails. Her stapleless building technique was straight forward and easy to do. The most difficult part was beveling the inside stems. I would not bevel the entire stem at once, but bevel as I stripped. The only part of McCarthy's book worth having are the mold patterns for the canoes. This book is the one you need to actually build the canoe.



2. I used this book extensively along with my regular plans book when building my Cosine Wherry. The well done illustrations and explanations helped answer many a question on "how" or "why" do do a particular building task. A highly recommended book.



3. This book will give you the confidence to tackle your first stripwood boat project, guaranteed. Susan takes you methodically through each and every step of the process of building a stripwood canoe. She presents alternate methodologies of construction and woodworking that are tempered by knowledge and experience. I have two references at my side while building my Whitehall Pulling Boat - this book and Susan's latest work on building stripwood row boats. Other than the plans for my boat and the occasional advice of experts at The Newfound Woodworks where I got my plans, these books are all you need.



4. This text was easy to read and understand, partly due to the excellent photographs of work in progress. I would highly recommend it for anyone considering the building of a strip canoe.



5. This book as a lot of good information and illustrations. It would be nice if the illustrations were all in color and more detailed, though. Some good information about material sources is included.

3 comments about Small Wars Manual.

1. Between the two world wars the United States sent its military forces to numerous small countries to bolster the US diplomatic efforts. The countries so 'invaded' included virtually every Latin American country and countries as far away as China and the Philippines. In order to have their forces operate, the United States military has to have manuals that define what the forces are going to do.
   
   'Small Wars' are defined in several ways but which do not involve a major effort in regular warfare against a first-rate power. The final manual on the subject was published in 1940, before the concept of small wars was erased by bigger events. After World War II, the manual was not re-written but was reprinted from time to time with the admonition that it should be considered in relation to the time in which it was written.
   
   Now re-published again, the book has been sent to Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries where 'Small Wars' are being fought. It covers every aspect from Strategy to Logistics, from Transportation to small unit tactics. Within the range of subjects covered is Air Trasportation, remember that this was written in 1940. But it also tells you how to load a Browning .30 water cooled machine gun on a pack mule.
   
   This book is obviously not a direct report on what is going on around the world, but it is surprising that so much of the information given here is directly applicable.



2. Despite being over sixty years old, the 1940 edition of the USMC's Small Wars Manual remains one of the cornerstone documents for fighting counter-insurgency warfare. Written in a direct style that is absent from today's military documents, the small wars manual covers the art of fighting limited wars from A-Z, to include ambushes, running elections, disarming the population, and dealing with locals. This book is widely used, often imitated, but never beaten. Far from a historical document, the Small Wars Manual remains vital today.



3. Fascinating book, well written, thoughtful field manual relevant to the history of this type of conflict.
   Good historical introduction. I am thankful for its preservation.
   
   Pavillion Press edition is the most poorly bound book I have ever bought.
   I thought Gutenburg figured out how to do that job correctly.
   Treat it gently as it falls apart in your hands due to poor binding and construction.
   Don't even think about opening it flat.
   Consider it more as a looseleaf photocopy of a lost text.
   Such poor presentation detracts from an otherwise very worthwhile effort.

5 comments about Military Flight Aptitude Tests, 5/e (Arco Military Test Tutor).

1. I purchased this book to study for the AFAST exam. All the sections in this book mirror the fomrat of the AFAST. However, their were some slight differences:
   
   1) The pictures in the Instrument Comprehension portion of the practice exam are extremely dated in comparison to the actual test.
   2) The actual AFAST helicopter knowledge questions seemed too easy in comparison to the ARCO study guide.
   3) The cyclic orientation questions were easier on the AFAST.
   4) The mechanical functions portion had several questions about boats and ships, which were not in the ARCO study guide.
   
   All the personal questions and the complex movements were pretty much exactly the same as the AFAST. Making note cards for the complex movements is a good idea. I also purchased PRINCIPLES OF HELICOPTER FLIGHT to assist with my helicopter knowledge. The diagrams, explanations, and glossary words helped me out tremendously in that book.
   
   Overall this ARCO study guide is great for the AFAST. I scored a 134 on the exam thanks to this book.



2. The ARCO Mikitary Test Tutor is amazing! It really helps, and the practice tests are amazing!



3. This book is deceptively titled. Although it will familiarize you with what will be on the test, it will definitely not make you a master of it.
   
   I have not yet taken the test so I have no idea if it is so basic that this book truly does provide the "in-depth" review it promises, but this book definitely does not "build [my] confidence" because it contains only one practice test per military branch, answer explanations that are often useless because they merely restate the question, and no suggestions for further reading if you struggle with any of the sections.
   
   It explains elementary things (e.g - you must be a certain height to be a pilot, must have a bachelor's degree, etc.) but is vague when it comes to the actual test subjects (e.g. - aviation and nautical information, which aren't covered in ASVAB or GRE prep books or on Navy.mil). Why does this book assume that you don't know that the military has height and weight requirements but that you DO know in which region of the troposphere cirrus clouds form?
   
   Read this book if you have not done any research/preparation whatsoever (e.g. you don't know that Naval flight training is done in Pensacola, you have no idea what types of questions are on the test, etc.), but you should get another study aid if you are trying to increase a decent score or trying to get a perfect score.



4. This book teaches almost all you need to know for doing well in the AFOQT. The test subjects are well laid-out, hints are there if you run into trouble, and the language and structure makes understanding the material simple and easy.
   
   YOU WANT THIS.



5. Used this to prep for the AFAST. It was spot on in and I would recommend it to anyone who is going to take the test. However, you will also need to find another source to study for the helicopter section.

2 comments about Global Physical Climatology, Volume 56 (International Geophysics).

1. This is the most thorough, most rigorous, well-written textbook in global systems climatology that I've seen. If you're bright, interested, and aren't allergic to equations (you don't need to read them to understand the book, you just have to not freak out) then this text will teach you more about the planet as a dynamic system than any other that I've seen -- plus, unlike most texbooks, it's not chuck full of stupid mistakes. I've used it in my upper division climatology class since it came out.



2. Simply put, this is the only assigned text I kept from my college years. It's compact size and overall readability are excellent. Although intended for advanced undergrads and beginning graduate students, it's still a great reference for multi-disciplinary scientists, basic global circulation modellers, researchers, and professors. The appendices are particularly noteworhty, especially the list of English and Greek symbols commonly used in just about all the physical sciences, and the derivation of SI Units. If anything, the book is pricey (as all in the International Geophysics Series are), but this one is worth it.

5 comments about Voyaging Under Power.

1. Although I have never ventured beyond the horizon -- fish for blues out to 25 miles offshore--- I have been fascinated with the modern equivalents of Homer's fabled voyager. This book brings Homer's world-travelling explorer into the 21st century. Make no mistake, this is not a tale of imaginary voyages, but an eminently practical guide for those who would cross oceans
   in engine powered craft to experience exotic and beautiful vistas. Of course you need upwards of half a million bucks to spend on a world-cruising seaworthy vessel. Beebe never envisioned the exorbitant cost of the trawler market when he designed his original passagemaker. He did lay out some very methodical formulae and building guides for follow-up vessels. The epitome of the lessons from
   the first edition were realized by Jim Leishman, author/editor of the revised edition. His Nordhavn 46, and better, his Nordhavn 62, design are the fulfillment of Beebe's directives.
   Unlike another reviewer, I did not find that his revisions smacked of a Nordhavn commercial. He included many other contemporary builders' designs and was fair in his assessments of these boats. All in all, the book is THE bible of offshore and trans-oceanic power cruising. The practical aspects of buying and fitting out a vessel, provisioning it for the voyage, and navigating in mid-ocean as well as in shoal waters, are set out in a lively and clear manner.



2. This book is a great reference in trawler boats and crossing ocean reference. I really recomend this book for someone who is envolve in boat building, trawlering and voayge over oceans;



3. Beebe is the grandaddy of long range power boating. Once he retired from the navy, he had it in his mind to pack up his wife and some friends and see the world in a small boat. When he originally planned this, he had intended to sail, but he came to realize that a round-bottom hull, combined with a small diesel engine was actually *more* economical than attempting to sail long distance. Sailcloth deteriorates faster than you can burn the equivalent of diesel fuel in an efficient motorboat. This book contains many interesting technical graphs and suchlike from which a builder can design a craft capable of world travel. It also goes over essential equipment, layout and other things a squid like me would never think of. The modern revisions, unfortunately, reflect a slightly different philosophy from the original: with a heavier emphasis on buying fat, expensive turnkey systems with elaborate onboard electrical systems (electric air conditioning, electric hot and cold runnig water, electric winches, electric blah blah blah). Trawler Yachts, basically: the guy who did the rewrite of the original book (written in the 1960s) operates the Nordhaven company, which makes such $700k pleasure boats.



4. Very interesting especially from a technical standpoint. A little dry at times and I would have liked a little more personal experience sections. However, I am not finished with it yet, other problems having erupted.



5. This book is a good read even if you are not venturing far. The update has been well done although has come in for some flak from the purists. It gives a snapshot into how far technolgy has come in the 40 or so years since Beebe started writing.

1 comments about Industrial Electrical Troubleshooting (Electrical Trades).

1. Anyone who knows anything about mindbending,hardcore, systematic industrial electrical troubleshooting will imediately recognize that this book is worth its weight in gold! I have been an industrial electrician for many years and I have a degree in electrical technology. Over the years I have read many books to help me in becoming the troubleshooter I am today. However I have never read any book with enough troubleshooting techniques that I could call the real Mcoy until now. This book is the real deal! The Author obviously has been in the industrial electrical field for many years. The best aspect of this book is his ability to clarify and simplify the various techniques of using instruments in troubleshooting safely and efficiently.Well done Mr Lundquist!! We now await the advance edition! THANK YOU Sir.