Spencer C. Tucker Knihy

May 1862. The C.S.S. Alabama is launched in Liverpool and makes its way to the Azores. There it receives its armaments, is commissioned under the command of Raphael Semmes, and embarks on a 21-month journey of unparalleled destruction of the Union merchant fleet. This campaign is highlighted by the sinking of the Union warship Hatteras off Galveston. Semmes and his Alabama search the seas from Newfoundland to the South Atlantic, from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, for Union merchant vessels. More than sixty ships are sunk or captured before Semmes and his exhausted crew finally meet their match. Trapped by the U.S.S. Kearsarge while anchored in the French harbor of Cherbourg, Semmes comes out to fight. For over an hour the ships bombard each other. Finally, the Kearsarge prevails, sinks the Alabama and takes many of her crew captive. Semmes and many of the rest of the crew are dramatically rescued by the English yacht, Deerhound, and make their way to England. A detailed account by a highly regarded expert in Naval History of the incredible exploits of Raphael Semmes and the Alabama during her 75,000-mile odyssey.

Focusing on the Vietnam War's historical context, the book explores the series of struggles faced by Vietnam against foreign domination, particularly since WWII. Spencer Tucker presents a comprehensive overview that includes the Vietnamese, French, and American perspectives, highlighting misconceptions and missed opportunities that led to U.S. involvement. By addressing sociopolitical, economic, diplomatic, and cultural aspects, it serves as both an introduction to Vietnamese history and a deeper understanding of America's role in the conflict.

The book highlights the crucial role of naval operations during the Civil War, emphasizing how the North's maritime superiority influenced the war's outcome. By exploring the often-overlooked naval battles, it reveals how these strategic efforts impacted land engagements and ultimately shifted the war in favor of the Union. The focus on maritime history provides a deeper understanding of the Civil War's complexity and the significance of naval power in military strategy.

Traces the career of one of the US Navy's first admirals, Andrew Hull Foote. In this revealing portrait, Spencer Tucker describes Foote as emblematic of a period of great change in the American navy. The first study of the admiral to be published in more than 100 years, this work makes an important contribution to the literature of the period.