Andrew Faltum – författare

Greyhounds of the Pacific is a comprehensive historical overview of American destroyer operations in the Pacific during World War II. While destroyers initially served in convoy protection roles in the Atlantic, their function in the Pacific shifted as they became independent forces that played a vital part in the war’s outcome. This book examines their transformation from prewar support ships to key players in the Pacific theater, highlighting their adaptability and contributions.Throughout the early years of World War II, U.S. Navy destroyers played a central role in the Battle of the Atlantic. Assigned to convoy escort, antisubmarine patrols, and fleet screening, they operated across wide ocean areas in prolonged contests against German U-boats. As naval operations expanded into the Pacific, destroyers were reassigned to a theater defined by carrier warfare, amphibious landings, and sustained air attacks. There, success depended on different tactical priorities, including anti-aircraft defense, surface action in confined waters, and close coordination with larger fleet formations. Greyhounds of the Pacific traces the wartime service of American destroyers from the opening months of the conflict through the final campaigns of 1945. The narrative begins with the scattered and often improvised actions of U.S. destroyer forces in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor and follows their expanding role in early battles in the Netherlands East Indies, the Coral Sea, and around Guadalcanal. As the war progressed, Fletcher-class ships were increasingly called upon to screen carriers and battleships, conduct shore bombardments, escort amphibious forces, and fight enemy surface units in confined waters, often at night and at close range. From operations in the Solomons, the Central Pacific drive, and the Philippine campaign, including actions off Leyte and Samar, author Andrew Faltum explores the role of the destroyer in the evolution of surface naval warfare.  He also examines the growing threat posed by Japanese submarines and aircraft, culminating in the kamikaze campaign and the demanding radar picket duties off Okinawa. Across the Pacific, the Fletcher-class adapted to new tactical demands through changes in weapons, radar, command-and-control practices, and employment. In addition to combat operations, Greyhounds of the Pacific addresses the technical and organizational aspects of destroyer warfare, including antisubmarine tactics, fighter direction, and the integration of destroyers into larger task forces. Photographs, maps, and technical data supplement the operational narrative, providing context for how these ships were built, modified, and employed. The result is a detailed account of Fletcher-class destroyer operations in the Pacific War, illustrating how these ships and their crews met a wide range of missions across a complex and evolving maritime campaign.

The Supercarriers is a comprehensive historical overview with extensive photos, maps, drawings, and operational detail, including all air-wing deployments. It covers all of the Forrestal class supercarriers and the follow-on ships, which are basically of the same design. The book is heavily illustrated with over one hundred illustrations and maps covering the Western Pacific, Vietnam, Mediterranean, Middle East, Indian Ocean, and Caribbean. The front end paper illustration shows the Saratoga as representative of the Forrestal class with port and starboard profiles and an overhead view. The rear end paper displays similar views of the Constellation as part of the Kitty Hawk class.

Building upon the expertise of the authors and historians of the Naval Institute Press, the Naval History Special Editions are designed to offer studies of the key vessels, battles, and events of armed conflict. Using an image-heavy format, these Special Editions should appeal to scholars, enthusiasts, and general readers alike. The USS Intrepid (CV/CVA/CVS-11), one of the 24 Essex-class aircraft carriers built during World War II, was commissioned in August 1943, and participated in several campaigns in the Pacific, where she was torpedoed once and hit by four different kamikaze suicide aircraft, earning her the unfortunate nicknames “Evil I” and “Decrepid.”Decommissioned shortly after the war, she was modernized and recommissioned in the early 1950s as an attack carrier (CVA), eventually becoming an antisubmarine warfare carrier (CVS). In her second career, Intrepid served in the Atlantic, but also completed three deployments to the Pacific during the Vietnam War, where she operated as a limited attack carrier, pioneering the “CV” concept that combined the antisubmarine and attack roles. She also took part in America’s space program and was the recovery ship for the Aurora 7 Project Mercury and the Gemini 3 space missions. Decommissioned for the second time in 1974 Intrepid was moored at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard where she hosted exhibits as part of the United States Bicentennial celebrations. In 1982, the “Fighting I” became the foundation of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City where she has hosted many special events.The Naval History Special Edition covering the Intrepid tells the complete story of this famous aircraft carrier in a highly readable and engaging format that features many photographs, maps, and illustrations. It should prove to be of interest to those who served aboard her as well as those interested in aviation and naval history.

From World War II battles to the recovery of the Apollo 8 space capsule, USS Yorktown (CV 10) traces the remarkable journey of one of America’s most storied warships. This richly illustrated Naval History Special Edition captures the ship’s evolution through war, Cold War innovation, and space-age missions—now preserved as a living memorial. Building on the expertise of the authors and historians of the Naval Institute Press, the Naval History Special Editions are designed to offer studies of the key vessels, battles, and events of armed conflict.Nicknamed “The Fighting Lady,” USS Yorktown (CV 10) is one of the most iconic and enduring vessels in American naval history. The steel hull carries the marks of three major conflicts, a lunar recovery mission, and sweeping changes in naval warfare across the twentieth century. Commissioned in 1943, Yorktown entered the Pacific Theater at a critical moment during World War II. From raids on Truk and the Gilbert and Marshall Islands to the Marianas Turkey Shoot and on to other decisive battles of the war, Yorktown helped define fast-carrier strike operations that reshaped naval combat.After the war, Yorktown was placed in reserve but then reactivated as Cold War tensions rose. The Navy’s modernization programs adapted the carrier for jet aircraft, installing an angled flight deck, reinforcing flight operations for faster planes, and enhancing antisubmarine capabilities. Reclassified as CVS 10, Yorktown returned to active service during the Vietnam War. In 1968 the ship undertook a different mission: recovering Apollo 8, the first human spaceflight to orbit the moon. This linked naval operations to national technological ambitions during the space race, highlighting the Navy’s evolving strategic role. Today, Yorktown serves as a living memorial and educational platform, preserved as a museum ship at Patriots Point in Charleston, South Carolina, where it continues to enlighten and inspire. This Naval History Special Edition traces Yorktown’s full arc—from frontline combat and Cold War transformation to museum ship and symbol of resilience. More than a relic, the ship exemplifies how naval institutions adapt to shifting geopolitical realities and preserve memory, making USS Yorktown a compelling study in American maritime history and strategy.