{"title":"Paul L Stillwell, USNR (Ret.)","description":"\u003cp\u003ePaul L Stillwell, USNR (Ret.) offers readers a vivid exploration of naval history through detailed accounts of America’s iconic battleships. His works provide a compelling blend of personal narrative and military history, immersing enthusiasts in the strategic and human elements of naval warfare.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFocusing on vessels such as the Battleship Missouri and Battleship New Jersey, Stillwell’s books are rich with historical insight and first-hand perspectives. They are essential reading for those interested in the legacy and operation of the United States Navy’s most storied battleships.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"battleship-commander-by-paul-stillwell-9781682475935","title":"Battleship Commander","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinner of the 2022 Rear Admiral Samuel Eliot Morison Award for Naval Literature\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the first-ever biography of Vice Admiral Willis A. Lee Jr., who served a key role during World War II in the Pacific. Recognising the achievements and legacy of one of the war's top combat admirals has been long overdue until now. \u003cem\u003eBattleship Commander\u003c\/em\u003e explores Lee's life from boyhood in Kentucky through his eventual service as commander of the fast battleships from 1942 to 1945.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePaul Stillwell draws on more than 150 first-person accounts from those who knew and served with Lee from boyhood until the time of his death. Said to be down to earth, modest, forgiving, friendly, and with a wry sense of humour, Lee eschewed the media and, to the extent possible, left administrative details to others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eStillwell relates the sequential building of a successful career, illustrating Admiral Lee's focus on operational, tactical, and strategic concerns. During his service in the Navy Department from 1939 to 1942, Lee prepared the U.S. Navy for war at sea and was involved in inspecting designs for battleships, cruisers, aircraft carriers, and destroyers. He sent observers to Britain to report on Royal Navy operations during the war against Germany and made plans to send an action team to mainland China to observe conditions for possible later Allied landings there.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePutting his focus on the need to equip U.S. warships with radar and antiaircraft guns, Lee was one of the few flag officers of his generation who understood the tactical advantage of radar, especially during night battles. In 1942, Willis Lee became commander of the first division of fast battleships to operate in the Pacific. During that service, he commanded Task Force 64, which achieved a tide-turning victory in a night battle near Guadalcanal in November 1942.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLee missed two major opportunities for surface actions against the Japanese. In June 1944, in the Marianas campaign, he declined to engage because his ships were not trained adequately to operate together in surface battles. In October 1944, Admiral William Halsey's bungled decisions denied Lee's ships an opportunity for combat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eContinuing his career of service near the end of the war, Lee, in the summer of 1945, directed anti-kamikaze research efforts in Casco Bay, Maine. While Lee's wartime successes and failures make for compelling reading, what is here in this biography is a balanced look at the man and officer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46798627176684,"sku":"9781682475935","price":79.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/462623482787.jpg?v=1757212108"},{"product_id":"battleship-missouri-by-paul-stillwell-9781591142317","title":"Battleship Missouri","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNow available in paperback, this book traces the complete story of the \u003cem\u003eMissouri\u003c\/em\u003e from her keel-laying in 1941, her participation in the Japanese surrender in 1945, and her contribution to the Persian Gulf War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThrough extensive interviews and research with records from the Naval Heritage and History Command, National Archives, Harry S. Truman Library, and other repositories, author Paul Stillwell has produced an engrossing portrait of the ship and her crew.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith a detailed chronology of the ship's legendary career, dozens of human interest stories, and hundreds of photographs and drawings, \u003cem\u003eBattleship Missouri\u003c\/em\u003e serves as a fine tribute to one of the great ships of the modern era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46848518488300,"sku":"9781591142317","price":130.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/13957513482754.jpg?v=1758983962"},{"product_id":"battleship-new-jersey-by-paul-l-stillwell-9781682475676","title":"Battleship New Jersey","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eBattleship New Jersey: The Complete History\u003c\/i\u003e offers the complete history of this long-storied ship from its keel laying in 1940, across all major naval conflicts of the 20th Century from WWII, Korea and Vietnam, and into the Persian Gulf. Driven by compelling new interviews with those who served on the NJ, this volume will be a major draw for readers of battleship design, WWII naval combat in the Pacific, and modern naval warfare.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eBattleship New Jersey: The Complete History\u003c\/i\u003e is a deeply detailed account of one of the world's most famous and decorated battleships. This new edition builds upon the 1986 original, incorporating the ship's service from 1986 to 1991, her final decommissioning, and her transformation into a world-class museum and memorial in Camden, New Jersey, in 2001. Author Paul Stillwell, who served on the ship, presents a narrative rooted in the personal stories of more than two hundred crew members. His research included interviews with thirteen of the ship's nineteen commanding officers. Through these men's recollections, readers will witness a firsthand perspective of life on board this legendary vessel, fostering a deep appreciation for the camaraderie and challenges faced by her sailors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe story begins with the ship's genesis, from her design and construction at the Philadelphia Navy Yard to her historic launch on December 7, 1942—exactly one year after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Commissioned in 1943, \u003ci\u003eNew Jersey\u003c\/i\u003e arrived in the Pacific in 1944. During her World War II service, she defended aircraft carriers, conducted shore bombardments, and served as Adm. William F. Halsey Jr.'s flagship. The battleship's wartime service continued through pivotal moments in history, including the sprawling Battle of Leyte Gulf. During the Korean War, she was the first battleship recommissioned, providing critical shore bombardment fire support and flagship duties. The Vietnam War saw her in action once again, with her powerful guns safeguarding U.S. troops and striking enemy positions with unmatched accuracy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"Rest well, yet sleep lightly and hear the call, if again sounded, to provide firepower for freedom.\"\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThese words were spoken by Capt. Robert C. Peniston at the ship's decommissioning in 1969. She did indeed hear the call, and President Ronald Reagan recommissioned \u003ci\u003eNew Jersey\u003c\/i\u003e in 1982. \"Firepower for Freedom\" was once again the ship's motto—a perfect metaphor for the battleship's powerful weaponry used to protect American interests. Under President Reagan's rearmament programme, \u003ci\u003eNew Jersey\u003c\/i\u003e returned to duty and embarked on a global deployment that included combat operations off Lebanon, where she fired a record 288 rounds in a single day. Her legacy extended to her role as the centrepiece of the Navy's first battleship battle group from the mid-1980s until her decommissioning in 1991.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eBattleship New Jersey: The Complete History\u003c\/i\u003e invites readers aboard \"Big J\" to experience the remarkable journey of a vessel that stands as a testament to naval innovation, resilience, and service. More than a ship's history, this book is a tribute to the men who served in her and their indomitable spirit. Whether you are a naval history enthusiast or new to the topic, this book will be an essential and compelling addition to your library.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47558902907116,"sku":"9781682475676","price":190.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781682475676-battleship-new-jersey.jpg?v=1776920184"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/paul-l-stillwell-usnr-ret.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}