The men of the U.S. Navy's brown-water force played a vital but often overlooked role in the Vietnam War. Known for their black berets and limitless courage, they maneuvered their aging, makeshift craft along shallow coastal waters and twisting inland waterways to search out the enemy. In this moving tribute to their contributions and sacrifices, Tom Cutler records their dramatic story as only a participant could. His own Vietnam experience enables him to add a striking human dimension to the account. The terror of firefights along the jungle-lined rivers, the rigors of camp life, and the sudden perils of guerrilla warfare are conveyed with authenticity. At the same time, the author's training as a historian allows him to objectively describe the scope of the navy's operations and evaluate their effectiveness.
Winner of the Navy League's Alfred Thayer Mahan Award for Literary Achievement in 1988 when the book was first published, Cutler is credited with having written the definitive history of the brown-water sailors, an effort that has helped readers better understand the nature of U.S. involvement in the war.

The 26th edition of The Bluejacket's Manual continues the tradition of previous editions of this iconic work by serving as both an introduction to neophyte U.S. Navy Sailors and as a career-long reference work for all who wear the Blue and Gold. Readers of previous editions will note two significant changes in this latest rendition.     The first recognizes the U.S. Navy's current emphasis on warfighting. While routine and administrative guidance--such things as uniforms, honors, and ceremonies, pay and benefits, standards of conduct, etc.--remain, this latest edition places greater emphasis on those aspects that Sailors are likely to encounter and must prepare for in the event of combat.   The first chapter is titled and focused on warfighting, reflecting the emphasis on "Warrior Toughness" in the training curriculum at Recruit Training Command (AKA "boot camp") at Great Lakes, Illinois. Readers will find that this training emphasizes the psychological as well as practical aspects of preparation, providing a kind of "philosophy" that is tailored to Bluejackets who may well find themselves facing the challenges inherent to combat operations. Other chapters in the book--such as Weapons and Damage Control--complement this emphasis.     The second major change to the book is its organization of information. The result is a more user-friendly book  As always, the major purpose of revision is to bring the included information relevant and up to date. Readers will find coverage of those aspects of the Bluejacket's world that are evolving. Such things as cyberwar and drones are now included with the emphasis on warfighting.     The Bluejacket's Manual, 26th Edition is a comprehensive yet manageable reference that will continue to serve the needs of the Navy and those who serve.  

As paper navigational charts are replaced by vector images on computer screens, magnetic compasses enhanced by digital flux gate technology, and chronometers joined by atomic clocks, the demand has been mounting for an extensive update to the classic reference known worldwide as Dutton's. To meet the varied needs of today's recreational, naval, and commercial navigators the Naval Institute introduces this new edition of a guide that has remained the seafarers' choice for more than three-quarters of a century. It blends the traditional navigation techniques first compiled by Benjamin Dutton in 1926 with technological marvels of the twenty-first century to authoritatively cover all phases of surface navigation. For example, while the book acknowledges that many navigators still peer into the skies through sextant telescopes, it also helps them take full advantage of man-made Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites. Valued as both an indispensable quick reference and a comprehensive text, Dutton's makes accessible such foreboding subjects as spherical trigonometry through the use of step-by-step explanations and examples that encourage practical use. To insure accuracy and relevancy, a board of experts made up of naval and Coast Guard officers, merchant mariners, accredited harbor pilots, and sea-service academy professors, has carefully reviewed this fifteenth edition. The result is an unparalleled treatment of the art and science of nautical navigation that both amateur and veteran navigators will use to safely navigate the waters of the world. Thomas J. Cutler has been a student, teacher, and practitioner of the navigational arts and sciences for nearly forty years while serving the Navy as a surface warfare officer in vessels ranging from patrol boats to aircraft carriers. He is the current author of The Bluejacket's Manual and other books and articles on naval topics.

The novel, Mister Roberts, was an instant hit after being published in 1946 and was quickly adapted for the stage and screen. The title character, a Lieutenant Junior Grade naval officer, defends his crew against the petty tyranny of the ship's commanding officer during World War II. Nearly all action takes place on a backwater cargo ship, the USS Reluctant, that sails, as written in the play, "from apathy to tedium with occasional side trips to monotony and ennui." This irreverent, often hilarious story about the crew of the Reluctant has enjoyed wide and enduring popularity. Heggen based his novel on his experiences aboard the USS Virgo in the South Pacific during World War II, and began as a collection of short stories. It was subsequently adapted as a play, a feature film, a television series, and a television movie. The film version with Henry Fonda, James Cagney and Jack Lemmon is one of the most well-known movies of WWII. About the Author Thomas Heggen wrote Mister Roberts as a young naval officer on board the USS Virgo in 1944. After the war, he struggled with writing after his early success and died tragically in 1949.

The Brown Water War at 50 presents the work of renowned historians and Vietnam War veterans who describe and interpret the U.S. Navy’s major combat operations in South Vietnam and on its coast. The scope of the book includes the river war in South Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, the coastal patrol, and the intelligence campaign. To complement text, the authors have added images and maps from the U.S. Navy archives, U.S. Naval Institute collection and from private collections. They also provide a s list of the most authoritative works on the subject. In this retrospective, Cutler and Marolda describe not only the actions of the warships, aircraft, and river vessels involved in one of America’s longest wars but also the professional skill, dedication, and courage of the Navy men and women who went in “harm’s way� in Vietnam. The authors detail the development and combat experience of the Navy’s River Patrol Force and the Army-Navy Mobile Riverine Force as they fought the Viet Cong. They relate in full the heroism of Medal of Honor recipients Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class James E. Williams and Lieutenant Thomas G. Kelley, and the leadership of Vice Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt Jr. Intelligence which, until recently, was classified tells the story of the Navy’s intelligence effort in South Vietnam, and describes the operations of SEAL and Naval Intelligence Officers at the tactical level. In short, this book takes an in depth look at the Navy’s major and essential role in a conflict that marked a milestone in modern American history.

In the U.S. Navy, "Wheel Books" were once found in the uniform pockets of every junior and many senior petty officers. Each small notebook was unique to the Sailor carrying it, but all had in common a collection of data and wisdom that the individual deemed useful in the effective execution of his or her duties. Often used as a substitute for experience among neophytes and as a portable library of reference information for more experienced personnel, those weathered pages contained everything from the time of the next tide, to leadership hints from a respected chief petty officer, to the color coding of the phone-and-distance line used in underway replenishments.

In that same tradition, the new "Naval Institute Wheel Books" will provide supplemental information, pragmatic advice, and cogent analysis on topics important to all naval professionals. Drawn from the U.S. Naval Institute's vast archives, the series will combine articles from the Institute's flagship publication "Proceedings," selections from the oral history collection and from Naval Institute Press books to create unique guides on a wide array of fundamental professional subjects.

Leadership is vital to any highly functioning organization. The Naval Institute has devoted countless pages of its publications to the subject of naval leadership, providing start-up guidance to neophytes, giving voice to the accumulated wisdom and experience of those who have led, and serving as a forum in search of answers to the many questions that have always been a part of this vital but sometimes elusive practice. In the pages of this book are some of the most outstanding examples of this wealth of knowledge, gathered for use by both would-be and seasoned leaders in the never-ending quest for strong and effective leadership.

Military ways can be enigmatic, resulting in an alien world where acronyms often replace words and where “1330� is a time of day. Add to that, the Navy is not only military, it is nautical, which adds centuries of sea-going terminology and practices to the confusion. While the young men and women who sign on to become sailors in the United States Navy receive extensive indoctrination and training, their parents do not. As their sons and daughters are becoming uniformed, the parents remain uninformed.This book is both a translation manual and a cultural guide to their son’s or daughter’s chosen new world. Alongside chapters covering uniforms, ranks, ships, and aircraft, are explanations and guidance as to what to expect when their child first joins the Navy, the many benefits their sailor will enjoy, and what families should bring and do when visiting their sailors in their new and somewhat alien world. Designed to be an easy read as well as a useful reference work, The Parent’s Guide to the U.S. Navy is essential reading for those parents whose children have chosen to “go down to the sea in ships.�

The success of the U.S. Navy in its more than two centuries of existence is due not only to the essential contributions of Sailors on active duty and in the reserve, but to the civilians who have worked as part of the Navy since its earliest days. But active and reserve Sailors go to boot camp or officer candidate school to prepare them for their new (unique) occupation. And the Navy has long provided The Bluejacket's Manual to incoming Sailors to serve as an introduction and as a continuing reference so that they will feel more comfortable in a new and otherwise alien world, where floors suddenly become decks, where 1337 is a time in the here-and-now instead of a date from ancient history, and where uniforms are anything but! While it is impractical to send all civilian workers to a centralized indoctrination course, it is possible to provide a common reference, specially designed to acquaint civilians with this very special world they have entered. This book is that common reference guide designed specifically for those civilians, who like the Sailors in the Fleet, serve the nation and the Navy, and who need help in understanding where they are and what it is all about. All organizations and occupations have their own idiosyncrasies, and a big step toward "fitting in" has always been learning how to "talk the talk and walk the walk." Like The Bluejacket's Manual, this guide provides the words and steps needed to serve as an introduction for new employees and as a ready reference for veteran workers.

The last great naval battle of World War II, Leyte Gulf also is remembered as the biggest naval battle ever fought anywhere, and this book has been called the best account of it ever written. First published in hardcover on the battle's fiftieth anniversary in 1994 and drawing on materials not previously available, it blends history with human drama to give a real sense of what happened, despite the mammoth scope of the battle. Every facet of naval warfare was involved in the struggle that engaged some two hundred thousand men and 282 American, Japanese, and Australian ships over more than a hundred thousand square miles of sea. Cutler captures the milieu, analyzes the strategy and tactics employed, and re-creates the experiences of the participants, from seaman to admiral, both Japanese and American. It is a story replete with awe-inspiring heroism, failed intelligence, flawed strategy, brilliant deception, great controversies, and a cast of characters with names like Halsey, Nimitz, Ozawa, and MacArthur. Such an exciting and revealing account of the battle is unlikely to be equalled by future writers.

The U.S. Naval Institute Chronicles series focuses on the relevance of history by exploring topics like significant battles, personalities, and service components. Tapping into the U.S. Naval Institute's robust archives, these carefully selected volumes help readers understand nuanced subjects by providing unique perspectives and some of the best contributions that have helped shape naval thinking over the many decades since the Institute's founding in 1873. With the Panama Canal currently undergoing a major expansion, it is appropriate and enlightening to look back to the early days of this remarkable and somewhat presumptuous project. With its substantial maritime impact, it is not surprising that the canal was the subject of much thought-provoking dialog in the Naval Institute's unique forum.

The U.S. Naval Institute Chronicles series focuses on the relevance of history by exploring topics like significant battles, personalities, and service components. Tapping into the U.S. Naval Institute's robust archives, these carefully selected volumes help readers understand nuanced subjects by providing unique perspectives and some of the best contributions that have helped shape naval thinking over the many decades since the Institute's founding in 1873. True to its role as provider of an open forum, the Naval Institute has devoted many pages to the Vietnam War. In this retrospective and introspective collection, authors provide a look back at that controversial war in search of understanding, lessons learned, recognition, and, in some cases, closure.

The U.S. Naval Institute Chronicles series focuses on the relevance of history by exploring topics like significant battles, personalities, and service components. Tapping into the U.S. Naval Institute's robust archives, these carefully selected volumes help readers understand nuanced subjects by providing unique perspectives and some of the best contributions that have helped shape naval thinking over the many decades since the Institute's founding in 1873. Famous as "boots on the ground," U.S. Marines have long played a vital role in the air as well. In these pages, readers will find both history and analysis as Naval Institute authors record and assess this lesser-known but significant aspect of "Leatherneck" combat over the last century.

The U.S. Naval Institute Chronicles series focuses on the relevance of history by exploring topics like significant battles, personalities, and service components. Tapping into the U.S. Naval Institute's robust archives, these carefully selected volumes help readers understand nuanced subjects by providing unique perspectives and some of the best contributions that have helped shape naval thinking over the many decades since the Institute's founding in 1873. From the American Revolution to the present day, the U.S. Marine Corps has often led the fight against America's enemies. The selections in this anthology offer insights into Marine Operations in Korea in 1871 and again in the 1950s, the Spanish American War, Vietnam, the First Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, and more.

In the U.S. Navy ""Wheel Books"" were once found in the uniform pockets of every junior and many senior petty officers. Each small notebook was unique to the Sailor carrying it, but all had in common a collection of data and wisdom that the individual deemed useful in the effective execution of his or her duties. Often used as a substitute for experience among neophytes and as a portable library of reference information for more experienced personnel, those weathered pages contained everything from the time of the next tide, to leadership hints from a respected chief petty officer, to the color coding of the phone-and-distance line used in underway replenishments. In that same tradition, the new Naval Institute Wheel Books will provide supplemental information, pragmatic advice, and cogent analysis on topics important to modern naval professionals. Drawn from the U.S. Naval Institute's vast archives that has been accumulated for more than a century, the books will combine articles from the Institute's flagship publication Proceedings, selections from the oral history collection and from Naval Institute Press books to create unique guides on a wide array of relevant professional subjects. Command is the pinnacle of leadership in a military organization. Navy Regulations define both the authority and the responsibility of command as ""absolute."" This Naval Institute Wheel Book provides practical guidance and advice that actual and would-be commanders can use to carry out that absolute authority. Included in this specially-selected collection is the experience of those who have commanded as well as the expectations of those who are commanded. Aspirants as well as practitioners will do well to exploit this selected survey of what Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz described as the ""one purpose"" for entering the Navy.

The U.S. Naval Institute Chronicles series focuses on the relevance of history by exploring topics like significant battles, personalities, and service components. Tapping into the U.S. Naval Institute's robust archives, these carefully selected volumes help readers understand nuanced subjects by providing unique perspectives and some of the best contributions that have helped shape naval thinking over the many decades since the Institute's founding in 1873. Serving as a companion to the history of women in the Navy, this volume presents the challenges that have accompanied the long road to gender integration. In these pages readers will find edification, clarification, and much food for thought about one of the most significant national defense issues of modern times.

The U.S. Naval Institute Chronicles series focuses on the relevance of history by exploring topics like significant battles, personalities, and service components. Tapping into the U.S. Naval Institute's robust archives, these carefully selected volumes help readers understand nuanced subjects by providing unique perspectives and some of the best contributions that have helped shape naval thinking over the many decades since the Institute's founding in 1873. Since its founding 100 years ago, Navy Reserve sailors have served in every conflict from World War I to the present. The exploits of the U.S. Navy Reserve have many times been chronicled in the pages of Proceedings and Naval History. This edition of Chronicles culls articles and excerpts from that vast library.

In the U.S. Navy ""Wheel Books"" were once found in the uniform pockets of every junior and many senior petty officers. Each small notebook was unique to the Sailor carrying it, but all had in common a collection of data and wisdom that the individual deemed useful in the effective execution of his or her duties. Often used as a substitute for experience among neophytes and as a portable library of reference information for more experienced personnel, those weathered pages contained everything from the time of the next tide, to leadership hints from a respected chief petty officer, to the color coding of the phone-and-distance line used in underway replenishments. In that same tradition, the new Naval Institute Wheel Books will provide supplemental information, pragmatic advice, and cogent analysis on topics important to modern naval professionals. Drawn from the U.S. Naval Institute's vast archives that has been accumulated for more than a century, the books will combine articles from the Institute's flagship publication Proceedings, selections from the oral history collection and from Naval Institute Press books to create unique guides on a wide array of relevant professional subjects. Naval tactics were described by Vice Adm. A. K. Cebrowski, a brilliant thinker on the subject of naval warfare, as "the sum of the art and science of the actual application of combat power." Renowned naval tactician Capt. Wayne Hughes called the study of naval tactics as striving "to bring whatever order and understanding is possible out of the chaos of battle." With those words of wisdom serving as the "commander's intent," this collection sheds a bright light on this sometimes dark and mysterious but questionably essential realm, illuminating the principles and concepts of tactics that serve the warrior at the most critical moments.