"Who Can Hold the Sea: The U.S. Navy in the Cold War 1945–1960" by James D. Hornfischer is a book that deeply resonated with me, as someone who has a bit of an obsession with war and war related books. What I loved about this book was its comprehensive and spellbinding account of a critical yet often overlooked period in naval history. Hornfischer's narrative seamlessly navigates the post-World War II era, exploring the challenges and transformations the U.S. Navy faced during the early Cold War years.

The book brilliantly captures the transition of the U.S. Navy from its zenith of power in 1945, through the bureaucratic battles in Washington D.C., to its pivotal role in the Korean War. I was particularly fascinated by the portrayal of key figures like James Forrestal, the first Secretary of Defense, and the brilliant but controversial Hyman Rickover, father of the Nuclear Navy. Hornfischer’s sympathetic portrayal of these figures adds a rich layer of depth to the narrative.

Another aspect that stood out for me was the detailed coverage of technological advancements such as the development of nuclear power in submarines and the Sidewinder missile. These innovations not only redefined naval warfare but also left a lasting impact on military strategy--fascinating topic to read about.

However, the book's conclusion feels somewhat abrupt, likely due to Hornfischer's untimely passing. May he be blessed. This unfinished aspect left me desiring more, a testament to the engaging nature of Hornfischer’s storytelling. It's a poignant reminder of the author's talent and his contribution to the field of naval history.

Overall, "Who Can Hold the Sea" is a compelling blend of military history and narrative artistry. It's a fitting tribute to Hornfischer's legacy, offering readers a unique insight into an era that shaped much of today's geopolitical landscape. For anyone interested in naval history or the intricacies of post-World War II military strategy, this book is a must-read.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided by NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This is a story about strongholds.

I was pleasantly impressed by this one - I anticipated a dry experience, but it read easily and the author did a good job of making the content accessible. if you’re interested in military history, this is a good. bet!

Thank you so much Netgalley, Ballantine, Bantam

Following Japan’s surrender, American ships took the several million soldiers and deactivating nearly 2,000 ships. However, by the end of the year, naval leaders confronted a battle, as Congress was considering a bill to unify the Navy and Army under a single leader. According to Congress, that would save money and increase efficiency but the Navy convinced Congress not to do that. The Navy’s admirals felt strongly they were the first line of defense for the United States. The Navy dwarfed all others and controlled the world’s sea lanes throughout the Cold War era to present day. I found out about how the atomic bomb and nuclear power shaped the geopolitical rivalry between the United States and Russia.

There is much more information about the Navy that the author tells. Until I read this book I had no idea how important the Navy was for our defense. I am so glad that I read this naval history book. I am confident that anyone in the military (present or retired) would enjoy reading this book. I think any adult would enjoy the book.

A good look at the Cold War following WW2, when the superpowers were vying for control of the seas. An interesting read for the history enthusiast.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Who Can Hold the Sea, The US Navy in the Cold War 1945-1960, by James D. Hornfischer is not a typical book for this blog, probably meant more for someone like Las Vegas Bill, a WWII history fan, but I agreed to give it a go. And it is nonfiction, a territory we at Men Reading Books rarely enter. Kathleen Quinlan of Penguin/Random House made this referral after seeing some of our reviews through Net Galley. Hornfischer is considered the dean of American naval historians, and he set himself with one ambitious task. So here goes, and given the expansive task that Hornfischer set for himself, my review will be relatively short.

The author touches on various naval actions during WWII, both above the ocean’s surface and below. He wrote about naval officers, naval enlisted men, presidents, various government officials, political movements within the country which impacted decisions about the armed services, and the fragility of humanity. He addressed during this 15 year period, the worldwide geopolitical rivalry between the US Navy and the Soviet Union.

Hornfischer pointed to a speech by Stalin on 2/9/46, the day before elections in Russia, as the start of the cold war in which Stalin credited the defeat of Hitler to the communist system in the Soviet Union: “The war proved that the Soviet social system is genuinely people’s system, which grew up from the ranks of the people and enjoys their powerful support…. The Soviet social system has proved to be more viable and stable than the non-Soviet social system.” Of course he failed to mention the $9 billion in arms provided to the Soviets under the Lend-Lease program, etc. Essentially, Stalin declared that there could be no peaceful coexistence between the economic systems of communism and capitalism. It was President Truman who talked of “containment” and “anticommunism,” and he instituted loyalty checks from government employees. At the same time the US was rapidly drawing down all of its WWII forces and equipment, there was a need to avoid a total withdrawal in order to continue to shape world events and to maintain command of the oceans. The author wrote that on a globe which was 71% seawater, sea power was power itself.

This book contained stories of successes and failures of various navy programs. Hornfischer wrote about personality conflicts between presidents and the military during the evolution of the nuclear age. Passionately, he wrote about numerous acts of heroism. In short, if you have an interest in military history, particularly naval history, then this book is a must. I’ll be sending this review to my friend in Las Vegas, and I know he’ll move this to the top of his reading queue.

What a wealth of information is contained within these pages! It was very interesting to read the story of the US Navy’s importance in … well … in the history of the world! Certainly in the second World War and into the Vietnam era. A lot of the wheelings and dealings in Washington brought to light by this author were previously unknown to me. I would never have thought that the Admirals, themselves, who had just won WWII in the Pacific, would have to fight for the very life of the Navy as a separate military entity.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, Bantam, in exchange for an honest review. Anyone interested in naval history will enjoy reading this.

With the times are the way they are I have been reading more about past history. This to me was a well researched book and even though I didn't understand some of it I did read it. While reading the book I have a better understanding of what went on during that period . I have more respect to our men and women that serve our country.

Well written and researched book concerning US Navel power from the 1940s through the 60s. At times while reading I thought I felt the ships' engines vibrating through the deck. What really floated my boat (sorry) were the discussions about the Navy's part in the Korean War, the changeover from diesel to nuclear power and the North Pole expeditions. The strategic issues discussed here are relevant to the current strategic issues concerning Ukraine.

This has been very slow reading for me because it is not remotely fiction. It is a history of the Navy from the later years of World War II through the Cold War. I find that I can’t sit and read history the way I do fiction. I have to study it while reading and can only digest a chapter at a time. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who would want the familiarity it brings to this long and dramatic period in American history, particularly in light with what appears to be happening in our world today. Many thanks to Net Galley and Random House for allowing me the privilege of reading an ARC for an honest review.

Why would someone be interested in reading a detailed history of naval operations the decade after WW II? Because, writes Hornfischer, “the geopolitics of the U.S. has been driven by maritime realities more than by any other force.” (214/6806) Much of the book deals with the rivalry between the U.S. Navy and the Soviet Union. It was only at sea, Hornfischer says, that the U.S. was superior to Moscow. (1900/6806)

This is a great book for history buffs but would also be of interest to those who want to understand the current relationships between major nations. Many of the nations currently allied in causes formed those alliances as a result of WW II. Hornfischer's description of the developing situation in the USSR after WW II sounds much like what is happening today. I now understand how the concept developed that the U.S. should be responsible for the security of all mankind, the force needed to secure the freedom of the world. (1578/6806)

Hornfischer writes well. What could be boring history is brought alive under his pen. I was caught up in his engaging account of the fire in the sub USS Cochino and the rescue action. The strange events around the death of Forrestal reads like a mystery novel. I had read about the testing of atomic bombs by Bikini but learned a great deal about how and why it was done. So much about radioactivity was unknown at the time great lengths were taken to understand its effects. We are taken through the Korean War, the Suez Canal crisis, the development of missiles, and the engaging trip of the USS Nautilus under the ice of the North Pole on its second attempt.

This book is well written and interesting. I appreciate the information contained, presented in a readable way.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

This remarkable work tells of the Navy in the Cold War. There is history, and adventure, on and under the water.

In 1945, at the end of WWII, the Navy is sending its soldiers home and decommissions most of its warships. And then, Stalin, a former ally, begins to make moves in Europe leading Churchill, worried about the Communists, to declare an iron curtain and the U.S. set out to establish military bases all over the world.

The Navy played a crucial role in that time of increasing tensions. Things were happening and they were at the forefront. The A-bomb tests, the science behind waging war and sonar, and the underwater battles with the submarine.

So much research went into this book. All of his books. He passed away writing this book. If you are interested in Naval History, this is the book for you!

NetGalley/ May 3rd, 2022 by Bantam

This is a wonderful story for those who love military history. It pays homage to the Navy for all that it has achieved and all it has missed the mark on. The author is very proficient at explaining things to the reader in a way that they can understand without having a military background. It allows you to get a vivid visual picture of what might have been occurring as if you were gazing on the scene.

With his trademark ability to make history come alive and read like a thriller that will be sorely missed, James D. Hornfischer tells the story of the US Navy in the Cold War era. One may think that the Cold War era would pale in comparison to World War 2 in terms of significance and action, but this book shows that the Navy certainly did not sit still during those years..

Who Can Hold the Sea – The U.S. Navy in the Cold War 1945-1960 by James D. Hornfischer is the first book that I have read by this author. The title describes what this non-fiction history book covers in the broad sense. However, it also gives insight into the people, politics, and policies of the times.

This history narrative has the added bonus of action above and below the sea. As World War II ends, sailors go home and warships are decommissioned. However, aggressive moves by Stalin in Europe and the Far East make this a short time of calm. George Kennan, the number two man for the United States in Moscow, sends a telegram describing the Soviet Union’s ambitions, pathology, and more. It helps to shape the Truman administration’s actions in light of this new geopolitical threat.

This book is not the dry text of typical histories. It is filled with facts, people, politics, policies, action, interactions, technological advances, and challenges. The author shows the many challenges faced by the United States and the U.S. Navy. The post war politics between the Army and the Navy was especially interesting. It’s something you don’t read about in traditional history books. The many challenges faced by the Navy were political, technical, and strategic. Additionally, if you think partisan activism and anger at the press is a recent phenomenon, you will know differently after you read this book.

Overall, this is a very readable, enlightening, and educational history of the U.S. Navy during the early days of the Cold War. At the end are several images of important political and military personnel during this period as well as an extensive bibliography, image credits, and index. I highly recommend this book to those interested in history, naval history, the early years of the Cold War, and geopolitics.

Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Bantam provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for May 03, 2022.

Review of Uncorrected eBook Proof

As World War II ended, peace was a fragile commodity as the Communist threat grew and Joseph Stalin moved aggressively to occupy eastern European states and to establish Soviet-aligned governments.

An absorbing, introspective, and detailed look at the United States Navy during the cold war with the Soviet Union. With air power rapidly becoming a primary focus for the military, there was a struggle for the Navy to remain relevant even as the decision-makers believed ships were obsolete.

Filled with intriguing facts and often little-known information, the author expertly weaves the challenges faced by military and civilian leaders in an emerging superpower struggle defined by strategy, a rapidly-growing technology, and diplomacy that directly affected the Navy during the cold war.

The battlefields were many . . . political, inter-service, technological, strategic . . . yet as the author details the challenges facing the United States Navy in the aftermath of World War II, readers will find the book eminently readable and informative.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Bantam and NetGalley
#WhoCanHoldtheSea #NetGalley

Although I served in the military during the Vietnam war, I certainly don't consider myself to be someone who reads many books focused on the military, although I have a particular interest in the Pacific theater during WWII.
I was fascinated by Mr. Hornfisher's book because it addressed the Cold War period following WWII at a level of detail, both politically and militarily, that, at least for me, far exceeds anything that I have read.
The infighting between service branches that he provides remarkable insights into was set out in a way that allowed the reader to understand and identify the winners and losers and their tactics and strategies. The decisions made over that 20-30 year period but especially in the 1940s - 1950's, were crucial for our country and for the world and as the book chronicles, most of those decisions were made appropriately and even wisely, thanks in large part to the extraordinary leaders of that time in both the civilian and military spheres.
The book is not a long read but it is a true learning experience. A must read!

Mr. Hornfischer applies his historical chops to a new and just as fascinating topic. The cold war duel between the United States Navy and her Soviet adversaries. Either on deterrence patrols, circumnavigating the globe underwater, or tapping underwater cables Mr. Hornfischer educates us about the very tense very real warriors who helped prevent Soviet domination and the crushing of the free world. I only wish Mr. Hornfischer was still with us to produce great new material as well as to find great new literary talent as an agent.

Who Can Hold The Sea by James D. Hornfischer- A rich detailed account of the U.S. Navy from the end of WWII to 1960 and the Cold War. Made up of insightful revelations and little known facts: the story of how the Navy fought on the political battlefield at home and abroad to stay relevant in an increasingly air military dependant age, when ships were thought to be obsolete. Along with this came the terrifying specter of the atom bomb and who would use it to rule. Naval engineers began developing tools and procedures that would help the U.S. stay ahead of our Communist enemies. Never boring, this book, which makes all this very easy to read and understand, is a treasure of information about that period in our history.

This was a fascinating look at the U.S. Navy whom after returning triumphantly from the Second World War began to ready itself for a new war. In Hornfischer’s last work, he has managed to chronicle the history of the Navy in the early Cold War very well. The reader has the opportunity to see how the Navy also factored into the large scale chess match of the time as well. I would recommend this for anyone interested in how America managed to shift from one conflict to another right away.

I am pleased and honored to have been provided by Random House with an ARC of James D. Hornfischer's last work, written even as he succumbed to the illness which took him far too young. It is entitled "Who Can Hold the Sea: The U.S. Navy in the Cold War 1945-1960," and it is a fitting capstone to his distinguished body of work, well known to any of you interested in twentieth century naval history. Hornfischer is perhaps best known for the book which first introduced me to his canon, "The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors," but that is far from being his only contribution to his field of study. In "Who Can Hold the Sea" he departs from the taut battle narratives which have distinguished him and takes on the massive technogical, strategic, diplomatic and inter-service rivalries which dominated the growth and development of U.S. naval power in the period between 1945 and 1960. I left the book somewhat exhausted by its breadth and the clear depth of the author's understanding of his materials, but feeling a new appreciation for the men and women who shaped the the modern U.S. Navy. Most importantly, and I cannot stress this enough, both Harry Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower emerged from these pages as much more significant in their contributions and decision making as they presided over challenges ranging from the Korean War to the Suez Crisis and from the development of nuclear weapons and related naval developments, to include the new face of the American way of projecting power. This is must reading for anyone looking to understand the enormous changes in the U.S. Navy following World War II. It is a capstone to the legacy of excellence by which Hornfischer distinguished himself in both the depth of his research and the charm of his prose. There are few who are his equals.