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AIM STRAIGHT A biography of Admiral Sir Percy Scott by Peter Padfield First published 1966 by £10.00 + P & P |
A cream cloth bound book with navy lettering to the spine in VERY GOOD PLUS condition. The un-clipped dust wrapper although a little chipped at the top and bottom of the spine is in VERY GOOD condition - now in protective sleeve. 317 pages 150 mm. x 220 mm. x 30 mm. |
Marder-: From the Dreadnought to Scapa Flow (1970)
" The only full length study of the officer who, with Fisher, was primarily
responsible for the pre-war gunnery revolution. Much new material. "
Jacket flap blurb
With Jellicoe and Fisher, Admiral Sir Percy Scott was one of the three naval giants of the early years of this century. He was without doubt the most controversial figure in the Service, constantly attacking both the 'Noahs' who thought British 'guts' alone sufficient, and the 'historians', who drew ludicrous conclusions from their study of ancient battles. In the process he became a catalyst for the Fisher- Beresford quarrel which, prior to the First World War, threatened to split the Navy; his part in that notorious feud is given here for the first time in all its tragi-comic detail. Percy Scott was the pioneer of accurate naval gunnery, the fervent advocate of submarines and air power and the bitterest opponent of the (now defunct) large battleship in its day of splendour. Like many original and forceful thinkers before him, his ideas were bitterly, opposed, and he was forced out of active service. As a result of the total disregard of his views and advice, Britain's power at sea had been seriously weakened by the time the Second World War broke out.
Peter Padfield's biography of this naval 'prophet without honour' is written with his customary verve and lucidity. As in his previous books about the sea, he lays bare many disturbing facts that should be brought to public attention; as an object lesson in just how dangerous the forces of conservatism can be, this account has an extremely important contribution to make.
Plates
- H.M.S. Active
- H.M.S. Orion, with Thunderer
- H.M.S. Excellent in 1869
- Lieutenant Percy Scott, 1879
- H.M.S. Hercules, from Percy Scott's journal; Percy Scott as Commander, H.M.S. Excellent
- ' Tria Juncta in Uno' in 1884—Fisher, Jellicoe and Scott
- The cricket pitch at Whale Islandz H.M.S. Scylla
- After game
- Mikado aboard H.M.S. Scylla
- H.M.S. Terrible
- Captain Percy Scott, C.V.O., C.B.5
- 4.7" gun mounted outside Ladysmith Commandant of Durban
- Trial round for 6" gun, Durban
- Long 12-pounder on Cape cart wheels
- Searchlight with Scott signalling shutter mounted on railway truck
- 4'7" gun on improved mounting
- The 'loader', H.M.S. Terrible
- Percy Scott timing Dotter practice
- The Spy cartoon
- Scott as Captain of H.M.S. Excellent
- H.M.S. Good Hope
- Lord Charles Beresford
- Percy Scott banished to South America'.
- The first official director tower, in H.M.S. Neptune
- The second official director tower, in H.M.S. Thunderer
- The vindication of the director
- A 'fanciful picture', 1921
- Speech Day at Harrow, 1923
- The defender of London with his two principal aides.
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