Armies Afloat - (Modern War Studies) by John M Curatola (Hardcover)

About the Book

How the US services prepared for the largest amphibious operation in history.

Book Synopsis

How the US services prepared for the largest amphibious operation in history.

American forces storming the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944, is one of the most famous moments in US military history. But behind this iconic assault is the long-overlooked history of learning and innovation. Significantly, the amphibious forces taken ashore that day were overwhelmingly army soldiers, with sailors and airmen in support. Before the army could launch such an endeavor, however, it had to learn how to conduct amphibious operations against a contested shore.

Creating this capability required a concerted, deliberate effort. Involving an extensive joint endeavor of air, naval, and ground forces, amphibious assault strategy developed over the course of four years. In Armies Afloat, John Curatola leads readers through US Army's amphibious development and capabilities by examining six components: command relationships, ship-to-shore movement, naval surface fire support, air support, beachhead establishment, and logistics and communication. The men, material, processes, and coordination involved in developing such a large-scale amphibious capability was something truly new in warfare. Through a constant process of assessment and review, US forces adjusted methodologies at all levels of war and successfully outpaced--and ultimately defeated--the European Axis powers.

Review Quotes

"Armies Afloat is the best work I've read on amphibious warfare in Europe. Curatola's research is deep and his verdicts judicious. Amphibious operations are complex, the learning curve is steep, and the men at the sharp end pay the price. As Curatola shows in this indispensable book, the US military learned its lessons just in time."--Robert M. Citino, author of Blitzkrieg to Desert Storm: The Evolution of Operational Warfare

"John Curatola has provided a detailed analysis of the development of American amphibious operations in the Mediterranean and European theaters, focusing on the US Army, Navy, and Army Air Forces. The US Army engaged in over 140 landings in the course of World War II, providing a wealth of experience to be considered for future military options in our complex world today."--Conrad C. Crane, author of American Airpower Strategy in World War II: Bombs, Cities, Civilians, and Oil

"Armies Afloat is a welcome examination of the US Army's approach to amphibious operations in the European theater during World War II. John Curatola has provided a critical element to our understanding of the evolution of amphibious warfare, showing that the army's experience in Europe offers a powerful parallel narrative to American operations in the Pacific. This should be essential reading for understanding not only how the Allies gained the capability to successfully launch Operation Overlord, but with the general development of amphibious operations."--Brian F. Neumann, coauthor of Operation Enduring Freedom: May 2005-January 2009

"In Armies Afloat, historian John Curatola systematically guides his readers through the amphibious assault education of the US Army in the Mediterranean and European theaters of World War II. Perhaps overshadowed by the exploits of the Marine Corps in the Pacific, the US Army worked closely with the US Navy, Army Air Forces, and British allies to refine and perfect the ability to 'shoot, move, and communicate' for power projection against enemy controlled territories. By 1944, the US Army was the largest and most capable amphibious assault force in the world, perhaps ever."--Frank Blazich, Jr., author of "An Honorable Place in American Air Power" Civil Air Patrol Coastal Patrol Operations, 1942-1943

"The strength of this book is its explanation of how, over several campaigns, the US Army, Navy, and Air Force adapted and coordinated their equipment, training, and organizations to meet the demands of seizing the far shore. An expert on combined arms tactics and the operational art of war, Curatola is full of insights that historians and serving officers alike will appreciate. Armies Afloat should be required reading for all American military officers, especially those attending the staff and war colleges."--Stephen A. Bourque, author of Tubby: Raymond O. Barton and the US Army, 1889-1963

"This book offers new details regarding how units trained in and rehearsed for each landing, while integrating new equipment and tactics based on the lessons of each previous operation. In the telling, this book introduces readers to a cast of unsung heroes essential to the development of U.S. amphibious capabilities and highlights the contributions of commanders better known for their leadership in combat."--US Naval Institute Proceedings