Randolph W. KingNaval Engineering and American Seapower

Very good history of naval engineering (and some naval architecture) over the past 150 years or so. The book is divided into several historical eras. Each section or chapter then covers the development of subjects such as propulsion machinery, guns and other weapons, fire control, electrical systems, radio and other communication systems, radar, hull design and materials of construction, and fuels. Some sections even cover subjects such as laundry facilities, kitchens and food storage, dehumidification and air conditioning, and barber shops.There is also discussion of the effects of political issues such as the Washington Treaty of 1922 and general economic conditions on the status of the Navy and it's associated technical development.The discussions on ship propulsion machinery was especially interesting, I thought. There is much discussion on triple expansion reciprocating machinery, steam and gas turbines, diesel engines, and electric motors and generators. There is an especially detailed discussion on the development of the turbo-electric drives that were used in battleships and projected battlecruisers in the period roughly 1910 to 1922.