Best book on postwar Soviet warships?

[uk 75]

What is the best book on postwar Soviet warships covering developnent and weapons?

 

[CaptainKoloth]

The author Ivan Gogin has put out a bunch of books in the last year or so covering this as well as other naval topics:

https://a.co/d/a5etSAY

Amazon.com

Amazon.com

He's Russian and definitely biased (most egregiously claiming that the Moskva sank when its ammunition detonated for i guess no particular reason), but as far as I can tell all the technical information is accurate, and no other English-language sources I'm aware of go into nearly so much detail on the history and development of Russian ships, not even Jane's. I feel I've gotten a good value out of his books.

 

[Owens Z]

What is the best book on postwar Soviet warships covering developnent and weapons?

The author Ivan Gogin has put out a bunch of books in the last year or so covering this as well as other naval topics:
He's Russian and definitely biased (most egregiously claiming that the Moskva sank when its ammunition detonated for i guess no particular reason), but as far as I can tell all the technical information is accurate, and no other English-language sources I'm aware of go into nearly so much detail on the history and development of Russian ships, not even Jane's. I feel I've gotten a good value out of his books.

UK 75, I had never heard of Ivan Gogin's recent four-volume set. The books look pleasingly hefty, with line drawings as I like, and are on a fascinating subject crying out for a new detailed, definitive technical history. And CaptainKoloth gives a thumbs-up. But I have a bias against self-published titles, which perhaps isn't just snobbishness. Later this year, Pen & Sword Books Ltd will publish a book on Tsarist-era cruisers; see < https://www.amazon.co.uk/Russian-Cruisers-Tsarist-Era-1880-1918/dp/1399083392 >. And Przemyslaw Budzbon wrote three volumes on Soviet WW2-era warships for Naval Institute Press. Given the interest in the postwar Soviet Navy, why couldn't Ivan Gogin get a book contract with a publisher like these for his work? And KGB-type lying about the 2022 fate of cruiser Moskva is a bad sign.

For a compact but info-rich reference, I recommend to you John Jordan's book in the Arco/Salamander series, An Illustrated Guide to the Modern Soviet Navy. Or for more depth, I recommend the editions of Norman Polmar's Guide to the Soviet Navy, of which I own the fifth (and last) edition. See the attached photo. Both these authors remain active today. The books are of course long since out of print, but you should be able to find copies in a used bookstore or on eBay (or your public library).

I see that CaptainKoloth was born as the Soviet Empire was collapsing, so he might not be familiar with 1980's books. But if he is, maybe he will compare and contrast the theme, organization, and content of the two 80's books vis-a-vis Ivan Gogin's books, for your insight as you decide what to do. If you do purchase the Ivan Gogin volumes, after reading please let us know what you think. Good luck.

 

[uk 75]

CaptainKoloth and Owens Z
Many thanks for your advice
I have older editions of Polmar bought cheap but have found what I need on Ebay.
I am only interested in the big surface ships ànd submarines so will try and get those two volumes of Gogin.
I will of course let you know how I get on

 

[SOC]

I've gotten a good bit of mileage out of this one: https://www.amazon.com/Warships-USSR-Russia-1945-1995-Pavlov/dp/155750671X