Military. Jane's Fighting Ships 1905-6, edited by Fred T. Jane.

ARCO, 1970. Reprint.  Ex-library, very good with usual library evidence. Protected dust jacket with protector taped to book. 452 pages with photos and detailed information about battleships, cruisers, torpedo craft, etc.  Includes naval vessels from the United States, Great Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, Italy, Austria-Hungary, Sweden,Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, and Greece.  Summary: 

The 1970 ARCO reprint of Jane’s Fighting Ships 1905–6, originally edited by Fred T. Jane, reproduces one of the most historically significant early editions of the famed naval annual. Issued as a facsimile, the reprint preserves the original text, illustrations, ship silhouettes, and statistical tables, making this pre–First World War reference work accessible to modern scholars and collectors.

Historical Importance of the 1905–6 Edition

The 1905–6 volume appeared just before the launch of HMS Dreadnought, the revolutionary battleship that transformed naval architecture and strategy. As such, the edition captures the world’s fleets at the height of the pre-dreadnought era and documents the naval arms competition among major powers, especially United Kingdom and Germany.

Contents of the Reprint

The ARCO edition faithfully reproduces the original structure, including:

• Detailed listings of warships by nation

• Technical specifications (displacement, armament, armor, propulsion, speed)

• Ship silhouettes and recognition diagrams

• Editorial commentary and strategic analysis by Jane

• Comparative assessments of naval construction programs

Because it retains the original analytical tone and data presentation, the reprint functions as a primary historical source rather than a modern reinterpretation.

Significance of the 1970 Reprint

By republishing the 1905–6 volume, ARCO made an important naval reference available to a new generation during a period of renewed interest in maritime history. The reprint is particularly valuable for researchers studying:

• The evolution of battleship design

• Pre–World War I naval strategy

• The early development of standardized naval intelligence reporting

In sum, the 1970 ARCO reprint of Jane’s Fighting Ships 1905–6 preserves a crucial documentary record of global sea power on the eve of the dreadnought revolution, maintaining its usefulness as both a technical reference and a historical artifact.