Q&A ยท 2:40:21

The gap in broad Indian Ocean naval histories

Useful period studies exist, but no strong English-language survey is recommended for Indian Ocean naval warfare as a whole.

Question

Is there a good book covering the history of naval warfare in the Indian Ocean?

Short answer

There are useful period studies, but he cannot recommend one strong English-language survey covering the whole subject.

Notes

Useful reading depends heavily on the period being studied. Broadly useful works exist for the Second World War and the age of sail. No satisfactory English-language book is offered that combines the wider history into one survey. A non-English work known to a colleague omitted so much that it became a warning about regional coverage, while other possible books remain unread and therefore outside the recommendation.