Q&A · 3:15:02-3:15:23

Riverine warfare lacks a single general history

A reading question exposes the difficulty of finding one history that connects river and lake warfare across different conflicts.

Question

Is there a good book on riverine warfare beyond the American Civil War?

Short answer

No general cross-conflict survey comes to mind. There is relevant Vietnam work, but the literature is fragmented by war.

Notes

John Keegan's American Civil War work and possible studies of fighting on rivers and lakes provide an initial lead. When the question is clarified as a request for other conflicts, no strong general survey covering riverine warfare across wars comes to mind. A useful Vietnam study is remembered but cannot be identified confidently during the stream. Chinese river warfare in 1946-48 is another interesting case whose sources would be difficult to obtain. The watch point marks a research gap and the need to search conflict by conflict rather than expect one comprehensive naval synthesis.