Read how the Navy's unofficial motto: "Non sibi sed patriae" (not self but country) has been maintained for over 200 years.

Navy: An Illustrated History profiles the U.S. Navy's growth into a highly sophisticated armed force that is capable of projecting military power to all corners of the world. All the battles, ships, aircraft, and sailors who shaped the Navy into the largest modern seaborne military force are included.

Packed with dramatic paintings, evocative photographs, and informative maps, this book provides an up close and personal look into the military branch that has served in every major conflict in US history.

This updated edition traces the progress and expansion of naval technology and tactics from its origins during the American Revolution, through the furious combat of World War II, to shielding the nation from the threats of the Cold War. A brand-new chapter from Kermit "Kit" Bonner, a naval historian and expert, covers the navy's response to the current challenges of the twenty-first century.

Navy: An Illustrated History is a fascinating exploration of the stories of the men and women who fought battles and crafted strategies to create, secure, and protect the United States.

Chester G. Hearn is an American military veteran and historian. He is the author of more than twenty books, including Six Years of Hell: Harpers Ferry During the Civil War and George Washington's Schooners: The First American Navy. Three of his books have been History Book Club selections. He lives in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Kit Bonner is a naval historian and photographer. He has authored or co-authored numerous books on naval history, including USS Iowa at War, Modern Warships, Great Ship Disasters, Warship Boneyards, Cold War at Sea, and Great Naval Disasters. Kit was the naval consultant for the 1997 blockbuster film, Titanic. He lives in Ione, California.