Fabled fifteen, the pacific war saga of carrier air group. Selected as a best book of 2011 by military history quarterly. By sunset, their vaunted carrier force, the kido butai, had been sunk and their grip on the pacific had. Sep 15, 2011 refighting the pacific war focuses largely on naval battles and campaigns, including pearl harbor, coral sea, midway, guadalcanal, philippine sea and leyte gulf. War in the pacific on the aircraft carrier uss petrof bay by rick cline r. This book is a good over all read into carrier war in ww2. Fighting flattops is a turnbased game covering world war ii aircraft carrier combat operations in the south pacific. Wasp was commissioned in november 1943, and served. An excellent account of the second world war in the philippines, from the prewar american colony to the disasters of 194142, the long struggle of the resistance to macarthurs eventual return and the costly battles that followed. Pacific war, major theatre of world war ii that covered a large portion of the pacific ocean, east asia, and southeast asia, with significant engagements occurring as far south as northern australia and as far north as the aleutian islands.
Carrier war in the pacific hardcover january 1, 1966 by e m eller stephen w sears author. It is a relatively brief book, one of the timelife series, epic of flight. Carriers at war is a simulation of fleet carrier air and naval operations in the pacific theater from 1941 to 1945 and focuses on command strategy. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. Ive had a lifelong interest in world war ii and the pacific war, and this was one of the first books i ever read when i was in grade school that dealt with the pacific war, and it probably has a lot to do with sparking my interest in the first place. List of aircraft carriers of world war ii wikipedia. This 1925 novel inspired japans attack on pearl harbor the. It was the struggle that rolled back the japanese empire and set the stage for. Books on the pacific war from pearl harbor to hiroshima.
Contributors to this alternative history include noted military historians william bartsch, john burton, donald goldstein, john lundstrom, robert. In the pacific ocean clashes occurred between aircraft carrier fleets. Colloquially called the big e, she was the sixth aircraft carrier of the united states navy. I was an immediate fan of ian toll when i found his first book six frigates in a gift shop on the newport, rhode island waterfront. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. With the advent of heavierthanair flight, the aircraft carrier has become a decisive weapon at sea. The game is designed for two players, but can be played solitaire or by teams of gamers.
The battle of midway was the hinge on which the war in the pacific turned. Commanding a powerful force of navy, marine corps, and army assets as well as land and carrier based aircraft, halseys mission was to neutralize the japanese. The pacific saga of carrier air group 15 by thomas mckelvey cleaver, casemate, havertown, pa. Uss wasp cvcvacvs18 was one of 24 essexclass aircraft carriers built during world war ii for the united states navy. Once the war broke out, most of the naval strategists working for the joint chiefs of staff in washington, and for chester w. I think this may be that one book you can give a scifirpg gamer in your club and bring them up to date for a pacific campaign in bolt actionflames of warbattlegroupangriff.
The war in the pacific was, for the first time, a war of aircraft carriers. Ijn zuikaku imperial japanese navy aircraft carrier. For the first time, battles at sea were fought between fleets that. Battle of the coral sea naval history and heritage navy. Fortunately, there is no shortage of worthwhile books about the. The imperial japanese navy in the pacific war general military. Unfortunately, the book couldve really used a map highlighting the chronology and positioning of the fleets and encounters.
War in the pacific covers the entire pacific theater of wwii from dec 7th 1941 until june 30th 1946 the war at sea besides critical hit locations for all weapons platforms and any radar installations, individual armor locations and a wealth of performance and characteristics data, each ships crew has an experience rating for day and night combat. Publishers weekly ambroses narrative is convincing. The ship, the ninth us navy ship to bear the name, was originally named oriskany, but was renamed while under construction in honor of the previous wasp cv7, which was sunk 15 september 1942. The greatest loss of life was the 2,046 killed on akitsu maru a converted passenger liner with a small flight deck, carrying the imperial japanese army s 64th infantry regiment. World war ii is sometimes thought of as primarily a fight against nazi germany, with the war in the pacific as an afterthought. Fabled fifteen the pacific war saga of carrier air group 15. In february 1943, after an epic sixmonth struggle, they were expelled from the island and it became a staging base for u. It reads like a really long wikipedia article on the pacific war, only actually vetted by an editor with interesting illustrations.
The war against japan army center of military history. Carrier operations in the pacific war history online. It is nicely illustrated with period photographs, including many of the classics. Reynolds the carrier war is a nice summary of how the aircraft carrier replaces the battleship as the central actor of naval war in 20th century. A more thorough documentation would have helped future historians in completing the history of carrier air group 15. Few authors cover aviation and war with the authenticity that thomas mckelvey cleaver brings to fabled fifteen. The british carrier pilots contributions to the war effort in the southeastern pacific area. Carrier war is a complete simulation of military operations in the pacific theater from december 1941 to april 1944. Carrier battles make for interesting campaigns as they were carried out by limited forces those aboard ship at a set of limited targets an island or an opposing task force, unhindered and unaided by units outside the scope of the campaign especially across the trackless expanses of the pacific. A yorktownclass carrier, she was launched in 1936 and was one of only three american carriers commissioned before world war ii to survive the war the others being saratoga and ranger. American escort carriers, nicknamed jeep carriers or baby flat tops, transported aircraft and other supplies to the front lines during the pacific war.
Now available in paperback, conquering tide tells the story of the fight after the battle of midway in the air, on and under the water, and on specks of land. The imperial japanese navy in the pacific war general military stille, mark. This 1925 novel inspired japans attack on pearl harbor. Best books on the pacific war for reasons big and small, understandable and unjustified, the war in the pacific during world war ii has largely been overshadowed by the allies war against hitler. The capture of the mariana islands and the accompanying ruin of japanese carrier airpower marked a pivotal moment in the pacific war. While the main concentration is on the major naval actions, the book also delves into key island battles, like tarawa, saipan, iwo jima, and okinawa, as well as pre war and post war. The game focuses heavily on carrier fleet command strategy. Crisis in the pacific the battles for the philippine islands by the men who fought them, gerald astor. Very detailed book about an area of ww2 that is often overlooked. Players may or may not be online at the same time when they play each other.
This book is a good choice for those looking to experience pacific aerial combat through the eyes of the men that took part. The book also includes a section with maps showing the major battles and engagements as well as the capital ship losses on both sides in the pacific theater. Carrier war in the pacific was first published as part of the american heritage junior library series in 1966. Called a great book worthy of a great man, this definitive biography of the commander in chief of the pacific fleet in world war ii is considered the best book ever written about admiral chester w. Praise for the pacific doing for the war against japan what band of brothers did for the war against germany, ambroses history effectively immerses readers in the good wars second front. Navy and marine carrierbased aircraft of world war ii. The final section covers navy paint schemes and markings used on these aircraft in the years leading up to the war, and how they continued to evolve during the conflict.
Navy and marine carrierbased aircraft of world war. They took over the leading role from the battleships which had been the queens of the sea for the previous centuries. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading usn carriers vs ijn carriers. Burning japanese aircraft carrier during a bombing attack at the. Carrier war in the pacific penrose community library. Review by lcdr ethan williams, usn united states air force academy. I liked this book because 1 it gave a true account of carrier war in the pacific and 2 it was the oral history of officers and enlisted men who took part in the. Carriers at war is a simulation of fleet carrier air and naval operations in the pacific theater from 1941 to 1945. Both sides developed these unique, powerful striking forces from scratch and over 20 years for this specific moment. Its 96 pages filled with lots of information and images and not just for the junior reader. Fabled fifteen is a good starting point to recording the full history of the famed carrier air group. The pacific 1942 duel book 6 kindle edition by stille, mark, palmer, ian, gerrard, howard. They took over the leading role from the battleships which had been the dominated the sea during the previous centuries. An excellent account of the second world war in the philippines, from the pre war american colony to the disasters of 194142, the long struggle of the resistance to macarthurs eventual return and the costly battles that followed.
Many consider the battle of midway to have turned the tide of the pacific war. Refighting the pacific war looks at how world war ii in the pacific might have unfolded differently, giving historians, authors and veterans the opportunity to discuss what happened and what might have happened. The battle of midway pivotal moments in american history. The scale of the game is strategic with operational overtones. No tactical masterstroke or blunder could reverse the increasingly lopsided balance of power between the two combatants. A great read, and a great book for a young person to have to understand the pacific carrier war. The true world war ii history behind the midway movie time.
Players have supreme command of the land, air and naval forces of either imperial japan or the united states and her allies. Ian tolls conquering tide is the middle piece of his pacific war history, and it is a superb fit with the first volume, pacific crucible. Before war broke out, carriers were regarded as an important supporting element for the battle line. The last aircraft carrier sunk in wartime was the japanese aircraft carrier amagi, in kure harbour in july 1945. We have new and used copies available, in 0 edition starting at. Apr, 2017 a more thorough documentation would have helped future historians in completing the history of carrier air group 15. I read this book, along with air war against hitlers germany, many times when i was in middle school in the 1960s. An oral history collection is the latest entry in the highly acclaimed smithsonian history of aviation series and presents compelling, personal accounts of behind the scenes planning and operations for six major carrier versus carrier battles during world war ii. The allied defensive phase of the war in the pacific ended on. Aflame from stem to quarter, the japanese aircraft carrier shoho falls victim to u. The continued series of books that cover the pacific war, most centered on midway, is somewhat amazing. An oral history collection is the latest entry in the highly acclaimed smithsonian history of aviation series and presents compelling, personal accounts of behindthescenes planning and operations for six major carrierversuscarrier battles during world war ii. The pacific war was the heyday of the aircraft carrier. The 100 year quest to perfect the aircraft carrier.
For the first time, battles at sea were fought between fleets that were hundreds of miles from each other. As a student of the pacific war which simply means i read everything that i get my hands on to do with the pacific war as well as travelling to the battle sites and diving in the pacific oceans clear. Heres your opportunity to let others know your favorite books on the war that led us from pearl harbor to tokyo bay. Commanding a powerful force of navy, marine corps, and army assets as well as land and carrierbased aircraft, halseys mission was to neutralize the japanese. But for lieutenant colonel doolittles tokyo raid from hornet cv8 on 18 april 1942 and the daring war patrols of pacific fleet submarines, this carrier foray was the united states navys closest approach to the japanese home islands up to that point in the war.
Apr 15, 2017 in february 1943, after an epic sixmonth struggle, they were expelled from the island and it became a staging base for u. Imperial japanese navy aircraft carriers 192145 new vanguard book 109. Navys pacific war, which turned very narrowly on the carrier battles of 1942. Books shelved as world war ii pacific theaternaval. American heritage junior library series hardcover january 1, 1966 by stephen w. Enterprise and the first year of the war by eugene burns, hellcats. Fabled fifteen, the pacific war saga of carrier air group 15. In 1925, bywater published the great pacific war expanding on his ideas about a future clash between japanese and u.
The british carrier pilots contributions to the war effort in the southeastern pacific. Nimitz, the commander of the central pacific theater, were familiar with the great pacific waror one of its many imitations, such as sutherland denlingers war in the pacific. For the first time, battles at sea were fought between fleets that were hundreds of miles away from each other. The following article on war in the pacific during world war two is an excerpt from barrett tillmans book on wave and wing. Navy, yorktownclass aircraft carrier uss enterprise. Fabled fifteen the pacific war saga of carrier air group. What to know about the real world war ii battle in the pacific that inspired. Other units are represented and play a part in battle, but as the title suggests the queen of the sea is the focus. The british royal navy pioneered the first aircraft carrier as floatplanes, as flying boats under performed compared to traditional land. In 1911 aircraft began to be successfully launched and landed on ships with the successful flight of a curtiss pusher aboard uss pennsylvania. Because the book came with pages falling off the spine. If you enjoy board games such as flat top, midway, carrier war, pacific war, incredible victory, etc. It is without question one of the most famous battles in history.
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