Capital Ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1868-1945

Capital Ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1868-1945
Author: Hans Lengerer
Publisher: Nimble Books
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2014
Genre: Battleships
ISBN: 9781608880836

87 photos, 202 figures and drawings, 60 tables, and 15 maps and tracks. Recognising the impossibility of improving upon the (in)famous 5:5:3 ratio of the Washington Naval Treaty when the expected naval race would begin as the treaty expired, the Imperial Japanese Navy resorted to a strategy of qualitative superiority to overcome the American quantitative edge. The IJN succeeded, after many studies and false starts, in creating the world's most heavily armed (nine 18.1" main guns in three triple turrets - the largest calibre ever mounted) and protected (410-mm thick VH belt armor, 660-mm thick front shields of the gun houses - the thickest armour plates ever mounted) battleships. With a displacement in excess of 70,000 tons their size was unprecedented but despite this restrictions resulted in defects, which otherwise might have been avoided; other defects were the result of techniques below the highest standard. Because the qualities of a battleship were generally measured by gun power, protection and mobility the authors have focused upon these items after giving a rough outline of the design and building processes. The result is probably the most detailed description based upon Japanese sources published outside Japan. Stimulated by Gustav Jensen's expanded dissertation Japans Seemacht and encouraged by Messrs. Erich Gröner and Prof. Jürgen Rohwer, Hans Lengerer began writing on the IJN in 1969. Over the years more than 50 articles have appeared in magazines like Marine Rundschau, Marine Forum, Warship and Interconair Aviation e Marina. After retirement from service in an executive organ, Lengerer continues to write books and articles using a considerable amount of time for his hobby. He is also the author of the privately published Contributions to the History of Imperial Japanese Warships, referred to in this book, and is presently working to revise and condense his 250,000-word manuscript Development of Warship Construction in Japan and to complete A History of the Imperial Japanese Navy. As "hobby researcher" at best, his writings depend heavily upon information supplied by other IJN fans; they come first therefore. Lars Ahlberg is on active duty with the Swedish Air Defence Regiment and is a military historian by avocation. He has written monographs about the IJN battleships of the Nagato class and the IJN aircraft carrier Taihô. His articles have appeared in Sveriges Flotta, Warship International and Okrety Wojenne and for several years he has been the editor of Contributions to the History of Imperial Japanese Warships. Ahlberg has also co-authored two books about Swedish regiments: Kungl Hallands regementes historia 1962-2000 and Kasernerna på Galgberget.

Courage Alone

Courage Alone
Author: Chris Dunning
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2009
Genre: Airplanes, Military
ISBN: 9781902109091

Derided by Allied propaganda which made it out to be an air force equipped solely with elderly biplanes, ineffective in attack or always in retreat, the Regia Aeronautica was overshadowed by its more ruthless Axis partner, the Luftwaffe. Using research from a mass of original documentation, including personal accounts and combat diaries, the author takes an objective view and shows that the men who flew the Macchis, Fiats, and Savoias were no less skilled or determined than their opponents. The book discusses area commands, theaters, squadron allocations, anti-shipping operations, aircrew, and details of the top fighter aces. Comprehensive tables provide information on aircraft equipment, squadron allocation, and unit histories. With drawings from original aircraft handbooks, almost 250 photographs, more than 100 color profiles, and unit badges, Courage Alone provides a detailed reference source for historians, modelers, and enthusiasts alike.

The Aircraft Carrier Hiryu

The Aircraft Carrier Hiryu
Author: Stefan Draminski
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 337
Release: 2022-07-07
Genre: History
ISBN: 1472840259

A uniquely detailed study of a Japanese aircraft carrier that took part in the attack on Pearl Harbor, before being sunk at Midway. Superbly illustrated with line drawings, full-colour artwork of the ship through its career, internal reconstructions of deck layouts, and 3D illustrations of every detail of the ship from its rigging to its aircraft to its anchors, this book reconstructs and dissects one of the most prominent carriers of the early Pacific War. Built in the late 1930s, Hiryu took part in the attack on Pearl Harbor and most of the operations of Japan's triumphant first months of the war, before being sunk at Midway. Drawing on Stefan Draminski's new research and making the best use yet of his acclaimed 3D illustration techniques, this is the most comprehensive examination of Hiryu ever published. It includes a complete set of detailed line drawings with fully descriptive keys and full-color 3D artwork, supported by technical details, photographs, and a concise history of the ship's construction and service.

Italian Naval Camouflage of World War II

Italian Naval Camouflage of World War II
Author: Marco Ghiglino
Publisher: US Naval Institute Press
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2018-06-30
Genre: History
ISBN: 9781526735393

This is a major new study of Italian naval camouflage schemes developed and used during World War II. When Italy entered the War in June 1940, the Regia Marina (Italian navy) was a force still under development and both Italian warships and merchant ships started the war in their peacetime colors, although prewar plans had been made for camouflaging ships. At that time, all the principal warships were painted in a light matte grey ("grigio cenerino chiaro"), that was adopted in the 1920s and early '30s. With the advent of war, and the start of convoy traffic to Libya, the need to camouflage ships for purposes of deception, rather than outright concealment, became apparent and the first initiatives were undertaken. Employing contemporary schematic drawings, photographs, and his own CAD profiles, Marco Ghiglino, describes the development of the varied schemes that were adopted for the capital ships, such as Caio Duilia and Littorio, cruisers, destroyers and torpedo boats, landing craft, and merchant ships; even the royal yacht and small tugs were given camouflage schemes. Ghiglino depicts all the ships and their schemes, at different dates, with both sides of the ship shown where possible, in his own beautifully rendered schematic profiles, all in full color. It is this section with more than 700 drawings that gives the reader a complete and detailed picture of the development of Italian naval camouflage. He also looks in detail at the Greek theater where there were many exceptions, influenced by the German presence and by the camouflage schemes of captured vessels. This major new reference book will prove invaluable to historians, collectors, model makers, and wargamers and follows in the wake of the hugely successful editions covering German and British camouflage schemes of World War II.

Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor
Author: Homer N. Wallin
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2001-09
Genre: Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), Attack on, 1941
ISBN: 9780898755657

Pearl Harbor will long stand out in mens minds as an example of the results of basic unpreparedness of a peace loving nation, of highly efficient treacherous surprise attack and of the resulting unification of America into a single tidal wave of purpose to victory. Therefore, all will be interested in this unique narrative by Admiral Wallin. The Navy has long needed a succinct account of the salvage operations at Pearl Harbor that miraculously resurrected what appeared to be a forever shattered fleet. Admiral Wallin agreed to undertake the job. He was exactly the right man for it _ in talent, in perception, and in experience. He had served intimately with Admiral Nimitz and with Admiral Halsey in the South Pacific, has commanded three different Navy Yards, and was a highly successful Chief of the Bureau of Ships. On 7 December 1941 the then Captain Wallin was serving at Pearl Harbor. He witnessed the events of that shattering and unifying "Day of Infamy." His mind began to race at high speeds at once on the problems and means of getting the broken fleet back into service for its giant task. Unless the United States regained control of the sea, even greater disaster loomed. Without victory at sea, tyranny soon would surely rule all Asia and Europe. In a matter of time it would surely rule the Americas. Captain Wallin salvaged most of the broken Pearl Harbor fleet that went on to figure prominently in the United States Navys victory. So the account he masterfully tells covers what he masterfully accomplished. The United States owes him an unpayable debt for this high service among many others in his long career.

Grave Misfortune: The USS Indianapolis Tragedy

Grave Misfortune: The USS Indianapolis Tragedy
Author: Richard A. Hulver
Publisher: Government Printing Office
Total Pages: 438
Release: 2019-06-03
Genre: History
ISBN: 016095021X

Dedicated to the Sailors and Marines who lost their lives on the final voyage of USS Indianapolis and to those who survived the torment at sea following its sinking. plus the crews that risked their lives in rescue ships. The USS Indianapolis (CA-35) was a decorated World War II warship that is primarily remembered for her worst 15 minutes. . This ship earned ten (10) battle stars for her service in World War II and was credited for shooting down nine (9) enemy planes. However, this fame was overshadowed by the first 15 minutes July 30, 1945, when she was struck by two (2) torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-58 and sent to the bottom of the Philippine Sea. The sinking of Indianapolis and the loss of 880 crew out of 1,196 --most deaths occurring in the 4-5 day wait for a rescue delayed --is a tragedy in U.S. naval history. This historical reference showcases primary source documents to tell the story of Indianapolis, the history of this tragedy from the U.S. Navy perspective. It recounts the sinking, rescue efforts, follow-up investigations, aftermath and continuing communications efforts. Included are deck logs to better understand the ship location when she sunk and testimony of survivors and participants. For additional historical publications produced by the U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command, please check out these resources here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/agency/naval-history-heritage-command Year 2016 marked the 71st anniversary of the sinking and another spike in public attention on the loss -- including a big screen adaptation of the story, talk of future films, documentaries, and planned expeditions to locate the wreckage of the warship.

British and Commonwealth Warship Camouflage of WW II

British and Commonwealth Warship Camouflage of WW II
Author: Malcolm Wright
Publisher: Seaforth Publishing
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2023-05
Genre:
ISBN: 9781399024884

During the Second World War navies developed low visibility camouflage for their ships, on both vertical and horizontal surfaces, in order reduce visibility by blending in with the sea, or confuse the identity of a ship by applying more obtrusive patters. In this the second volume by maritime artist Mal Wright, both the official and unofficial paint schemes that adorned the cruisers of the Royal Navy and Commonwealth are depicted in detail, along with discussions on changes of armament and electronics that effected the outward appearance of each ship. Beginning with the older cruisers, the book goes on to cover all the other cruiser classes, taking in heavy cruisers, prewar and wartime cruisers; the author then covers minelayers. Where possible both sides of the ship are depicted, and there are multiple images of the ships where armament or equipment changes had a fundamental impact on a ships appearance. Overhead views are also included. With 800 full color illustrations, arranged by ship type rather than camouflage scheme, this book concentrates the clearest possible information into a single volume to provide a one-stop reference source. Many schemes would be difficult for the reader to have found other than with the most intensive research so that historians, collectors, model makers and wargamers will find this unique reference source absolutely invaluable.

Pearl Harbor Revisited

Pearl Harbor Revisited
Author: Frederick D. Parker
Publisher: CreateSpace
Total Pages: 104
Release: 2012-07-31
Genre: Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), Attack on, 1941
ISBN: 9781478344292

This is the story of the U.S. Navy's communications intelligence (COMINT) effort between 1924 and 1941. It races the building of a program, under the Director of Naval Communications (OP-20), which extracted both radio and traffic intelligence from foreign military, commercial, and diplomatic communications. It shows the development of a small but remarkable organization (OP-20-G) which, by 1937, could clearly see the military, political, and even the international implications of effective cryptography and successful cryptanalysis at a time when radio communications were passing from infancy to childhood and Navy war planning was restricted to tactical situations. It also illustrates an organization plagues from its inception by shortages in money, manpower, and equipment, total absence of a secure, dedicated communications system, little real support or tasking from higher command authorities, and major imbalances between collection and processing capabilities. It explains how, in 1941, as a result of these problems, compounded by the stresses and exigencies of the time, the effort misplaced its focus from Japanese Navy traffic to Japanese diplomatic messages. Had Navy cryptanalysts been ordered to concentrate on the Japanese naval messages rather than Japanese diplomatic traffic, the United States would have had a much clearer picture of the Japanese military buildup and, with the warning provided by these messages, might have avoided the disaster of Pearl Harbor.

Unbroken

Unbroken
Author: Laura Hillenbrand
Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks
Total Pages: 530
Release: 2014-07-29
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 0812974492

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE • Look for special features inside. Join the Random House Reader’s Circle for author chats and more. In boyhood, Louis Zamperini was an incorrigible delinquent. As a teenager, he channeled his defiance into running, discovering a prodigious talent that had carried him to the Berlin Olympics. But when World War II began, the athlete became an airman, embarking on a journey that led to a doomed flight on a May afternoon in 1943. When his Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean, against all odds, Zamperini survived, adrift on a foundering life raft. Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would answer desperation with ingenuity; suffering with hope, resolve, and humor; brutality with rebellion. His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would be suspended on the fraying wire of his will. Appearing in paperback for the first time—with twenty arresting new photos and an extensive Q&A with the author—Unbroken is an unforgettable testament to the resilience of the human mind, body, and spirit, brought vividly to life by Seabiscuit author Laura Hillenbrand. Hailed as the top nonfiction book of the year by Time magazine • Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for biography and the Indies Choice Adult Nonfiction Book of the Year award “Extraordinarily moving . . . a powerfully drawn survival epic.”—The Wall Street Journal “[A] one-in-a-billion story . . . designed to wrench from self-respecting critics all the blurby adjectives we normally try to avoid: It is amazing, unforgettable, gripping, harrowing, chilling, and inspiring.”—New York “Staggering . . . mesmerizing . . . Hillenbrand’s writing is so ferociously cinematic, the events she describes so incredible, you don’t dare take your eyes off the page.”—People “A meticulous, soaring and beautifully written account of an extraordinary life.”—The Washington Post “Ambitious and powerful . . . a startling narrative and an inspirational book.”—The New York Times Book Review “Magnificent . . . incredible . . . [Hillenbrand] has crafted another masterful blend of sports, history and overcoming terrific odds; this is biography taken to the nth degree, a chronicle of a remarkable life lived through extraordinary times.”—The Dallas Morning News “An astonishing testament to the superhuman power of tenacity.”—Entertainment Weekly “A tale of triumph and redemption . . . astonishingly detailed.”—O: The Oprah Magazine “[A] masterfully told true story . . . nothing less than a marvel.”—Washingtonian “[Hillenbrand tells this] story with cool elegance but at a thrilling sprinter’s pace.”—Time “Hillenbrand [is] one of our best writers of narrative history. You don’t have to be a sports fan or a war-history buff to devour this book—you just have to love great storytelling.”—Rebecca Skloot, author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks