Overview

Japan s attack on Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands on 7 December 1941, had severely damaged the United States Pacific Fleet but had not destroyed it, for the fleet s aircraft carrier force had been at sea when the Japanese struck. This meant that, despite the overwhelming success of Japanese military forces across the Pacific, US carrier-based aircraft could still attack Japanese targets. After the Battle of the Coral Sea in early May 1942, in which both sides had lost one carrier, the commander of the Japanese Combined Fleet, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, calculated that the US had only two serviceable carriers left. If those remaining carriers could be lured into a battle with the Combined Fleet and destroyed, nothing could stop the Japanese achieving complete control of the South Pacific. It would take the United States many months, even with its massive industrial muscle, to rebuild its carried fleet if it was destroyed, by which time Japan would be able to secure the raw materials needed to keep its war machine functioning and to build all the bases it required across the Pacific, which would enable its aircraft to dominate the entire region. Aware of the sensitivity of the Americans towards Hawaii after the Battle of Pearl Harbor, Yamamoto believed that if he attacked there again, the US commander, Admiral Nimitz would be certain to commit all his strength to its defence. Yamamoto selected the furthest point of the Hawaiian Islands, the Naval Air Station on the Midway Atoll, for his attack, which was beyond the range of most US land-based aircraft. Yamamoto launched his attack on 4 June 1942. But the US had intercepted and deciphered Japanese signals and Nimitz, with three not two aircraft carriers, knew exactly Yamamoto s plans. Yamamoto had hoped to draw the US carriers into his trap but instead he sailed into an ambush. The four-day battle resulted in the loss of all four Japanese aircraft carriers, the US losing only one. The Japanese were never able to recover from these losses, and it was the Americans who were able to take control of the Pacific. The Battle of Midway, unquestionably, marked the turning point in the war against Japan. AUTHOR: John Grehan has written, edited or contributed to more than 300 books and magazine articles covering a wide span of military history from the Iron Age to the recent conflict in Afghanistan. John has also appeared on local and national radio and television to advise on military history topics. He was employed as the Assistant Editor of Britain at War Magazine from its inception until 2014. John now devotes his time to writing and editing books. 150 b/w images

Full Product Details

9781526758347

Table of Contents

Reviews

For anyone interested in the Second World War in the Pacific, John Grehan's graphic account of the Battle of Midway makes worthwhile reading. Even those already familiar with the details of the battle itself, and with its significance to the course of the war, will find the extraordinary number of stunning photographs and the excellent captions make the battle come alive anew. --The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord

For anyone interested in the Second World War in the Pacific, John Grehan's graphic account of the Battle of Midway makes worthwhile reading. Even those already familiar with the details of the battle itself, and with its significance to the course of the war, will find the extraordinary number of stunning photographs and the excellent captions make the battle come alive anew. --The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord

The book, like all those in this series, is very accurate from a textual and iconographic point of view. The events are told day by day and hour by hour throughout the duration of the battle that raged from 4th to 7th June. The exciting narration makes us live the moments of waiting for the sighting of the two fleets and the frenzy of the fight. The photos are all related to the battle where possible, and some picture of the dioramas of the famous Norman Bel Geddes are also included. --On The Old Barbed Wire For anyone interested in the Second World War in the Pacific, John Grehan's graphic account of the Battle of Midway makes worthwhile reading. Even those already familiar with the details of the battle itself, and with its significance to the course of the war, will find the extraordinary number of stunning photographs and the excellent captions make the battle come alive anew. --The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord

Author Information

JOHN GREHAN has written, edited or contributed to more than 300 books and magazine articles covering a wide span of military history from the Iron Age to the recent conflict in Afghanistan. John has also appeared on local and national radio and television to advise on military history topics. He was employed as the Assistant Editor of _Britain at War_ Magazine from its inception until 2014\. John now devotes his time to writing and editing books.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available