Category Archives: 6. Books

On The Way From Osprey Publishing – The Naval Battles For Guadalcanal, 1942

  By Dean | March 8, 2013 - 4:00 pm | , , ,
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Osprey Publishing The Naval Battles For Guadalcanal 1942 Clash For Supremacy In The Pacific

Author: Mark Stille   Illustrator: Howard Gerrard
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About this book :
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The battle for Guadalcanal that lasted from August 1942 to February 1943 was the first major American counteroffensive against the Japanese in the Pacific. The battle of Savo Island on the night of 9 August 1942, saw the Japanese inflict a sever defeat on the Allied force, driving them away from Guadalcanal and leaving the just-landed marines in a perilously exposed position. This was the start of a series of night battles that culminated in the First and Second battles of Guadalcanal, fought on the nights of 13 and 15 November.
One further major naval action followed, the battle of Tassafaronga on 30 November 1942, when the US Navy once again suffered a severe defeat, but this time it was too late to alter the course of the battle as the Japanese evacuated Guadalcanal in early February 1943.This title will detail the contrasting fortunes experienced by both sides over the intense course of naval battles around the island throughout the second half of 1942 that did so much to turn the tide in the Pacific.
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Contents :
  • Origins of the campaign
  • Chronology
  • Opposing commanders
  • Opposing fleets
  • Orders of battle
  • Opposing plans
  • The campaign
  • Aftermath
  • Further reading
  • Index
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Paperback;  Due Out May 2013;  96 pages;  ISBN: 9781780961545

New From Squadron Signal – USS Lexington CV-2

  By Dean | March 8, 2013 - 1:00 am | , , ,
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Squadron Signal - USS Lexington CV-2 At Sea

The USS Lexington – affectionately referred to as ‘Lady Lex’ – was the United States Navy’s second aircraft carrier. Laid down as the lead ship of the Lexington-class battlecruisers, which were to have been the world’s most powerful warships, the Washington Naval Treaty forbade her completion as such, but permitted her to be finished as an aircraft carrier. Commissioned 14 December 1927, Lexington, with her fabric-covered biplanes deployed to the Pacific.

Through the following years both the ship and her aircraft underwent numerous upgrades. These changes, along with her construction, the daily routine of the crew are fully chronicled. The book also describes the transition of both men and machine as the nation plunged into the war, which ended for the Lexington on 8 May 1942, when she sank in the Coral Sea. No other single volume encompasses all the historic images that pack this latest volume. Illustrated with 235 photos, 14 color renderings and detailed line drawings; 104 pages. Available in both hardcover and softcover.

New From Squadron Signal – USS Texas

  By Dean | January 7, 2013 - 10:00 pm | , , ,
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Squadron SS34003 USS Texas

 

The USS Texas proudly saw combat in both World Wars I and II, and since 1948 has been preserved in her namesake state as memorial to American servicemen.  Armed with 10 14-inch guns and displacing 32,000 tons, the battleship is still a formidable sight as she enters into her second century. This expansive volume tells the tale of the Texas and her crew. Loaded with black-and-white and color photos not only showcase the construction, numerous voyages, modifications, combat action, and ultimate preservation of the ship, but also show the vessel as a home, office, and workshop for the men who served as her crew. These historic images are augmented with five line drawings illustrating her key configurations, as well as nine color profiles depicting her aircraft, as well as the many camouflage schemes she wore. Illustrated with over 350 photographs; 152 pages. ( Available in both hardcover and softcover ).

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On The Way From Osprey Publishing – Imperial Japanese Navy Destroyers 1919–45

  By Dean | January 2, 2013 - 11:00 pm | , , ,
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9781849089845

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Author: Mark Stille      Illustrator: Paul Wright
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About this book :
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This volume will detail the history, weapons and tactics of the Japanese destroyers built before the war. This includes the famous Fubuki class (called “Special Type” by the Japanese, which were, when completed in the late 1920’s, the most powerful class of destroyers in the world. This design forced all other major navies to follow suite and provided the basic design for the next many classes of Imperial Navy destroyers. This book will also cover the three classes built before the Special Type which were based on a German World War I design as well as two classes built after the advent of the Special Type.
All of these ships had a rich history as they fought from the first battles of the Pacific War up until the very end when several accompanied the superbattleship Yamato on her death sortie. The final part of the book will be an analysis of the destroyer designs covered in the book which will include an examination of their strengths and weaknesses. The success (or lack of success) of these designs will be discussed and they will be compared to comparable Allied destroyer designs.
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Contents :
  • Introduction
  • Japanese naval strategy and the role of the destroyer
  • Japanese destroyer tactics
  • Japanese destroyer design principles
  • Japanese destroyer weapons
  • Minekaze class
  • Kamikaze class
  • Mutsuki class
  • Fubuki class
  • Akatsuki class
  • Hatsuharu class
  • Shiratsuyu class
  • Analysis and conclusion
  • Bibliography
  • Index
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Paperback;   Due Out March 2013;   48 pages;   ISBN: 9781849089845
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Coming soon From Osprey Publishing – USN Destroyer vs IJN Destroyer : The Pacific 1943

  By Dean | August 24, 2012 - 10:00 pm | , , ,
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Author: Mark Stille
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About this book :
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This book covers the fierce night naval battles fought between the US Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy during late 1943 as the Allies advanced slowly up the Solomons Islands toward the major Japanese naval base at Rabaul. During this period, several vicious actions were fought featuring the most modern destroyers of both navies.
Throughout most of 1942, the Imperial Navy had held a marked edge and a key ingredient of these successes was their destroyer force, which combined superior training and tactics with the most capable torpedo in the world. Even into 1943 mixed Allied light cruiser/destroyer forces were roughly handled by Japanese destroyers.
After these battles, the Americans decided to stop chasing Japanese destroyers with cruisers so the remainder of the battles in 1943 (with one exception) were classic destroyer duels. The Americans still enjoyed the technical edge provided to them by radar, and now added new, more aggressive tactics. The final result was the defeat of the Imperial Navy’s finely trained destroyer force and the demonstration that the Japanese were unable to stop the Allies’ advance.
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Paperback;  Due Out November 2012;  80 pages;  ISBN: 9781849086233
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