Guadalcanal: Decision at Sea : The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, Nov. 13-15, 1942 - Softcover

Hammel, Eric

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9780935553352: Guadalcanal: Decision at Sea : The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, Nov. 13-15, 1942

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0935553355 ISBN 13: 9780935553352

Publisher: Pacifica Pr, 1988

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Details the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in November of 1942, a crucial step toward America's victory over the Japanese during WWII. Blends detailed historical records with personal accounts of many of the officers and enlisted men involved, creating an engrossing narrative of the strategy and struggle as seen by both sides. Includes major new insights into the battles, including an account of the American forces' failure to effectively use their radar advantage. Originally published in 1988 as the concluding volume in the author's series of three independent books. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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From Publishers Weekly:

The second volume of Hammel's Guadalcanal trilogy, this covers two relatively unknown carrier confrontations in the South Pacific in 1942: the battle of Santa Cruz, a technical victory for the Japanese, and the battle of the Eastern Solomons, a draw. Although most of the tight narrative is concerned with tactical operations, Hammel keeps the strategic goals of both sides in clear view. By the end of the book, it is also obvious why he argues that the battle of Midway, widely regarded as the beginning of the end for the Japanese, should be replaced as such in World War II annals by the Marine landing on Guadalcanal. The book includes informative sections on the development of aircraft carriers, the difference between American and Japanese fighter doctrine (plus appraisals of opposing hardware), the effect of a momentarily "defeatist attitude" by the U.S. command which led to a crisis in the land campaign on Guadalcanal, and a bold reappraisal of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, commander in chief of the Combined Fleet, whom the author calls one of the most overrated characters in modern military history. Photos.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal:

Volume 2 of Hammel's Guadalcanal trilogy is even better than his previous book ( Guadalcanal: Starvation Island ). While that work focused on a land battle, this one concentrates on the desperate air-sea battle of the Eastern Solomons and Santa Cruz islands. There have only been five carrier versus carrier battles in naval history; Coral Sea, Midway, and the Marianas have been criticized and analyzed many times. The battles treated here have until now been neglected. Hammel begins his study with a useful discussion of the development of U.S. and Japanese carriers, aircraft, pilot training, weapons, etc. Hammel does not write dry history. His battle sequences are masterfully portrayed. Essential for World War II collections, along with volume 1. Stanley Itkin, Hillside P.L., New Hyde Park, N.Y.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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