US Navy Pacific Fleet 1941-42

Illustrated throughout, an expert account of the US Pacific Fleet in the crucial six months between Pearl Harbor and its revenge at Midway. Despite the damage inflicted at Pearl Harbor, the Pacific Fleet still had the ability to hit back. In this book, US Navy expert Mark Stille explains and assesses the fleet's response to the apparent disaster, and how its actions led to the decisive victory at Midway. He explains how although unable to mount a large-scale offensive into the Central Pacific as called for in prewar plans, the Pacific Fleet carried out a number of carrier raids, while the US submarine service also went on the offensive, although beset by technical problems. Crucially, the Pacific Fleet secured sea communications between the US and Australia, and then moved to stop Japanese advances into the South Pacific, which led to the war’s first carrier battle at Coral Sea. He explores the intelligence and logistics capabilities built up prewar, which were among the Navy’s most important assets as it searched for opportunities to level Japan’s advantage. Illustrated with artwork, maps and 3D diagrams, this book examine the Pacific Fleet's operations and capabilities during this precarious period, as well as its strengths, and the weaknesses it was yet to overcome. Amazingly, within six months of Pearl Harbor, the “crippled” Pacific Fleet had conclusively turned the tables on the IJN.