Book Specifics
Author: Brian Lane Herder
Illustrator: Dorothy J. Hwee
ISBN 978-1-4728-4036-3
Price: $24.00
96 pages with over 70 black and white and color photographs and eight maps and 3D ‘bird’s-eye-views
What’s Inside
In number 348 of Osprey’s Campaign series, we get an in-depth look at the final phase of the Allied War Plan Orange- the naval siege of the Japanese Home Islands. Comprising the largest and dare I say most successful naval wartime fleet, it proved to be the climax to the most impressive naval war in history. Despite some early setbacks, the operation sought to force Japan to surrender in the face of superior crushing air and sea attacks. The Third Fleet’s 20 American and British aircraft carriers and thousands of aircraft would send over 10.000 airborne sorties against Japan in addition to an impressive battleship force bombarding Japanese coastal cities.
Origins of the Campaign opens the book with an overview of what was occurring from November to December of 1944 and the Legacy of War Plan Orange. There is also a brief description of Operation Kita In January and February of 1945. The section concludes with a thorough Chronology of the naval events of 1945.
Opposing Commanders follows and gives a detailed description of each side’s leaders. On the Allied side are a plethora of major players, including the big names of Nimitz, MacArthur, LeMay, Spruance, Mitscher, and Halsey. By this time, the majority of Japan’s leadership was gutted and only a few key leaders remained- including Yoshida, Kondo, Kawabe, and Toyoda.
Opposing Forces gives a good perspective of the overwhelming odds the Japanese faced as the might of the Allied forces grew overpowering. Long gone were the days of Japanese superiority of the seas and while the aircraft they faced now did not play a large role in the early Allied victories, they were surely winning the day now. Hellcats, Corsairs, Helldivers, and Avengers rained hellfire down on the enemy. Japanese air defenses, naval forces, and coastal defenses were out-coordinated and outmatched. This section concludes with Orders of Battle for each side for February of ’45.
After a brief chapter of Opposing Plans for each side, we get to the meat of the book- the actual campaign. The Campaign section breaks down as:
- First Raids on Tokyo, February 16-25
- Home Islands strikes in support of Operation Iceberg, March 18-June 8
- Operation Starvation
- Naval plans for Operation Olympic
- Air and surface bombardments of Northern Japan, July 10-16
- Return to Tokyo, July 17-18
- Operation Barney and USS Barb’s exploits
- Strikes on the Inland Sea, July 24-28
- Endgame, July 29- August 15
As is usually the case with these Osprey books, the action is described in great detail and interspersed with accounts from those who were present during the engagements.
The maps included in the book are detailed and easy to decipher and give an excellent overview of the events indicated. There are three instances of two-page artwork layouts with a small subsequent section describing the events occurring in them. I find these to be of interest in giving small snapshots of events that may not necessarily be of great overall importance, but give a more personalized view of those who fought so bravely.
Conclusion
Osprey continues to release fascinating and compact volumes that help history aficionados and modelers get a grasp of events that may not normally be the focus of the usual historical literature. I have a great interest in the Pacific front and found this to be a fresh look at territory I thought I knew a great deal about, but was pleased to see there is always more to learn. I am grateful to Osprey Publishing for the review sample.
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