Warships - Japan: Books - History, Types and Deployment

The Japanese Navy in World War II : In the Words of Former Japanese Naval Officers

Top-ranking Japanese officers offer their personal perspectives on the war in the Far East. They provide valuable information on the strategy, tactics and operations of the Japanese fleet, as well as insights into the personalities and motives of the leaders.

Here, Vice Admiral Shigeru Fukudome comes to grips with the allegations that the attack on Pearl Harbor represented strategic folly, political blundering and tactical stupidity. Captain Mitsuo Fuchida describes how his bombing group unleashed 'devils of doom' on Battleship Row, while Mitsuru Yoshida gives an eye-witness account of the sinking of the battleship Yamato.

The new contributions to this edition, especially translated for this book, discuss operations in the Indian Ocean, the battle of the Philippine Sea, the protection of merchant shipping, submarine warfare and Japan's overall naval strategy.

A brief introduction precedes each essay to set it in its historical context, while a biographical summary of each contributor is included. A striking collection of photographs and maps augment the compelling text. This is a very significant contribution to our understanding of the Japanese navy in WWII.

The first edition of this book was lauded by historians and enthusiasts, eager for the Japanese viewpoint, and for the unique nature of these contributions; this new revised edition adds five substantial chapters to the original twelve and provides a full picture of the IJN's role in the war. Most of these moving and fascinating accounts were written in the 1950s and retain the immediacy felt by the writers who had participated in extraordinary events.

The Imperial Japanese Navy of the Russo-Japanese War (Osprey)

When the Imperial Japanese Navy destroyed Russia's battle fleet during the Russo-Japanese War, it marked the emergence of Japan as one of the world's major naval powers.
Japan's navy had been built up over just two decades, with the IJN acquiring a fleet of modern foreign-built warships. Coupled with the IJN's leadership and high levels of training, this proved enough to destroy the fleet of one of the world's historic naval powers.

This book explains in concise detail the IJN's fleet of 1904/1905, from its battleships and armored cruisers to the torpedo boats that launched 'the first great torpedo attack in history', and outlines the history of the naval campaign against the Russian fleet.

Contents: Introduction - The Rise of the IJN - Preparations for War with Russia - The Battleships - The Armored Cruisers - The Protected and Unprotected Cruisers - The Destroyers and Torpedo Boats - The War at Sea - Analysis and Conclusion - Bibliography - Index.

Japanese Naval Vessels World War II Regognition Guide (ONI 41-42 I, Volume 1)

Originally printed in 1944, ONI 41-42 I Japanese Naval Vessels (Volume 1 in a two volume set) presents a categorical description of the various warships that comprised the Imperial Japanese Navy during WWII. Created by the Office of Naval Intelligence, it was one of a series of classified recognition guides produced for officers and staff. It contains numerous data tables, designation information, and over 2000 illustrations compiled from a wide variety of sources, including intelligence reports and reconnaissance photographs.
The book includes the full catalog of ships in service ranging from the mighty Kongo and Yamato class battleships to the aircraft carriers, heavy cruisers, light cruisers, destroyers, tenders, submarines, mine vessels, transports and tenders that serviced the fleet.

ONI 41-42 I is astonishing in its range and detail. Browsing through its pages you'll find silhouettes, photographs and photos of models, airbrushed renderings and drawings, and detailed plans and profiles of many classes of warship. Throughout the text, the similarities and differences between the various ships are described, and many specific details highlighted, making this a must-have book for the historian and modeler.
This high quality reprint of this now-declassified book is slightly reformatted and comes in two volumes. The set presents the original text in its entirety.

Japanese Naval Vessels World War II Regognition Guide (ONI 41-42 I, Volume 2)

Originally printed in 1944, ONI 41-42 I Japanese Naval Vessels (Volume 2 of a two volume set) presents a categorical description of the various warships that comprised the Imperial Japanese Navy during WWII.
Created by the Office of Naval Intelligence, it was one of a series of classified recognition guides produced for officers and staff. It contains numerous data tables, designation information, and over 2000 illustrations compiled from a wide variety of sources, including intelligence reports and reconnaissance photographs.
The book includes the full catalog of ships in service ranging from the mighty Kongo and Yamato class battleships to the aircraft carriers, heavy cruisers, light cruisers, destroyers, tenders, submarines, mine vessels, transports and tenders that serviced the fleet.

ONI 41-42 I is astonishing in its range and detail. Browsing through its pages you'll find silhouettes, photographs and photos of models, airbrushed renderings and drawings, and detailed plans and profiles of many classes of warship. Throughout the text, the similarities and differences between the various ships are described, and many specific details highlighted, making this a must-have book for the historian and modeler.

This high quality reprint of this now-declassified book is slightly reformatted and comes in two volumes. The set presents the original text in its entirety. Volume 2 also features ONI 220-J, Japanese Submarines recognition guide as a bonus.

The Imperial Japanese Navy in the Pacific War (Osprey)

The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) was the third most powerful navy in the world at the start of World War II, and came to dominate the Pacific in the early months of the war. This was a remarkable turnaround for a navy that only began to modernize in 1868, although defeats inflicted on the Russians and Chinese in successive wars at the turn of the century gave a sense of the threat the IJN was to pose.
Bringing together for the first time material previously published in Osprey series books, and with the addition of new writing making use of the most recent research, this book details the Japanese ships which fought in the Pacific and examines the principles on which they were designed, how they were armed, when and where they were deployed and how effective they were in battle.
A valuable reference source for Pacific War enthusiasts and historians, "The Imperial Japanese Navy" in the Pacific War provides a history of the IJN's deployment and engagements, analysis of the evolution of strategy and tactics, and finally addresses the question of whether it truly was a modern navy, fully prepared for the rigors of combat in the Pacific.

Contents: Introduction - Imperial Japanese Navy Strategy and Doctrine in the Pacific War - The Imperial Japanese Navy in the Pacific War - Aircraft Carriers - Battleships - Heavy Cruisers - Light Cruisers - Destroyers - Submarines - Conclusion and Analysis - Bibliography - Index.