Most Interesting Pacific Battle

I don't know much about the Pacific Theater, but I'm in the middle of Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors about the battle off Samar. It reads like a novel. Amazing story.

That is a great book. When you finish it, read The Men of the Gambier Bay, and see the battle from the eyes of the men from one the carriers sunk in the action.

 

I read the poll as "Interesting Battle" compared to destructive, disastrous etc and came back to "The Battle of the Coral Sea".

The Americans broke the Japanese code and sent Carriers there on a hunch.

First Battle where the opposing ships did not get within visual range.

Learnt much about the real tactics of carrier battles.

Found design flaws in the Lexington's fuel systems which led to its sinking at Coral Sea and also kept its sister ship Saratoga out of the Midway Battle.

Put two IJN carriers out of commission which would have ultimately been available for the Midway operation.

Put pay to the Japanese invasion of Port Moresby which was the only allied held land mass besides Australia on the Japanese outer defensive rim.


Was also discussed here:

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/weapons-technology-equipment/10640-battle-midway.html#post98451

 

Coral Sea !!! why didn't you include Coral Sea !?!
My favorite and the first battle in history where two fleets never actually sighted each other. Fascinating to research as it was a big learning experience with both sides "not doing it right" just because noboby had really done it before and the forces involved where rather evenly balanced. And, just like Midway, it could have gone very differently if not for a number of small incidents, but while Midway has been researched to death Coral Sea has not.

 

I read the poll as "Interesting Battle" compared to destructive, disastrous etc and came back to "The Battle of the Coral Sea".

What wins it for me with the Battle Off Samar is that Adm Clifton "Ziggy" Sprague did everything right, extemporaneously for a type of engagement that was never envisioned-large numbers of captial ships engaging small carriers, whose aircraft were armed for ground support and whose escorts were armed with nothing larger than a 5in gun a single load of torpedos.

Not detracting from the grave nature of the situation and the heroism of the men involved, but that hard right turn by Taffy 3 in the rain squall has comedic elements to me. Taffy 3 (commanded by a man with "Ziggy" as a nickname, no less) putters into the squall, hangs a sharp right and proceeds south while Kurita's BBs and CAs barrel right on through, expecting to find their quarry dutifully sitting there waiting on them to be destroyed. The big ships clear the squall and go to looking ahead for Sprague's ships and low and hehold, Sprague is way off to the south and Kurita could have thought "I'll be danged if those DDs and DEs aren't firing torpedos at us. We need to run the other way to avoid them." It was like a big, flouncy, cartoon dog bounding into the henhouse, slobber, dust and debris flying, only to find the hens have slipped through a hidden hole in the fence and are now shooting at him from the other side with a peashooter.

 

I don't know much about the Pacific Theater, but I'm in the middle of Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors about the battle off Samar. It reads like a novel. Amazing story.
Hi Lou. That is easily one the best books I've read on the Pacific.

 

I finished it yesterday. It was sad and inspiring at the same time. I guess this means I'm going to have to read more about the PTO in order to place this into a context. Any suggestions on a good overview to start with?

 

I finished it yesterday. It was sad and inspiring at the same time. I guess this means I'm going to have to read more about the PTO in order to place this into a context. Any suggestions on a good overview to start with?

The Two Ocean War, by Samuel Elliot Morrison.

It is a good starter book on the naval war conducted by the US Navy.

 

Thanks, Jeff. Off to the library, I guess.

 

The Two Ocean War, by Samuel Elliot Morrison.

It is a good starter book on the naval war conducted by the US Navy.

Here´s a link to the e-book (downloadable as PDF ):

Internet Archive: Free Download: The Two-Ocean War A Short History Of The United States Navy In The Second World War

 

The Battle of Midway was the most decisive battle ever fought in th Pacific, because in a span of a few minutes, the Japanese lost the battle and thereby, the war.

 

American Fighter Aces
Series 1
The weather was clear with scattered cumulus clouds off the coast of Saipan on the morning of 19 June, 1944. As part of Task Force 58 protecting the Marianas landings, Fighting Squadron 16 was expecting an attack from the 400-plane Japanese carrier force. At 10:30 bogeys were picked up on radar approaching in several large groups and twelve Hellcats were launched from the USS Lexington to intercept the Japanese force. Twelve-victory ace, Lieutenant Alex Vraciu was one of the pilots in that group. Leading a division of four Hellcats, Vraciu experienced engine problems and couldn't climb past 20,000 feet, but requested a vector from the fighter director and was put onto a line of Yokosuka D4Y2 Judy dive bombers. In the eight minute tail-chase, Vraciu splashed six. The air battle became known as the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot - Task Force 58 Hellcats destroyed over 300 Japanese aircraft. The following day, Alex Vraciu claimed his 19th and last victory, a Zeke.

 

I voted for Midway in the poll, considering it the biggest of the two major turning points (the other being Coral Sea) in the PTO. But as far as being most interesting for me, it would have to be the US campaign in the Philippines (41-42). I proofread a thesis for a member on the WW2F, and it really piqued my interest a great deal, more so than any other campaign in that part of the world. The US/Philippine forces struggled on with no hope of relief for longer than could have been expected given the circumstances. After that, it would have to be the Wake Island campaign.

 

Bombing of Pearl Harbor.

It brought the Septics into the war , finally.
Better late than never....

 

Here´s a link to the e-book (downloadable as PDF ):

Internet Archive: Free Download: The Two-Ocean War A Short History Of The United States Navy In The Second World War


I just saw this Warlord, Thanks a heep!

 

Operation Galvanic ( Tarawa/Betio ) It's here the Americans learned , the hard way, how to beat the Japanese.

Mike

 

What about Sibuyan Sea and Surigao Strait?

 

Operation Galvanic ( Tarawa/Betio ) It's here the Americans learned , the hard way, how to beat the Japanese.

Mike

They already had, at Guadalcanal

 

Warlord,

"They already had, at Guadalcanal"



And before that at Milne Bay with the Australians.


;-)


John.

 

You´re right John, but let´s say that most of the glory of keeping Tojo from opening Moresby´s back door went to your everyday Digger; that´s why I didn´t mention that brawl.

 

"that brawl."


There were many I believe, some more famous than others and there are still rumours of one that was supposed to have been FAR more serious than the 'Battle of Brisbane' and ending in the deaths of quite a few men.

Buried deeply I think.


John.