Japan’s Indian Ocean Raid 1942: The Allies' Lowest Ebb

During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Navy conducted Operation C, a massive raid into the Indian Ocean, with the goal of destroying the British Eastern Fleet in port. This operation was a significant turning point in the war and marked the peak of Japanese naval air power. The book provides detailed illustrations and information about the campaign, including the sinking of several Allied ships and the Allied air attempts to destroy Admiral Chuichi Nagumo's force.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 21 December 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

In the aftermath of Japan's conquest of Burma in early 1942, the Imperial High Command devised plans to capture Ceylon (modern-day Sri Lanka) in order to strengthen Japan's defensive perimeter and disrupt British shipping lanes to India, Australia, and the Middle East. However, the Imperial Japanese Army could not mobilize enough troops for an invasion, leading the Japanese Navy to develop Operation C, an aggressive raid by the Combined Fleet into the Indian Ocean. The primary objective of Operation C was to destroy the British Eastern Fleet in port.

Expert naval historian Mark Stille chronicles the zenith of Japanese naval air power as its carriers struck Ceylon, the heart of British naval power in the East, sinking several Allied ships. He describes the Allied air efforts to destroy Admiral Chuichi Nagumo's force and the Japanese attacks against British shipping and the cities along the Indian coast. Specially commissioned battle scenes bring to life the sinking of British carrier Hermes, the Bristol Blenheim attacks on the Japanese carrier force, and a Zero vs. Hurricane dogfight over Colombo on April 5. Easy-to-follow maps and diagrams reveal the strategic situation at the start and end of the campaign, and track the movements of the Japanese carrier task force and the British Eastern Fleet throughout. Over 60 photographs, many from Japanese sources, provide detailed information about weaponry, equipment, personnel, and the events of the fascinating battles that took place.

The Japanese raid into the Indian Ocean in April 1942 was one of the largest operations conducted by the Imperial Navy during the war. The Imperial High Command had plans to capture Ceylon to consolidate Japan's defensive perimeter and disrupt British shipping lanes to India, Australia, and the Middle East. However, the Imperial Japanese Army could not release sufficient troops for an invasion, leading the Japanese Navy to develop Operation C, an aggressive raid by the Combined Fleet into the Indian Ocean. The primary objective of Operation C was to destroy the British Eastern Fleet in port.

Expert naval historian Mark Stille chronicles the zenith of Japanese naval air power as its carriers struck Ceylon, the heart of British naval power in the East, sinking several Allied ships. He describes the Allied air efforts to destroy Admiral Chuichi Nagumo's force and the Japanese attacks against British shipping and the cities along the Indian coast. Specially commissioned battle scenes bring to life the sinking of British carrier Hermes, the Bristol Blenheim attacks on the Japanese carrier force, and a Zero vs. Hurricane dogfight over Colombo on April 5. Easy-to-follow maps and diagrams reveal the strategic situation at the start and end of the campaign, and track the movements of the Japanese carrier task force and the British Eastern Fleet throughout. Over 60 photographs, many from Japanese sources, provide detailed information about weaponry, equipment, personnel, and the events of the fascinating battles that took place.

Weight: 308g
Dimension: 184 x 247 x 7 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472854186