Okinawa: The Last Naval Battle of WW2: The Official Admiralty Account of Operation Iceberg

The Allied forces were on the brink of invading the Japanese Home Islands, and the island of Okinawa was to be the launching pad. The US Task Force 58 and the British Pacific Fleet were the naval forces involved, with a total firepower of 18 battleships, 27 cruisers, 177 destroyers/destroyer escorts, 11 fleet carriers, 6 light carriers, and 22 escort carriers. The Japanese had one other fearful weapon, the kamikaze, which resulted in the Japanese fleet being wiped out, but the Allies lost twenty-four support vessels and 386 ships were damaged.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2022
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

The Allied forces, having nearly eliminated the Japanese Imperial Navy from the vast Pacific Ocean, stood poised to invade the Japanese Home Islands. The island of Okinawa would serve as the launching pad for this historic invasion. Amid the gruesome slaughter and staggering casualty statistics of the US Tenth Army and the US Marines, as well as the unwavering resistance of the Japanese defenders, the crucial role played by the Allied navies in transporting, landing, and supporting the ground offensive often goes unnoticed. The naval forces involved included the US Task Force 58 and the British Pacific Fleet, comprising ships from the Royal Australian Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy, and the Royal New Zealand Navy, along with the Royal Navy. This formidable fleet, combined with the Royal Navy, constituted the most powerful force Britain had ever assembled. The Allied force boasted an astonishing firepower, consisting of 18 battleships, 27 cruisers, 177 destroyers/destroyer escorts, 11 fleet carriers, 6 light carriers, and 22 escort carriers, along with various support and troop transport ships. In contrast, the Japanese Combined Fleet consisted of just one super battleship, one light cruiser, and eight destroyers. However, the Japanese possessed a fearsome weapon known as the kamikaze, which would play a pivotal role in the ensuing battle. The battle unfolded with the Japanese fleet suffering a catastrophic defeat, with the Allies losing twenty-four support vessels and a further 386 ships being damaged, many of them by the kamikaze pilots. Following the intense fighting, the Admiralty requested a summary of the battle to be written for internal Royal Navy consumption. It was never intended for the general public to see this secret report. However, here it is, published for the first time, offering a unique insight into the pivotal role played by the Allied navies in the Pacific Theater of World War II.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399091930