Supremacy at Sea: Task Force 58 and the Central Pacific Victory

Task Force 58 was the most powerful battle fleet of World War II, consisting of sixteen aircraft carriers, over a thousand combat aircraft, and an armada of escorts. It was vital to victory over Japan, and Evan Mawdsley charts the 3,500-mile dash across the Central Pacific in the first six months of 1944, crushing enemy opposition and securing war-winning air bases in the Mariana Islands.

Format: Hardback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 14 May 2024
Publisher: Yale University Press

Task Force 58, the most powerful battle fleet of World War II, consisted of sixteen aircraft carriers, over a thousand combat aircraft, and an armada of escorts. Its formation in mid-1944 was crucial for the victory over Japan. In this captivating account, Evan Mawdsley traces the 3,500-mile journey of the "Big Blue Fleet" across the Central Pacific in the first six months of 1944. Despite fierce enemy opposition, the force managed to overwhelm its adversaries and revolutionize naval warfare. The Battle of the Philippine Sea in June 1944 resulted in a decisive victory for the Allies, crushing the enemy's naval air force and securing vital air bases in the Mariana Islands. Mawdsley delves into the intricate details of the rapidly assembled force, including the ships, planes, and 100,000 officers and men, as well as the advanced bases and fleet train that enabled such astounding mobility. Task Force 58's campaign marked a significant milestone in the United States' naval supremacy, a status it continues to hold to this day.

Weight: 696g
Dimension: 164 x 241 x 38 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780300255454