The Last Century of Sea Power, Volume 2: From Washington to Tokyo, 1922–1945“An important contribution . . . a thoughtful account of the years preceding the Second World War and, at much greater length, of the war itself.” —History In this second volume of his history of naval power in the 20th century, H. P. Willmott follows the fortunes of the established seafaring nations of Europe along with two upstarts—the United States and Japan. Emerging from World War I in command of the seas, Great Britain saw its supremacy weakened through neglect and in the face of more committed rivals. Britain’s grand Coronation Review of 1937 marked the apotheosis of a sea power slipping into decline. Meanwhile, Britain’s rivals and soon-to-be enemies were embarking on significant naval building programs that would soon change the nature of war at sea in ways that neither they nor their rivals anticipated. By the end of a new world war, the United States had taken command of two oceans, having placed its industrial might behind technologies that further defined the arena of naval power above and below the waves, where stealth and the ability to strike at great distance would soon rewrite the rules of war and of peace. This splendid volume further enhances Willmott’s stature as the dean of naval historians. Praise for The Last Century of Sea Power series “The author, dean of naval historians, provides a sweeping look at, and analysis of, the transformation of naval power . . . Wilmott is fearless in his judgments.” —Seapower “H. P. Willmott is the finest naval historian and among the finest historians of any discipline writing today.” —Bernard D. Cole, author of The Great Wall at Sea |
Contents
3 | |
7 | |
Three Ethiopia and Spain | 42 |
Four Japan and Its Special Undeclared War | 62 |
Part 2 Introduction to the Second World War | 81 |
Five Navies Sea Power and Two or More Wars | 83 |
The European Theater | 117 |
Six Britain and the Defeat of the Uboat Guerre de Course | 119 |
Eleven The Japanese Situationand a Japanese Dimension | 430 |
Twelve The Japanese Situationand an American Dimension | 451 |
Thirteen The Japanese Situationand a Second Japanese Dimension | 473 |
Fourteen The Japanese Situationand Another and Final Dimension | 516 |
Part 5 Dealing with Real Enemies | 537 |
The British Home Fleet 15 August 1945 | 539 |
Notes | 597 |
627 | |
Seven With Friends like These | 223 |
Eight Italy and the War in the MediterraneanTheater of Operations | 261 |
Nine The Lesser Allied Navies and Merchant Marinesin the Second World War | 286 |
The Pacific Theater | 361 |
Introduction and Conclusion | 363 |
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The Last Century of Sea Power, Volume 2: From Washington to Tokyo, 1922–1945 H. P. Willmott No preview available - 2010 |
Common terms and phrases
120 Squadron RAF 15 August 1947 and scrapped 86 Squadron RAF Allied American April arrived at Rosyth attack auxiliary minesweeper battle battleship boats Britain British destroyer campaign Cape carrier aircraft Category C reserve central North Atlantic China Commissioned contre-torpilleur corvette damaged December defeat destroyer escorts escort carrier escort destroyers fate not forthcoming February Fleet carriers French frigate gunboat harbor heavy cruiser Island Italian January Japan July June and placed Kaigun Laid land-based air escort land-based air patrol Launched light cruiser lost March Mediterranean merchant merchantmen military minelayer minesweeper months naval November numbers October ofthe operations Pacific paddle steamer placed in Category placed in reserve ports Portsmouth Returned to U.S. Rosyth sailed scuttled sea escort sea patrol Second World shipping losses sloop Sold southwest Squadron RAF strategic bombing strategic bombing raid submarine subsequently scrapped sunk theater tons Torpedo-boat torpedoed Toulon U-boats U.S. Navy units war’s