Mark Stille Knihy

Japonské námořnictvo bylo průkopníkem námořního letectva, jako první zařadilo do služby letadlovou loď. Američané je následovali a zahájili rozsáhlý program stavby letadlových lodí. Když se válka v Tichomoří rozšířila do největšího námořního konfliktu dějin, stala se letadlová loď základem americké i japonské námořní strategie a tyto lodě spolu bojovaly o nadvládu nad tímto důležitým válčištěm. Tato kniha analyzuje nejrůznější výzbroj, jež byla k dispozici pro letadlové lodě obou protivníků, zejména palubní letadla, ale i mohutná lodní děla. Popisuje konstrukci a vývoj těchto revolučních lodí a líčí zážitky námořních letců a dělových obsluh v zápase o vítězství v souboji dovednosti, houževnatosti a odvahy.

Napínavý příběh posledního velkého souboje amerických a japonských křižníků v legendární bitvě o Guadalcanal jistě potěší všechny zájemce o vývoj a taktiku těchto lodí. Proti sobě stanuly dvě eskadry a svedly spolu několik impozantních bitev, v nichž se válečné štěstí střídavě přiklánělo na tu či onu stranu, až po definitivní porážku japonské flotily. Autor knihy podrobně rozebírá slabiny a silné stránky nesmiřitelných protivníků, jejich doktríny, problémy ve velení, ale i skvělé taktické kroky, úroveň výcviku a vzdělání námořníků, životní podmínky na palubách lodí, technické údaje o třídách, jejich výstroj a výzbroj. Věrohodnost líčení zvyšuje i četné využívání výpovědí přímých účastníků a vzácných dokumentárních fotografií.

Letadlové lodě byly pro USA základní zbraní proti Japonsku během války v Pacifiku. Velkou roli sehrály letadlové lodě třídy Essex, které představovaly největší typ lodě tohoto druhu, které byl kdy postaven. Čtenář se důkladně seznámí s interiérem i exteriérem těchto lodí, jejich vývojem a designem a prožije boje o Filipíny, záliv Leyte a Okinawu.

An illustrated exploration of the Japanese raid into the Indian Ocean in April 1942 – one of the largest operations conducted by the Imperial Navy during the war.

As the Pacific War approached a crescendo, the clashes between swarming US Navy carrier aircraft, and the gigantic Imperial Japanese Navy Yamato-class battleships became symbolic of the fortunes of the two nations. This book presents views from US Navy Divebombers, and IJN anti-aircraft guns, during two of the most dramatic naval engagements.

While not as famous as their larger and faster sister ships such as the Essex- and Yorktown-class carriers, escort carriers made an enormous contribution towards Allied victory both in the Pacific and Atlantic theaters. Rather than relying on size or speed, it was their sheer numbers that made them so effective. Indeed, the Casablanca-class escort carrier was the most-produced aircraft carrier in history. In partnership with the Royal Navy, they provided the backbone of Allied antisubmarine efforts in the Atlantic, finally and irrevocably turning the tide of the war against the U-boats in 1943. In the Pacific, they provided the air cover for the series of landings which led to the doorstep of Japan by 1945. These robust ships faced submarine, air, and even surface threats from the Japanese, but proved able to contend with everything thrown their way. Fully illustrated with contemporary photographs and unique specially commissioned artwork, this book shines a new light on these unjustly overlooked workhorses of the US Navy--ships that helped usher in the Allied victory over the Axis powers in the Atlantic and Pacific.

A comprehensive overview of the strategy, operations, and vessels of the United States Navy from 1941 to 1945. Although slowly building its navy while neutral during the early years of World War II, the US was struck a serious blow when its battleships, the lynchpin of US naval doctrine, were the target of the dramatic attack at Pearl Harbor. In the Pacific Theater, the US was thereafter locked into a head to head struggle with the impressive Imperial Japanese Navy, fighting a series of major battles in the Coral Sea, at Midway, the Philippine Sea, Leyte Gulf, and Okinawa in the struggle for supremacy over Japan. Having avoided the decisive defeat sought by the IJN, the US increased industrial production and by the end of the war, the US Navy was larger than any other in the world. Meanwhile in the west, the US Navy operated on a second front, supporting landings in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy, and in 1944 played a significant part in the D-Day landings, the largest and most complex amphibious operation of all time. Written by an acknowledged expert and incorporating extensive illustrations including photographs, maps, and color artwork, this book offers a detailed look at the strategy, operations, and vessels of the US Navy in World War II.

A history of the enduring Essex-class ships, the US Navy's finest and most numerous fleet carrier during World War II, which were modernized repeatedly and served with distinction. The Essex class was the USN's war-winning ship class of the Pacific War. Of the 24 ships completed, 14 saw action, making the Essex class the largest class of fleet aircraft carriers ever built. These ships had a fine balance of striking power, protection, and speed and were modernized during and after the war. There were five distinct programs carried out, adding not only angled flight decks for jet operations, but repeated upgrades to sensors, weapons, and equipment. Essex-class carriers were used in a number of roles and provided the vast majority of US Navy air power in the Korean War, and a sizeable proportion of air power in the Vietnam conflict. However, as the “super carriers” began to enter service in the early 1960s, the Essex class was relegated to secondary roles– a single Essex carrier served until 1991 as the US Navy's training carrier. Using detailed artwork and photos, this book provides an in-depth portrait of this important and enduring class of ship, and looks at its development and modifications while considering the many and varied actions it took part in.