The Ship Model Forum

The most interesting aspect of Lundstrom's book is the way he makes clear that after Pearl Harbor the USN really was casting around for a way to fight the naval war. The old central Pacific offensive was dropped from the start. More due to the obvious power of Japanese A/C Carriers and landbased aircraft. It seems that Admiral King still was interested in what the BBs could do, but Nimitz and most others in command of the Pacific at Pearl Harbor were completely A/C Carrier minded. NOT because the USN had no BBs, but because they didn't dare use them without A/C Carrier escort. So from the start, the Pacific command saw the A/C carrier as the capital ship and the ship that would decide the 1942 battles. Conventional wisdom is that the USN had no battleline after Pearl Harbor, but they had 7 BB's in task force 1 at San Fransisco only weeks after Pearl Harbor.
The USN was interested in engaging in combat as soon as possible, because before Coral Sea, they felt that the USN's naval aviation would be superior to the Japanese. After Coral Sea, they changed their minds on that subject and were less sure of themselves at Midway. Nimitz telling Fletcher that he should not lose his carriers and if necessary, pull back and let Japanese forces take Midway. Nimitz looked at Midway as a chance to ambush the Japanese, if the ambush didn't come off, he was willing to give up Midway rather than lose a significant portion of the carriers force. As it was, the Japanse played their part almost to perfection and the ambush came off almost as planned. The US expected two Japanese carrier groups though. One two carrier force to come in close and pound Midway, the other two to act as cover force prepared from a distance to engage American naval forces if any turned up earlier than expected. As it was, this may have been a better plan for the Japanese. One force attack Midway, the other guard that force with decks loaded for an anti shipping strike. Working all 4 flight decks against Midway was the root cause of the big disaster for the Japanese, although lots of smaller things helped them on their way to doom at Midway.

Bob B.

I'm looking forward to reading it - but it's down on my list of books right now. I'm currently into "1942", then I'm going to read "Shattered Sword". I think I'll slot this book behind SS.

I'm surprised that no one who has been reading this book has posted any comments on it. I just got to the Midway Battle and have found alot of more clear information on how this battle was planned and what really was going on. Although not an in depth story of Midway, it makes clear how the USN planned to fight and what information they were sent into battle with. Lundstrom has outdone himself , if that's possible.
Poor Admiral King and his seven old Battleships of Task Force 1. He sure wanted to get them into the action, but got no encouragement from Nimitz. Perhaps I now have more respect for Nimitz as commander, he was on the ball.
If one reads this book, along with "Shattered Sword". I think Midway becomes a much more understandable battle with most of the half truths and propaganda of earlier years gone from the story.

Bob B.

Don't know how many have gotten into reading this book. I just got back from Europe and started in right away. It is hefty allright. I am taking it slow as I'm short of time. Great history, with lots of important facts and points to make. My biggest surprize was the constant reference to TF1, the US Battleships gathered at San Fransisco beginning in January just short weeks after Pearl Harbour. It soon numbered a task force of 7 BBs ready for deployment and Admiral King was always after Nimitz to deploy them to the central Pacific or at least dream up a scheme to use them with a carrier task force or put them out where the IJN would see them and react in some fashion. Nimitz wanted nothing to do with the old Battle Wagons. King gave in, but tried hard to get them into the war in some fashion. The surprize to me was the conventional wisdom that for a long while after Pearl Harbour the US had no battle line, in fact they did, even leaving out the two new ones in the Atlantic.
I encourage anyone interested in the Pacific war to get this book

Bob B.

Mine showed up as well {along with a seperate box from Pacific Front with the Combrig Erin and King Edward VII }. I too was surprised at the heft of the book - it's been slotted into the stack of "stuff to read".

My copy showed up yesterday. It's a freakin' tome! 600 pages! I had no idea there was so much to write about Frank Fletcher.

I look forward to reading it, but it'll be a while before I have time.

-Devin

Oh that is good news! Lundstrom is a first rate writter, he goes deep into the events that most others will just ignore. His First Team books placed him at the top of Naval History authors and I for one am headed for Amazon right now to pre order. Thanks for tip.

Bob B.

Glad that project is still in the works. My copy of "The First Team" mentions that he was working on a Coral Sea title, but it's been so long and I've heard nothing I feared it had been put off. Great news.

-Devin

Thanks for the heads up - I just pre-ordered mine.

I too am looking foward to this book. I saw Mr. Lundstrom mention recently (on the J-Aircraft Ships Message Board) that he and another author are going to be working on a new book on the Battle of the Coral Sea, based on new information that has come to light. That's another book I'll definitely buy - The Battle of the Coral Sea has been totally overshadowed by the events at Midway. It's time for a new book on the subject.

I just got a notice that Amazon has his new book "Black Shoe Carrier Admiral: Frank Jack Fletcher at Coral Sea, Midway & Guadalcanal" up for pre order at a discount. Just ordered mine.

I'm really looking forward to this. In his "First Team" books, I thought that Lundstrom was one of the few authors who actually gave Fletcher a fair 'trial by history' and didn't condemn him via a Jury of Hindsight.

-Devin