Victory at Sea: World War II in the Pacific

by James F. Dunnigan

Victory at Sea brings together in one encyclopedic volume all the facts, figures, and details of the Pacific theater of World War II, containing much information that is unfamiliar or new. Here, acclaimed military historians James Dunnigan and Albert Nofi examine both the massive campaigns launched by all the combatants, including the famous battles for places like Midway, Guadalcanal, and Okinawa, and some of the lesser-known confrontations that were sometimes more strategically important. They also discuss the innovative and unique aspects of a modern war at sea, such as carrier-to-carrier battles and islandhopping campaigns, and tackle the myths, conspiracies, and cover-ups surrounding the dramatic events of the Pacific campaign. An authoritative reference of historic scope and vision, Victory at Sea captures the brilliance and desperation, military strategies and stories of personal valor, to give the most comprehensive overview yet of the war in the Pacific.

Genres: History, Military History, World War II, Nonfiction, War

612 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[John Lomnicki, · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read, if you have the time and a great reference as well. Thoroughly enjoyable.

[Ushan · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 1991, a computer game company called 360 Pacific Inc., which has long since gone out of business, approached the first author asking him to design a game based on the Pacific Theater of World War II. He agreed, wrote a hypertext game manual, and then expanded it to an unconventional history book. It talks at great length about the ships of the two main combatants, their aircraft, their senior military officers, and has much trivia, like the authors' other books: about the dangers of fighting in the jungle (disease and heat casualties among Allied troops outnumbered combat casualties 100 to 1 early in the war, and 40-60 to 1 by the war's end), conspiracy theories (FDR did not know about Pearl Harbor in advance, the raising of the American flag on Mount Suribachi at Iwo Jima was not staged, and no one told Truman that invading Japan would result in a million dead American soldiers) and so on.

I am amazed, how technological warfare (aircraft carriers, landing ships carrying tanks, shells with proximity fuzes) is different from the kind of fighting we now see between Hamas and Fatah in Gaza, or in Congo in 1998-2003. The battles in Mogadishu between Islamists and their CIA-supported opponents do not lend themselves to steampunk aesthetics.

[Iain · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not a book one reads from start to finish. It's not edited in a traditional sense for one thing. It does succeed as a conglomeration of snippets and factoids. Sort of a Reader's Digest or "bathroom book". It's entertaining in its own way, but I often found myself thinking "citation needed" as the book does make some rather amazing claims without listing a single reference.

Unfinished, but then again it's not as I say a book read cover-to-cover.

[Steven Raszewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative!

[Conan Robison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great reference, but you can get bogged down in all the material. Almost too overwhelming unless you're a serious WWII fan.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The definitive history of the sea war during WWII. Very complete, easy to read, and insightful.