Hawaii, 7th December 1941, shortly before 8 in the morning: Japanese torpedo bombers launch a surprise attack on the US Pacific fleet anchored in Pearl Harbor. The devastating attack claims the lives of over 2,400 American soldiers, sinks or damages 18 ships and destroys nearly 350 aircraft. The US Congress declares war on Japan the following day. <br /><br />In this vivid and lively book, Takuma Melber breathes new life into the dramatic events that unfolded before, during and after Pearl Harbor by putting the perspective of the Japanese attackers at the centre of his account. This is the dimension commonly missing in most other histories of Pearl Harbor, and it gives Melber the opportunity to provide a fuller, more definitive and authoritative account of the battle, its background and its consequences. Melber sheds new light on the long negotiations that went on between the Japanese and Americans in 1941, and the confusion and argument among the Japanese political and military elite. He shows how US intelligence and military leaders in Washington failed to interpret correctly the information they had and to draw the necessary conclusions about the Japanese war intentions in advance of the attack. His account of the battle itself is informed by the latest research and benefits from including the planning and post-raid assessment by the Japanese commanders. His account also covers the second raid in March 1942 by two long-range seaplanes which was intended to destroy the shipyards so that ships damaged in the initial attack could not be repaired. <br /><br />This balanced and thoroughly researched book deepens our understanding of the battle that precipitated America’s entry into the war and it will appeal to anyone interested in World War II and military history.
Оглавление
Takuma Melber. Pearl Harbor
Contents
List of Figures
Guide
Pages
Pearl Harbor. Japan’s Attack and America’s Entry into World War II
Dedication
Prologue
Note
1The Background. The road to Pearl Harbor
The crisis intensifies
Japan’s proposals for resolving the conflict
The Hull Note
Notes
2The Japanese War Plan. Admiral Yamamoto and Operation Hawaii
The plan of attack
The Kidō Butai sets sail
Japanese spies on Hawaii
The first encounter
Notes
3The Attack. The first wave
“Tora Tora Tora”
Battleship Row in crossfire
The second attack wave
Egusa’s dive bombers
Notes
4Consequences. The aftermath
The USA enters the war
The first prisoner-of-war
The Japanese-American victims of Pearl Harbor
Could Pearl Harbor have been prevented?
Conspiracy theories
Operation K
Notes
Epilogue
Notes
Select Bibliography
Index
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
Y
Z
POLITY END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT
Отрывок из книги
Takuma Melber
Translated by Nick Somers
.....
Akamatsu’s plane broke through the cloud cover. In the distance he could see the island of Hawaii the pilot was steering towards. The hour had come that would bring Japan glory and honor. The message from Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku passed on at the briefing by the fleet commander still resounded in his ears: the attack on Pearl Harbor would determine the survival or destruction of the entire Japanese nation. If the plan – which was completely reliant on the element of surprise – were to fail, the war would be lost before it had even started.
Akamatsu and the men in the first Japanese attack wave were aware of the significance of their mission: the surprise attack had to succeed at all costs. As they overflew the coast of the main Hawaiian island of Oahu, the bomber squadron maneuvered into formation and headed directly for its target, Pearl City harbor, and the US Pacific Fleet anchored there. Just a few moments after the Japanese navy airmen had spotted the main US navy base in the Pacific, Akamatsu received a signal informing him of their target, the Tennessee-class destroyer USS California, commissioned in 1921. Before Akamatsu knew it, the pilot was diving towards the majestic-looking enemy vessel. When the steel colossus came into his sights, he pressed the button at just the right moment, as he had learned through the months of training, to release the deadly torpedo. At that moment the plane came under heavy anti-aircraft fire. Akamatsu felt as if the US fleet, which had been taken completely by surprise, was directing all of its anti-aircraft fire at him and his plane. While the pilot ascended desperately in an attempt to dodge the hail of bullets, Akamatsu heard a loud explosion, and a blast wave passed through his body. Or was he imagining it? When the plane was finally out of the danger zone, Akamatsu looked back at the scene from a safe altitude. Black smoke was billowing from the USS California; he was fairly certain that the torpedo had found its target and penetrated the ship’s hull. Akamatsu and his comrades had accomplished their mission. The crew were overwhelmed with a feeling of euphoria and spontaneously cried out a triumphant “Tennō Heika Banzai!” – Long live the Emperor of Japan! Akamatsu proudly set course for the aircraft carrier Kaga.
