A detailed and comprehensive study of the aircraft carrier formations of the Pacific War, including their origins, development, and key battles from the Battle of Coral Sea, through the Battle of Midway and Guadalcanal, to the Battle of the Philippine Sea.

The defining feature of the Pacific Theater of World War II was the carrier conflict that ultimately decided the fate of nations. The names of these battles have become legendary as some of the most epic encounters in the history of naval warfare.

Pre-war assumptions about the impact and effectiveness of aircraft carriers were extensively tested in early battles such as Coral Sea, while the U.S. victories at the Battle of Midway and in the waters around Guadalcanal established their superiority in carrier power. The ability of the U.S. Navy to adapt and evolve to the changing conditions of war maintained and advanced their advantage, culminating in their overall victory in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, the largest carrier battle in history, which nearly annihilated the entire Japanese carrier force.

By examining the ships, aircraft, and doctrines of the two naval powers, Japanese and American, and how these changed during the war, Mark E. Stille illustrates how the dominance of American carriers paved the way for Allied victory in the Pacific.

Pages: 304, Dimensions: 19.8x19.8cm