TiL that Jonathan Parshall, author of "Shattered Sword" ...

von Marwitz

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Just reserved it at the Library. I needed a good read. Thanks!
I would like to hear your feedback when you've read it.

Among the most interesting things for me was to learn about the level of tactical sophistication of the Japanese carriers whose airgroups were routinely able to cooperate beyond their own carrier. Something the US did not do in a comparable manner at the time.

von Marwitz
 

Actionjick

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I would like to hear your feedback when you've read it.

Among the most interesting things for me was to learn about the level of tactical sophistication of the Japanese carriers whose airgroups were routinely able to cooperate beyond their own carrier. Something the US did not do in a comparable manner at the time.

von Marwitz
I'll certainly let you know!
 

Gordon

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I would like to hear your feedback when you've read it.

Among the most interesting things for me was to learn about the level of tactical sophistication of the Japanese carriers whose airgroups were routinely able to cooperate beyond their own carrier. Something the US did not do in a comparable manner at the time.

von Marwitz
Yes, the state of Carrier operations in the IJN was light years ahead of the U.S. at the time. Partially attributable to the point that before that time the U.S. pretty much only operated their carriers (in training) singularly. The idea that you could composite a strike across multiple carriers (e.g., Dive bombers from carrier 'A', torpedo bombers from carrier 'B' and fighters from carrier 'C') didn't occur to the U.S. Later in the war, of course, the U.S. elevated carrier ops to an even greater level of sophistication.
 
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Actionjick

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I would like to hear your feedback when you've read it.

Among the most interesting things for me was to learn about the level of tactical sophistication of the Japanese carriers whose airgroups were routinely able to cooperate beyond their own carrier. Something the US did not do in a comparable manner at the time.

von Marwitz
Just picked it up from the library. Has some weight to it. Nice!
 

Chris_Riches

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Yes, I agree it is a good book. Always good to have a quality output on a particular topic. I do spend a bunch of time doing Amazon reviews for “less-than-good” books that aren’t all they are made out to be. I ought to drop that and play more ASL…
 

Actionjick

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Yes, I agree it is a good book. Always good to have a quality output on a particular topic. I do spend a bunch of time doing Amazon reviews for “less-than-good” books that aren’t all they are made out to be. I ought to drop that and play more ASL…
You could do AAAR's. Amazon After Action Reports.
 

Hutch

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One factor from Shattered Swords was his discussion that the Japanese Vals and Kates were not launching as history has portrayed. The A/C on deck were the CAP replacements.
The Vals and Kates were below deck, in the hangers, mostly rearmed with AP Bombs and Torpedoes.
 
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Actionjick

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One factor from Shattered Swords was his discussion that the Japanese Vals and Kates were not launching as history has portrayed. The A/C on deck were the CAP replacements.
Only got into part of the introduction as kitty girl Mylo would jump on the book when it was opened. Did see that one of the Japanese sources for much of what has been written previously has had his narrative discredited.
 

Gordon

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Yes, it was Fuchida who promulgated the "We were JUST about to launch our attack" myth that was taken as gospel in the west. When Tully and Parshall started doubting that narrative during they research they diplomatically reached out to Japanese historians. They were surprised when the response back was, "Fuchida was a liar." 🤣
 

Sparafucil3

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Yes, it was Fuchida who promulgated the "We were JUST about to launch our attack" myth that was taken as gospel in the west. When Tully and Parshall started doubting that narrative during they research they diplomatically reached out to Japanese historians. They were surprised when the response back was, "Fuchida was a liar." 🤣
There is a great book on this topic called Shattered Sword by Parshall and Tully. I would add Gordon Prange to the list of culprits. Not only did he rely heavily on Fuchida, but his book Miracle at Midway served as the basis for the movie Midway. As we all know, there isn't anything you can learn from a book that you can't learn from TV even faster and I am sure most of us were at least exposed to this myth by the movie before we even considered reading a book. :) -- jim
 

Ric of The LBC

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There is a great book on this topic called Shattered Sword by Parshall and Tully. I would add Gordon Prange to the list of culprits. Not only did he rely heavily on Fuchida, but his book Miracle at Midway served as the basis for the movie Midway. As we all know, there isn't anything you can learn from a book that you can't learn from TV even faster and I am sure most of us were at least exposed to this myth by the movie before we even considered reading a book. :) -- jim
and even faster if exposed in Sensurround
 
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