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I just saw a promo for this book on Amazon: The Imperial Japanese Navy in the Pacific War

(General Military) Hardcover
November 18, 2014
by Mark Stille

Anyone heard anything about it?

The Imperial Japanese Navy in the Pacific War

Amazon claims the book will cover "modifications of each ship making this a valuable reference source for Pacific War enthusiasts and historians, as well as ship modelers."

Not sure if such an obscure topic will generate any interest around here. [;)]

A look through his other titles show a distinct theme I'm a fan of. I have seen his Yamamoto book online before, but I've never picked it up. It might be a good read and chance to see his writing style before this one comes out.

Mark Stille has written quite a few books for Osprey. He's a pretty good author.

It won't be published for 6 months though.

Bill

look as another book on wishlist.

Six months from May is now. Anyone get this one?

Look like an interesting book, thinking about grabbing it too.

Thanks for sharing this with us

going to be out on Kindle beginning of Dec

ORIGINAL: wegman58

Six months from May is now. Anyone get this one?

warspite1

See the OP its not out yet. Due next week - and I have a copy on order [:)]

Ditto

I read the "Look Inside", and it looks very interesting! Basically, if you liked "Kaigun", it appears you'll love this book.

I wouldn't wait until they make the movie, though.....

The book arrived yesterday. I have to be honest and say its a little disappointing - my fault I should have waited for reviews.

If you have no reference books on the IJN then it is a perfectly good, one-volume reference point. If you already have some of the various works out there e.g. the Osprey New Vanguard, Conways, Warships of the IJN etc, then its probably not going to add anything new.

Warspite:

Could you expand some on this? I have not ordered it yet. Had planned to but then decided to wait. Does it bring anything useful to the table? Are any of the hypothetical designs in there? What about pictures and drawings?

THANKS!

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Warspite:

Could you expand some on this? I have not ordered it yet. Had planned to but then decided to wait. Does it bring anything useful to the table? Are any of the hypothetical designs in there? What about pictures and drawings?

THANKS!

warspite1

Sure. As I say, it really depends on what you have already. If you have nothing on the IJN then it's a useful high level book. It gives at high level a chapter on IJN doctrine, a chapter on IJN battles in WWII - again real high level summary type stuff and then goes onto the ships themselves. This is the most disappointing aspect. Nothing on planned but not completed ships either. The drawings and pictures are not uniform - some colour, some not. The tabular technical detail for the ships is very basic (although is expanded upon in the text). The ships are grouped into their classes as you would expect, and there is a summary of what happened to each vessel, but......

As I say, the value of this book depends on what you know and have in your library already but I would be surprised if many people who have an interest in the naval war of WWII - and so have this info in one or more books - would find this a particularly illuminating addition.

ORIGINAL: warspite1
As I say, the value of this book depends on what you know and have in your library already but I would be surprised if many people who have an interest in the naval war of WWII - and so have this info in one or more books - would find this a particularly illuminating addition.

That description can be applied to every other book I've read of his.

I found they can make good, first-stop general references but are fairly dry in terms of their narrative.

SO - If you have the Jane's WW II summary not much of an addition?

ORIGINAL: wegman58

SO - If you have the Jane's WW II summary not much of an addition?

warspite1

If your only reference point for the IJN is Jane's Fighting Ships of WWII (not sure if there are different versions) then this new book is probably okay as its presented better and provides more detail than Jane's. But will provide little more than a combination of Jane's, Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1869-1945, Conways 1906-21 and 22-46 and the IJN New Vanguard titles.

ORIGINAL: Buckrock

ORIGINAL: warspite1
As I say, the value of this book depends on what you know and have in your library already but I would be surprised if many people who have an interest in the naval war of WWII - and so have this info in one or more books - would find this a particularly illuminating addition.

That description can be applied to every other book I've read of his.

I found they can make good, first-stop general references but are fairly dry in terms of their narrative.

warspite1

.

I use the Ian Allen series when possible.
For years I have used a copy of JAPANESE WARSHIPS OF WORLD WAR TWO written by Anthony J Watts.

The book covers all from the largest down to the many small auxiliaries.

Warspite, how would you compare this book to KAIGUN by Evans?