Great books on the IJN

Raverdave · Post by **Raverdave** » Wed May 28, 2003 10:43 am

I have just got hold of the following two books on the IJN, both are out of print, so you will really have to hunt for them, but it will be well worth you trouble!

"Japanese Naval Vessels of WW2"
( As seen by US Naval Intelligence)
Arms and Armour Press LTD 1987
ISBN 0-85368-847-8

Pretty much this is a re-print of the US Naval Intelligence handbook and reproduces the the 4 publications of the ONI (ONI 41-421, ONI 41-42, ONI 220J and ONI 225J. There are some really good prints and photos of IJN ships from the BB down to the type "A" landing craft.

The second book is one that I have been after for sometime.

"The Imperial Japanese Navy"
By A.J Watts & B.G Gordon
Publishd by MacDonald & Co 1971
SBN 356 03045 8

This book is a real gem with 529 pages detailing the ships used by the IJN from 1863 to 1945 where they were built and what happened to them. Lots of photos line drawings and facts and figures. It is a "Conways" type book but with much much more detail. This would have to be one of the best books on the IJN that I have seen, and the main reason for hunting it down. For the lovers of the IJN it is a must for your bookshelf!

Drongo · Post by **Drongo** » Wed May 28, 2003 1:01 pm

Do I get another prezzie when you visit, Uncle Dave? Huh? Huh?

Raverdave · Post by **Raverdave** » Wed May 28, 2003 2:55 pm

I will "allow" you to borrow "The Naval War in the Mediterrean"....as for the others, I'll bring them around so that you can have a captain cook. Are you gona cook lunch this time or do I have to put up with corn chips again?;) :p

Drongo · Post by **Drongo** » Wed May 28, 2003 4:18 pm

Don't knock the corn chips.

I spent hours preparing them. And if you think sealing them up in a plastic bag is easy.....

If you're going to be a pain about it, I'll see if I can get the girlie to put her culinary skills to use (why should I be the only one who suffers).

Raverdave · Post by **Raverdave** » Wed May 28, 2003 4:30 pm

Any of her "other" skills you wish to share?;)

Drongo · Post by **Drongo** » Wed May 28, 2003 6:01 pm

You want her to do your ironing???

Luskan · Post by **Luskan** » Wed May 28, 2003 6:46 pm

Best thing I ever did: kept my subscription to Sydney Uni Library after I graduated.

Fisher stack, level 9 - when you're in there it feels like you're in the movie Ghostbusters (at the start in the library), but they've got SHELVES full of this stuff - including at least on of Raver's books if not both.

I'm a proliferate reader, and I'm barely halfway along the shelf.
Problem with such a selection is however, that you usually get equal amounts of good books and crap.

madflava13 · Post by **madflava13** » Thu May 29, 2003 12:43 am

I hate hearing that... Most libraries here in the US have very spotty collections, in my experience... Seems we forget our history faster than you folks down under...

The library at American University in DC has a great selection of books on US Sub ops though - odd, since the history dept. is about as weak as they come.

Zeta16 · Post by **Zeta16** » Thu May 29, 2003 1:45 am

In the U.S. they think we need books about feelings and PC things. World War Two is not very PC anymore because I. it's a war and 2. the U.S. won. I am 25 and teach high school history and our book has one chapter on the led up to WWII and one chapter one it. But we have have 6 Chapters on the 60's and earily 70's. To me that is just wrong.

Yamamoto · Post by **Yamamoto** » Thu May 29, 2003 2:01 am

"A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy" by Paul S. Dull is a good one too.

Yamamoto

TIMJOT · Post by **TIMJOT** » Thu May 29, 2003 5:58 pm

Kaigun; Evans/Pettie, (Naval Institute Press)

A very comprehensive book on the birth and development of the IJN. It has in depth analysis of ship design, weapons, tactics and strategy of IJN, but does not delve into the the actual battles fought in any detail.

A companion book, ( Sunburst? IIRC )about the developement of the IJN air arm was written by the same authors, but I havent had the chance to read it.

Luskan · Post by **Luskan** » Thu May 29, 2003 7:50 pm

Just picked up "Eagle against the sun" by Spector. Will let you all know if it measures up to "The Pacific Campaign" by Jan van der Vat.

Raverdave · Post by **Raverdave** » Fri May 30, 2003 11:59 am

Originally posted by TIMJOT
Kaigun; Evans/Pettie, (Naval Institute Press)

A very comprehensive book on the birth and development of the IJN. It has in depth analysis of ship design, weapons, tactics and strategy of IJN, but does not delve into the the actual battles fought in any detail.

A companion book, ( Sunburst? IIRC )about the developement of the IJN air arm was written by the same authors, but I havent had the chance to read it.

Would you have the ISBN of those two books on hand?

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Fri May 30, 2003 4:02 pm

Originally posted by Raverdave
Would you have the ISBN of those two books on hand?

Kaigun : 0870211927
Sunburst : 1557504326

Raverdave · Post by **Raverdave** » Fri May 30, 2003 4:29 pm

Thanks spooky!

dwesolick · Post by **dwesolick** » Fri May 30, 2003 6:40 pm

Originally posted by Zeta16
In the U.S. they think we need books about feelings and PC things. World War Two is not very PC anymore because I. it's a war and 2. the U.S. won. I am 25 and teach high school history and our book has one chapter on the led up to WWII and one chapter one it. But we have have 6 Chapters on the 60's and earily 70's. To me that is just wrong.

I have to agree, unfortunately. I teach history at a community college and I refuse to use textbooks (at least in my non-internet classes). Instead I assign secondary works. Among others I have assigned are "Prisoners of the Japanese" by Gavan Daws----VERY un-PC, but the students loved it. Another book I have used, and will be using again this fall, is "In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis" by Doug Stanton again, great student response. Of course, at a high school, you probably don't have this luxury.
A book that I have read recently and would recommend generally is "A Glorious Way to Die: The Kamikaze Mission of the Battleship Yamato, April 1945" by Russell Spurr.
In a slightly different vein, a book I just finished yesterday is one of the best I have ever read: "Dreadnought: Britain, Germany and the Coming of the Great War" by Robert Massie...It was history on an EPIC scale. He is currently working on a book on WWI naval history which I will be snapping up from Amazon as soon as it hits.

TIMJOT · Post by **TIMJOT** » Fri May 30, 2003 7:41 pm

Originally posted by Spooky
Kaigun : 0870211927
Sunburst : 1557504326

Thanks for the pick up spooky. Raver its a fairly expensive book, but well worth it if you are interested in the subject IMO. Lots of charts and diagrams, good stuff on the Sino/Japan and Russo/Japan war as well.

dwesolick · Post by **dwesolick** » Fri May 30, 2003 7:51 pm

Originally posted by Raverdave
I have just got hold of the following two books on the IJN, both are out of print, so you will really have to hunt for them, but it will be well worth you trouble!

"Japanese Naval Vessels of WW2"
( As seen by US Naval Intelligence)
Arms and Armour Press LTD 1987
ISBN 0-85368-847-8

Pretty much this is a re-print of the US Naval Intelligence handbook and reproduces the the 4 publications of the ONI (ONI 41-421, ONI 41-42, ONI 220J and ONI 225J. There are some really good prints and photos of IJN ships from the BB down to the type "A" landing craft.

The second book is one that I have been after for sometime.

"The Imperial Japanese Navy"
By A.J Watts & B.G Gordon
Publishd by MacDonald & Co 1971
SBN 356 03045 8

This book is a real gem with 529 pages detailing the ships used by the IJN from 1863 to 1945 where they were built and what happened to them. Lots of photos line drawings and facts and figures. It is a "Conways" type book but with much much more detail. This would have to be one of the best books on the IJN that I have seen, and the main reason for hunting it down. For the lovers of the IJN it is a must for your bookshelf!

You can find numerous copies of "The Imperial Japanese Navy" at abebooks.com........I got mine for $35. Thanks Raverdave!

Don Bowen · Post by **Don Bowen** » Fri May 30, 2003 10:15 pm

I would recommend:

Japanese Warships of World War II by A.J. Watts
Published 1966 by Ian Allen (in the UK)

Less detail than "The Imperial Japanese Navy" but covers ALL the Japanese warships of world war II - all the way down to the Daihatsus - as well as merchantmen in naval service. Long out of print and hard to find but an excellent reference work.

Same format and level of detail as Silverstone's "U.S. Warships of World War II".

Raverdave · Post by **Raverdave** » Sat May 31, 2003 11:02 am

Originally posted by TIMJOT
Thanks for the pick up spooky. Raver its a fairly expensive book, but well worth it if you are interested in the subject IMO. Lots of charts and diagrams, good stuff on the Sino/Japan and Russo/Japan war as well.

Looked at Amazon and IIRC Kaigun is about $50 ish. Not a bad price, but once I add the currency differance and postage, I guess that I am looking at $100 Aussie. Not that this really bothers me if the book is a good one, and from what I have read of the readers reviews, this looks to be a great book!

Sunburst however did not not get a good review.....has anyone here read it? Amazon is bundleing the two books for $76.

Great books on the IJN

Great books on the IJN

Re: Great books on the IJN

Japanese Warships of WW II