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E-mail PageKnown throughout Japan as "the unsinkable captain" of World War II, Tameichi Hara was a hero of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Author of its manual on torpedo attack techniques, Captain Hara exemplified the best in Japanese surface commanders: highly skilled (particularly in torpedo warfare and night fighting), hard driving, and aggressive. He led his destroyers into the thick of combat in practically every major naval battle in the Pacific: Pearl Harbor, Coral Sea, Midway, Guadalcanal, Leyte Gulf, and Okinawa.
Originally published in 1961, this is Hara's classic memoir of the great naval battles of the Pacific War. It reveals a Japanese commander as free with praise for American courage and resourcefulness as he was critical of himself and his senior commanders.
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"Thank you, Naval Institute Press, for the supreme effort that finally brought this out-of-print classic back from limbo!"
An outstanding, frank and captivating memoir, not only of command, but of numerous naval engagements in the Pacific War. Paints an fascinating picture of the make-up, personalities and challenges of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Provides great insight into the feelings of the fighting man and the fog of war. An essential read for anyone interested in WWII naval history. A classic.
The Institute is to be commended for bringing this long-out-of-print classic to another generation. CAPT Hara's observations provide an unvarnished view of what was wrong with Japanese naval commanders in the Pacific War. His viewpoint is that of a very experienced and skillful combat veteran developed in the destroyer navy who saw most of the senior command positions taken by officers who developed in Tokyo staff positions, and whose performance fell short under the stress of combat conditions. It was officers like Hara who shaped the new Japanese Maritime Self Defense Forces with emphasis on seamanship and leadership. This is an exciting read which affords important insight into WW II naval history.
Accurate; insightful; indespensable. One World War II book that should always be in print.
