Customer Reviews

Breaking the Bismark's Barrier: Volume 6: July 1942 - May 1944 (Breaking the Bismarck's Barrier, 22 July 1942-May 1944)

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This volume 6 of Morison's series on U.S. Naval operations in the second world war continues the excellent tradition set in the first 5 volumes. While written shortly after the war, the data are still quite good. Extensive research was done on both U.S., German, and Japanese records, as well as interviews and on the spot accounts with many participants, something hard to do today! I've so far only read the first 6 volumes of this 15 volume history, but each one has been well worth it. Extensive battle maps are also a plus. If you enjoy WWII naval history, start collecting these volumes.

"Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier" is a must read in inderstanding the War against Japan in WW-II.

The previous volumes by this author on "Midway" was the first Major Victory against Japan which at that time enjoyed much more experience in Fleet Naval Warfare as well as more assets (ships of all sorts) and Japanese experience in naval warfare expecially with their better by far torpedos and battle order of surface ships.

This victory at Midway was both Miraculous and dedication to the death of a large number of the U.S. Flatop fliers. It was the FIRST of three major battles in turning the tide against Japan in WW-II.

The next was much tougher, the Battle of Guadacanal with many naval engagements in which the U.S. Navy faired poorly due to lack of training on each ship and then Task Force or Fleet Training together and resulted in far to many lost ships and men at sea...further, "Guadacanal" is the first "grind it out" fight against Japans vaunted land forces in strength on both sides of the fight in a heavy jungle environment...both sides suffered badly but the Japanese could not feed their forces and so lost the abitity, as good as they could have been, to push back the Americans who had their own supply prolems as well.

Nevertheless, Guadacanal is the first CLEAR victory of American Forces, both Air, Naval and ground forces over the Japanese and is the turning of the tide from which Japan would never recover.

The next battle, which this review is mainly about shows a much better trained and powerful American force completing domination against Japan in Naval, Air and ground forces from which Japan would be retreating grudgingly but steadily toward the end of the war. Newer, faster warships, newer fighter planes as the F6F and Navay Corsair really began the attrition of Japanese Air and better American Naval Tactics began to tell what would be coming in the near future for Japan.

I recommend to the serious History student the reading of these books in the order as I have reviewed them to "get the facts" as to the turning of the tide against the Empire of Japan.

Very accurate.. . It's a great read. I got the whole series.
Do not skip Volume 3 " The Rising Sun in the Pacific" I spent 2 1/2 yrs in Pacific from Jan '43 to Jan.'46