Customer Reviews

The Pacific War Atlas 1941-1945

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Fairly good over all view of the war against Japan. To me it seems as the author believes that the British suffered the most, were the only troops who fought in jungles, were subjected to desease, etc and ultimately were the ones who actually defeated the Japs, with a little help from the United States and Australia, etc. Good maps, though. I was disappointed that the account of Tarawa, Peleliu and Iwo Jima were so brief. Maybe it was because the Brits didn't participate in those battles. Burma, Hong Kong, Malaya were more important.I was hoping to be enlightened on the campaigns at Bougainville, New Georgia, Cape Gloucester, Kwajalein, Eniwetok etc but I don't know more about those campaigns than I did before reading the book. I recommend the "The Pacific War Atlas" as an introduction to the war against Japan.

This is a great book. It has pages and pages of colored maps marked with symbols to tell you who was where, how they were moving and what happened (i.e., the advancement of an Australian Army Regiment or where Allied ships were sunk). Has small pictures relating to the campaign or battle being referenced, but this is a mostly a map book, and a great one at that.

In 141 pages Smurthwaite has condensed the major engagements, both land and sea, of the Pacific Theater. The strength of this work is its brevity and the huge number of useful maps. While reading other more detailed accounts of various engagements, I would frequently reach for this book and the pertinent map. Brief it may be but not a word is wasted in providing a brilliant summary.

A great companion for "The Two-Ocean War" by Samuel Eliot Morrison

Many Pacific military history books are weak in maps so this book is a good addition to your library for a general representation of a large number of military actions. Most are covered by one map so it still may be difficult to understand complex actions. There is a British slant in many areas but that seems to be the main area of the author's expertise.

I found 2 or 3 errors but only remember the last in which he says "By 1945 the Americans could call upon helicopters for pilot rescue, could use penicillin in the treatment of infection, and could apply nuclear fission to warfare." I am really surprised at the helicopter statement. While one or two models of helicopter were used by the US, they were extremely limited and I don't remember seeing anything at all about rescuing US pilots in the Pacific. The quote implies, to me that they were used regularly.

Overall, it was an enjoyable 143 pages with "over 60 full-color maps."