Suicide Squads: The Men and Machines of World War II Special Operations (Classic Conflicts) [Paperback]

Richard O'Neill (Author)

Book Description

Series: Classic Conflicts | Publication Date: June 1999

This study details the development and operations of British, Italian and German small submersibles, explosive boats and experimental aircraft as well as the similar weapons deployed suicidally by the Japanese.'

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Sixty years ago, both Allied and Axis soldiers set off on suicidal or near-suicidal raids. These men's bravery cannot be overestimated, nor can the resourcefulness and despair that led to the development of their crafts, which were so hazardous as to be properly described as suicide machines. Suicide Squads tells the story of these missions, focusing on the "special attack" operations - a euphemism for suicidal attacks - of the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy. Military historian Richard O'Neill offers a detailed exploration - including the evolution, the types, and the effects - of explosive motorboats (which offered "the prospect of spectacular gain at little cost"), midget submarines (Japanese, Italian, German, and British), and manned aircraft, as well as human torpedoes, human bullets, and kamikaze aircraft. He also describes the actions themselves - the attack on Pearl Harbor, the raid on Sydney Harbor, and Special Forces missions at Guadalcanal, Midway, and Okinawa, among others. And he provides insights into the samurai and bushido codes of conduct that inspired ritual suicide. The story of these special attack forces remains a testimony to ingenuity, desperation, and courage. (6 x 9, 272 pages, b&w photos)

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Salamander Books Ltd (June 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1840650826
• ISBN-13: 978-1840650822
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,963,522 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful analysis--relates to terrorism, November 7, 2001

By 

denny j Huber - See all my reviews

This review is from: Suicide Squads: The Men and Machines of WWII Special Operations (Paperback)

An indepth overview of tactics used to counter Allied dominance in sea & naval power in a forlorn hope to..postpone defeat. Short 1 page synopsis detail hopless missions like inevitable loss of world's largest battleship-Yamato, crew knew it was suicidal to try get to Okinawa..w/o aircover. Did 9/11/2001 terrorists may have read this, for..'inspiration'.