Victory at Sea: World War Ii in the Pacific [Paperback]

James F. Dunnigan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 12, 1996

Victory at Sea brings together in one encyclopedic volume all the facts, figures, and details of the Pacific theater of World War II, containing much information that is unfamiliar or new. Here, acclaimed military historians James Dunnigan and Albert Nofi examine both the massive campaigns launched by all the combatants, including the famous battles for places like Midway, Guadalcanal, and Okinawa, and some of the lesser-known confrontations that were sometimes more strategically important. They also discuss the innovative and unique aspects of a modern war at sea, such as carrier-to-carrier battles and islandhopping campaigns, and tackle the myths, conspiracies, and cover-ups surrounding the dramatic events of the Pacific campaign. An authoritative reference of historic scope and vision, Victory at Sea captures the brilliance and desperation, military strategies and stories of personal valor, to give the most comprehensive overview yet of the war in the Pacific.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James F. Dunnigan is the author of many books and over a hundred historical simulations. He has been a lecturer to the State Department, the CIA, and the U.S. Army War College. He lives in New York City.

Product Details

• Paperback: 612 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (November 12, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688149472
• ISBN-13: 978-0688149475
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,519,724 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A User's Manual to World War II in the Pacific, February 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Victory at Sea: World War Ii in the Pacific (Paperback)

The authors originally intended to write a user's manual to a computer program, but the project got so big, that they ended up writing a book. This approach actually works very well here. While Victory at Sea contains few new revelations, it is well organized and interesting to read. If you're looking for an alternative to dry descriptions of World War II in the Pacific, look no farther.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Real Gem, August 23, 2005

By 

Crooner "Monty" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Victory at Sea: World War Ii in the Pacific (Paperback)

This book is very entertaining. I found it for 4 bucks at a discount bookstore in an outlet mall somewhere. And when I first picked it up, it looked very boring. I thought, "who would want to read a 600 page glossary of terms on World War II in the Pacific?" But I thought for 4 bucks, who cares. It turned out to be a treasure trove of info that a World War II geek like myself just relishes. It's easy to read and has some humor in it too. Highly recommended.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Where are the References?, July 8, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Victory at Sea: World War Ii in the Pacific (Paperback)

For a book that purports to have a lot of factual information, I find that this one breaks the first rule of research: cite your references and sources. A case in point: where did Mr. Nofi and Mr. Dunnigan find out how much aviation gas certain Japanese carriers could carry? I have never come across a source, and I have seen virtually every one produced, that indicates these figures. Where did they get their information on the efficiency and fuel use (and therefore potential range) of the different ships? Some sources, such as 'Jane's Fighting Ships' cite very limited performance characteristics, and certainly not what is said here. The virtual total lack of references and notes to sources diminishes greatly the value of this book. These all could simply be 'guesstimates' on the part of the authors. This may be a habit of theirs as it is sometimes inevitable when creating wargames, for which especially Mr. Dunnigan deserves 5 stars for his past efforts. The rating for this book is very, very unfortunate but deserved. I can only encourage the authors to be much more precise and academic in their approach. A book such as this should be a laudable reference for amateurs AND academics alike. In its present state it is only a 'pop' history book that may generate sales but does not feed intelligent minds.