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William T. Y'Blood

The Little Giants: U.S. Escort Carriers Against Japan (Bluejacket Books) Paperback – April 15, 2012

by William T. Y'Blood (Author)

48 ratings

Part of: Bluejacket Books (28 books)

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The substantial accomplishments of the U.S. Navy?s mini-carriers in such battles as Leyte Gulf, Guadalcanal, the Marianas, and Okinawa never gained the attention given the fast carriers, but there is little question that their vital operations played an important role in the Pacific campaign. These remarkably versatile vessels--called CVEs, baby flattops, and even jeeps--hunted submarines, escorted convoys, provided air support, and performed dozens of other tasks that are vividly described in this book. Based on interviews with the CVE crewmen and on war diaries, ship histories, and other documents, it tells a moving story of escort carrier operations, from the work of the first CVEs to their final assignment transporting GIs home after the war. Seldom-seen photographs add to this fascinating portrait of the little giants.

Print length

488 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Naval Institute Press
Publication date

April 15, 2012
Dimensions

6.25 x 1.25 x 9.25 inches
ISBN-10

9781557509802
ISBN-13

978-1557509802
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William T. Y'Blood
34
Paperback
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

William T. Y'Blood, a pilot in the U.S. Air Force and later in commercial aviation, served as a historian for the Air Force. The author of eight books on World War II aviation topics, he died in 2006.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1557509808
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Naval Institute Press; First American Edition. (April 15, 2012)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 488 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781557509802
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1557509802
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.47 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 1.25 x 9.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,374,136 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3,252 in Naval Military History
- #13,279 in World War II History (Books)

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Don

Great history from the logs

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 28, 2022

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For those that enjoy reading WWII history this is a fun book authentic but readible.

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Little giants indeed!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 7, 2014

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William Y'Blood has given us a much needed account of the CVE's or escort carriers of the US Navy in the Pacific during WWII. The class of small carriers was desperately needed not just in the war in the Pacific against Japan, but also played a major role in the Allies' victory in the Battle of the Atlantic versus German U-Boats.

This book focuses solely on the war in the Pacific where naval airpower was the decisive weapon in naval combat. In the early part of the Pacific war, the need for carriers was desperate and the decision was made to convert merchant hulls into small carriers. Later, Henry Kaiser, maker of the prolific "Liberty" ships, began building small carriers on those hulls.

I think the author covered the career of these small ships well, stressing the difference between the CVE carriers and the "big boys" - the fast, glamorous fleet carriers as well as the types of jobs the escort carriers found themselves in - everything from anti-submarine warfare to transporting replacement aircraft and pilots for the main, fleet carriers to support for invasion fleets specializing in ground attack and even artillery spotting.

The author did an excellent job of covering the routine air operations as well as the desperate combat against Japanese air and surface forces. There is a lot of the kind of "action" here that any WWII reader wants: the fighter pilots desperately trying to shoot down there Japanese opponents, the TBM crews bombing enemy positions on land as well as enemy vessels at sea including submarines. Of course, the author shines light on the "jeep" carriers' finest hour in the Battle off Samar when the small escort carriers took on the big guns of Japanese battleships and cruisers.

The tales of combat are wonderful to read. Also, I would point out the excellent pictures (sadly, all black & white) of the CVE carriers and their aircraft in combat operations. This is a bonus.

My criticisms are two-fold: firstly, I would have liked more specifications to know the difference between the various classes of CVE's. Secondly, why were some CVE's armed differently than others even though they were performing the same tasks? It seemed to me that the Chenango and Suwannee type carriers were armed with F6F Hellcat fighters while the Kaiser/Casablanca-class ships had to make do with FM2 Wildcat fighters which were clearly obsolete and seemed to me to be less effective at combat air patrols.

In spite of my relatively mild criticisms, I think this is an excellent work on a topic that clearly doesn't get enough "press" - the small, escort carriers of WWII. In an age of budget cuts, could there be a role for the small carrier in the future US Navy? This is an excellent work that is also an enjoyable read. I recommend this book with four stars.

5 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Naval History of WWII in the Pacifc

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 24, 2019

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This book revealed a whole new fighting force that seems to be nearly completely ignored in history books and definitely in movies about the WWII naval battles in the Pacific. Nearly all of the attention in most books is on the largest class of carriers. This book reveals how these little carriers were absolutely essential to the overall success of the US Navy in the Pacific. The often fought far above their weight in terms of their pilots and the crews aboard ship. This book may not be for everyone as it is very detailed in its report of engagements. The author clearly used action after-action reports that detailed the action of many of the individual pilots and planes in each engagement. However, that was one of the things that really drew me into the book. It gave such a realistic view of what was occurring in comparison to what is often just a summary of the exciting action while ignoring all of the supporting action. I was pleasantly surprised.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 7, 2012

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I purchased this book for my neighbor who is a veteran of World War II and served on the mini carrier The USS Kula Gulf. So whatever I might say about the book wouldn't count for much, but I thought I would share the thank you note his wife sent me after they received it.

...We want to 'Thank You' for "The Little Giants," It's all about where Milt was in World WarII.

It takes time to read and its heavy so we don't read it in bed! Milt was on The USS Kula Gulf, CVE for over a year. We told a friend in North Carolina about the book, who was on another Little Giant Carrier.

I also talk on the phone to a friend in Fla. and her husband reads all The Pacific War happenings! The following quotation was from our church newspaper.

Go with God,

For God goes with you
Above you to watch over you
Underneath you to support you
Behind you to protect you
Along side of you to be your friend
Within you to give you peace
And God goes before you to show you the way

Go with God, for God goes with you.

Amen

We are 87 years old this year and in July 31 will be married 65 years.

Back to me...nothing I can add to that except God Bless our veterans.

7 people found this helpful

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Jonathan Mattson

Good book about a sometimes not super exciting mission

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 24, 2015

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This was a good book, not as enjoyable as his book covering the escort carriers in the Atlantic, but an enjoyable book still. While the atlantic book had the ongoing struggle against the German Uboats, this book has the flaw there wasn't a central theme like that for the pacific carriers.

Instead they were lugging replacement aircraft to the fleet carriers or sailing around the beaches during an amphibious assault to provide close air support planes. To me, it just doesn't make for as interesting subject material as chasing down submarines.

When the Philippines are invaded, you do get to see interesting action that is explained by Y'Blood excellently. One thing that stood out to me was how the damage control procedures on the different carriers seemed to make a difference if the carriers survived the invasion or are sitting on the bottom of the ocean surrounding the islands.

One person found this helpful

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Jethro

Quick Service, Book in excellent condition!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 11, 2021

Verified Purchase

Thanks very much for the quick reliable service. Book was as described condition. Couldn't ask for better service.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 9, 2014

Verified Purchase

Nice history of a forgotten but important part of the WWII in the Pacific. A little to much emphasis on air to air combat for my taste. I would have liked more on the CVE role in supporting the fast carriers, ASW etc. Y'Blood well covers the horror caused by the kamikazes, which fell largely on the CVEs and destroyers. Great on day to day sailor/fliers eye view, not so much on the big picture admirals/officials point of view.

3 people found this helpful

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MARCHAEL2

Another addition to my library

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 19, 2019

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Another addition to my library of the CVE carriers of WW2. Provides additional information.

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