Imperial Japanese Navy Aircraft Carriers 1921-45
| Author | Mark Stille |
| Publisher | Osprey Publishing |
| ISBN | 1-84176-853-7 |
| Reviewed By | Guest Reviewer Andrew Nguyen |
| Review Date | 17 Jul 2009 |
Written by author Mark Stille with illustrations by Tony Byran, it is the 109th book in Osprey’s New Vanguard Series. Published in 2005, it is a soft-cover book, has 48 pages and its ISBN is 1-84176-853-7. The retail price is $17.95.
Essentially, in a brief yet detailed manner, it covers the history of the Japanese aircraft carrier force from its beginnings in World War I and the 1920s to Japan’s defeat during World War II. All 25 carriers that had seen action during the war are covered. Before that, the book discusses development of the Japanese carriers, followed by aircraft and flight deck operations, shipboard weapons, and finally carrier radar and fighter defense. Then it goes into detail about the history of each carrier and its eventual fate. Alongside that are photos and drawings of the carriers. Among that is a drawing that deals with a special look at the Zuikaku, both inside and outside the carrier as well as her shipboard weapons. After it deals with the main subject matter, the book deals with the overall performance of the Japanese carrier force during the war. That last major category that the book deals with is the color palate used by the Japanese carriers.
Though it only has 48 pages, the book works well with what is has as it provides some impressive information about all of the carriers (some of it, which may impress those that have researched about the subject matter for a long time). This book is mainly for historians (mainly as a starting point for those wanting to learn more about the subject matter), collectors and modelers.
An interesting note to point out is that among the research materials used for this book is the website www.combinedfleet.com.
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