A very interesting and unique book. It is far more than a history of the role of Japanese carriers in World War Two, Where the book really shines is in its analysis of how the Japanese could have potentially prevailed against the United States if it had made different decisions as to what ships to construct before and during the war.

I recently finished my examination of Martin Stansfeld's study of the failure of Japanese naval policies as they found expression in production goals entitled "Japanese Carriers Victory in the Pacific: The Yamamoto Option." I was granted access to this work by Pen and Sword (its publishers). It is an unusual work that defies easy classification because it contains a good deal of speculative history as well as the more traditional stuff. Those of you who are familiar with either traditional narrative or technical histories, or alternative histories, will, I hope understand what I mean. Its central premise is that the Pacific War might have been prolonged at least and thrown in a very different direction if the Japanese had abandoned their massive battleship production programs and concentrated on the creation of fleet carriers as well as the training of far more aircrew. He makes this point largely by examining the number and type of building facilities and materials available to Imperial Japan. At the very least, the premise is intriguing. Much of his work relates to policies predicated on the Washington Naval Treaty of the twenties and the internal struggle between what we in the US would call the brown shoe and black shoe navies (proponents of aircraft and carriers versus traditional battleship supporters). I think the book would make a good jump off point for further study and/or speculation into what might have been had the Empire put its materials into the support of its air assets rather than outdated fleets largely made up of battleships (a conflict very similar to that between the so called "bomber mafia" in the US and Europe and proponents of more traditional armed forces). There is much food for thought here.

An interesting look at the naval war against Japan that provides both real events as well as looking at alternate paths that could have occurred under different circumstances. The plots are thought provoking and could have occurred. Overall, a highly entertaining book for the WW2 enthusiast.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.