Sinking Force Z 1941

The day the Imperial Japanese Navy killed the battleship

Sinking Force Z 1941 cover

Sinking Force Z 1941

The day the Imperial Japanese Navy killed the battleship

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Description

A history and analysis of one of the most dramatic moments in both air power and naval history. With the sinking of HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse, no battleship was safe on the open ocean, and the aircraft took its crown as the most powerful maritime weapon

In late 1941, war was looming with Japan, and Britain's empire in southeast Asia was at risk. The British government decided to send Force Z, which included the state-of-the-art battleship Prince of Wales and the battlecruiser Repulse, to bolster the naval defences of Singapore, and provide a mighty naval deterrent to Japanese aggression. These two powerful ships arrived in Singapore on 2 December - five days before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. But crucially, they lacked air cover. On 9 December Japanese scout planes detected Force Z's approach in the Gulf of Thailand. Unlike at Pearl Harbor, battleships at sea could manoeuvre, and their anti-aircraft defences were ready. But it did no good. The Japanese dive-bombers and torpedo-bombers were the most advanced in the world, and the battle was one-sided.

Strategically, the loss of Force Z was a colossal disaster for the British, and one that effectively marked the end of its empire in the East. But even more importantly, the sinking marked the last time that battleships were considered to be the masters of the ocean. From that day on, air power rather than big guns would be the deciding factor in naval warfare.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION
CHRONOLOGY
ATTACKER'S CAPABILITIES
The new rulers of the sea
DEFENDER'S CAPABILITIES
The Royal Navy's mission to Singapore
CAMPAIGN OBJECTIVES
The imperial rivals
THE CAMPAIGN
The last day of the big-gun battleship
ANALYSIS
FURTHER READING
INDEX

Product details

Published 21 Jan 2021
Format Paperback
Edition 1st
Extent 96
ISBN 9781472846600
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations Illustrated throughout with around 60 photos and at least 14pp of colour illustrations
Dimensions 248 x 184 mm
Series Air Campaign
Short code ACM 20
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Angus Konstam

Angus Konstam is a Fellow of the Royal Historical…

Illustrator

Adam Tooby

Adam Tooby is an internationally renowned digital…

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