Book reviews 
 Recommended reading 
 Book forum 
 Latest book feedback 

 Popular resources 
 Random book 

 Newsletter requests 
 Sell your books 

 War Diary 
 Armies 
 Nations at war 
 History 
 Trivia challenge 

 WWII links

 About us 
 Site guide 
 Site index 

Messages for this topic

TOPIC: WW2 Aircraft carrier tactics

Submitted by Ed Youngstrom 10:22 on 25 August 2005

Hello, Recently I've been reading Norman Friedman's "U.S. Aircraft Carriers," Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1983. This is a very interesting book, but has left me with some questions about carrier tactics. Friedman mentions how carrier tactics dictated carrier design, but does not go into much detail into what exactly those tactics were, or why. And he does mention that other navies, especially the Royal Navy, had differnet tactics that led to different ship designs. Reviewing the subject here didn't highlight any obvious books on the subject. Can anyone recommend a book that details carrier tactics, such as number and types of aircraft in different types of missions, deckload vs. squadron launches, US, RN, or IJN differences? Thanks, Ed

Submitted by Ed Youngstrom 8:23 on 17 November 2005

I have continued searching for information on carrier tactics, but I find that much of what I was seeking is really defined by the underlying doctrine of the various navies. I found three excellent articles discussing carrier operations at the Naval War College Review website. http://www.nwc.navy.mil/press/Review/aboutNWCR.htm I can recommend all three for those interested in this fascinating subject. Go to the subject index and look under the "Midway" heading. Isom, Dallas Woodbury. The Battle of Midway: Why the Japanese Lost. Summer 2000:60–100 Parshall, Jonathan B., David D. Dickson, and Anthony B. Tully. Doctrine Matters: Why the Japanese Lost at Midway. Summer 2001:139-51 Wildenberg, Thomas. Midway: Sheer Luck or Better Doctrine? Winter 2005:121–35