Santa Cruz 1942: Carrier duel in the South Pacific (Campaign, 247)

Santa Cruz 1942: Carrier duel in the South Pacific (Campaign, 247)

Santa Cruz is the forgotten carrier battle of 1942. Despite myth, the Japanese carrier force was not destroyed at Midway but survived to still prove a threat in the Pacific theater. Nowhere was this clearer than in the battle of Santa Cruz of October 1942. The stalemate on the ground in the Guadalcanal campaign led to the major naval forces of both belligerents becoming inexorably more and more involved in the fighting, each seeking to win the major victory that would open the way for a breakthrough on land as well. The US Task Force 61 under the command of Rear Admiral Kinkaid and consisting of the carriers Hornet and Enterprise, as well the battleship South Dakota and a number of cruisers and destroyers, intercepted the Japanese fleet, which boasted four carriers - Shokaku, Zuikaku, Junyo and Zuiho - as well as four battleships and numerous other ships, on 26 October. Though US aircraft managed to damage the Japanese carriers seriously, in turn Hornet was so badly damaged that shed had to be sunk, while Enterprise was hit and needed extensive repairs. Both sides withdrew at the end of the action. The Japanese were able to gain a tactical victory at Santa Cruz and came very close to scoring a strategic victory, but they paid a very high price in aircraft and aircrew that prevented them from following up their victory. In terms of their invaluable aircrew, the battle was much more costly than even Midway and had a serious impact on the ability of the Japanese to carry out carrier warfare in a meaningful manner. “If you want insight into an operation that has not really had that much 'press,' and you want a fascinating read, then this is the book for you. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and I'm sure you will as well.” ― Scott Van Aken, Modeling Madness (November 2012) “Artwork by Howard Gerrard, campaign maps and 80 historic photographs complement this superlative account.” ― Rachel E. Veres, www.cybermodeler.com (July 2013) “...provides a fine history of the carrier battle of 1942 and tells how the Japanese carrier force was not destroyed at Midway, but was rebuilt in time to join the Guadalcanal campaign.” ― James A. Cox, The Midwest Book Review Mark Stille is the author of numerous Osprey titles focusing on naval history in the Pacific. He recently concluded a nearly 40-year career in the intelligence community, including tours on the faculty of the Naval War College, on the Joint Staff and on US Navy ships. He received his BA in History from the University of Maryland and also holds an MA from the Naval War College. Ian Palmer is a highly experienced digital artist with two decades of experience in the video games industry, both as a 3D artist and an Art Director. He has a passion for military history, gaming and riding his motorbike. He lives in Warwickshire with his wife, daughter and menagerie of pets. Reference Book Osprey Campaign Santa Cruz 1942 Carrier Duel in The Saouth Pacific #247