Summary of John Prados's Storm Over Leyte

By IRB Media

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview:

#1 The fight in the Marianas that June crystallized the issue. The Allied fleet invaded Japanese territory for the first time, and the Japanese fleet was soundly defeated. The Allied planes hardly managed to lay a glove on the Japanese.

#2 The Japanese diplomat Kase Toshikazu was a trusted friend of the captain, and he told him the toasts were to the official version. In reality, the Navy had sustained a devastating defeat.

#3 The Japanese had never been better prepared for the attack on the Marianas. They had reconceptualized the Pacific Ocean area as a series of zones, and had developed plans for each one having local resources and bases.

#4 The Japanese planned to use their advantage of having longer striking range than American carrier aircraft. They created a First Air Fleet, an elite land-based force, to attack the American task forces from distances at which the United States would be unable to respond.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: May 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9798822520158

IRB Media

With IRB books, you can get the key takeaways and analysis of a book in 15 minutes. We read every chapter, identify the key takeaways and analyze them for your convenience.

Book preview

Insights on John Prados's Storm Over Leyte

Contents

Insights from Chapter 1

Insights from Chapter 2

Insights from Chapter 3

Insights from Chapter 4

Insights from Chapter 5

Insights from Chapter 6

Insights from Chapter 7

Insights from Chapter 8

Insights from Chapter 9

Insights from Chapter 10

Insights from Chapter 11

Insights from Chapter 1

#1

The fight in the Marianas that June crystallized the issue. The Allied fleet invaded Japanese territory for the first time, and the Japanese fleet was soundly defeated. The Allied planes hardly managed to lay a glove on the Japanese.

#2

The Japanese diplomat Kase Toshikazu was a trusted friend of the captain, and he told him the toasts were to the official version. In reality, the Navy had sustained a devastating defeat.

#3

The Japanese had never been better prepared for the attack on the Marianas. They had reconceptualized the Pacific Ocean area as a series of zones, and had developed plans for each one having local resources and bases.

#4

The Japanese planned to use their advantage of having longer striking range than American carrier aircraft. They created a First Air Fleet, an elite land-based force, to attack the American task forces from distances at which the United States would be unable to respond.

#5

The plan for the Marianas battle was completely destroyed by the arrival of American radio intelligence and submarine reports. The most controversial aspect of the battle was Admiral Spruance’s decision to pull the fleet back as Ozawa advanced.

#6

After the disastrous Philippine Sea battle, the Japanese Navy was left with important forces in a combat zone completely dominated by the Allies. The rescue plan involved two old battleships that would be escorted by a carrier fleet to sail behind a convoy and attack the Allied fleets.

#7

The rescue plan had envisioned that a long-range air unit would cooperate with the surface fleet, flying out to strike the Allied armada and paving the way for the surface ships. However, this unit never existed.

#8

The only attempts to rescue the Japanese in the Marianas would be by submarine. The big fleet submarines and smaller medium-range craft were used in these operations.

#9

The fall of Tojo and Shimada was the result of the Marianas debacle. The press of events overpowered Tojo. The emperor demanded Shimada’s ouster, and Tojo could not save his close ally.

#10

The Japanese had long lived in fear of being bombed. Before the war, mass civil defense drills and a constant barrage of media coverage had emphasized the threat of death from the air.

#11

The emperor feared restlessness and defeatism among the people if he left the Home Islands. He would not budge. Too many hard-liners remained in high places, determined to fight.

#12

The Japanese military prepared for a decisive battle against the Allies in the second half of 1944. The Japanese named their plan Sho Go, or Victory Operation. Each plan provided specific countermeasures.

#13

The Tojo government collapsed and the Americans mopped up on Tinian and Guam. The IGHQ Navy Directive No. 431, issued on July 21, specified that the air fleets would be reorganized and massed in the homeland, from where they could sally. The object of attacking and destroying the enemy fleet and advancing forces became the goal.

#14

Before the battle, air strength should be dispersed as much as