Sinking Force Z 1941 - The day the Imperial Japanese Navy killed the battleship

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.

Product details

• Authors: Angus Konstam, Konstam Angus
• Assisted by: Adam Tooby (Illustration), Tooby Adam (Illustration)
• Publisher: Osprey Publishers
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.01.2021
• EAN: 9781472846600
• ISBN: 978-1-4728-4660-0
• No. of pages: 96
• Dimensions: 180 mm x 248 mm x 4 mm
• Series: Air Campaign
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > 20th century (up to 1945); Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political administration; Japan, HISTORY / Military / General, HISTORY / Military / Naval, HISTORY / Military / Aviation, Singapore, Military vehicles, Air forces & warfare, United Kingdom, Great Britain, Air forces and warfare, Modern warfare, c 1940 to c 1949, c 1939 to c 1945 (including WW2), Naval forces and warfare, Pacific Ocean, Military & Naval Ships, HISTORY / Military / Aviation & Space, HISTORY / Military / Vehicles / Air, HISTORY / Military / Vehicles / Sea