by Angus Konstam
Softcover (7.25×9.75 inches). 96 pages. 2026.
Subtitle: The Royal Navy’s Biggest Carrier Campaign
The US Navy gets the lion’s share of histories about the invasion of Okinawa and the battle against kamikazes. Yet, the British Royal Navy played an important part in suppressing Japanese airfields on the Sakashima Islands, used as a base for kamikaze attacks. In the process, the RN also became a target for kamikaze aircraft.
Besides the technical makeup of the RN four-aircraft carrier Task Force (equal to a USN Task Group) and operations, you get an almost mission by mission account of fighter sweeps, bomber attacks, and kamikaze defense. Most RN attacks against the airfields were carried out by Corsairs, Hellcats, and Avengers while most CAP over the fleet used Seafires.
The airfields were often cratered but fixed overnight — British bombs were not as effective as US-design bombs in creating big craters. On the other hand, British carriers used armored decks, so even when kamikazes hit, damage was minimized and the carrier was back soon in operation. The same damage on US carriers with wooden decks often required extensive repairs back at a naval base.
The booklet contains 64 black and white photos, one color photo, three black and white illustrations, one color illustration, nine color diagrams, and four color maps. I will again complain about the tiny type font — I’m sure this gives the layout department either a chuckle or a groan.
No groans here, just a great read about the British operation during the Okinawa campaign.
Enjoyed it.
— Reviewed by Russ Lockwood
