{"product_id":"okinawa-1945-royal-navy-carrier-campaign","title":"Okinawa 1945","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis fully illustrated study explains the British Pacific Fleet's campaign against the Japanese in the Sakishima Islands, its overlooked role in the battle for Okinawa.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe invasion of Okinawa was, famously, the culmination of the United States' island-hopping campaign. Less well known is the fact that it was also the greatest campaign of the British Pacific Fleet's war against Japan, fought by five fleet carriers over two months, with a distinct task. The Fleet Air Arm's job at Okinawa was to suppress and destroy the Japanese airfields on the Sakashima Islands, which were used as bases for kamikazes as well as to route aircraft from Japan to Okinawa.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this book, naval expert Angus Konstam offers a newly researched account of the Fleet Air Arm's air campaign in the Sakashimas. By 1945, the carriers and their aircrews were well worked up, and ready to tackle challenging and important targets. He explains the capabilities of the late-war Fleet Air Arm at Okinawa, and analyses their effectiveness against Japan's still-dangerous airpower. Famously, at Okinawa the Royal Navy's armoured carriers proved much more resilient to kamikaze strikes than the wooden-topped carriers of the Americans.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePacked with spectacular original artwork, photographs, diagrams and maps, this book is a superbly illustrated history of the Royal Navy's most extensive carrier campaign.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAngus Konstam is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and has written widely on naval history, with well over a hundred books in print. He is a former Royal Navy officer, maritime archaeologist and museum curator, who has worked in the Royal Armouries, Tower of London, and Mel Fisher Maritime Museum. Now a full-time author and historian, he lives in Orkney.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGareth Hector is a digital artist of international standing and has also enjoyed a successful career in computer animation. He is an aviation history enthusiast and has contributed to numerous Osprey titles such as \u003cem\u003eB-52 Stratofortress Units in Combat 1992–2025\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eRAF Lightning Units of the Cold War\u003c\/em\u003e. He lives in Perthshire, Scotland.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIntroduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChronology\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAttacker's Capabilities\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDefender's Capabilities\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSakishima Military defences\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMiyako Jima garrison\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIshigaki Jima garrison\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnti-aircraft defences\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAircraft\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Kamikaze threat\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCampaign Objectives\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe strategic picture\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOperation Iceberg\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe British Mission\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe Campaign\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJoining the US Fifth Fleet\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe first attacks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOperation Iceberg Oolong\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReturn to the Sakishimas\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAir Strike on Hirara airfield, Miyako Jama, 17 April, 1945\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrom Leyte to Miyako\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Return of the Kamikazes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe final phase\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAftermath and Analysis\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBibliography\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIndex\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Osprey","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ 1st edition (2026)","offer_id":58307900014966,"sku":"9781472866745","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/2287\/2891\/files\/9781472866745-Okinawa_1945-1-CWNB.jpg?v=1784584383","url":"https:\/\/sailorshop.co.uk\/products\/okinawa-1945-royal-navy-carrier-campaign","provider":"SailorShop.co.uk","version":"1.0","type":"link"}