Abstract

Never previously seen reports and plans marked restricted and classified have been sourced from Britannia Royal Naval College’s Archive. These documents have been published in an accessible format, with specially commissioned commentary by expert military historians, forming an important source in understanding the critical naval actions of the period.
 On 7 December 1941 at Pearl Harbor, the Imperial Japanese Navy delivered a stunning lesson in the effectiveness of carrier aircraft against capital ships. The crippling of the US Pacific Fleet gave the Imperial Japanese Navy almost free rein in that theatre of operations until the turning point — the Battles of the Coral Sea and Midway (1942).
 The outcome was the first decisive naval victory for the United States Navy with big-gun battleships further eclipsed by carrier aviation. Much of the action in the Pacific became legendary, as the British and American public viewed the newsreels of attacks at Pearl Harbor and the fall of Hong Kong, the Philippines and Singapore. 
 At Midway, Commander Joseph Rochefort, USN, and his team cracked a Japanese code, which revealed Admiral Yamato’s plan of attack on Midway Island. Japanese losses were vast and many Japanese airmen who had carried out the attacks at Pearl Harbor would meet their end at the Battle of Midway. Turning the Tide details these key events of the Pacific War and how the Battles of the Coral Sea and Midway allowed the US to be able to counter the Japanese at Guadalcanal.
...each phase of the action is described in a highly detailed but clear and cogent narrative. The quality of the text, working within the constraints of staff writing, underlines the enduring importance of clarity of expression and analysis, offering an important lesson for today's naval officer. A half-page summary of the battle is a model of its kind, highlighting the Americans' recognition of the importance of sustainability (with increased focus on replenishment at sea) and new tactics for anti-torpedo defense... its clear explanation and analysis will make a valuable resource to serious students of the first clashes of the carrier battle fleets.
Lieutenant Simon Bellamy RNR