xxvi, 613 pages : 26 cm

"The Battle of Midway turned the tide of the Pacific War. It is without question one of the most famous battles in history. Now, for the first time since Gordon W. Prange's Miracle at Midway, comes a myth-smashing new interpretation of this great naval engagement."

"Making extensive use of untapped Japanese primary sources, including Imperial Navy operational records never before used by Western authors, Jonathan Parshall and Anthony Tully reconstruct the actual sequence of the critical events of June 4, 1942, looking afresh at the decisions of the U.S and Japanese commanders, and placing them within the seldom-understood context of the Imperial Navy's doctrine and technology. Readable and filled with insights and reassessments, Shattered Sword is the first substantive contribution to our understanding of the Battle of Midway in more than a generation. With a foreword by a leading World War II naval historian John Lundstrom, it will become an indispensable part of any military history buff's library."--Jacket

Includes bibliographical references (pages 581-589) and index

Departure -- Genesis of a battle -- Plans -- Ill omens -- Transit -- Fog and final preparations -- Morning attack: 0430-0600 -- A lull before the storm: 0600-0700 -- The enemy revealed: 0700-0800 -- Trading blows: 0800-0917 -- Fatal complications: 0917-1020 -- A fallacious five minutes: 1020-1025 -- The iron fist: 1020-1030 -- Fire and death: 1030-1100 -- Up the steel steps: 1100-1200 -- Japanese counterstrikes: 1200-1400 -- Last gasp: 1400-1800 -- Scuttlings: 1800-Dawn, 5 June -- Retreat -- And death to the cripples ... -- A bitter homecoming -- Why did Japan lose? -- Assessing the Battle's importance -- The myths and mythmakers of Midway -- Glossary of terms -- Appendix 1. List of personnel -- Appendix 2. Japanese Order of Battle -- Appendix 3. The carriers of Kidō Butai -- Appendix 4. The aircraft of Kidō Butai -- Appendix 5. Japanese amphibious operations against Midway: an analysis -- Appendix 6. Discovery of carrier Kaga -- Appendix 7. Japanese aircraft tail codes at the Battle of Midway -- Appendix 8. Japanese radar at Midway -- Appendix 9. Chronology of Japanese fighter operations -- Appendix 10. Japanese strike rosters, operations MI and AL -- Appendix 11. Aleutians force distributions

"The Battle of Midway turned the tide of the Pacific War. It is without question one of the most famous battles in history. Now, for the first time since Gordon W. Prange's Miracle at Midway, comes a myth-smashing new interpretation of this great naval engagement."

"Making extensive use of untapped Japanese primary sources, including Imperial Navy operational records never before used by Western authors, Jonathan Parshall and Anthony Tully reconstruct the actual sequence of the critical events of June 4, 1942, looking afresh at the decisions of the U.S and Japanese commanders, and placing them within the seldom-understood context of the Imperial Navy's doctrine and technology. Readable and filled with insights and reassessments, Shattered Sword is the first substantive contribution to our understanding of the Battle of Midway in more than a generation. With a foreword by a leading World War II naval historian John Lundstrom, it will become an indispensable part of any military history buff's library."--Jacket