World War II Japanese Tank Tactics (Elite)
by Gordon Rottman
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Book Summary Information
Author: Gordon RottmanIllustrator: Peter Dennis
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-10-21
ISBN: 1846032342
Number of pages: 64
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
Book Reviews of World War II Japanese Tank Tactics (Elite)
Book Review: Enriched by first-person Japanese Accounts
Summary: 4 Stars
The best thing about this volume is that Akira Takizawa, a Japanese specialist on Imperial Japanese Army tanks, co-authored the volume with Gordon Rottman. Thus, there is actually some new information (at least to Western audiences) presented here and even some first-person battle accounts. The subject of this volume is a bit odd, given that tank forces comprised only a small percent of the Japanese combat power committed against the Allies in the Second World War, which may cause some readers to question whether Japanese tank tactics made any real difference. Overall, this volume is attractive and has some nice photos and illustrations, and is not redundant with the material presented in the earlier volume on Japanese Tactics.
The authors begin with a 9-page section that discusses Japanese tank unit organization, followed by a 3-page section on doctrine. In essence, the Japanese followed European doctrine in initially building its tank units to provide infantry support but then in September 1942 (rather late), they shifted their doctrine to emphasize tanks as a breakthrough force. Clearly the Japanese took a look at tank warfare in Europe and decided to modernize their doctrine but in reality, they lacked the industrial resources to build a tank-heavy force. Further complicating this pipedream doctrine was the fact that Japanese tanks were so technologically inferior to the American M4 Sherman and the Soviet T-34 and Japanese technology couldn't catch up in time. The actual section on tactics is about 7-pages long and discusses firing methods and tactical formations. Given their technical inferiority, Japanese tankers preferred ambushes at close range. The next section discusses Japanese tank troops, tank schools, maintenance and communications.
The bulk of this volume is a 28-page battle history that outlines the main Japanese use of tanks in China, Malaya, Burma and the Pacific Islands. I was disappointed by the skimpy discussion about the Battle of Nomohan since this had great influence on Japanese tank doctrine, as well as the omission of the 1941-42 Philippine Campaign. On the other hand, there is some good stuff on Japanese tanks versus the British 7th Hussars' M3 Stuart tanks in Burma in 1942 and an amusing anecdote about how Japanese tests on a captured M3 failed to penetrate its armor from any range or angle with a 57mm gun. The authors provide two lengthy first-person accounts from Japanese tankers involved in the fighting on Saipan and Luzon in 1944 that are quite interesting. The color plates in the center of the volume mostly cover tank formations and unit composition, but also include some plates on tank attacks. Given that concealment was a big part of Japanese tank tactics, the volume should have included some mention of Japanese camouflage techniques (which apparently were quite good) as well as some insights into how tank units coordinated with infantry units, which is left a bit vague.
Summary of World War II Japanese Tank Tactics (Elite)
Osprey's examination of Japan's tank figting tactics during World War II (1939-1945). In this book expert author and tactician Gordon L Rottman provides the first English-language study of Japanese Army and Navy tank units, their tactics and how they were deployed in action. The Japanese army made extensive use of its tanks in the campaigns in China in the 1930s, and it was in these early successes that the Japanese began to develop their own unique style of tank tactics. As Japanese tanks battled in Singapore, Malaya and Burma this Japanese vision became clearer as light tanks were deployed in the jungles of southeastern Asia, where conventional Western tactics dictated that tanks would be useless.From the steam-rolling success of the Japanese as they invaded Manchuria until the eventual Japanese defeat, the book provides a battle history of the Japanese tank units as they faced a variety of enemies from the Chinese, to the Russians, to the British and the Americans, providing a fascinating insight into the range of tactics that were deployed against these contrasting enemies - from innovative attack procedures to desperate defensive maneuvers even as their tanks were rapidly outclassed in terms of design and armament.
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