SUNK

In keeping with other recent accounts from Axis powers, this is by an officer of the Japanese Navy, eventually a commander, and records the activities of the submarine fleet during World War II. First used for attack on warships and cargo carriers, their purpose was changed and throughout most of the war they were used to carry cargoes to Japanese troops on Pacific islands. This is a play by play tally of what seems to be each and every submarine in the Navy -- where it was used, what it accomplished and what was its mission. Commander Beach in his introduction points out the errors of using subs as carriers instead of attackers and attributes this policy to the inflexibility of Japanese thinking and passion for saving face, since every outpost island had to be defended to the last, even after the island was last, subs were chosen for supply lines as the only means of reaching the survivors and because of their disgrace in failing to match the air force performance at Pearl Harbor. These findings are generally recognized but imply a reasons for interest in this somewhat repetitious survey. Of curiosity value for the average reader but of special Naval appeal.