Resurrection: Salvaging the Battle Fleet at Pearl Harbor FROM THE PUBLISHER
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor is a topic of perennial interest to the American public, and numerous books and movies have focused on the air raid and events leading up to it. This book, however, offers an entirely new perspective. Aimed at the general reader with an interest in World War II and the U.S. Navy, Resurrection looks at the massive efforts following the attack to save the ships, beginning with damage control aboard the ships that took hits on 7 December 1941 and ending in March 1944 when salvage efforts on the USS Utah were finally abandoned.
Dan Madsen tells the story in a straightforward style, moving from activity to activity as the days and months wore on in what proved to be an incredibly difficult and complex endeavor. Rather than writing a dry operational report, however, Madsen describes the Navy's dramatic race to clear the harbor and repair as many ships as possible so they could be returned to the fleet ready for war. Numerous photographs, many never before published for the general public, give readers a real appreciation for the momentous task involved, from raising the USS Oglala in 1942 and the USS Oklahoma in 1943 to eventually dismantling the above-water portions of the USS Arizona, leaving her as a memorial for the brave men who went down with her. Madsen explains how a salvage organization was first set up, how priorities were scheduled, what specific plans were made and how they worked, or in many cases, did not work and why. His book is based almost entirely on primary sources, including the records of the fleet salvage unit and the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.
SYNOPSIS
Written for the general reader, this book looks at the attempts to save the ships hit during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The book provides a narrative account of these efforts, beginning with damage control during the attack itself, and covering the period ending with the March 1944 abandonment of salvage operations for the USS Utah. Madsen (a military historian) explains how a salvage organization was set up, how priorities were scheduled, what specific plans were made, how they were implemented, and why they met with success or failure. Black and white photographs are featured throughout, adding a visual component to the story. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
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