P-40E Warhawk vs A6M2 Zero-sen: East Indies and Darwin 1942 (Duel)

This book provides not only a comparison between the P-40E and Zero but also a brief history lesson of the tactics employed in most isolated regions of the pacific during the early years of WWII. The primary focus is on Darwin between the US 49th and Japan’s 3rd Kokutai. The battle between these two air arms was influenced by tactics based on the strength and weakness of the various aircraft used by these two enemies. The P-40 slow claim rate made it difficult to catch high-flying bombers, which were also escorted by Zero. However, with the introduction of radar, the P-40 was given advanced warning of the bombing raids and was able to climb to the appropriate altitude in time. Here the book points out how both logistics and technology play a key role in warfare. The heroics of the pilots is also illustrated by using the P-40 for a role it was not intended for. It was just not a high-altitude interceptor.Like many similar books, the Zero legendary reputation is somewhat exaggerated. It is true that Zero was highly agile, but only at slower speeds. At higher speeds, the P-40 was the superior-performing aircraft. In truth, both the Zero and P-40 would not be suitable interceptors compared to their European contemporaries. The book stated the P-40 top speed is 334mph, which is at least 20mph slower than I have seen published elsewhere. Still, the book goes into great detail about the cockpit and armament of these two aircraft. The color photo illustrations and diagrams are of excellent quality. When I purchased this book, I thought it would be done cheaply, but the illustration and typography are very professionally done. This book represents a very good value, and I will be purchasing another of this series.

Good series of books I bought five more

A

The Japanese A6M2 Zero-Sen is rightly remembered as one of the outstanding fighter aircraft of the Second World War. Its pilots performed some magnificent feats of arms in the early years of the war. In contrast, the American P-40E Warhawk is hardly remembered, although it was a contemporary of the Zero-Sen and a solid aircraft when flown by an experienced pilot. These two fighter planes would clash in the skies over the Dutch East Indies and Australia in 1942. This Osprey Duel Series book has the details.Author Peter Ingman notes the Allied air defense of the Southwest Pacific was hastily improvised after the Japanese airstrikes that began the war. The U.S. scrambled to get aircraft into the theater, with mostly inexperienced pilots and little supporting infrastructure. The narrative documents the fighting, the fighters, and the results. The text is nicely supported with period photographs and modern maps, illustrations, and battle diagrams. Well recommended as a concise and very readable introduction to the topic.

The book has a very nice balance; it is easy to read on one hand, and detailed enough on the other hand. On top of that, it is objective and presents both sides equally well.I would particularly recommend it for readers who are interested in the air battles over Darwin. It is pretty much the best book on this specific topic. In that case I would also recommend reading "Spitfire VC vs A6M2/3 Zero-sen: Darwin 1943" from the same author, which can be considered as a sequel, in order to get a complete overview of the air battles over Darwin.

I strongly recommend this book via purchase from Amazon books..This book is one of the best written and most informative aviation books I have read. The author researched his topic well and his analysis of the matter is excellent.

thank you

One of the better books in the series. The author seems to be an authority on the history of the early air war in the SW Pacific. Much useful information in a small volume. If you can get a copy I recommend Trying reading this in conjunction with 'Every day a Nightmare' by Barsch. This covers the dispatch and fate of 17th Pursuit squadron in Australia and the Dutch EI.

OUR HOTEL IN bRISBANE {Belle Vue} WAS TAKEAN OVER FOR OFFICERS OF THE USAC IN DECEMBER 1941. THEY were billeted at the Belle Vue Hotel Brisbane 41 - 45. These were the men who flew off each day to the North, so many did not make it back. Kennies Air Force made the win or lose the SWPA War 41 - 42 These books are their history as part of the BATTLE for AUSTRALIA. Many did not survive and their kits were colected each day, VERY SAD. Read thse books and remember with their alies they were the THIN RED LINE, for two and a half bitter years. I recomend these books as I was there as a tee age boy. they were my frinds, god bless the 5th Air Force The RAN RAAF USN and all the AMF troops that were based in Australea 41- 45 GOD BLESS THEM ALL

Editi dalla Osprey Publishing, li ritengo fra i migliori libri a carattere storico, unici handicap la lingua che purtroppo non tutti conoscono e il prezzo non proprio indifferente, specie ora con la "Brexit & C."

Comme d'habitude dans cette série d'Osprey, le livre est bien rempli, aborde le contexte des combats et détaille ceux-ci. Bien circonscrit dans l'espace et le temps, faisant s'affronter des forces somme toute limitées, c'est un sujet trop peu évoqué qui a vu le début du retournement dans le Pacifique sud - avant le terrible affrontement autour de Guadalcanal. Je recommande donc - le texte en anglais ne pose pas de problème majeur et il ne faut pas trop espérer un ouvrage en français...

このシリーズはフォーマットが決まっているのか毎回章立てが似ており著者のレベルによって出来の良しあしが分かれるのですが、本書は当たりの方だと思います。米側報告をただ垂れ流すこともなく日本側の記録も参照しているため好印象です。もちろん一般に言われている俗説を全部疑って一次資料で確認するというのは難しいため一般的な話に乗っかっているところもありますが、よくまとまっていると思います。本シリーズで一番好印象なのは、一冊におよそ気になる点が（情報の精度はともかく）ひととおり載っていることと、情報を見やすくまとめていることでこの点がそこら辺の良く分からん出版社の本を手に取るより良い点です。（シリーズ内にはきれいに体裁が整っているだけで内容ダメダメな奴もあるんですが）戦歴ばかりに触れ、カタログスペックは一切書いてない。逆にカタログスペックだけいろんな機体分つらつら載せて運用には一切触れない。文字だけでただひたすら情報を書いて結局読み終わっても集計もないし結果がぴんと来ない。そんな本がいくらもあるのを考えると零戦の最高速なんか知ってるよと思いつつも横にP-40の数字も並んでて重いのは知ってたけどP-40こんな重かったか。とか思えるのは楽です。結局情報の価値とは別に、参照しやすさ、比べ易さも価値なんですよね。私は両機ともマニュアル持ってますがそれぞれに書いてる情報抜き出して並べるなんて滅多にしません。どこに書いてあったっけ～この数字基準一緒か？で手が止まります本書は本として良くまとまっている。作者も当たり。ということでおすすめです。私はこのシリーズの興味あるトピックは著者に注意しつつも買い続けるでしょう零戦神話の反動からか一時はP-40は優勢に戦えるみたいなことが言われてましたがこの本やEagles of the Southern Sky、その著者の他の著作などからやはり零戦を相手するのは苦しかったことが分かりますエンジンの高度特性を指摘するレビューもありますが零戦21型も公称高度4000ｍ少し超えるくらいですから、零戦にしても不得手な高度に陸攻と一緒に上がるしかなく、軽さと運動性能が勝敗を分けたのでしょう皮肉なことにこの会社の出している本の判定に従うなら交戦成績はF４F＞P-39＞P-40であり米軍の20000ft以下で日本機と戦うなら最良の機体という評価は何だったのかと考えざるを得ません。まあ、投入された任務の詳細も違いますし低高度という特定条件でのみ能力が高いため投入できる場面が限られたP-39に比べややバランスが取れてたから矢面に立たされ痛い目にあった。というのはP-40が割と好きな人間のひいきでしょうか。