Table of Contents

Illustrations Maps and diagrams Acknowledgments Abbreviations Glossary Introduction 1. The Pacific War to July 1942 2. The Allies plan to strike back 3. The Expeditionary Force and its commanders 4. The air reconnaissance problem 5. A feeling of superiority 6. The communications setting 7. New urgency to the timetable 8. Preliminary moves 9. Planning of night dispositions 10. Watchtower launched 11. Precipitate withdrawal of the carriers 12. Japanese reactions 13. Allied failures of detection 14. Air Force scapegoats? 15. The communications factor 16. The Japanese penetrate the sound undetected 17. Canberra's ordeal 18. Friendly fire? 19. Actions of the southern group survivors 20. Annihilation of the Vincennes group 21. After the deluge 22. A sort of ghastly situation 23. The verdict Appendices Endnotes Bibliography Index

About the Author

Chris Coulthard-Clark is one of Australia's leading historians in the field of Australian defence history. Bruce Loxton retired as a commodore in 1978 having commanded three ships and served, amongst other positions, as Director of Naval Intelligence and Australian Naval Attache, Washington.