For almost 20 years, more than 200 reels of microfilmed Japanese naval records remained virtually untouched in the custody of the U.S. Naval History Division. This unique book draws on those sources and others to tell the story of the Pacific War from the viewpoint of the Japanese.

Former Marine Corps officer and Asian scholar Paul Dull focuses on the major surface engagements of the war - Coral Sea, Midway, the crucial Solomons campaign, and the last-ditch battles in the Marianas and Philippines. Also included are detailed track charts and a selection of Japanese photographs of major vessels and actions.