naval operations, british

In the waning days of World War II, a historic and little-known battle took place under the frozen seas off the coast of Norway and changed the course of the war. As the Germans were preparing for defeat, they packed a submarine (U-864) with their most advanced rocket and jet aircraft technology, a group of German and Japanese scientists, and tons of mercury for use in missile and torpedo detonation systems. With this they felt Japan could re-establish air superiority in the Pacific giving Germany the time to regroup and defend the Fatherland. Unbeknownst to them, British code breakers, working with the Norwegian underground, had discovered their plans and chased the U-864 throughout the North Atlantic. It evaded its pursuers and headed out to sea to complete its mission. But the British submarine HMS Venturer was waiting for it and in an intense cat-and-mouse game beneath the waves, the Venturer won, sinking the U-864 and becoming the only submarine in history to sink another sub in underwater combat.

Chronicles the British Navy's two-thousand-mile chase to sink the German battleship "Bismarck" in May 1941 after it sunk the British battleship, the HMS "Hood, " during the Battle of the Denmark Strait.

Profusely illustrated text discusses the campaigns and battles between American and Japanese forces in the Pacific that led to the defeat of the Japanese in World War II.

Recounts events leading up to and surrounding the May 1941 destruction of the British battle cruiser Hood by the German battleship Bismarck, soon followed by the sinking of the German ship by British forces.

Describes the role of aircraft carriers in World War II, especially Japanese and American carriers in the Pacific.

Describes the campaign in World War II to sink the Bismarck and the efforts to salvage its remains.