This book is a definite "must read."


A Member of the Gun Culture in the Pacific War   March 2, 2001
 10 out of 10 found this review helpful

This book was so well done that I read it twice. It is the most insightful essay on the weapons of war that I have read. He was a rifle champion before the war and therefore had a high interest in the weapons of both sides. There are many comparisons of the American arms vs. the Japanese arms. Some of his observations are quite surprising. For example, most of the American equipment, while superior in quality, was over built and therefore difficult to carry around. A lot of it never made it past the beaches where the troops landed. They would discard all the cubersome equipment and take only what was necessary and portable. Much of the Japanese equipment and armament was lighter and easier to get into acion. It is a fascinating examination and comparison of the cultures and their equipment. I am hoping that it will be reissued so that I can purchase copies for my friends. I reccommend this book to anyone interested in the history of the Pacific war and the armaments in use then.