Jonathan White, Shipwrecked: A True Civil War Story of Mutinies, Jailbreaks, Blockade-Running, and the Slave Trade

Japanese decisions, such as Kurita's decision to order a "general attack" rather than forming a battle line after initially spotting Clifton Sprague's Taffy 3, are well analysed and placed into proper context.The most controversial decisions -Halsey's decision to leave San Bernardino Strait to pursue Ozawa's carriers and Kurita's decision not to push into Leyte Gulf following the Battle off Samar -are given dedicated chapters.Stille's analysis is fair and balanced and, as such, quite compelling.He goes beyond analysis of the tactical situation and considers the personalities of the people involved, as well as the extremes of stress and exhaustion all were working under.His assessment of both decisions is quite sympathetic.His greatest criticism is reserved for Halsey, not for his decision to pursue Ozawa's force, but for his tardy response after receiving Kinkaid's distress signals that Taffy 3 was under attack.Leyte Gulf: A New History of the World's Largest Sea Battle is probably not for the casual reader with a passing interest in the Battle of Leyte Gulf.However, those seeking a deeper dive, whether familiar with the events or a relative newcomer, will surely find something of interest in Stille's work.Highly recommended.