Sixty years ago, both Allied and Axis soldiers went to war in suicidal or near-suicidal machines. The men's bravery cannot be overestimated, nor can the ingenuity and desperation that led to the development of such hazardous crafts. Richard O'Neill's "Suicide Squads" tells the story of these special attack forces, focusing on the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy.O'Neill offers a detailed exploration (evolution, types, effect) of explosive motorboats (which offered "the prospect of spectacular gain at little cost"), midget submarines (Japanese, Italian, German, and British), manned as well as human torpedoes, human bullets, and kamikaze aircraft. He also describes the actions themselves -- the attack on Pearl Harbor, the raid on Sydney Harbour, special forces missions at Guadalcanal, Midway, and Okinawa, among others. And he provides insights into the samurai and bushido codes of conduct that inspired ritual suicide.
- ISBN10 1585744328
- ISBN13 9781585744329
- Publish Date 1 November 2001 (first published 23 November 1981)
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 22 November 2012
- Publish Country US
- Publisher Rowman & Littlefield
- Imprint The Lyons Press
- Format Paperback (US Trade)
- Pages 272
- Language English