World War II US Navy Special Warfare Units

by Eugene Liptak, Johnny Shumate (Illustrator)

Overview

With the need for large-scale amphibious landings to decide the outcome of World War II the US Navy developed several types of specialized unit to reconnoitre potential landing areas, degrade the enemy's ability to resist, and assist the landing forces on to the beaches. The Scouts and Raiders were the forerunners of the SEALs, Beach Jumpers made elaborate simulated landings to distract the enemy, the Naval Combat Demolition Units and Underwater Demolition Teams cleared obstacles to amphibious landings and Naval Group China fought alongside Chinese guerrillas behind Japanese lines. This book uncovers the fascinating history of these units, the unique gear they went into theatre with and the vital roles they carried out throughout the war.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781780960555
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	10/20/2014
Series:	Elite , #203
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	64
Sales rank:	943,496
File size:	9 MB

About the Author

EUGENE LIPTAK holds both a Bachelor's Degree in History and a Master's Degree in Library Science from the University of Arizona. His interest in military history comes from reading, documentaries, movies, and visiting museums. He is a librarian in his hometown of Tucson, Arizona. This is his second book for Osprey.

Johnny Shumate works as a freelance illustrator living in Nashville, Tennessee. He began his career in 1987 after graduating from Austin Peay State University. Most of his work is rendered in Adobe Photoshop using a Cintiq monitor.
Johnny Shumate works as a freelance illustrator living in Nashville, Tennessee. He began his career in 1987 after graduating from Austin Peay State University. Most of his work is rendered in Adobe Photoshop using a Cintiq monitor. His greatest influences are Angus McBride, Don Troiani, and Édouard Detaille.

Table of Contents

Amphibious Scouts & Raiders 4

Origins, Weapons and equipment

Operations, Mediterranean and Europe: North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Adriatic Sea, Normandy, Southern France

Operations, Pacific: Marshall Islands, New Guinea, New Britain, Philippines

Beach Jumpers 13

Origins, Weapons and equipment

Operations: Sicily, Italy, Southern France, Philippines

Naval Combat Demolition Units 21

Forerunners: North Africa and Sicily, Establishment of NCDUs, Weapons and equipment

Operations, Pacific: Admiralty Islands, New Guinea, Philippines, Borneo

Operations, Europe: Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, Southern France

Underwater Demolition Teams 33

Origins, Weapons and equipment, Transportation: APDs and LCP(R)s

Operations: Marshall Islands, Saipan, Guam, Tinian, Peleliu, Philippines, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Borneo, Japanese surrender

Naval Group China 50

Origins - Cdr Milton Miles, "Happy Valley", Inter-service rivalries, Navy/Air Force cooperation

Operations: Guerrilla training and operations, Pact Doc, Weather stations, Coast-watching, French Indochina, Japanese surrender

Select Bibliography 63

Index 64