Berliner Zinnfiguren/Books & Media/Books/Naval/Japan products

Lengerer, Hans/Ahlberg, Lars: Kaibokans 26,95 €

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 07:05:10 +0200

A volume in the "Legends of Warfare: Naval" series. These ships were numerous and played a very active role in the naval battles of the Pacific, yetuntil nowthey have never been the subject of an English-language book. During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Navy used the term "Kaibokan" to designate several classes of ships. The "Kaibokan" were positioned in the hierarchy below Japanese destroyerscomparable to the frigates and corvettes of the British Royal Navy or the destroyer escorts of the U.S. Navy. In total, 171 units of the "Kaibokan" family were completed, making it one of the most frequentlyif not *the* most frequentlyproduced warship types of the Imperial Japanese Navy during the war. These ships were present in large numbers and played a highly active role in the naval engagements of the Pacific theater. This is the illustrated history of this ship type, featuring historical context, a comprehensive technical description, and more than 100 photographs and line drawings. Naval historians Lars Ahlberg and Hans Lengerer have established themselves as experts and specialists regarding the warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Their work is particularly distinguished by the fact that it is based primarily on the analysis of Japanese-language primary sources.

Martino, Ermano: Japanese Aircraft Carriers 1920-1945 38,95 €

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 07:35:05 +0200

The Imperial Japanese Navy was an early proponent of naval aviation and commissioned the world's first purpose-built aircraft carrier, the Hosho, in 1922. This was followed by a series of individual designs of very different sizes, some of which were converted from capital ships and others designed from scratch, but no two were alike until the Shokaku class was completed shortly before the outbreak of the Pacific War. Like many Japanese warship designs of the 1930s, these ships often displayed highly original thinking, with some unique experiments such as placing the bridge on the port side on some ships. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese aircraft carrier forces dominated the naval war, but the catastrophic losses at Midway in June 1942 forced the IJN to take many emergency measures to rebuild its aircraft carrier fleet, including the conversion of auxiliary and merchant ships and the production of a simple fleet aircraft carrier intended for mass production. The technical characteristics of all 29 ships are covered in individual chapters of this book and illustrated with plans, photographs and colour illustrations. There is a general introduction to naval aviation and a summary of carrier operations in the Pacific War, with appendices on armament, radar, camouflage schemes and naval aircraft. Despite the importance of Japanese aircraft carriers, they are not well documented in English, so this book, with its wealth of detail in a clear format, fills a real gap.

Doyle, David: USS Yorktown (CV-10) 30,95 €

Sat, 23 May 2026 07:40:09 +0200

A volume from the series Legends of Warfare. Naval. The USS Yorktown (CV-10) is an Essex-class aircraft carrier that served with the US Navy during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The ship is currently part of the Patriots Point museum complex near Charleston, South Carolina, and is open to the public. The CV-10 replaced the Yorktown CV-5, which was sunk in the Battle of Midway. This work from the Legends of Warfare. Naval series contains 350 images. The photos, tables and accompanying texts show the ship during its construction, on display at Patriots Point and, of course, during its long service with the Navy.

Doyle, David: USS Nevada 30,95 €

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 07:05:14 +0200

Both the USS Nevada (BB-36) and its sister ship, the USS Oklahoma, were sunk in Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. Unlike the Oklahoma, which was scrapped, the Nevada was repaired, refitted and returned to service. The BB-36 served with distinction during the invasion of France and also in the Pacific, supporting the amphibious landings on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. By the end of the war, the Nevada was obsolete, but it survived the atomic tests at Bikini Atoll during Operation Crossroads. It was finally sunk as a target for training exercises in 1948. This expanded 176-page entry in the Legends of Warfare series contains 350 images. The photos, tables and accompanying text show the ship during its construction and during its service in both world wars.

Draminski, Stefan: Nagato-class Battleships 1920–46 14,95 €

Sat, 23 May 2026 07:40:09 +0200

Illustrated with the author's highly acclaimed 3D reconstructions, naval researcher Stefan Draminski offers a technical and operational study of Nagato and Mutsu, Japan's most powerful battleships of the Dreadnought era. They were the world's first battleships to be equipped with 16-inch guns, signalling Japan's determination to build a fleet that would surpass the world's leading naval forces in terms of quality. After entering service in the 1920s, they underwent extensive modernisation before the outbreak of the Pacific War. The Nagato began the war as Yamamoto's flagship during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Both ships were involved in the Battle of Midway, and although the Mutsu was sunk by an ammunition explosion in 1943, the Nagato continued to fight in the Philippine Sea and Leyte Gulf before being converted again and laid up in Yokosuka as an anti-aircraft battery. The Nagato, the last Japanese battleship still afloat on the day of Japan's surrender, was sunk in 1946 as part of the Crossroads atomic tests in the Bikini Atoll. Based on Japanese sources and original documents, this book offers a concise and detailed account of these impressive battleships, superbly illustrated with archive photos and artwork showing the ships throughout their careers and in action.

Kim, Yuhan/Tan, Darren (Illustr.): Hansando and Busan 1592 19,95 €

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 07:00:09 +0200

In 1592, Korean admiral Yi Sun-sin planned a series of attacks against the Japanese navy. In his first two campaigns, he destroyed several isolated Japanese naval units involved in raids along the coast. When Toyotomi Hideyoshi learned of these attacks, he ordered his daimyos to assemble their ships into a special intervention fleet to engage Yi in battle. In his third campaign, Yi managed to lure a Japanese fleet out of cover and destroy it in August at the Battle of Hansando. Yi and his ships then sank fleets at Angolpo. To capitalise on this victory, the Koreans bombarded the Japanese fleet at Busan in September. With historical images, colour illustrations and detailed maps, this book delves into the tactics of Admiral Yi, which were instrumental in halting the Japanese advance in Korea. These naval battles destabilised Japanese influence on the south coast and ended hopes of supplying their armies by sea. Historian Yuhan Kim brings to life the exploits of one of the world's greatest naval commanders and examines why Admiral Yi was so successful.

Bauernfeind; Ingo: Japanische Schlachtschiffe 19,95 €

Sat, 30 May 2026 07:50:09 +0200

A key component of the Japanese armed forces was the battle fleet. Alongside corresponding units of the British and the USA, it was one of the most important naval forces in the world. The battleships of the Imperial Japanese Navy were among the most powerful ever built, although aircraft carriers gained in importance for all nations involved in the war. Ingo Bauernfeind describes in detail and with great expertise all the Japanese battleship classes used in the Second World War, from the Fuso to the Yamato class. He describes the creation and sinking of these battleships.

Lengerer, Hans/Ahlberg, Lars: Nagato-Class Battleships 26,95 €

Sat, 23 May 2026 07:35:09 +0200

A volume from the Legends of Warfare. Naval series. The Nagato-class battleships, Nagato and Mutsu, were super-dreadnought ships that entered service shortly after the end of the First World War. The Mutsu exploded in 1943 while anchored in port. More than 1,000 crew members were killed; the cause remains unknown to this day. The Nagato survived the war and was sunk during American nuclear tests on Bikini Atoll; the wreck is widely considered one of the best diving destinations in the world. This is the illustrated history of both ships, with a historical overview, a complete technical description and more than 100 photos and diagrams. Naval historians Lars Ahlberg and Hans Lengerer have established themselves as experts and specialists on the warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy in the Second World War. Their work is distinguished by its reliance primarily on Japanese-language primary source material.

Caresse, Philippe: Les Croiseurs Lourds Japonais 48,95 €

Sat, 23 May 2026 07:35:09 +0200

Long before the signing of the Washington Naval Treaty, Japanese engineers had worked out a project that would lead to the construction of the first cruisers, which were then known as "Itto junyokan" or 1st class cruisers in the Empire of the Rising Sun. At the end of the 1920s, the Imperial Japanese Navy was able to call the "Ju-junyokan" its own, which, together with the "Myoko" class, were known as the most powerful heavy cruisers in the world. From 1939, eighteen of these ships will have entered service. Among the largest navies in the world, these legendary ships would only distinguish themselves during the Second World War, but the Japanese cruisers were undoubtedly the ones that suffered the most from American naval and naval aviation power. The origins and history of the Japanese heavy cruisers are described in detail in this book.

Lengerer, Hans/Ahlberg, Lars: Kaga and Akagi. Aircraft Carriers in the Imperial Japanese Navy 26,95 €

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 07:45:10 +0200

Akagi and Kaga were the second and third aircraft carriers to enter service with the Imperial Japanese Navy. Akagi was initially laid down as a battle cruiser, and Kaga as a battleship; both hulls were converted into aircraft carriers during the 1920s. The two ships played key roles in most of the early engagements of the Pacific War, and both were sunk at the Battle of Midway. This is the illustrated history of both ships, including a historical synopsis, full technical description, and more than 100 photographs and diagrams. Naval historians Lars Ahlberg and Hans Lengerer have established themselves as experts on and specialists in the warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy during WWII. Their work is differentiated by being primarily driven by the utilization of Japanese-language primary source material.

Stille, Mark / Laurier, Jim: Japanese Combined Fleet 1942-43 - Guadalcanal to the Solomons Campaign 18,95 €

Sun, 17 May 2026 08:10:05 +0200

Contrary to myth, the Imperial Japanese Navy was not a shattered force after its defeat at Midway. In this book, Pacific War expert Mark Stille examines the IJN's Combined Fleet during the Guadalcanal and Solomons campaigns, when it was reorganized and was forced to fight a grinding battle of attrition against the US Navy.

The early surface battles in the Guadalcanal campaign played into the strength of the Combined Fleet, which had long trained for night combat. The IJN's rebuilt carrier force also performed well and managed to score its most clearcut victory against the USN's carriers of the entire war, at the battle of Santa Cruz, but the overall Guadalcanal campaign ended in disaster. The result was that the IJN was unwilling to engage in a major struggle for the Central and Northern Solomons, instead using only its destroyer force and land-based air power to fight a delaying action. However, this was costly and weakened the Combined Fleet for the rest of the war.

Using the most recent sources and illustrated with superb artwork, 3D diagrams and maps, the book is the first attempt to focus on how the Combined Fleet fought these campaigns, and, most importantly, how their results affected the rest of the war.

Lengerer, Hans: Technik und Einsatzgeschichte. Die Flugzeugträger der kaiserlich japanischen Marine und des Heeres. Volume 2 99,00 €

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 07:30:07 +0200

In the course of the Pacific War, Japan urgently needed more aircraft carriers, and that quickly. The problem was sought to be solved in several ways: By mass producing medium-sized aircraft carriers; by converting warships or auxiliary ships into light aircraft carriers; and by converting several large passenger steamers. In addition, special aircraft carriers were developed.

The technical section in this second volume focuses on the engine systems as well as the shipboard aircraft and their weapons, while the account of carrier operations ranges from the Second Solomon Islands Sea Battle in August 1942 to the Battle of Cape Engano in October 1944, which also marked the end of the Japanese carrier fleet.

Stille, Mark/Laurier, Jim (Illustr.): Japanese Combined Fleet 1941-42. The IJN at its zenith, Pearl Harbor to Midway 18,95 €

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:34:00 +0200

This is a spectacularly illustrated, concise and comprehensive account of the Imperial Japanese Navy's striking force at the height of its power.
The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) entered the Pacific War as one of the most formidable navies in the world, and its combat power was concentrated into one force, the Combined Fleet. In the months that followed Pearl Harbor it enjoyed an unrivaled string of victories, shattering American, British, Australian, and Dutch naval forces. This period of expansion and constant victories ended at the Battle of Midway, after which the Combined Fleet was forced onto the defensive.

In this book, Mark Stille draws on his decades of IJN research to explain what made the Combined Fleet the fighting force that it was. Packed with original artwork, explanatory 3D diagrams and maps, it examines the fleet's doctrine, innovative tactics and powerful warships. It also details the qualities and importance of IJN leadership, logistics, naval infrastructure, and Japan's shipbuilding capability, and gives an account and analysis of the IJN's combat performance during these crucial months - not just in the famous carrier battles, but also exploring lesser-known elements such as IJN amphibious forces and land-based aviation.

Skulski, J./Draminski, S.: Anatomy of the Ship. Battleships Yamato and Musashi 49,95 €

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:34:00 +0200

Equipped with the largest guns and heaviest armor and with the greatest displacement of any ship ever built, the Yamato proved to be a formidable opponent to the US Pacific Fleet in the Second World War. The book contains a full description of the design and construction of the battleship including wartime modifications, and a career history followed by a substantial pictorial section with rare onboard views of Yamato and her sister ship Musashi, a comprehensive portfolio of more than 600 perspective and three-view drawings, and 30 photographs. The new volume will include 3D color renditions of both ships. The wreck of Musashi has been recently discovered to great excitement in Japan, renewing interest in these iconic warships. Janusz Skulski's anatomies of three renowned ships of the 20th century Japanese navy are among the most comprehensive of the Anatomy series with hundreds of meticulously researched drawings of the ships.

Since their first publication he has continued to research the ships and has now produce a more definitive anatomy than was possible then. He has teamed up with 3D artist Stefan Draminksi who produces superb realistic renditions of the ships that bring a whole new level of detail to the portraits of the ships. This new editions is a genuine 'Super Anatomy' containing the most detailed renditions of these ships ever seen.

Treadwell, Terry C.: Japanese Submarines in World War Two. Hirohito's Silent Hunters in Action 31,95 €

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 06:55:10 +0200

The Imperial Japanese Navy developed the submarine faster than any other country in the world. But as a result of rivalries between the two military hierarchies, the Army and the Navy, they never utilised the submarine to its full extent. Nevertheless, during the Second World War, Japan deployed a number of unique submarines.
These included the Type B1 which carried a Yokosuka E14Y1 reconnaissance seaplane in a watertight capsule attached to the deck of the submarine. One of these aircraft carried out two bomb attacks on a forest in Oregon by dropping six incendiary bombs, taking the war to the American mainland. The use of aircraft from submarines as scout planes proved not to be as successful as hoped, mainly because of the difficulty after launching the aircraft of it finding the submarine again in the vast Pacific and Indian Oceans. The Japanese also developed the giant I-400 class submarines that carried three Sieran bombers.
There were other notable actions involving IJN submarines. This included I-17 that attempted to shell, unsuccessfully, an oil refinery off the coast of Santa Barbara, causing a major panic along the West Coast of America. Also memorable are the midget submarines that attempted to attack Pearl Harbor and the submarines that carried the one-man submarines (Kaitens) and the human torpedoes.

The submarine losses suffered by the Japanese Navy as the war progressed, when Allied, and in particular US, destroyers and aircraft hunted them down are all recorded in this comprehensive account of a fascinating element of the war at sea.

Lengerer, Hans/Ahlberg, Lars: Shokaku-class Aircraft Carriers. In the Imperial Japanese Navy During World War II 26,95 €

Sat, 23 May 2026 07:30:10 +0200

The aircraft carriers of the Shokaku class are generally regarded as being the most-successful carriers designed by the Imperial Japanese Navy. They became operational just prior to the Pearl Harbor attack in December 1941, and their combat records are impressive. Compared with the preceding aircraft carrier designs, they represented a great design leap, combining excellent striking power with good protection. Even by the US Navy these ships were rated highly. During the Pacific War the two ships of the class participated in all carrier battles with the exception of Midway, Shokaku being lost in the Battle of the Philippine Sea and Zuikaku off Cape Engaño (Battle of Leyte Gulf) in 1944.

This is the history of their design and construction, and it relies heavily on Japanese source material and includes numerous photos and drawings.

Lengerer, Hans: Technical and Operational History. The Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy and Army 1904-1945 89,00 €

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 06:50:15 +0200

This richly illustrated book provides an overview of the planning and construction of Japanese submarines from the import of the "Holland" class submarines in 1904-1905 to the large and small high-speed submarine fleets of the classes I 201 and Ha 201 from 1945. Three classes are described in detail, and reference is made to four others which are dealt with in other publications by the author - three of which were published by this publisher.

Piegzik, Michal A.: The Darkest Hour. Band 1: The Japanese Naval Offensive in the Indian Ocean 1942 - The Opening Moves 25,95 €

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:15:31 +0200

"The Darkest Hour" presents the Imperial Japanese Navy offensive in the Indian Ocean area in March-April 1942, the main goal of which was to destroy the Royal Navy in the Far East and achieve domination on the eastern flank of the Pacific War on the eve of the Battle of Midway. The bold operation of two Japanese task forces (Kido Butai and Malay Force) in the Indian Ocean could not be possible without the fall of Singapore in February and the Dutch East Indies in early March 1942. From the strategic point of view, the Japanese offensive in the Indian Ocean was the only moment in the Second World War when the Axis forces could coordinate their efforts to severely threaten the position of the British Empire in the crucial Middle East and India areas. "The Darkest Hour" describes the strategic planning of both sides in February-March 1942, including the Japanese navy projections on the last steps of the first stage of the Pacific War, and the Royal Navys hopes to halt the enemy advance without taking any significant risks. The Japanese offensive in the Indian Ocean began in March 1942 with the invasion of the Andaman Islands and Christmas Island. By securing both vital positions, the Japanese navy planned to establish its advanced bases in the eastern part of the Bay of Bengal. In the next step, the invincible Kido Butai consisting of five aircraft carriers and their escorts, was expected to crush the British bases on Ceylon and once and forever destroy the main core of the Eastern Fleet. The chaos provoked by the Kido Butai would then become a great opportunity for the Malay Force to cut off the British shipping routes in the western part of the Bay of Bengal. "The Darkest Hour" is the first systematic attempt to describe the less-well known part of the Pacific War by researching both British and Japanese archive documents and other secondary sources published in many countries, including the United Kingdom, Japan, and India.

The Japanese offensive in the Indian Ocean began in March 1942 with the invasion of the Andaman Islands and Christmas Island. By securing these two important positions, the Japanese navy wanted to establish its forward bases in the eastern part of the Bay of Bengal. In the next step, the invincible "Kido Butai", a Japanese naval unit consisting of five aircraft carriers and their escort ships, was to destroy the British bases on Ceylon and destroy the main core of the British East Asia Fleet forever. The chaos caused by the Kido Butai would then be a great opportunity for the "Malay Force", another Japanese naval force, to cut off the British shipping lanes in the western part of the Bay of Bengal. "The Darkest Hour" is the first systematic attempt to describe this lesser-known part of the Pacific War by analysing both British and Japanese archival documents and other secondary sources published in many countries, including Britain, Japan and India.

Lengerer, Hans/Ahlberg, Lars: Akizuki-class Destroyers. In the Imperial Japanese Navy During World War II 26,95 €

Sat, 23 May 2026 07:30:10 +0200

The destroyers of the Akizuki class were very different from the standard fleet type of Imperial Japanese Navy destroyers inaugurated with the Fubuki class. They were designed for the protection of the Imperial Japanese Navy's carrier task forces, and in order to achieve this they carried a particularly powerful antiaircraft armament and had an extremely long radius of action. However, only 12 out of a planned number of 39 entered service, and they arrived too late to play a crucial role in the decisive carrier battles of World War II. Despite this, their history is of particular interest since the Akizuki class foreshadowed the postwar fleet escort. This is the history of their design and construction, and it relies heavily on Japanese source material and includes numerous photos and drawings.

However, only 12 of 39 planned destroyers of this type were commissioned, and they arrived too late to play a decisive role in the decisive carrier battles of the Second World War. Nevertheless, their history is of particular interest, as the "Akizuki" class anticipated the post-war naval escort. This is the story of her design and construction, based largely on Japanese source material and including numerous photographs and drawings.

Motyka, Mariusz: The Japanese Destroyer Suzutsuki 19,95 €

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:15:31 +0200

Volume 128 of the "Top Drawings" series. Detailed sketches show the structural and technical details of the destroyer "Suzutsuki" of the Imperial Japanese Navy from World War 2. An almost inexhaustible visual source of information for model builders and ship enthusiasts.