The Fighting Ships of the Rising Sun The Drama of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1895-1945

The Imperial Navy of Japan is the only world-class navy in history which had a definite beginning and an equally definite end, covering a span of nearly fifty-one years. Despite its brief life, the Imperial Navy rapidly achieved the status of the world's third greatest navy, and in its last years almost won an even higher position - but instead, in the final contest, lost everything -- [Pref.].