THE DARKEST HOUR - VOLUME 2: The Japanese Offensive in the Indian Ocean, 1942

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The book presents the Japanese navy offensive in the Indian Ocean area in March-April 1942. Its main goal was to destroy the Royal Navy in the Far East and achieve domination on the flank of the Pacific War on the eve of the battle of Midway. This daring operation was tactical, though the strategically untapped, success.

Contains the description of the strategic planning of both sides in February-March 1942, including the Japanese navy projections on the last step of the first stage of the Pacific War and the Royal Navy hope to halt the enemy advance without taking any significant risks.

The Japanese mobile force Kido Butai consisted of five aircraft carriers with escorts. It was expected to crush the British bases on Ceylon and destroy the main core of the Allied 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.