
The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors
The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.s. Navy's Finest Hour
Random House Publishing Group · Print & ebook · March 29, 2005
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The exhilarating true story of the U.S. Navy’s improbable victory at the Battle of Samar—“a dire survival-at-sea saga” (Denver Post) from the acclaimed author of Neptune’s Inferno “A critically acclaimed, blow-by-blow look at a small American force counterattacking into the teeth of hopeless odds.”—Miami Herald “The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors will take its place amidst the great literature of World War II.”—Ron Powers, co-author of Flags of Our Fathers Desperately fought on the morning of October 25, 1944, the Battle off Samar is one of the most celebrated engagements in United States naval lore.
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- Who it’s for
- A tightly focused World War II naval account with a strong sense of operational detail.
- Genres
- WWII Pacific Theater, Naval History, World War II History
- Published
- Random House Publishing Group, March 29, 2005
Nearest books
Matched by what the books are about, then ordered by what their readers also loved. Most of these share its genre: WWII Pacific Theater.
The Fleet at Flood TidePete Larkin, James D. Hornfischer76% matchAlso shares Naval History
Neptune's InfernoJames D. Hornfischer74% matchAlso shares Naval History
Shattered SwordJonathan Parshall, Anthony Tully59% matchAlso shares Naval History
The Guns at Last LightRick Atkinson, Tim Duggan54% matchAlso shares World War II History
On Desperate GroundHampton Sides58% match
Twilight of the GodsIan Toll, P.J. Ochlan64% matchAlso shares Naval History
Guadalcanal DiaryRichard Tregaskis54% match
With the Old BreedE. B. Sledge, Marc Vietor59% match
For younger readers: Flags of Our Fathers, In Harm's Way, Left for Dead
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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The exhilarating true story of the U.S. Navy’s improbable victory at the Battle of Samar—“a dire survival-at-sea saga” (Denver Post) from the acclaimed author of Neptune’s Inferno “A critically acclaimed, blow-by-blow look at a small American force counterattacking into the teeth of hopeless odds.”—Miami Herald “The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors will take its place amidst the great literature of World War II.”—Ron Powers, co-author of Flags of Our Fathers Desperately fought on the morning of October 25, 1944, the Battle off Samar is one of the most celebrated engagements in United States naval lore.
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Facing overwhelming firepower, with no prospect of reinforcement, thirteen American warships began a fight they couldn’t win—and fought it to the death. Weaving together extensive interviews with veterans, unpublished eyewitness accounts, declassified documents, and rare Japanese sources, James D. Hornfischer has created an unprecedented account of a naval engagement unlike any other in American history. A resonant portrait of the Navy man’s indomitable spirit and a stirring tale of heroism in the face of hopeless odds, The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors unforgettably captures the men, the strategies, and the sacrifices that turned certain defeat into a legendary victory. WINNER OF THE SAMUEL ELIOT MORISON AWARD FOR NAVAL LITERATURE
Naval Intensity
A tightly focused World War II naval account with a strong sense of operational detail.
Come here for
- Naval combat detail
- U.S. Navy wartime service
Expect
- Pacific theater scope
- Ships, tactics, and command pressure
Where it sits
| Naval History | 92% |
|---|---|
| WWII Pacific Theater | 83% |
| World War II History | 19% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- World War II History
- Naval History
- 20th-Century History
- Authors
- James D. Hornfischer
- Publisher
- Random House Publishing Group
- Published
- March 29, 2005
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Reading lane
- World War II History