The Sea Devils

The Sea Devils chronicles the Japanese submarine attacks on Sydney Harbor during World War II. Author Mark Felton reconstructs the events of May-June 1942, when Imperial Japanese midget submarines penetrated Australia's defensive perimeter. The book details the planning and preparation on both sides leading up to the attacks. Through military records and firsthand accounts, Felton examines the Japanese naval strategy as well as Australia's coastal defenses and intelligence gathering during this period. The narrative follows key figures including the Japanese submarine commanders and Australian military personnel involved in the harbor defense. Their decisions and actions during these critical weeks shaped the outcome of Japan's bold attempt to strike at the heart of Allied operations in the South Pacific. The Sea Devils presents a lesser-known episode of WWII that illustrates the reach of Japanese naval power and the vulnerability of Australia's home front. This account of submarine warfare expands understanding of the Pacific theater beyond the major battles that dominate most histories.

Readers describe the book as a fast-paced military history focused on Italian frogmen operations during WWII. Many note it reads like a thriller while maintaining historical accuracy. Readers appreciated: - Detailed technical information about diving equipment and operations - Personal accounts and testimonies from participants - Coverage of lesser-known WWII naval operations - Clear explanations of complex military maneuvers Common criticisms: - Some repetition between chapters - Limited photographs and maps - Occasional dry sections when describing administrative details Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (127 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (168 ratings) Sample reader comments: "Fills an important gap in naval warfare history" - Amazon reviewer "Could have used more visual aids to follow the missions" - Goodreads reviewer "The personal stories of individual frogmen make this memorable" - LibraryThing reviewer

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🌊 During World War II, these secret Japanese submarine missions carried tons of gold, platinum, and other precious cargo between Nazi Germany and Japan, creating one of history's largest transfers of wealth between Axis powers. 🗺️ The submariners faced a treacherous 20,000-mile round trip journey, having to navigate past Allied warships while crossing both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. ⚔️ Author Mark Felton holds a PhD in military history from the University of Essex and has written over 30 books about military operations, particularly focusing on World War II. 🚢 These submarine missions, known as Yanagi missions, were so secretive that many of the Japanese sailors involved weren't told their actual destination until they were already at sea. 💫 The German U-boat U-234, one of the vessels featured in the book, was carrying uranium oxide and advanced weapons technology when it surrendered to U.S. forces in 1945. Some historians speculate this uranium may have been intended for Japan's atomic weapons program.