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The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy’s Finest Hour
ADAPTED BY DOUG MURRAY; DRAWN BY STEVEN SANDERS; COLORED BY MATT SOFFE; LETTERED BY ROB STEEN
Adapted from the naval history classic and New York Times bestseller, The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors pieces together the action of the Battle off Samar, bringing to life a riveting story of heroism against daunting odds, duty, and sacrifice in a way never seen before.
In October 1944, Allied forces began landing on the Philippine island of Leyte. Quickly assessing the threat of the Allied invasion, the Japanese navy sought to counterattack. But with the island protected by the full strength of Admiral William F. Halsey’s Third Fleet, a direct attack was nearly impossible. Undeterred, the Japanese Admiralty deployed their forces, engaging the Third Fleet and retreating in a manner that drew the fleet into a hot pursuit. However, Admiral Halsey had been deceived, and the Japanese plan had taken his fleet out of position to defend the American beachhead.
With the northern route to Leyte open and unguarded, the Japanese Center Force—a fleet led by the battleship Yamato, the largest and most powerful battleship ever constructed—seemingly had a clear path to the landing beaches on Leyte. Only one thing stood between the Japanese forces and the vulnerable objective.
Taffy 3, a small task unit from the Seventh Fleet, was made up of destroyers, destroyer escorts, and escort aircraft carriers; thirteen ships with little firepower and even less armor. On the morning of October 25, 1944, Taffy 3 suddenly became the only obstacle between the Allied landings and the Japanese Center Force. Hopelessly outmanned and outgunned, Taffy 3 plunged into battle. The ensuing action, known as the Battle off Samar, became one of the greatest last stands in naval history.
“James D. Hornfischer is one of X X America's great narrative historians, Xand his The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors on the battle off Samar (October 25, 1944) details one of the great sagas of the Second World War. XNow that story has been rendered in graphic format with drawings by Steven Sanders to engage an even wider audience. It is a reminder of the great debt owed by modern Americans to the sacrifices of those who served in the Second World War.”
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—Craig L. Symonds, author of World War II at Sea
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November 2021
208 pp. | 65 ½X ⁄₈ x 10¼ Hardcover | X 978-1-68247-338-2 $29.95 | Holiday Price: $14.98 JAMES D. HORNFISCHER’S gripping account of the battle, based on declassified documents as well as extensive interviews with veterans, is acclaimed as one of the most compelling works of naval history ever published. Hornfischer’s awards include the 2018 Samuel Eliot Morison Award, given by the Board of Trustees of the USS Constitution Museum.
DOUG MURRAY is a comic book writer and novelist. He served as a non-commissioned officer in the Army in Vietnam and was the main writer on the popular comic book series The ’Nam, published by Marvel Comics.
STEVEN SANDERS is an illustrator from Kansas City, Missouri. His work has appeared in the distinguished SPECTRUM anthology and he has drawn a number of comics for Marvel and Image Comics.
MATT SOFFE is a freelance colorist and illustrator originally from the North West of England, now based in California. His work has appeared in many publications over the last ten years, including 2000AD, Judge Dredd Megazine, and Heavy Metal magazine, as well as with publishers such as Z2 Comics, Accent UK, Soaring Penguin, Printed in Blood, and Topps.
ROB STEEN has lettered books for most major comic companies. He is also the illustrator of the Flanimals children’s book series written by Ricky Gervais, and the children’s book Erf, written by Garth Ennis. His latest book is The Pod.
November 2021
232 pp. | 6 x 9 Hardcover |
978-1-68247-698-7
$24.95 | Holiday Price: $12.48
BLUE & GOLD PROFESSIONAL LIBRARY
November 2021
192 pp. | 6 x 9 24 b/w illustrations Hardcover |
978-1-68247-702-1
$24.95 | Holiday Price: $12.48
Fifty Books to Know the Sea
BY ADM. JAMES G. STAVRIDIS, USN (RET.)
“This book should be on every sailor's shelf. Admiral Stavridis' love of the sea and love of reading come through on every page.”
—Tom Ricks, author and Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter
Admiral Stavridis, a leader in military, international affairs, and national security circles, shares his love of the sea and some of the sources of that affection. The Sailor’s Bookshelf offers synopses of fifty books that illustrate the history, importance, lore, and lifestyle of the oceans and of those who go down to the sea in ships. Stavridis colors those descriptions with glimpses of his own service—sea stories in popular parlance—that not only clarify his choices but show why he is held in such high esteem among his fellow sailors.
ADM. JAMES G. STAVRIDIS, USN (RET.), is a retired four-star officer who led the NATO Alliance in global operations from 2009 to 2013 as Supreme Allied Commander with responsibility for Afghanistan, Libya, the Balkans, Syria, counter piracy, and cyber security. He served as Commander of U.S. Southern Command, with responsibility for all military operations in Latin America from 2006–9. Admiral Stavridis earned a PhD in international relations and is Dean Emeritus of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He has published ten books and hundreds of articles in leading journals around the world.
Admiral Stavridis is a monthly columnist for TIME Magazine and Chief International Security Analyst for NBC News.
Dark Horse
General Larry O. Spencer and His Journey from the Horseshoe to the Pentagon
BY GENERAL LARRY O. SPENCER, USAF (RET.)
“For forty-four years, Larry Spencer left his leadership imprint on our Air Force and everyone he met. Now Dark Horse allows an even broader audience to learn from this remarkably successful, positive, humble, caring leader. A truly inspirational read!”
—Gen. Martin Dempsey (Ret.), 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Gen. Larry O. Spencer, USAF (Ret.), was born and raised on the Horseshoe—a tough inner-city street in southeast Washington, D.C. Both parents lived in the rural south under Jim Crow and separate but equal laws.
Quite by chance, Spencer enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he continued to struggle with the racial turmoil of the 1970s.
He ultimately became the Air Force’s thirty-seventh vice chief of staff, making him one of only nine African Americans promoted to four stars. Spencer concludes his historic climb with life lessons learned on his journey from the inner city to the Pentagon.
GENERAL LARRY O. SPENCER, USAF (RET.), was born and raised in Washington, D.C. Spencer enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1971, completed his bachelor of science degree, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1980. Spencer quickly climbed the ranks, culminating as the 37th Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force. He then became president of the Air Force Association and he is now president of the Armed Forces Benefit Association/5Star Life Insurance Company.
September 2021
248 pp. | 6 x 9 12 maps Hardcover |
978-1-68247-708-3
$34.95 | Holiday Price: $17.48
Marine Corps Generals in World War II
BY STEPHEN R. TAAFFE
“In Commanding the Pacific, Stephen R. Taaffe puts on a writing clinic as he blends biographical sketches and personality studies with a historical narrative of the strategic and operational levels of the Pacific War. He also effortlessly weaves analysis into this mix. Readers can also glean lessons and habits of mind about leadership and teamwork.”
—David J. Ulbrich, author of Preparing for Victory: Thomas Holcomb and the Making of the Marine Corps, 1936–1943
In Commanding the Pacific: Marine Corps Generals in World War II, Stephen R. Taaffe analyzes the fifteen high-level Marine generals who led the Corps’ six combat divisions and two corps in the conflict. He concludes that these leaders played an indispensable and unheralded role in organizing, training, and leading their men to victory.
Despite these difficulties, Marine combat commanders repeatedly overcame challenges and fulfilled their missions. Their ability to do so does credit to the Corps and demonstrates that these generals deserve more attention from historians than they have so far received.
STEPHEN R. TAAFFE is a professor of history at Stephen F. Austin State University, where he specializes in U.S. military history. He received his bachelor’s degree from Grove City College and his graduate degrees from Ohio University.
April 2021
464 pp. | 6 x 9 13 figures, 5 b/w tables, 5 b/w illustrations Hardcover |
978-1-68247-606-2
$49.95 | Holiday Price: $24.98
AI at War
How Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning Are Changing Naval Warfare
EDITED BY SAM J. TANGREDI AND GEORGE GALDORISI
“In clear and crisp prose Tangredi and Galdorisi illuminate the huge promise in mastering [AI] technologies, and the terrible consequences of failing to do so.”
—John Lehman, former secretary of the Navy, author of Oceans Ventured: Winning the Cold War at Sea
AI at War provides a balanced and practical understanding of applying AI to national security and warfighting professionals as well as a wide array of other readers. Although the themes and findings of the chapters are relevant across the U.S. Department of Defense, to include all Services, the Joint Staff and defense agencies as well as allied and partner ministries of defense, this book is a case study of warfighting functions in the Naval Services—the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. Sam J. Tangredi and George Galdorisi bring together over thirty experts, ranging from former DOD officials and retired flag officers to scientists and active duty junior officers. These contributors present views on a vast spectrum of subjects pertaining to the implementation of AI in modern warfare, including strategy, policy, doctrine, weapons, and ethical concerns.
SAM J. TANGREDI is the Leidos Chair of Future Warfare Studies and professor of national, naval, and maritime strategy at the U.S. Naval War College. He is author of Anti-Access Warfare: Countering A2/AD Strategies.
GEORGE GALDORISI is the Director of Strategic Assessments and Technical Futures at the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific. He has written a total of fourteen books published by mainstream publishers, including four consecutive New York Times best-sellers.
October 2021
978-1-68247-593-5
$37.95 | Holiday Price: $18.98
September 2021
978-1-68247-711-3
$49.95 | Holiday Price: $24.98
The Life of Vice Admiral Willis A. Lee Jr.
BY PAUL STILLWELL
“Paul Stillwell brings a lifetime of experience as a naval historian to bear in this well written and timely biography.”
—Adm. James Stavridis, 16th Supreme Allied Commander of NATO and author of The Sailor's Bookshelf: Fifty Books to Know the Sea
This is the first-ever biography of Vice Admiral Willis A. Lee Jr., who served a key role during World War II in the Pacific. Recognizing the achievements and legacy of one of the war’s top combat admirals has been long overdue until now.
Battleship Commander explores Lee’s life from boyhood in Kentucky through his eventual service as commander of the fast battleships from 1942 to 1945. Paul Stillwell draws on more than 150 first-person accounts from those who knew and served with Lee from boyhood until the time of his death. Said to be down to earth, modest, forgiving, friendly, and with a wry sense of humor, Lee eschewed the media and, to the extent possible, left administrative details to others. Stillwell relates the sequential building of a successful career, illustrating Admiral Lee’s focus on operational, tactical, and strategic concerns.
In 1942 Willis Lee became commander of the first division of fast battleships to operate in the Pacific. During that service, he commanded Task Force 64, which achieved a tide-turning victory in a night battle near Guadalcanal in November 1942.
PAUL STILLWELL is an independent historian and retired naval officer. He worked for thirty years at the U.S. Naval Institute as an oral historian and editor of Naval History magazine. He is the author or editor of thirteen books.
Clash of the Capital Ships
From the Yorkshire Raid to Jutland
BY ERIC DORN BROSE
“Jutland, the greatest clash of capital ships ever fought continues to fascinate. Brose has surveyed his subject’s immense literature and delivers fresh analysis and judgments. In the end, it’s the men, not the ships, that really matter.”
—Vincent P. O'Hara, author of Six Victories: North Africa, Malta, and the Mediterranean Convoy War, November 1941–March 1942
The Battle of Jutland, May 31–June 1, 1916, pitted Great Britain and Imperial Germany—the two largest fleets of World War I—against one another for the first time. At that time, it would be the largest clash of capital ships in the history of modern naval warfare.
Focusing on the many fine studies of naval encounters in the North Sea and the primary sources that appeared as the centennial of this clash approached, Eric Dorn Brose seized an opportunity to reexamine Jutland, its pre-history, and aftermath. Considering new scholarship within the context of extant literature, the author reveals why each side claimed a victory that belonged to Britain and its cautious admiral, Sir John Jellicoe by examining the key roles naval and political leaders in Germany and Great Britain played during the fight. With an awareness of previous research, and a lively, fresh approach, Brose provides a concise history of the Jutland clash and the era of naval combat itself.
ERIC DORN BROSE completed graduate and postgraduate degrees at Miami University in Ohio and Ohio State. He was a professor at Drexel University, where he was awarded special emeritus status upon retirement in 2015. His publications in German and European history have included much on the history of warfare in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
