Why the Japanese navy did not attack more aggressively when the Eastern Fleet were so much weaker than the Japanese fleet is mostly explained with that they were occupied with the Americans.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. The main base of the Eastern Fleet relocated to East Africa, and Ceylon was reinforced, but Somerville kept his fast carrier division, Force A, ". However, the plan was based on information provided by the Far East Combined Bureau (FECB), which identified only two carriers in the Japanese force. Matters were made urgent by the crippling of the United States Pacific Fleet's battle line at Pearl Harbor, which exposed the weak forces in Malaya to attack. There are some adult themes, mostly political and little graphic violence, so this is a good book for the Junior Reader over about 11/12 year with maritime interests.With the threat to the Middle East long past and with the war marching inexorably to it’s ose, the entire massive production strength of the Allies can be switched to South-East Asia. The other reviews on this page seem to reflect that it is of interest to a number of knowledgable readers who highlight some of the books weaknesses, or take exception to some of the author's conclusion.

The remainder of the book then describes the actions of the British Eastern Fleet in the Indian Ocean against the Japanese from 1942 - late 1944.It is rather short with just 218 pages of text and it covers not only naval warfare in the Indian Ocean 1942-44 but also the development of carrier warfare and naval air power of a larger area.

Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training. Japanese intentions to mount a major offensive into the Indian Ocean were placed on hold in March 1942; strong naval forces were needed in the western Pacific against the United States, and the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) refused to allocate troops for an invasion of Ceylon.

Apart from the Eastern Fleet battle forces, it also included a submarine force, to hinder Japan from using sea lanes between Burma and Singapore; and a large supporting escort force, responsible for protecting convoy roues between Suez ( Red Sea) and India, and between the Cape of Good Hope and India. Agreement had been reached, after objections from Admiral Ernest King USN, but new procedures would need to be learnt by naval crews and Fleet Air Arm (FAA) aircrew. In December 1945 the British Pacific Fleet was disbanded and its forces were absorbed into the East Indies fleet. Their exploits as the British Pacific Fleet is not covered here- but the lessons learned in this period would serve the Navy well as it operated as an adjunct to the Massive US TF 58/38 that the US fleet maintained. The Japanese did not perform an aerial reconnaissance sweep along their intended course on the afternoon of 4 April, and a planned reconnaissance of Colombo harbour by cruiser floatplanes was cancelled.