Battle 360

[J.J. Walters]

So, anybody watching the fantastic Battle 360 [video] series on the History Channel*? It's a ten-part documentary focusing on the USS Enterprise ("The Big E", "The Grey Ghost", the most honored ship in the history of the U.S. Navy) in the pacific during WWII. It uses a great mix of computer animation, real footage, interviews, and narration. It's one of the best military history documentaries I've ever seen.

The 9th episode just aired - The Battle of Leyte Gulf (one of the biggest naval battles in the history of mankind). I tell ya, every time I hear the story of the USS Johnston and E.E. Evans' brave charge against that Japanese task force, it sticks with me for a long time. Courage that defies description. “flank speed, full left rudder!” Ditto for the USS Samuel B. Roberts!

The next one is the two-hour finale - The Empire's Last Stand. If you've missed it, they WILL be airing the ten episodes again at some point, probably multiple times.

Here is a listing of all the episodes:

01. Call to Duty (2/29/08): The attack on Pearl Harbor, the entry of the United States into World War II, the Marshall Islands Raid, and the Doolittle Raid.

02. Vengeance at Midway (3/7/08): The Battle of Midway.

03. Jaws of the Enemy (3/14/08): The Solomon Islands campaign and the battle for Guadalcanal.

04. Bloody Santa Cruz (3/21/08): The Solomon Islands campaign and the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands.

05. Enterprise versus Japan (3/28/08): Fighting in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal as the only American aircraft carrier active in the Pacific theater of war.

06. The Grey Ghost (4/4/08): The refitting of the Enterprise, and the battle for the Gilbert Islands.

07. Hammer of Hell (4/11/08): Assaulting Truk Lagoon as part of Operation Hailstone, including the first night radar bombing attack from a U.S. carrier.

08. D-Day in the Pacific (4/18/08): The Battle of the Philippine Sea, the largest aircraft carrier battle in history.

09. Battle of Leyte Gulf (4/25/08): The Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle of World War II.

10. The Empire's Last Stand (5/2/08): The battles of Luzon, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa, and attacks by kamikazes.

* I know at least one person is. ;)

For sure, Magnum would watch this series. ;)

[IKnowWhatYoureThinking]

James I hate I have missed these. If you like the series try the book Tin Can Sailors. It highlights the Sammy B and a few other Tin Cans during the battle.

[ConchRepublican]

Didn't even know about this. Will be searching for reruns.

[IKnowWhatYoureThinking]

I've finally caught a few of these and they are great!

[Coops]

Tin Can Sailors is one of the most amazing books I've ever read. Seriously, if you read no other book on the Battle of Leyte Gulf, read that one.