Additional information
by Milan PhD Vego (Author)
One of the largest and most complex military efforts ever undertaken, the Leyte Operation was the Allies' first and most important major combined operation to liberate the Philippine archipelago. The stakes were high: a successful landing at Leyte was critical to a subsequent assault on Luzon and total control of the Philippines. If Japan lost the Philippines, its supply of oil and other strategic raw materials would be cut off and its navy doomed to an inglorious end. In this comprehensive study, one of the world's leading authorities on the subject addresses all aspects of the two-month-long ground, sea, and air invasion, and presents a complete evaluation of theater-wide command, organization, intelligence, and logistics. Drawing on a wealth of Allied and Japanese primary documents and countless secondary sources, Milan Vego describes and analyzes the operational planning and preparation as well as the execution of actions on both sides. Focusing on the operational versus tactical aspects of the struggle, he critically assesses the major decisions made by the senior commanders. His access to the Allied Magic radio intercepts allows him to shed light on what Allied and Japanese commanders knew and did not know about each other. Unlike other books on the subject, Vego provides the reader with detailed analysis of the operational lessons learned that can be taken away from the engagement. A large number of maps, figures, and tables enhance the text.
Author Biography
Dr. Milan Vego has been professor of operations at the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, since 1991. A native of Bosnia & Herzegovina, he obtained political asylum in the United States in 1976. He served for 12 years as a naval officer and four years as 2nd Officer (Deck) in the Merchant Marine. Dr. Vego holds a PhD in Modern European History from George Washington University (1981). He also has a Master Mariner's license (1973). He is the author of four books--Soviet Navy Today (1986); Soviet Naval Tactics (1992); Austro-Hungarian Naval Policy, 1904-1914 (1996); and Naval Strategy and Operations in Narrow Seas (1999; 2nd ed., 2003)--and the author of the textbook Operational Warfare (2000), used at the Naval War College and a number of other service colleges in the United States and overseas. Dr. Vego has also published numerous articles and essays in various professional journals.
