Lexington Public Library District

Lethal tides, Mary Sears and the marine scientists who helped win World War II, Catherine Musemeche

eng

Includes bibliographic references (pages 263-292) and index

contains biographical information

mapsillustrationsplates

index present

non fiction

Lethal tides

1309303311

Catherine Musemeche

Mary Sears and the marine scientists who helped win World War II

"In Lethal Tides, Catherine Musemeche weaves together science, biography, and military history in the compelling story of an unsung woman who had a dramatic effect on the U.S. Navy's success against Japan in WWII, creating an intelligence-gathering juggernaut based on the new science of oceanography. When World War II began, the U.S. Navy was unprepared to enact its island-hopping strategy to reach Japan. Anticipating tides, planning for coral reefs, and preparing for enemy fire was new ground for them, and with lives at stake it was ground that had to be covered quickly. Mary Sears, a marine biologist, was the untapped talent they turned to, and she along with a team of quirky marine scientists were instrumental in turning the tide of the war in the United States' favor. The Sears team analyzed ocean currents, made wave and tide predictions, identified zones of bioluminescence, mapped deep-water levels where submarines could hide and gathered information about the topography and surf conditions surrounding the Pacific islands and Japan. Sears was frequently called upon to make middle-of-the-night calculations for last-minute top-secret landing destinations and boldly predicted optimal landing times and locations for amphibious invasions. In supplying these crucial details, Sears and her team played a major role in averting catastrophes that plagued earlier amphibious landings, like the disastrous Tarawa, and cleared a path to Okinawa, the last major battle of World War II" --Publisher's website

Part one: A nation at war in two oceans -- Chasing Plankton on the eve of the war -- Choosing an unlikely path -- Finding a mentor fosters a career -- Smoke screens and submarines -- Hydro fights a war -- The war beneath the sea -- A seat at the table -- The vast Pacific Ocean -- Oceanographers to the rescue -- Part two: The mission begins -- Closing the intelligence gap -- Tarawa -- Reversing the mandate -- The Oceanographic Unit digs in -- Narrowing the path to victory -- Flying blind in Iwo Jima -- Penetrating the zone of safety -- Closing in on victory

adult

Mary Sears and the marine scientists who helped win World War II