Anglo-American Naval Intelligence Co-operation in the Pacific, 1944-45

This study illustrates some of the strengths, weaknesses, problems and pitfalls inherent in coalition use of intelligence. In addition it highlights a neglected aspect of the history of intelligence in the Second World War. The role of intelligence in the naval war against Japan has long been acknowledged. However, in the main this has been focused upon the early years of the war, in particular the role of grand strategic level intelligence in uncovering the attack on Pearl Harbor and military strategic level intelligence giving the United States Navy a decisive advantage at the Battle of Midway. This article seeks to examine the impact of intelligence in the latter stages of the war. It explores the way in which the two allies shared and utilised intelligence at each level of war, strategic, military, operational and tactical.