Simviation Forums

Yeargh! Day of Infamy.



A.

The idea and its execution were great, but everything afterwards was just carelessness and false beliefs.  ::)

Nagumo was too timid.  He should have ordered another strike to get the fuel oil tank farms and the repair facilities.  Yamamoto knew Nagumo had failed, but he had to go along with the chirade that the Pearl Harbor attack was so successful.

Also, who could have predicted it, but with the carriers out of port and not having gone after the subs proved fateful.  The American sub campaign against Japanese shipping had a huge effect on Japan's ability to wage war.  But then again, most of the Gato class subs which were tremendously effective weren't even built yet.

Indeed. Even Stuart Braga said that too much of the Japanese campaign relied on "Japanese spirit" rather than supply lines etc.
Good ideas boys, bad execution.


A.

[quote]Nagumo was too timid.

Indeed. Even Stuart Braga said that too much of the Japanese campaign relied on "Japanese spirit" rather than supply lines etc.
Good ideas boys, bad execution.


A.

And the Japanese never figured that out.  When American submarine doctrine called for going after Japanese merchant shipping was their highest priority, the Japanese maintained a policy of submarines going after warships as their highest priority.

Things could have been vastly different if the Japanese made it their business to go after the vulnerable allied shipping lanes in the south Pacific between Australia and the US.

And the Japanese never figured that out... Things could have been vastly different if the Japanese made it their business to go after the vulnerable allied shipping lanes in the south Pacific between Australia and the US.

Rather strange considering their relationship with Nazi Germany.

Rather strange considering their relationship with Nazi Germany.

Here's a link where a bunch of people smarter than me discuss Japanese submarine doctrine, tactics and construction to some detail.  The idea that Japanese sub doctrine called for them to target warships is mentioned several times.

http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/fo ... 34&ID=3504